TESS

The Retreat: 7th-15th December
by Margaret Stevens


With about 225 sponsored students, we could not invite all of them to attend this year, although we ended up with about 160 instead of the 100 we had planned for! Those in S2 (unless they were new on the scheme) were very disappointed to be the ones to miss out this year, as well as some Bethany S3s who were involved in a computer/internet exchange project with teenagers in Holland. We used Ngora High School in Kumi Diocese. It went even better than last year and was so worthwhile, with a wonderful atmosphere. Thank you to those of you who made it possible.

For many, the highlight was the day outing. This year, we set off for Jinja at 8.00am in two buses and a minibus, a drive of nearly four hours. We visited the source of the Nile as it leaves Lake Victoria at Ripon Falls - already a vast river. Then we drove a few miles downstream to Bujagali Falls - a spectacular series of widespread waterfalls suitable for white-water rafting. They leapt around the rocks at the edge of the Nile, awe-struck at the volume and speed of water (I'm glad we didn't have to do a "risk assessment")! They watched in amazed horror as two local men braved the falls, one holding on to an empty jerrican and the other in a very small canoe!

We had hoped to go round Kakira sugar factory, but arrived too late, being a Saturday afternoon. But at least they saw thousands of acres of sugar at all stages of growth and harvest.

As we were approaching Ngora, Sam had a phone call to say that Olivia was very ill and needed to go to hospital. So he returned to Soroti with the hired bus. When he arrived home at about 9.30pm, he found she had already been admitted to a clinic so set off on his motorbike to find her.
On the way, he was knocked down by a passing vehicle. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, but bad enough to have to stay at home most of the week.

(He is still having some problems with his knee.) But Rev Jeremiah Acelun (who works in Kumi Diocese) was excellent at running the Retreat and worked tirelessly.

The theme of the half hour morning Bible teaching was young people in the Bible who were chosen and used by God, whilst still children and teenagers, to achieve his purposes. Jeremiah, who is a gifted communicator, gave some excellent talks which I have asked him to write down so that we can publish them as a book. Some of what we did in the more formal morning sessions helped them to explore ways in which they could already start influencing and transforming their schools and communities, so sharing the benefits of being sponsored with others.

We had speakers, group discussions and demonstrations on simple development projects, sex and relationships, corruption, study skills, different careers etc. Corruption, which is endemic throughout Uganda, was defined very broadly, including petty corruption which goes on in schools and communities.

They are so often the victims of corruption, which "keeps people in poverty". The corruption sessions ended with a time of reflection during which they were asked to write down anything they had ever done which was corrupt - "getting something you want by wrong means". They were then invited to bring their pieces of paper to the front and burn them on a charcoal stove.

We asked them to turn their backs on corruption and look on that day as the first day of the rest of their lives in which, we hope and pray, they will make a stand against corruption and so begin to transform Uganda - a risky and costly vocation in which they will need much support and training.

Once again, we invited them to enter stories and poems for a competition. There were over 200 entries which some sponsors have volunteered to read and select for special prizes and inclusion in another book such as we produced last year. Again, we are amazed at their ability to write so creatively in a foreign language. We also gave prizes on the Retreat for much wonderful art and craft work which they were so enthusiastic about - thank you to everyone who enabled us to provide such a great selection of materials.

There was a lovely collection of little black and white drawings of life in Teso, drawn by about 50 of them, which will be printed onto tea towels to raise money for TESS. Visit the Art Page to view it

They liked being involved in raising money for the programme and making cards for their families and sponsors. They also enjoyed opportunities to play games and puzzles they have never experienced before, as well as some optional sessions for help with maths and sciences, especially experimenting with the basic equipment David Cope brought with him. There were problems with electricity most of the time which meant they weren't able to watch videos (including Cash in the Attic and the videos I took of them last year), which is always such a treat for them.

We spent one evening playing some party games with many of them. And they enjoyed evenings of dancing whilst singing Christian songs. Bishop Charles of Soroti joined us for the party and prize-giving on the final evening - a lovely occasion.

There were some very funny skits produced by a small drama group. They went wild with excitement when we gave them a balloon and a glow-stick each, which certainly added to some spectacularly energetic singing (of Christian songs) and dancing!

Although they wanted to dance all night, they made no complaints when we told them to clear up and go to bed at 10.00pm.

Sam and I ended the evening sitting on the grass while a new moon set beyond some trees and we listened to a group of 12 girls tell us about the appalling way they are being treated in their school, like slaves, because of being sponsored. They were threatened if they told us anything about what is going on.

When we got back to the guest house, we proved to Jeremiah that he is only 6' 3" (not 7' as he had been led to believe); and to Sam that he was more than "just a little shorter than Jeremiah" (he is only 5' 61/2" - shorter than he thought)! Ros and I slept out on the grass under the stars (and mosquito nets). We spent our last night in Teso at Kobwin, with John Omagor and his family, sleeping in my little grass thatched round house.

Jealousy and seeking revenge are serious problems in Uganda. Some teachers are still bullying girls because they are sponsored although things have improved greatly at Ngora Girls School following our intervention a year ago.

Many people (including the fathers of seven of our girls) have been killed by poisoning. In a society with a lack of detective resources (including forensic science) and a corrupt law and order system, poisoning goes undetected and unpunished. Families of some girls have been threatened and dare not eat meals in the homes of neighbours, even relatives, for the very real fear of being poisoned.

The 14 year old brother of one girl died in November when he was poisoned by neighbours, they believe because of jealousy of her sponsorship. et they will not give up their chance of education.

We are trying to work on ways of minimising jealousy towards our sponsored students, such as getting them to help their communities work together on a development project. Within a day or two of going home for the holidays, one of our S2 girls, from a remote and very poor area, whose family have been threatened, spoke to the community elders on her 15th birthday.

She arranged a community meeting at which she suggested they work together on an income-generating project. The adults formed themselves into a formal group, elected officers, made rules for the group and identified four possible projects. Agnes took minutes, which she brought to Soroti when she returned a week later for medical treatment. She arranged for a development officer to go and meet with the group to provide some training and help them write a proposal to apply for funding from TDT.

What an amazing achievement! I am waiting anxiously to see if something comes of it. If this sort of thing is replicated throughout Teso by our sponsored students, not only will it tackle the problem of jealousy, but they will start doing something already to transform the lives of the poorest of the poor. This is something which I really want to develop and support, but it needs funds.

Vindictive and inappropriate punishments, lack of encouragement and rewards, poor school diets, too many hours spent studying, and serious sleep deprivation (6 hours maximum every night) are just some of the problems students face in Uganda and which we try (mostly unsuccessfully) to do something about.

The repressive Victorian ethos requires radical changes in government policy, training of teachers and educational culture as well as a new generation of enlightened teachers.

Although physical punishment is now illegal in Uganda, it has made not the slightest difference in schools or homes, where teachers, parents and guardians have never been given any guidance in developing appropriate methods of rewards and punishments. Students are frequently beaten, usually for minor misdemeanours and also for poor performance. This is particularly hard for those who are not bright. One girl told me how, in her school, all those who get exam marks below the average mark are beaten, the number of strokes being the difference between the average class mark and their actual mark.

There is so much more we could tell you of our experiences, but we hope that, between us, you can build up a picture of our visits and life for our sponsored children. Despite the problems and pain, it is always such a privilege to visit and share with the sponsored students and to stay and work with friends in Teso, and to be so trusted and accepted. Although we never manage to achieve all we plan and are exhausted by the end and hear so many distressing stories, it is all so worthwhile as well as humbling and challenging.

Through your commitment and support, lives are being transformed, both now and for the future. So many people - sponsored students, church leaders, Sam Ediau and Jeremiah Acelun (who run the sponsorship programme) and even complete strangers whom we met - expressed genuine thanks to you all. You only have to visit Teso to realise what a valuable gift you are making to the people of Teso.

If you would like to come on a visit in the future (probably no places left for 2009, but what about 2010), please let me know. But be warned: you need to be robust; and you will not be the same person again, not always easy when you return home!

More about Margaret's exploits on the Volunteers and Sponsors page