Who would have ever thought that the weather I was having in Manchester before I came back to Uganda a week ago might be better than the weather we are having here?
This week has been very cold and rainy – I have even had to wear a jumper at times which has been a shock to the system. I have been in Uganda before when it was the wet season, but the thing is wet season isn’t supposed to be now, it should have been in October!
Whereas a few years ago no-one in Uganda really knew what you were talking about when you mentioned climate change, now it is something everyone sees happening and has to try to plan around. With terrible drought currently affecting neighbouring countries like Kenya, it seems strange to complain about the rain here. But if the rain doesn’t come when you expect it, it can ruin your crops and push the already escalating food prices higher still!
When a big disaster strikes, how often do you stop and think about the people in the neighbouring countries who will be feeling the knock on affects? Food prices here have become very unstable and despite the fact most people do try to grow at least part of their food, they do also have to buy some too.
To give you a few examples rice that you used to be able to get at 2500 shillings a kilo is now 3200, and sugar has increased crazily from 3000 to 5500 shillings per kilo.
For a population where a lot of people live with very little disposable income, that change can mean the difference between your children going to school or not next term.
Until we manage to save enough money to buy our own land we will have to buy all our food for the Salve home. Unfortunately the place that we rent for our children isn’t big enough to do more than grow a few plants in pots (which isn’t nearly satisfying the children’s love of growing fresh fruits and vegetables which they get to learn in school). So we are feeling the price pinch along with many others here in Uganda every time we go to the market.
Enjoying the holidays
Despite the rain the Salve children have been making the most of their holidays (though the change in temperature has sadly made a few of the children a bit sick – I tease them they would never survive in snowy weather like we get in the UK then!).
A few highlights so far include; everyone getting up at 6 one day to go running round Bugembe with Uncle Mike, playing a very exciting game of rounders which was narrowly won by Hassan’s team one afternoon when the sun did come out. The children have debated ‘Has science done more harm than good?’ with lots of well thought out points being made by each side. We got covered in glitter glue when we were creating some artwork that the children want to send to their sponsors. And today the children as a group composed Salve’s very own anthem.
A special highlight also has to be Faith coming to join the Salve family at home today for the first time. She looked a bit nervous (they are quite a talkative and confident bunch) but I’m sure she will settle in very well especially since the other children are soon keen to welcome their new sister in the Salve family.
We are still looking for a sponsor for Faith so if you have a heart big enough to sponsor a child in Salve please do get in contact: info@salveinternational.org
I will leave you with the chorus of the new salve anthem (which rhymes and even includes a rap section after our class on rhyming words).
S ….. A…… L…… V….. E……
Education sets our futures free
Support and love for who we want to be
Join hands every child in the community
Good morning Nicola! I love the anthem, it’s beautiful