Successful Failure – Matugga, UG
Team #8 Jokolera Visit
Since our first trip to Uganda in August 2008, every team for the Ugandan Water Project visits the small village of Jokolera. This mall community about 30 minutes outside of Kampala is little more that a handful of mud and brick homes scattered along the 2 or 3 red dirt roads that loosely connect the village. The first rainwater tank we installed here was installed on what our teams refer to as “Stick Church” as simple pole structure with a tin roof that serves as both a church and the only school in Jokolera.
Team #8 – 18 people from the Rochester, NY area came to Jokolera early in the morning and received a colorful greeting of smiles and songs from the young students. In return we shared greetings and music as well. Students from the Charles Finney School sang and played guitar much to the delight of the children. Read more…
The Price Tag of Compassion
For those of you who are considering joining our monthly support team to help ensure that we continue to expand our efforts in Uganda, consider the monthly support options below and how they compare to some of the things we choose to invest in everyday. Click the drop-down menu and choose to be part of every water system we install!
Here is a Hacksaw – Go and Thirst No More.
Kkalwe school is a lively place! Our approach is on another nameless stretch of red dirt ribbon, textured with deep ruts – reminding us that rain can change the landscape around us. Our driver and friend, Eriab Kawuba, navigates the terrain as best he can but the old Toyota van still bounces and rubs it’s way down the road. Eriab never spends his english frivolously and this is no exception, he glances at my expectant face as I ride shotgun, and says “Here.” Looking ahead I see children on either side of the road waving branches and jumping up and down. As we pull up to the school compound we are ushered out of the van in a sea of brown faces and hands and eyes and smiles. Paul is the Headmaster of Kkalwe School and he greets us heartily as his face wears a smile so big that it has run out of face.
After exchanging the customarily long greetings that are culturally appropriate in East Africa, we walked over to inspect the 10,000 liter rain collection tank that sat next to the building. Every Time I see one of these big black behemoths I am always amazed that love can take such a large, awkward shape. This water project was funded by a small church north of Albany, NY called Rolling Hills Christian Fellowship. There are only a few families in that small community but they were moved by compassion for the children at Kkalwe School and provided the funds to install this tank. Looking at the installation I noticed that despite the large cement base, the tank was overhanging about a foot on the front edge. I was concerned because the weight of the water can press down on that overhang and cause a stress fracture that can eventually split the tank.
I laughed at the explanation for this odd placement of the tank. Apparently the length of downspout that connects the gutters to the tank was too long and Paul does not own a hacksaw to trim it so the tank can be slid back to the center of the base. The school doesn’t have a hacksaw either among their tools; nor does anyone else in the village of Kkalwe. The future stability of those students and teachers was resting on a hacksaw. What could we do . . . . . .
Welcome A-Board!
Today there is good reason to celebrate. Since the inception of the Ugandan Water Project, we have had only the three officers required by non-profit law serving on the Board of Directors. Today we took a big step forward and welcomed six new members to the Board of Directors. These individuals represent our expectation for this organization to grow – grow our impact, grow our participation, grow our programs – everything.
Organizations are made up of people and as new people are added, the strength of the organization grows. Our growth potential shot up this afternoon as we gathered with this expanded group of men and women and began to sort out the activities and future plans for this organization. Times like this are important because so often the daily tasks necessary to find new project sponsors, communicate with our staff in Uganda and keep the office running are typical daily office activities carried out by millions of people every day. However, sitting with our Board of Directors and reviewing some of our recent highlights was inspiring – like sharing with them the recent funding of our 30th rainwater collection tank that will be installed in July when I lead our next team to Uganda.
I’ll profile our Board Members in the near future so you can get to know them but for now, join me in welcoming them to our little corner of humanity where we’re not pretending to be the best at anything, just trying to work hard to save those we can who are suffering within reach.
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Ugandan Water Project
May 14, 2012 at 2:49 PM Take a 3 minute journey to Uganda - new on the blog.
http://ugandanwaterproject.com/successful-failure-matugga-ugUgandan Water Project
May 13, 2012 at 4:10 PM Inspiration for our work to make Love tangible.
James Harrington
Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire.
-Pierre Tielhard de ChardinUgandan Water Project
May 11, 2012 at 11:31 PM"Great have our two organizations working together! Our thanks to the members of your leadership team that met with us today to share ideas and partner on a water project for Busia!" on 24000.ORG's timeline.
Ugandan Water Project
May 11, 2012 at 8:56 PM @Tim Thompson from @24000.org presents a check a matching incentive for a water project in Basia, Uganda. Love this guy!
Ugandan Water Project
May 11, 2012 at 4:21 PM Sr High students in my noon session at St John Fisher today. Great to have some of our Team #8 members in the room!
Ugandan Water Project I see Michael Carpenter's arm!
May 11, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Ugandan Water Project
May 11, 2012 at 3:18 PM Ugandan Water Project shared James Harrington's status update.
James Harrington
St John Fisher today for an event with with JR/SR High students from 6 counties talking about the Since behind Compassion. Then to Oneida to meet with @Tim Thompson of @24000.org. #greatday
Ugandan Water Project
May 7, 2012 at 8:16 PM Another amazing day in the office! This will be Rainwater Tank #78!! A wonderful woman from the west coast wanted to help a village she visited a couple years ago.
Ugandan Water Project
May 6, 2012 at 11:33 AM Ugandan Water Project shared James Harrington's status update.
James Harrington
Heading to Akron, NY this morning to speak to some of our partners. Looking forward to seeing those great people today. If you're in the Buffalo area and want to hear more about the Ugandan Water Project, come on out to the First Baptist Church of Akron, 10am.
Ugandan Water Project
April 26, 2012 at 5:12 PM Raw and Unprocessed Download from the DIrector.
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Ugandan Water Project Not sure why the tag to 24000.ORG didn't work from my phone, but here's the link for their organization. Check them out and get behind their efforts to help kids and address the orphan crisis in Uganda.
May 11, 2012 at 10:52 PM