Journey of hope to the heart of Africa
Corruption, the deadly depredations of the Lord’s Army political division and a history of colonialism, have largely negated the benefits of Uganda’s fertile soils, regular rainfall and sizeable mineral deposits of copper, cobalt and untapped resources of crude oil and natural gas.
Despite making considerable progress, poverty still remains deep rooted in the country’s rural areas, which are home to more than 85% of Ugandans. Some 90% of the country’s women work in agriculture and also have the added responsibility of caring for their families.
The average Ugandan woman can work for as much as 15 hours a day as compared to their menfolk, who work between eight to ten hours every day. Despite their heroic efforts many poor rural women find it difficult to support their children at school and cannot afford to pay for uniforms, books and the list of basic items — such as toilet rolls — that a child is required to acquire before being admitted to secondary school.
HIV/Aids has also taken its toll on the population, despite some impressive results in reducing the statistics from the 1980s when more than 30% of Ugandan residents had HIV. But by 2008 this had fallen to 6%. However, the depredation of the Aids infection has left many orphans in its deadly wake.
For most people the mere mention of Uganda conjures up images of the deranged dictator Idi Amin who seized power in 1971 and carried out mass killings to maintain his rule. An estimated 300,000 Ugandans lost their lives at the hands of his brutal regime.
Yet despite its problems, Uganda is a country of outstanding beauty with a population who, despite their difficulties, are determined to learn and grow. An interfaith movement of coffee farmers for instance, resulted in the fabulously named Mirembe Karwomera (Delicious Peace) Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative is a testimony to this resourcefulness.
It was in order to support this indefatigable spirit that inspired the formation of Irish organisation Nurture Africa by Brian Iredale in 2009.
Brian first volunteered in Africa after reading Derbhla Murphy’s book The Ukimi (Aids) Road. After working in an orphanage and school, Brian undertook a 3,000 mile fundraising cycle ride when he met Nakawunde Annet, the woman who was to become his wife.
Brian decided to return to Ireland so that he could study paediatric-nursing.
Brian has also obtained certificates in project planning and management, as well as a post-graduate diploma in Community Voluntary Services Management.
The organisation works with Aids/HIV affected Ugandan children, nurturing their physical and emotional growth by providing, food, health care, shelter and education. They believe that the most vulnerable children in the developing world should receive the same health care and education as any child in the developed world.
Breda Herlihy is a primary school teacher as well as an award-winning actress from Skibbereen, who is about to embark on her first trip as a Nurture Africa volunteer. I spoke with Breda as she was in the throes of her final preparations for the trip.
*This must be a busy time for you, Breda?
>>“Yes it is, and I’m very excited about the trip. I’m going to Uganda for three weeks and I’m really looking forward to it. Nurture Africa are a fantastic organisation and while I’m there, I’ll be interacting with local teachers and participating in a variety of community outreach health and building projects.
“It’s my first trip to Africa and I’ve always wanted to do something like this. I’ve been inspired by my mother Ann is a nurse. She worked extensively with the asylum seekers who came to this area in 2000. She had a lot of sympathy for the plight of these people who had to leave their homeplace and who faced so many difficulties. Both my parents have always encouraged us to participate in community life, which is where it all begins.”
*Nurture Africa volunteers have to fundraise to cover their expenses. How has that been for you in these difficult times?
>>“Fantastic. I’ve been overwhelmed by the support from local schools and the community. Neighbours have been dropping in envelopes and wishing me well. Derrinacahara and Ballinacarriga NS raised almost €300 for me on their sports day, and St Mary’s NS in Dunmanway had a non-uniform day. The recent Afternoon Tea Party at the Glebe Gardens and Café in Baltimore was another great success.
“Even though we have a lot of financial pressures nowadays, people still give so much of themselves. I’ve always admired people like the Skibbereen Tidy Towns Committee who are out and about these evenings, planting and weeding and giving of their time and energy and Sally Daly who is the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal Co-ordinator with Team Hope.”
*What was it about Nurture Africa that made you decide to volunteer with them?
>>“Because I’m a teacher, I’m always concerned with the welfare and education of children. They stress that one of their main goals is to empower vulnerable children and this was really important to me. I’ve been paired up with another teacher from Sligo and we are going to be working in a school not far from the capital in Kampala. We have both completed training in Dublin and since then, we’ve been on the phone a lot planning our classes and deciding what we are going to do. We get the weekends off so we’ll be free to visit some of the beautiful sights and sounds of Uganda.
“We’ll be staying in a Nurture Africa house that’s run by local women; that’s going to give us a great opportunity to learn about the Ugandan people and their way of life. It’s a great opportunity and I’m sure I’m going to learn much more than I teach.”
