africa day 6 – girls day

Day 6

 

 

Good NEWS! The bag arrived! Woo hoooo!! At 1:15am and now the next step to get the bag… the adventures of traveling continue!

 

 

The agenda for today is simple, rise, shine and sit in traffic to meet our partners – Days for Girls! We are set to spend the whole day with them sitting in on their training of reproductive health for 20 women who are young mothers who are in training to sell bracelets, necklaces, and handbags for sale to support each other and themselves to be able to have a better life. All of these women have no partner/father figure to support them or their child into the future so building sustainable income is the most important thing we can do.  First day in Uganda is an early day! Up at 7am out by 8am. The traffic in Africa is horrible. Everyone seems to run scared of the concept. All the hotels tell you to leave hours in advance of your meeting time. We have found this is a scare tactic. And can sometimes be true but not most of the time- we arrived on time to meet the group of women from Days for Girls. Libby, who was our main contact, is not able to meet us, her mother in law passed and she is tending to the overwhelming obligations associated with that. So we are set with Olivia and Vicky! We are the girls squad – and we begin to think of ourselves as super heroes!

 

 

Ok, true confession? I woke up with a bad tummy today. Yes BAD. I think those of you who know know- not the top end was upset. UGH. So there is that. I am in a um very developing country doing work for a great group and I can barely sit for very long without having to run (yes run) to the bathroom. But it is for a great cause and I am all about it! Sade is on the bag collection making sure we get that. Amanda is holding court and speaking about MCN Foundation and how we are working with Days for Girls.

 

 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY ALERT!!!
Amanda gives a lecture on menopause! As the ladies are listening to everything from safe sexual practices, female and male anatomy, puberty, disease transmission and the like they get to the part about the “transition” – menopause. When I say this was out of a sitcom I am not kidding! It was beyond amazing!!! Amanda began by talking about what a blessing it was and how life can now be on your own time and how hormones effect your behavior. All this being said in English (their second sometimes third language) – it was a true confession and amazing demonstration of her passion, frankness and her background as a nurse.

 

 

Also things to note:
KFC is all the rage in Uganda
DFG also makes awesome bags and luggage tags!