(Note: this is just a preview into a series of my time volunteering in Uganda)
The summer of 2016 I had the pleasure of volunteering with IVHQ Uganda and Volunteers 2 Uganda. Out of the two months I spent in the continent of Africa, six weeks were spent volunteering in Mutungo, a village about forty minutes from the capital, Kampala. I was a teacher at a local private school called Mother’s Heart Day Care and Kindergarten. I drifted between Primary 1, 2, and 3, but mostly taught in Primary 3. These kids, aged 8-11, stole my heart. They are the reason I want to go back to Kajjansi (Kah-jyahn-see), the village my school was out. They were the sweetest, most caring kids I have ever met. Some of the kids were South Sudanese refugees, which gave me a little intro to South Sudanese culture (hint, it’s pretty different from Ugandan culture). I obviously don’t know all that much about the culture, but I loved what I got from the kids and some of the mothers I met.
(the compound for the itty bitty school)
Anyway, I worked for six weeks (minus the few days I missed out from getting in a huge accident and was in the hospital- a story for another day) and loved SO much of it. Sure, there were hard days, but just one smile could make everything worth it. Cheesy, I know.
Some of the cultural differences made the first week a bit interesting. It was hard getting used to the fact that teachers would whack kids if they even sniffed too loud. A lot of people would say “that’s abuse we need to end that practice in xxx country,” but I talked to some of the locals and even the kids in Primary 3 and their reasoning was pretty logical. It really takes an open mind to understand this cultural practice, so bear with me.
(Primary 2 classroom)
At one point the kids wouldn’t settle down or stop talking and I couldn’t keep them quiet. So as I was addressing the class, I said, “You guys, why are you talking so much? Your other teachers walk in and you are so quiet I could hear a pin drop. And here you are making all this noise while I’m your teacher! Why? Keep quiet!” One of the older girls responded, “Teacher Haylie, beat the ones who are talking. Cane them and they will listen to you. That is the only way.”
Um no.
I told the kids I would not cane them and I said unless they kept quiet I would go get another teacher.
That worked, sometimes. But the best way I found to keep them quiet was to just make everything interesting. Teachers out there are probably thinking “wow what an amateur.”
From the teachers’ perspectives, they said that is the only way to make them respond. Same with other locals who weren’t teachers, they said it’s the only way.
Now, I don’t want to paint the Ugandan school system in a bad light, so don’t look down on them. This works for them. It’s just different.
Another thing I struggled with while I was teaching at Mother’s Heart was dealing with one specific teacher who fancied me and said he was looking for a mzungu (white person) wife.
Ya no, I was 18.
Anyway he was really pushy and that made it hard.
But it gave Primary 3 a good laugh!
So this teacher liked to talk really close to me (like his face was about 10 inches from my face or closer whenever he talked to me) and I would obviously bend out of the way so he wouldn’t be so close. I avoided talking to him and I didn’t respect his mode of teaching at all. The primary 3 class was old enough that their main teacher would RARELY cane even one kid, but when this teacher came in to teach religious studies or whatever, he was mean. He was a Muslim, and the section of religious studies at the time was on Christianity and let me tell you, he butchered it. So if I was in the room, I’d say something (privately, so as to not undermine him in front of the students) but sometimes the kids, who were mostly Catholic or Christian, would speak up. If they said “Teacher, the Bible does not say that,” he’d cane them. Viciously and excessively. It made me mad. So I talked to the Director and main Primary 3 teacher and I taught religious studies from then on out.
ANYWAY. So back to the main point. This teacher spoke really close to me and would try to put his hand on my shoulder or elbow and I would like duck out of the way or whatever.
So the kids apparently really noticed this and at one point when I was teaching, this teacher walked into the room and tried to talk to me (about 6 inches away) and I like backed up and answered his question and he left. As soon as he shut the door, the kids burst out laughing. I laughed too, mostly because I was confused. One girl said “Teacher Haylie, whenever Teacher xx talks to you, he comes so close!” I laughed so hard, “I know!! What is up with him?” Everyone was laughing at this point and imitating interactions between me and him. Then that teacher walked in and everyone, including myself, completely shut up and looked at the ground. He demanded, “What is all this noise? Who is talking?” and caned a few people then left. As soon as he left, we all laughed again and went back to work.
I know, probably not a good influence on the kids. I shouldn’t have let the kids make fun of their teacher, I regret that. But at least they noticed my discomfort.
These primary 3 students made it SO hard for me to leave Uganda. They laughed when I laughed and cried when I cried. They tried to dress like me (more loose pants than skirts, for practical reasons). When I dealt with PTSD after my accident, they comforted me. They yelled at other kids who tried to take my camera. They asked my about my family. They were shocked when they learned just how similar my 7 year old sister is to them.
I didn’t go to Africa to see the sights; I didn’t go to Uganda to take photos of its vast beauty. I went to serve the under-served. I went to see if this is the country God wanted me to live in permanently. While I didn’t really feel like this was THE place, I could see myself spending a lot of time in this beautiful country. Uganda has some of the kindest people in the world. Unfortunately, it is also home to the LRA, a rebel army committing some of the most horrific acts of war. I went to Africa to serve even just one person. And I hope as I tell you stories, you will be inspired to go and serve those who have much, much less than you.
PS: All photos are mine and copyrighted ©vibrantcorners
vibrantcorners.com 