Diary of a visit to AICM projects by Trustees and supporters of Friends of AICM July2009
Diary of a visit to AICM projects by Trustees and supporters of Friends of AICM July2009
Arrival and Journey to Kabale
Dust, absolutely everywhere! Potholes, also nearly everywhere! Kampala, traffic coming at you from all directions! Namirembe Guest House, a million dollar view over Kampala, and wonderful Christian hospitality! Watching water disappear down the plug at the equator! Stunning scenery as darkness descends and we approach Kabale. “How are you?” “You are most welcome!” Matoke, ground nut sauce, beans, Irish potatoes, chicken and goat stew, cool refreshing passion fruit juice and sodas, what generous hospitality and what a welcome from Bishop Enoch, his wife Phoebe, his son Timothy and others in the AICM family as we all arrive at the Kayeyee family home on 7th July at the start of a memorable visit .”We” were 5 trustees and 8 new supporters and we were already 3 days into wonderful and new experiences.
Day 1 in Kabale
After a good nights rest our three vehicles were off the next morning on an expedition way up into the hills, looking down over beautiful Lake Bunyonyi, en route to Rwamahano ,where a Batwa (Pygmy) community have been resettled by AICM. Smiling children met us, leaping up the track like the goats all around us, whilst we puffed our way up to where Batwa elders, women and children were waiting to welcome us outside the schoolrooms—good to see it was lunch time –behind a lattice fence the cook had been busy and children were eating bowls of posho and beans. Thanks to recent fund raising this daily meal can now be provided. Surrounded by children we met Nichodemus, a long term extension worker and teacher who now lives within the community Monday to Friday. Our funding also provides his salary. We looked in the school buildings—so bare and basic—much needed in the way of furniture and equipment –but the school has grown to 4 classes and now sends students after primary 4 down the hill to the local primary school—and one or two Batwa boys have now entered secondary school—this is encouraging progress.– Later in our trip one of these students confided in one of us that he wanted to be a doctor and to be able to minister to his own people. Our visit wasn`t yet over. We had to see how the Batwa were cultivating their land, improving their homesteads—and then the proper welcome—African style—-we all had to sit down for the singing and dancing—what a treat—the Batwa are a musical people—they sing in beautiful harmony—they make their own instruments—and their dancing—energetic! Before we left , much excitement, as some of us had gifts—pens, pencils, skipping ropes, footballs, stickers—and woolly hats for little ones cold heads at night. We managed to leave at last—but the days expedition wasn’t over—there were other communities who had been expecting us—We were yet to be amazed at the vast distances AICM extension workers travel over to keep in touch and help these scattered hill top Batwa communities. We seemed to drive for ages, stopping every now and then to greet and be greeted by representatives from these communities who had walked up to the roadway just to meet these visitors from the UK for a few fleeting moments—we felt somewhat overwhelmed and humbled as we tiredly arrived back at base in Kabale with Richard, AICM field coordinator and with Timothy AICM director. What a first days introduction to the work of AICM—much to ponder on and pray about.
Day 2 in Kabale
The next day found us setting off on another expedition, again with the lovely Richard as our guide. First stop, however, was the “HotLoaf” bakery in Kabale for lunch provisions and plenty of bottled water. Then off up into the hills—some photo stops on the way—what stunning scenery—more bumps, dust , potholes and windy tracks. Then hordes of green uniformed primary school children crowding around us in greeting as we arrived at the Graeme Naishe Memorial School. Women from the Bwindi community associations organised by AICM have recently added two foundation classrooms to this school, which is when it was named in memory of a recently deceased faithful supporter of the Friends. Up the hill we went to see these classes, and were delightfully entertained by a choir of little purple clad nursery children. This is also where goats and rabbits are being looked after in pens or hutches.More gifts were gratefully received by the head teacher—balloons were a huge success here. We also handed over a football and a cricket set—we`re looking forward to pictures of cricket among these hills! Many of these children are single or double orphans—their education depends much upon AICM.—Then off to another school in a community very dependant on AICM—Ihunga, a village nestling in an old volcano crater. At the secondary school we met some of the students sponsored by various friends in the UK and presented letters or gifts to them on behalf of their sponsors. Many students here rely on the generosity of friends in the UK for their secondary education—they will continue to do so, and AICM has more needy students awaiting sponsorship. Our last stop on this expedition was unexpected—having met more ladies from the community association on our way back, including some bee-keepers, we then stopped our vehicles outside a primary school to find a huge gathering from all over the area awaiting us, wanting to sing and dance for us in praise and thanksgiving for the 25 years support that AICM and its friends have given them. Words do not adequately describe the variety and exuberance of the singing and dancing—and it was with reluctance that we had to leave way before the end, as the approaching darkness meant we needed to get on the road if we were to travel back safely in the light.—Again we returned weary and overwhelmed by all we had seen.
Days 3,4 and 5 in Kabale
The week-ends activities were back at AICM headquarters in Kabale—and this also included a lovely time of relaxation on beautiful Lake Bunyonyi and Bushara Island. Many of us found we had opportunity to get to know Timothy(director) George (treasurer) Richard(field coordinator) and Gloria (acting principal of the Vocational Training College) better. We also got to visit various departments of the VTC and met many of the staff and pupils. On the Saturday we were richly entertained by the spectacle of the AICM 25th anniversary celebrations and the graduation ceremony of the VTC. A feast of splendour, colour, speeches, and entertainment. Bishop Enoch and the Bishop of Kigezi were presiding. A highlight was singing and dancing from the Batwa communities, who had been brought down to Kabale especially for the occasion—symbolically Bishop Enoch, Phoebe, their children and many VTC staff and students got up to join in their exuberant dancing—no longer outcast but loved and included in the love of Christ.A moving occasion.
Sunday saw us joining in a joyful service in the VTC chapel—wonderful singing, quite unlike what we might usually expect in church at home. We were all only too pleased to introduce ourselves and we heard a very moving testimony from a teaching friend of AICM.Timothy led the service and Bishop Enoch presided over it.
Final Days in Kabale
Our time in Kabale was nearly over—on Monday we visited the health centre at Kyobugombe, which AICM, with help from Trinity college Oxford students and the local community have built and which now has been handed over to the government to run—we found there were questions to be asked about the efficiency of the government management, and we will try to help AICM re-motivate the community to lobby for improvement. Yet another task for the hard working faithful Richard to undertake—he needs all our prayers. For the rest of out time,we made the most of opportunities to meet staff and discuss ways in which we can help the work of AICM .It had been a roller coaster of a ride for some of the newcomers—we were all going to be sorry to leave so many friends—we have lots to tell our friends and supporters at home—Those of us who had visited several times before were pleased to observe many areas of progress, and we thank God for His faithfulness. However there is much need—we return full of renewed vigour to work hard with the Friends of AICM, to raise more support and more funding and to pray that we can be part of this reaching out in and through the name of Christ to these lovely, needy people.
(Our trip continued after Kabale with relaxation at Queen Elizabeth game park and then further time in Kampala and Entebbe—wonderful experiences to be recounted elsewhere!)
Report submitted by Sue Townsend 29/07/09
