Hello friends and family!
We hope you’re doing well. We are writing to you from an internet cafe in Kabale, Uganda. We just returned here after five days at SNEC (Special Needs Education Center), which is partnered with Edirisa UK. SNEC is a home for special needs children ranging from primary 2 classes through primary 7. They have students as young as seven, and up to twenty two years old. The school keeps the students in their care until they reach primary seven. The students’ needs vary from handicapped children, deaf children, autistic children, and children with down syndrome.
When we arrived there on the 3rd, we were greeted by 50+ smiling faces and lots of hugs and our hearts were immediately captured. We trekked up the hill to our home for the week, and started organizing our kitchen with all of the food we bought at the local market in Kabale. We cooked delicious meals for ourselves all week, including french toast, personal pizzas, stir fry, and Mexican night. As an added culture shock for many of us, our bathroom consisted of a hole in the ground. To make matters worse, we also ran out of toilet paper with two days left…
Through our week, we accomplished and learned many things. We started by repainting the dining hall they have. We painted a world map, two Chica Chica Boom Boom trees, and Dr. Suess’s, “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” quotes. It was a huge accomplishment for us in just a few days, and we are all very proud of it.
We also were able to sit in on some of the classes for the special needs children. Those who sat in on classes found them very interesting to watch and listen to.
We spent our free time teaching the children how to cook chapatis (a local dish) on coal stoves, and helping them make Christmas cards to sell to benefit the organization. Some of the group members also learned how to weave baskets (Claire’s mom, she wants you to know she finally got to weave!). We spent a lot of time sitting and playing in the grass with the children. We also had daily dance parties to Waka Waka, by Shakira. It was so fun to watch even the deaf children dancing along!
Before leaving this morning we hiked up the mountain behind our rooms to switch our weekly roles and take in the beautiful views, before heading down to say our goodbyes.
All of us were very sad to leave the children, the beautiful mountains, and the chilly morning fog that we woke up to. We weren’t so sad to leave the baby who lived next door to us and woke us up every morning.
Now we are back in Kabale, prepping for our canoe trek around Lake Bunyonyi, which (most) of us are excited for. You can take the girl out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the girl…
Wish us luck on our next adventure, and look for updates in a few days!
Much love,
Grey and Kyra