It’s hot and it’s dry! That’s two things I can say about Oduworo Village, Uganda from January thru May and I won’t be wrong! It’s the dry season; the time of year when activity slows down because most of the plants are dead or dying, the animals are really thin, and it’s just so darn hot!
The word is out in Oduworo Village; Rotarians from the USA are coming back for another visit, and are the villagers excited! With smiles on their faces and appreciation in their hearts they’ll be receiving USA Rotarians and providing a lunch in their honor.
It’s District 5330’s good fortune that Paula and Gerry Porter from the Lake Arrowhead Rotary Clubs have agreed to lead a team to Oduworo Village. Gerry and Paula have scheduled their trip from February 16 to March 3, 2009. They have a couple of spots open on the travel team for people interested in seeing Oduworo Village, Uganda. If you are a good traveler and are willing to do what needs to be done to help improve the quality of life of those less fortunate, please consider this trip! To be a ‘good traveler’ you should be okay with no water and electricity at the hotel where the teams stays near the village.
To be a considered a ‘good traveler’ you should be prepared when being home hosted by fellow Rotarians in Kampala to not have electricity or water during all the days you are there. Remember, this is the hot and dry season for them. The electricity is controlled by the government, when they shut off the power they don’t care whose home doesn’t have it. Same way with the water, the water is shut off to various parts of the city at large every day and sometimes it’s not turned back on for several days. Our fellow Rotarians do the very best they can for us when we are there, but there are many things that are out of their control. Being tolerant of conditions with no complaining is a BIG part of being a good traveler. If you don’t think you can do this you should not go.
The team will be monitoring the Bee Project, the Citrus Project, the Solar project, the Bio sand filter project. They will be delivering much needed school supplies to the primary school, checking on the two new wells that were recently installed (thanks to Rotary Clubs in District 5330), monitoring the use of the treated mosquito bed netting handed out in August (also provided by a matching grant written by Rotary Clubs in District 5330), meeting with the Rotary Community Corp and so much more! Being home hosted by Rotarians in Uganda is great fun! Every day brings new sights and sounds; things you never thought you’d experience. What stories you’ll tell your family and friends when you return home.
There are basic needs at the primary school in Oduworo Village; exercise books, chalk boards, chalk, local language ‘easy reading’ books, pencils, etc. Gerry and Paula Porter will be taking these funds with them in February. If you would like to make a donation please send it to Gerry Porter by Feb. 10. Gerry and Paula will make sure the funds are spent and report back how. Mail checks to P.O. Box 2027, Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352.
Two more trips are planned this year; one in May and another in late August. PDG Mark Howison will lead the team in May and Steve and Vicky Wallace will go in August. Each of these trips will have specific goals to accomplish along with monitoring ongoing projects and establishing new ones. If all goes well in August the next round of Matching Grant projects will be started up. Most Rotarians never experience the distribution of items funded by Matching Grants.
If you are interested in the February trip contact Gerry Porter at (909) 336-1082 for more information.
By Vicky Wallace