Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Do we have the power.........???????

......... to change the lives of the kids and staff at Jolly Mercy Learning Centre and CALM Africa, I sure hope so!!!

? How annoying is it when there is a power cut and you can’t watch TV or use the internet… and then when it comes back on you have to re-set the time on all your clocks.

? Isn’t it frustrating when the battery on your mobile runs out and you can’t re-charge it immediately?

? Can you imagine what it would be like if you couldn’t just flick a switch and the light come on?

At present, power cuts are not an annual or even monthly occurrence but a daily and more often hourly issue at Jolly Mercy Learning Centre. Due to infrastructure issues and the fact that Jolly Mercy is hidden in the depths of a rural village, the power supply is never guaranteed.
I am trying to raise enough money to be able to install a generator at the Jolly Mercy Learning Centre in Uganda where I am working, Please visit my charity giving page to see how you can help with the "Do we have the Power Campaign" Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone who you think may be interested!

http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/alisonmichie

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT

PS you may have to cut and paste the link into your address line as I don't think it connects automatically from here!

Baby Class ( its their first year)

Primary 7 (its their last year)

Saturday, 21 May 2011

How was there?

Rhoda has hardly left my side since I got back! And just loves my sunglasses

At last Teacher Ali is back ! She loves playing catch with us!

Rhoda has to carry my camera case, no one else is allowed!
So at last I am back in Uganda! And its just wonderful.

I have been made to feel so welcome since I got back, with everyone from the local shop keeper,the internet cafe owner, parents of the kids, the staff at the charity and teachers at the school, saying Oh Ali, you are most welcome back to Uganda, How was there!!!!  ???? I guess 'there' is wherever they think I have been, so I smile and say 'there' was great thank you!

The majority of the kids are still on school holidays, the boarders arrive back tomorrow and the rest on Monday, I am very excited to see them.  The few kids that are at school, mostly the kids of people who work at the school, have been so cute.  Rhoda in particular had dressed herself up specially for my return and had flowers in her hair, according to her mum she'd been up since the crack of dawn bathing herself and out looking for flowers, bless her heart.  She is now practically stuck to my side or clinging on to my legs and both days I have left to go home she has been in floods of tears - how lovely to be so wanted eh!!! :-)

Today I have been into Kampala to stock up on a few essentials that you can only buy in the city..... Pringles, Oreo cookies, Candburys chocolate, mini cheddars..... you know just the necessities in life! Of course being back in Kampala sees me returning to rides on a Boda Boda (on the back of a motobike for those who can't remember) and I guess I had forgotten just how terrifying it could be, I was clinging on for grim death this morning as the young punk boda boda driver, weaved his way through the traffic jams and madness that is Kampala on a Saturday morning, good god it was like a whie knuckle ride I was pertified, I need to choose an old bloke next time, they tend to hear my cries of Poland Poland (slowly slowly) and take a bit more care.. Ho Hum, when in Uganda.........!!!!!!!

I have so many things to do during this stay in Uganda, in particular arranging for some more children to be sponsored by some friends who have said they would like to sponsor a child here.  Also I am going to try to raise enough money to install a generator for the school, the lack of consistent power supply is a constant problem for them and I would like to leave a permanent reminder of me and all my friends, family and colleagues.  I am going to set up a charity giving website, in the hope that by clubbing together we may be able to raise enough money to give them the generator they so desparately need..... What this space for more details.

Anyway, I think thats all for now, am off to take the local bus, come taxi ,come minivan back to the volunteer house.  I am the only volunteer here this time, so have the house to myself! I may have felt a little nervous a couple of weeks ago when there was a bit of a political uprising and the leader of the opposition party was arreseted right outside the gates to the house!!!!!!!! But now there are so many police in riot vans everywhere I don't think anyone will trouble little old me in my little old house!!!! Hahahaha, nothing like being back in Africa!!!

Thats all for now :-)

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney !!

The view from my apartment in Sydney

One of the best views in the world

Fireworks over the Opera House

A cold day in Melbourne

With Gina and Jesse in Melbourne

Parliament House in Canberra


Jenni & I on top of Parliament House, Canberra

Parliament House, Canberra


Australian War Memorial, Canberra

Gorgeous Sydney Harbour

Parsley Bay, Sydney

Cheryl and I on our Bay Tour of Sydney

Sydney Harbour

So the past couple of weeks have definately dispelled the myth that it is always hot in Australia.... its been flippin freezing, apparently it was the coldest day in Sydney for 50 years on Thursday this week and I can definately confirm that it was COLD COLD COLD, however the sun still shone and it was a gorgeous day, I wish Autumn days were like this in England!! I don't have many warm clothes with me so I have been recycling my clothes every couple of days! definately not one of my best dressed trips!! Its quite strange seeing all the leaves falling off the trees in May, it feels like it should be October or November!

Over the past couple of weeks I have spent time taking in the sights of Sydney ( for the fourth time and I still love it), Melbourne ( for the second time though I remembered nothing from the first time I was there 19 years ago) and Canberra (for the first time and really enjoyed it .... though not the temperature...it reached minus 1 overnight!!). During the past couple of weeks I have also spent time with new friends I made from both my West Coast Trip and my Top End Trip which has been great, so thank you Gina, Jesse, Jenni and Cheryl and also its been fantastic to see and spend time with friends I have known for years, Paul and Michele.

On Tuesday I set off for Africa again and will arrive back in Uganda on Thursday (its going to be a long Journey) but I can't wait to see everyone from CALM Africa and Jolly Mercy again.

Take care all and I'll be back on the blog when I get to Africa!