So, finally an update from the Pro:Piggery group. We have already been in Bushenyi (and Ishaka) for around 5 days, but it is'nt always easy to update the blog when we live in a house without electricity and the internet cafe in Bushenyi only have 2 computers.
We arrived to our host family on sunday evening. We were warmly welcomed by Agatha, who quickly made sure that we understood that we are now her new children. Agatha lives in a house in the middle of a lot of matooke palms outside Ishaka. She is an organic farmer and a wine maker (pineapple wine). Unfortunately for her, her kids and the orphans she has living with her, she is not able to sell any of her products. But either way, she was welcoming us with open arms.
On Monday Nathalie (patron saint of Silent Voices) came to Agathas and picked us up. She drove us to her house where we got some good coffee and finally were able to make the rest of the plans for our stay in Bushenyi. It was really nice to meet Nathalie as most members of our group had never met her before, but has spent the last 6 months conversing with her.
On tuesday evening our planned piggery-seminar started with a nice welcoming dinner at Bushenyi Guest House. David, who works for Lions Aid Norway, came all the way from Kampala. Luckily for us, he also brought our film-maker Brynhild with him.
On both Wednesday and Thursday Nathalie, Peter, Amanda and Pius (Silent Voices), David, and our group discussed Silent Voices, where they are now, plans for the future and finally, how AIM fit in to all the plans. The discussions where very fruitful, and I think we all agree that more came out of these two days, than our work has in a long time.
We have now agreed that we will support a pilot for Silent Voices new project called One Parent, One Pig. This project will hopefully raise all the income SV needs to run the local part of their organisation. But we are still looking in to the profitability of a piggery, which will be a part of the central funding of SV.
Anyhow, we will come back with more information about this when it's all settled.
Now you are probably wondering about the cow... When we came home to Agatha yesterday, her cow had given birth. In a moment of complete joy I found out that the baby cow didn't have a name. So now the cow is called Anders!! Anders was making a lot of noises the rest of the night, so I'm not sure if he was happy with the name.
This was it from our part for now. We have to wright long posts when we finally have internet. Now it's back to reality, which for now consists of a lot of matooke, no bathroom, a hole in the ground and popcorn for breakfast.
*** Jenny, Pro:Piggery***
No comments:
Post a Comment