Work for Life is an Austin-based organization
which helps African entrepreneurs create sustainable businesses to
eradicate poverty and eliminate poverty-related issues. Through Work for
Life, entrepreneurs receive the funding and mentorship necessary to
build successful businesses. Bill joined the team in March, 2011
for their semi-annual trip to Uganda.
Day 1 & 2 - Travel to Uganda
The team left Austin on Thursday afternoon for the long trip to Entebbe,
Uganda. Joining us for the journey were two members of the African
Children's Choir, Jonah and Reagan, who were returning to their homes in
Uganda after a US tour with the choir.
Robert, Kevin, Carl, Bill and Rob at the Austin airport, along with
Reagan and Jonah
A long way from Texas
Home for the next week
Day 3 - Uganda
We spent our first two days in Uganda
immersing ourselves in the culture to understand the environment in
which entrepreneurs here operate. On Saturday, we visited
Cherish
- an orphanage for HIV and AIDS kids outside of Kampala. Brent,
Leah and their family recently moved to Uganda from the US to operate
the orphanage and are doing great work there. After lunch at an
African restaurant (with the soon-to-be familiar fare of matoki, posho,
and gnut sauce) and a brief tour of the Ugandan president's palace, we
drove to the African Children's Choir school for our first of many visits with
the kids there. Everyone of us was greeted with a hug from
everyone of the kids, and they seemed to enjoy
visitors as much as we enjoyed being with them. After only a day
of African food, we were ready for a taste of home and dined on pizza
this evening.
Visiting with the kids at Cherish - they seemed to love company and were
fascinated with our cameras and watches
Lunch with our host Scott and Brent, Leah and family
In front of the African Children's Choir school
The street scene outside of the African Childrens' Choir office - very
typical for Kampala
Day 4 - Uganda
On Sunday, we started the day at a worship service with kids in one of the
many slum areas of Kampala. After the worship service and Sunday
School, each of the kids received one hard boiled egg and a warm rice
drink - perhaps their only meal of the day. Later that morning, we
spent an hour walking through one of the slums of Kampala. Rain
the night before made everything muddy and flooded many of the homes
there. It's hard to believe that people live in those
conditions. Later, after about a 90 minute drive north of Kampala,
we visited the family of Evah, one of the African Children's Choir
alumni. Evah's mother ("Momma") had been up since 5am to begin
cooking for us (with no electricity or running water) and was dressed in
her best clothing to welcome us. We volunteered to wash dishes
after lunch, and the family was shocked to see men doing domestic work!
After lunch, we took a walking tour of the village and met many of their
neighbors. Dinner tonight was at Scott's house.
Sunday morning worship service with the kids
Some of the kids at the worship service
Touring a slum in Kampala
Lunch, courtesy of Momma
Washing dishes the old fashioned way (and with no running water!)
Hanging out with Momma in front of her house
Touring the village
Day 5 - Uganda
On Monday, the Work for Life team led a full day
of business plan training for 25 entrepreneurs. Each of us were
challenged to adapt our US way of doing things to the very different
business climate in Uganda. After a stop for dinner, we boarded a
late night flight to Kigali, Rwanda
Marketing is marketing, anywhere in the world
Working with the entrepreneurs in Uganda
Dinner on the way to the airport
Heading to Rwanda
Day 6 - Rwanda
We started our day at IJM - the International Justice Mission. IJM
is a team of legal professionals who represent victims of
violence and sexual exploitation. Later that morning, we met with
a husband and wife team who sought our help in starting a large fish
farm in Rwanda. We spent the afternoon at the Genocide Museum - a
very moving place. After an excellent dinner at an Asian
restaurant in Kigali, we headed for the airport for our flight back to
Uganda.
Discussing fish farming in Rwanda
At the Genocide Museum (I guess we shouldn't really be smiling)
At dinner with Lane, the director of IJM
Back to our home base
Day 7 - Uganda
A mzungu with a bunch of the African Children's Choir kids
Day 8 - Uganda
On our last day in Uganda, we met with the four business plan
competition finalists to coach them on their plans. After lunch at
a coffee shop, we toured a very large and crowded public market.
On our way to the airport for our late night flight home, we stopped at
the boarding school attended by the alumni of the African Children's
Choir. We ate dinner with them, played soccer, and toured their
school. After dinner, at a special assembly put on just for us,
the kids thanked us with all they had to give - a song.
