Week 5: Youth Booth

In some upcoming posts I will catch you all up about the youth camps I have been spending the past couple of weeks at but let’s meet another fantastic youth I get to hang out with.

Ready?

Say hello to Nakato Rachel.

Recently turned 16 years on August 25^th.  I explained to her about Sweet 16 and how in America this is the age you can begin to drive on your own once you pass a driving test and receive your license.  She merely shrugged her shoulders… I mean why would you want to drive in crazy Kampala.  Need a reminder?  Please read: Matatus, Bodas, and Bikes, Oh My!    

She is studying in secondary school at the level of S1, somehow equal to 8^th grade in the States.  Due to the cost of school fees in Uganda, you find that the ages of students in the class are widespread…

Rachel was born and raised in Kamuli District in Eastern Uganda but moved to Kampala two years ago with her family to pursue better educational opportunities.

Throughout her studies she has settled on computers as her favorite subject.

When she finishes her education she hopes to become a dancer.

I asked Rachel how her education would help her pursue her goals of being a dancer.  Her response, “I need to continue to study so that when I stop to dance I will remain with the education to help me with jobs.  It is better to be with two things in your life than just one.  It will make life easier.”

Some of her favorite moments at In Movement include leading dance sessions, which I can vouch for as her passion comes through.

One thing she has learned over the years is that if she searches to do something with all her heart, she can do it without fear.

Two weeks ago Rachel attended GirlTech 3.14159, an empowerment camp for Ugandan girls.  I was nervous about sending some of my In Movement girls, as this camp would be focusing on science and technology and not so much on creative arts.  Needless to say, Rachel’s mindset and mantra set the tone for those girls to enjoy the camp, exploring their options, and sharing what they know to help bridge the gap between creative arts and science.

Rachel’s advice to the youth is, “Try and fail but never fail to try.”

I know that this girl will go far in life.

How you ask?

Straight from her mouth, “Everyone on Earth is born with talents but you have to make sure that you influence your talent and make your dreams pass through.”

Week 4: Youth Booth

As they say, “Better late than never.” 

In case you forgot my crazy busy schedule, feel free to read my Busy Bee post.

Enough excuses from my end and let me catch you all up with another fantastic youth I get the incredible opportunity of working with.

Friends and family all over the world, please meet one of my favorite boys Hamuza Primo.

Let me preface this by saying that I have the absolute coolest job.  Living and working in Uganda with the Peace Corps has opened my eyes to life that I never thought I would get the chance to live.  Then tack on my partnering organization, In Movement, and I am in heaven. 

Primo is one of In Movement’s alumni and even in the short time I have been here, I have seen his growth as he pursues his hopes and dreams. 

It is pretty crazy to think that some of my closest friends in Uganda are 14 years old, like Primo.  Although his birthday is quickly approaching on November 12^th!

His family comes from the West Nile Region of Uganda although he was born and raised in Kampala.  Primo was born at Mulago National Referral Hospital, which was once the premier hospital of East Africa!

He studies in Secondary 2 at Kololo High School and his favorite subject is English.

Once Primo completes his education, he has aspirations of becoming a professional dancer of all styles.

His favorite thing about being apart of In Movement is, “The community and the way they treat us.  It is so good!”

His advice to the youth around the world is, “Whenever you love something, do not easily give up.  Just go for it!”

While he has many dreams he has hopes of pursuing, one of his greatest is to travel all over the world and teach dance to others.

In his free time he enjoys listening to music by his favorite artist, Chris Brown. 

The happiest and hardest moments of this dancer’s life are intertwined… At his first dance performance in November 2011 at The National Theatre he was very excited to be pursuing his dreams but was also fearful about how others would view him as he tends to be quiet spoken and shy upon first impressions and he did not want people to judge his dancing abilities.

I think I can speak for a majority and say that no one is judging him whatsoever. 

I am going to miss this kid a lot when my time in Uganda comes to an end.

Truth be told he has taught me a lot about myself than I could ever imagine.

Watch him dance!

Here I Stand was showcased at the End of Year Performance.  Primo is the one on the left hand side in the opening count.

At 1:12 in Happy Kampala he is the one performing in the black shirt with pink writing.

Along with Frank performed Imagine at a Peace Corps fundraiser for Fred and Primo is the one in the front in the first dance count.

Week 3: Youth Booth

Meet my new friend Nakimuli Sharitah.

Actually you can just call her Sharitah. 

This lovely lady and I recently met at Eastern Camp held in Mbale.  Sharitah was one of the first campers to arrive and I could tell as she stepped off the matatu how full of potential she is to be a leader in her community. 

No surprise as she is the youth of one of my favorite PCVs from my group, Caitlin.

Throughout the week I began to see Sharitah grow as a leader… Paving the way for her fellow peers, taking initiative, and demonstrating the core leadership values of responsibility, self-discipline, and integrity.  As I arrived to GirlTech 3.14159 for another week of camp, one of the campers gave me a letter from Miss Sharitah.  My heart was filled with joy and warmth as I read it.

My favorite line?

“Your heart fills even the coldest room in winter in Canada.”

Let’s learn more about her…

She is currently 16 years but will turn 17 in November.

Sharitah resides in Jinja, just East of Kampala that is home to the source of the Nile and milkshakes.

She is in Secondary 5, which is considered advanced level, which means soon she will be on her way to University if money allows.

As she pursues higher education, she wants to be a businesswoman, managing an independent and successful business.

About her family… She lives with her mom, who is HIV+.  She acquired the virus after she produced all of her five children.  Sharitah’s father died when she was four years, although she forgets how.  He was HIV-.  She has two biological siblings, an older sister and a younger brother.  She then has two younger half siblings, a brother and sister.  She is second born.

No surprise that her favorite subject is economics.

If she had to eat one meal for the rest of her life she would choose rice and beans.  This seems to be a fan favorite among Ugandans!

She loves listening to Taylor Swift.

She prefers the rainy season to the dry one because she doesn’t have to buy any water.

During her week at camp her favorite moments have been making new friends and discussing with her peers about their different lifestyles.

With one million shillings she would set up a small poultry and rabbit keeping business for her Mom, as there is a high productivity.  She would use the rest of the money to pay school fees and invest for her future.

Her words of advice to the youth of today are to, “Work hard because many of us want everything to just come easily but you only get what you work for.  Working hard is success.”

She was such a doll to meet and I look forward to hearing where she goes in the future.

Go get ‘em LION!

Week 2: Youth Booth

Meet Jennifer.

14 years old.

B-Girl.

Born and raised in Kampala.

Primary 7.

I met Jennifer in May 2013 at South by Southwest Camp where she was just 12 years old. 

When I saw her at a World Music event in Kampala in June she came up to me screaming my name saying how excited she was to see me.  I had to kindly request for her name again and when she told me, I didn’t think anything of it.

Then the light bulb lit.

It took me over an hour to realize that this young woman who was growing into her curves was the same young girl starring in a breakdance performance on domestic violence at that camp.

She's the one in the white top

Since we are both in Kampala, I am now lucky enough to hang out with this bright young woman on a weekly basis.

Jennifer’s dream is to become a constitutional lawyer to strengthen her country for what is right.

She wants to travel to Poland because she has friends there who also share her passion of breakdancing.

The simple things in life make Jennifer happy… Things like dancing, singing, and swimming.  She is not ready to take on the waters Lake Victoria yet.  She sticks to the various pools around Kampala.

She comes from a family with 5 other siblings, three brothers and 2 sisters, with her being the second oldest.  When she was 12 her parents divorced.

Her happiest moment in life was joining Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) because everyone welcomed her freely and openly.

He hardest moment was when one of her younger brothers passed away in a car accident.

To all the youth out in the world Jennifer wants to tell you, “Be yourself and look out for what is best for you!”

Busy Bee

Despite the reality that everyone’s Peace Corps service is unique there always are trends among the Volunteers.

Sometimes you are busy, usually around your one-year mark, and other times you are free as a bird, usually once you arrive at site and towards the end of your service.

Well the end of my service is looking like a whirlwind. 

Had I not extended my service, I would have been leaving on a jet plane in 15 days.

Instead here is how the rest of my service looks…

August 8^th to 15^th: Counselor at Eastern Camp

August 15^th to 23^rd: Counselor at GirlTech 3.14159

August 24^th: 27 months in country celebration with sushi!

August 25^th to 28^th: All Volunteer Conference

September to October weekdays: Malaria murals and Kids Who Click!

September 5^th: First Friday Film

September 13^th, 20^th, 27^th, and October 4^th: Youth Leadership Summit

October 3^rd: First Friday Film

October 11^th: Girl Rising Event with In Movement

October 29^th to November 2^nd: Halloween in Mbale

November 7^th: First Friday Film

November 27^th: Thanksgiving cross culture program with In Movement

December 5^th to 13^th: National Camps

December 15^th-ish: Leave Uganda

December 15^th-ish to 23^rd-ish: Cape Town!

December 27^th: Starbucks date back in California with Emily!

In between all of that… Zip lining, Sipi Falls, trip to Kisoro, trying to write grants for In Movement, a trip back up to Kitgum for a Re-Usable Menstrual Pad training with my previous organization, salsa dancing, a beach day at Lake Victoria with my favorite kids, hanging out with the In Movement youth, shows at The National Theatre, craft shopping, getting outfits made out of my favorite African fabric, sending a package home, and much more.

I have always been a person who thrives when their plate is full. 

Well currently this plate is one at a typical Ugandan meal.  Not only is it full… It is about to topple over!

A very full plate of your traditional meal of posho and beans

I am stoked for the upcoming projects and networks I am establishing.  This work is meaningful and something I have become beyond passionate about.  This work is something I am looking to build my future off of once I finish my Peace Corps chapter and begin the next.

In the meantime, looks like I have some work to do!