Blog and photos by Lynne Dobson
Millions in this northern region lived in or were born and raised in IDP camps (internally displaced people, camps organized by the government to protect them from LRA attacks) There is overwhelming unemployment and lack of education in the North but a great willingness to move on. Education is a deep cultural value of Ugandans and this spirit of perseverance has been an integral part of the success of ILF here and we’ve seen it in the villages every day.
 
I love seeing signs on buses, cars and roadside with sayings like: Let them Know God Knows, Meet God and a Brighter Tomorrow, With God All Things are Possible, God Provides Beauty and my favorite, God is Able– reminders that life is that step of faith. Ugandans are a devoted religious culture (72% of the population follow the Christian faith). Accessible clean water and the health and sanitation training that ILF can provide are a crucial part of a more equitable and just earthly life.
 
Jerry cans for holding this precious water are everywhere in Uganda. You can’t go one minute in the city or the country without seeing them, and usually it’s more than one bright yellow or blue can at a time being carried by children or adults on bikes or on foot.  By the way, these containers are meant for fuel and can weigh up from 12 to 45 pounds each of water weight.
 
 
Children as young as six years old fetch water for the family and sometimes it can be several times a day if they don’t go to school. Ugandans are charged fees for school attendance and uniforms. The cost might seem minimal to us but for these subsistence farmers and low-wage workers it is often unaffordable.  So it is common for children stop and start school. If they are lucky, they go for water once before school and if the borehole is close by, they won’t be late for class.  And children cherish going to class. Then, if their moms haven’t been able to get to the well again that day, they may fetch water once more in the afternoon before a meal of posho, black beans, cabbage, mashed cassava or matoke.
 
Women in Uganda and Africa do all the domestic work, caring for children, cooking and washing and most of the home gardening.  They take pride in running a good household, very similar to American women. The culture of women worldwide is pretty much the same, to do their best in mothering and domestic management.  What you learn from traveling and exploring other cultures is that people are more alike than different. We all love our children and families.
 
Families in Uganda average 5-8 children. Many women we met proudly stated they had 10 or 12 children and about that many grandchildren!  Children are a source of hope and longevity in struggling economies, with disease or accidents or war having the potential to end life at almost any minute. Everyone works to share the load but women and girls do the most labor because of the patriarchal cultural norm. But Ugandans are slowly progressing. Most all of the water council treasurers are women. The water councils for each well are required by ILF and Water To Thrive and comprised of six to eight people, men and women elected by their peers.  They are crucial to maintaining the unity of the village around the consistent, long-term operations of the wells.
 
To receive a well, each village is required to raise up to $80 in savings from every member of about 400 people, for maintenance of the well through their local district borehole well crews. The treasurer must travel to Lira, often many miles away, to submit the funds to the district offices before ILF will begin drilling.  Once the well is drilled, they must also build a fence around the pump to keep animals away before ILF will install the pump and complete the well.  Accountability is established and a system for exchange and cooperation evolves, resulting in an equitable exchange for a more sustainable lifespan for the well and dignity and control for the entire community. A mutual relationship of trust is formed and villagers are filled with pride and gratitude when they can finally pump clear safe water from their own wells. 
 
(Sylvester sweeping dirt around well; so proud and grateful to care for THEIR well in Angolenyang)
 
The immediate danger from the LRA has been over for seven years and Ugandans are still struggling to see a way forward, but they are rallying.  Peace has returned and many say they will not ever allow Kony back. They are feeling resilient and stronger. Two women villagers told me everyone is finally feeling normal again. Ugandans survive by their resilient, hardworking, and faith-filled character.
 
The initial relationships are caring and intentional, begun by the ILF staff, managers and the 10 sanitation trainers. We visited all 10 Water To Thrive funded projects and each site is unique, but the gratitude and the relief expressed for clean and safe water is the same everywhere. Scott says that Apac District has solid and efficient leadership that will assist with their goal of building enough wells to serve the needs of every single community here.  We saw consistent construction and clear water at every project.
 
It is Sunday, a holy, peaceful day in this country and in our hearts. We heard lovely harmonic singing from down the road at a church service at 7:30 on this foggy cool morning.  It is our last day to head out and shoot photos in a village called Topeyero Main, awaiting an ILF borehole well. We know most in this community have been drinking from a filthy water pond a ½ mile away. The nearest borehole is two miles away and some in this village walk there to get water. There have been 7 deaths from typhoid in the last few years and countless cases of dysentery and malaria.
 
Our anticipation is always rewarded with delightful surprises along the way.  Ugandans are extremely friendly, hospitable and polite and we are often greeted with ebullient singing and delicious, freshly grown food. And always with the phrase, “You are most welcome.” God is everywhere and these people are  indeed able.
 

We have exchanged many smiles, warm hugs and handshakes in every village and we can’t wait to introduce you to these special people. 

Blog and photos by Lynne Dobson
Millions in this northern region lived in or were born and raised in IDP camps (internally displaced people, camps organized by the government to protect them from LRA attacks) There is overwhelming unemployment and lack of education in the North but a great willingness to move on. Education is a deep cultural value of Ugandans and this spirit of perseverance has been an integral part of the success of ILF here and we’ve seen it in the villages every day.
 
I love seeing signs on buses, cars and roadside with sayings like: Let them Know God Knows, Meet God and a Brighter Tomorrow, With God All Things are Possible, God Provides Beauty and my favorite, God is Able– reminders that life is that step of faith. Ugandans are a devoted religious culture (72% of the population follow the Christian faith). Accessible clean water and the health and sanitation training that ILF can provide are a crucial part of a more equitable and just earthly life.
 
Jerry cans for holding this precious water are everywhere in Uganda. You can’t go one minute in the city or the country without seeing them, and usually it’s more than one bright yellow or blue can at a time being carried by children or adults on bikes or on foot.  By the way, these containers are meant for fuel and can weigh up from 12 to 45 pounds each of water weight.
 
 
Children as young as six years old fetch water for the family and sometimes it can be several times a day if they don’t go to school. Ugandans are charged fees for school attendance and uniforms. The cost might seem minimal to us but for these subsistence farmers and low-wage workers it is often unaffordable.  So it is common for children stop and start school. If they are lucky, they go for water once before school and if the borehole is close by, they won’t be late for class.  And children cherish going to class. Then, if their moms haven’t been able to get to the well again that day, they may fetch water once more in the afternoon before a meal of posho, black beans, cabbage, mashed cassava or matoke.
 
Women in Uganda and Africa do all the domestic work, caring for children, cooking and washing and most of the home gardening.  They take pride in running a good household, very similar to American women. The culture of women worldwide is pretty much the same, to do their best in mothering and domestic management.  What you learn from traveling and exploring other cultures is that people are more alike than different. We all love our children and families.
 
Families in Uganda average 5-8 children. Many women we met proudly stated they had 10 or 12 children and about that many grandchildren!  Children are a source of hope and longevity in struggling economies, with disease or accidents or war having the potential to end life at almost any minute. Everyone works to share the load but women and girls do the most labor because of the patriarchal cultural norm. But Ugandans are slowly progressing. Most all of the water council treasurers are women. The water councils for each well are required by ILF and Water To Thrive and comprised of six to eight people, men and women elected by their peers.  They are crucial to maintaining the unity of the village around the consistent, long-term operations of the wells.
 
To receive a well, each village is required to raise up to $80 in savings from every member of about 400 people, for maintenance of the well through their local district borehole well crews. The treasurer must travel to Lira, often many miles away, to submit the funds to the district offices before ILF will begin drilling.  Once the well is drilled, they must also build a fence around the pump to keep animals away before ILF will install the pump and complete the well.  Accountability is established and a system for exchange and cooperation evolves, resulting in an equitable exchange for a more sustainable lifespan for the well and dignity and control for the entire community. A mutual relationship of trust is formed and villagers are filled with pride and gratitude when they can finally pump clear safe water from their own wells. 
 
(Sylvester sweeping dirt around well; so proud and grateful to care for THEIR well in Angolenyang)
 
The immediate danger from the LRA has been over for seven years and Ugandans are still struggling to see a way forward, but they are rallying.  Peace has returned and many say they will not ever allow Kony back. They are feeling resilient and stronger. Two women villagers told me everyone is finally feeling normal again. Ugandans survive by their resilient, hardworking, and faith-filled character.
 
The initial relationships are caring and intentional, begun by the ILF staff, managers and the 10 sanitation trainers. We visited all 10 Water To Thrive funded projects and each site is unique, but the gratitude and the relief expressed for clean and safe water is the same everywhere. Scott says that Apac District has solid and efficient leadership that will assist with their goal of building enough wells to serve the needs of every single community here.  We saw consistent construction and clear water at every project.
 
It is Sunday, a holy, peaceful day in this country and in our hearts. We heard lovely harmonic singing from down the road at a church service at 7:30 on this foggy cool morning.  It is our last day to head out and shoot photos in a village called Topeyero Main, awaiting an ILF borehole well. We know most in this community have been drinking from a filthy water pond a ½ mile away. The nearest borehole is two miles away and some in this village walk there to get water. There have been 7 deaths from typhoid in the last few years and countless cases of dysentery and malaria.
 
Our anticipation is always rewarded with delightful surprises along the way.  Ugandans are extremely friendly, hospitable and polite and we are often greeted with ebullient singing and delicious, freshly grown food. And always with the phrase, “You are most welcome.” God is everywhere and these people are  indeed able.
 

We have exchanged many smiles, warm hugs and handshakes in every village and we can’t wait to introduce you to these special people.