A visit to the Africa branch③,

The reason we care about tommorrow of Uganda

For 23 days from 18th June to 11th July, we visited four African countries to monitor our projects. We visited Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Uganda, countries working on child welfare project and Kenya, performing community development.

We are blessed.

‘Goldenberry School’, Namugonggo, Uganda 

 After the schedule in Hanbyeol academy, we took a flight to Uganda, the place known as ‘pearl of Africa’. The view seen through the window was so beautiful. There lies marvelous combination of leafy earth and Lake Victoria, the world’s second off the biggest lake. When we got off at the Entebe International airport, Uganda, hot sunshine welcomed us. Uganda is located beneath the equator. It is cool under shadow, but without it, you will be exposed to strong, direct sunlight. Ugandans outside had far darker skin compared to the brown skin of Ethiopians we saw.

 Miral has been cooperating with two local schools in Uganda on child welfare project since July, 2013. Two local schools working with Miral are ‘Goldenberry School’, located in Gonggo region and ‘Kim’s school’, in Gloo region located north of Uganda. We first visited ‘Goldenberry School’.

 Goldenberry school was lead by project manager Jung Sook An, the general director and principal of preschool. They began by opening preschool courses, and now they are managing education program from preschool to elementary school (1st~6th grade, and from 2015 they will be educating students of 7th).

  Just like many other African countries which had been colonized, Uganda also got negative effect when they were under Britain. Ugandans normally have passive behavior and they are used to getting anything that is given to them. So Goldenberry School is aiming to make Uganda to be independent, self reliance and aiding country by educating people of Uganda. For this, the school put ‘honest, earnest, wisdom’ as a practical goal along with motto ‘Love your neighbors. Goldenberry School provides good quality education together with Miral.

 When visited Goldenberry School, students in green uniform greeted us. All of the students ranging from kindergarten, learning Alphabets to elementary, taking midterm exam, were studying hard. There was a break time from 10am to 10:30am. During break time, tea and snacks were offered to students. When they are done with their snack, they ran out to the playground. Some students were playing in circle, others on monkey bars and rest playing with ball. There was no big difference from elementary students in Korea. I couldn’t help smiling while looking them playing. According to project manager Jung Sook An, everyone was too shy to talk at the beginning of the semester. However, they grew up as cheerful children like this after keep on encouraging them to have confidence. I was happy to hear that. In school, children came to me and said “hi” and some of them were surious with my appearance which was different from them. They were especially amazed by my straight hair. They were touching my hair and said ‘it’s soft!’ several times. Their reggae hair looked cool in our eyes, but I guess it was different for them.

 There is a special event in Goldenberry School. This special event was held this year for the first time. Event is to select Ms. Goldenberry and Mr. Hero. Ms. Goldenberry selects the best girl who has done lots of fashion shows and good works. Mr. Hero selects boy who has done the best writing about his vision in the writing contest. Through this event, students get to express themselves and also get to think about their vision. Goldenberry School is planning to hold Ms Goldenberry and Mr. Hero event in order to give students an opportunity to walk closer to their dream.

 In this afternoon, we had an interview with students and teachers. Fifth grader Lucia`s dream is to be a dentist. When we asked why, she said that she wants to help them by offering offer basic dental treatment for poor Ugandans. Lucimode said she wants to be a webtoon writer( online cartoon writer). That is not yet a popular job in Korea too. Why would she want to be a webtoon writer? She said that she wanted to give dream and vision to poor Ugandan children by webtoon.

 Dream that each students had were various: dentist, webtoon writer, farmer, singer and such on, but they had same reason, which made them to have certain dream. It was to help poor Ugandans. This reminded me about the motto of the school ‘Love your neighbors’. As I finish interview with students I realized an important fact that giving love and interest towards ones and providing proper education is more important than financial support. I look forward for the future led by students of Goldenberry.