“This month did not go according to plan!” I am sure that many of us can say that. Amidst chaos, sickness, and concerns in East Africa, our women still have hope. The situation in Uganda and East Africa is challenging, and yet there is something greater...
It has been 10 days since I made the long journey home from Uganda. 10 days since I felt the hot sun beat down, only to be tamed by the gentle, afternoon breeze. The musty scent of charcoal fires has finally washed out of my hair and my mosquito bites are fading away. I have finished taking my travel meds and my suitcases are nearly unpacked. All the signs that I have been to Uganda are disappearing, and yet the memories are so clear...so fresh...so real. While every trip has similarities, they are always different, each marked by special events, themes, or moments. And this one, was no different...
Over the years, nonprofits have served humanity by addressing needs that have slipped through the cracks of the government, the economy, and other systems. On the front of international poverty, many organizations have historically used a model of relief, giving aid and resources only to find that the recipients develop a greater dependency on the organizations. While there are some contexts that require relief, most development work must employ a different model that can create self-sufficiency and an infrastructure for lasting change.
When we started BOH, we didn't want to fall into the trap of relief work and leave our women worse off than when we started. We had to do something different...
There’s something about stepping off that plane that I will never forget…the warm air hitting my face; the smell of a charcoal fire burning from a nearby home; the relief of arriving after a long journey; the feeling of familiarity; and the joyful sense of arriving home. People often ask, "How long is the trip to Uganda?" But while it is a long journey, that is never what I remember about the trip. It is the smiles...the people...the memories of being in a place that feels familiar, a place where I feel at home.
In what ways have you seen progress?”...This was the question a woman recently asked me at one of our events. She was eager and excited, wanting to hear more. “Progress”…this is an interesting term when we are working with people. How do you measure progress in another person’s life…and better yet, who am I to do that?
