If you look back at the history of Uganda you know its not that positive. Idi Amine, Colonialization, Wars, Famine, its probably one of the most unstable places in the world's history. This means a few things. One of them being, there is nothing holding this place up.
Electrical infrastructure is barely in place, the power fluctuates constantly. 100v - 400v over the course of a week is pretty hard on everything. The people don't have much banking or finance infrastructure so credit is hard to come by. AIDS killed many people, so there are many orphans. The instability creates poverty, creates more orphans. Basically the infrastructure here IS the people.
The "public schools" all require fees to be paid by the students. Additionally because of the last horrific ruler, Idi, the school system is meant to hold people down. Add to that the fact that today's teachers were students under his rule, the education system is basically un-changed. Memorization is the rule of the school, not learning.
Over the last few days we have been focussed on working with "Street Kids". We have had the pleasure of working with smiling faces, humble girls that just want to have a better life. John, Becky and I have been doing STEM learning projects with Lego Mindstorms and Edison robots and have been amazed. Some of the girls, with a very basic education, have really picked this up and ran with it.
How they can do anything, really, is beyond me. Some of these girls have had parents that beat them bloody and sent them out begging because they look worse and will do better begging. Most of the girls have spent countless hours sorting through trash piles and garbage to find scraps of food or "recyclables" like steel and aluminum which have value. Often if they return with nothing they are beaten some more. These girls have come from rough beginnings and the sad fact is there are hundreds more just like them, that tonight will sleep on the street and run and hide from demented men who would use them for whatever they like.
I have looked into the eyes of the rescued and cannot see the pain. They are joyful. They are eager to learn. They are children again. They dance and smile and hug you and thank you for teaching them. I think I am allergic to that because they keep making my eyes water.
Yesterday I had the pleasure to have a few minutes with Daniel, the man that wanted to save them and has set his life in motion to do it. Starting 4 years ago he has created a place for the girls to be safe and have food and get education. He has a faith based program going and has taken 25 girls off the street and put them into his program. He's putting that good energy out there and getting it back in terrific ways. Watch the video and listen to his story and how he felt drawn to give back. https://youtu.be/tivYRh8qsSM
Why STEM education for girls that barely have a grasp of basic education? Because Hackers don't ask these questions. Hackers look for the end and then work on the means. If you watch them building Mindstorms you see them counting the number of holes in a piece or assembly and placing connectors so many holes from the end, etc... You see them talking to each other, correcting and guiding each other. They are Hackers in their own right. They don't take on computer systems like the TV Hackers but they use their resources and solve problems. They are curious and want to know things. These girls have unlimited possibilities and I am proud to be even a small part of Hackers for Charity and know the good work that is being done to make sure these girls are cared for.
Please keep the Mirembe Cottage in your heart, if you pray - here is a subject for you to bow your head over, if you have the means, donate to a cause that will help a fellow human that hasn't had the advantages you have had. I know I will be doing more with this group but they are such great kids I cannot do enough.
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