Day 5: Kayla, Imelda and Alice

We left this morning for the Nambogo Primary School where we hung another sign to announce our collaboration with the Rotary Club of Namugongo and the support we have received from Rotary International. Phoebe had already visit this school to provide kits and our curriculum but at that time she didn’t have the signs, so we stopped by today to install one. While there, Brynn and I took the opportunity to interview two girls who have been using our pad for a few months.

I spoke to Kayla who is in P7 (7th grade). She has only been menstruating for 3 months and had already been given our kit before she started her period. What a delight to speak with her. She told me the pad was “perfect” and that she loved the colors and that her mother didn’t have to find the money to buy supplies. She said girls are talking about how comfortable it is and how it is helping so many students. WATCH PART OF THE INTERVIEW HERE. The day was off to a lovely start.

I spoke briefly to the head teacher, Esther, who said, “Thank you for loving the girls!” I hear that often and think it’s such sweet words of gratitude.

Phoebe, Esther (head teacher at Nambogo Primary School), Ellie and Brynn

Next we went to the Namanoga Secondary School. I’ve visited here in past years and as before it took some twists and turns to find it. We spoke to the Senior 1 and Senior 2 girls (9th and 10th grades) having already met with the upper classes during a previous visit.

Phoebe was at her all-time best today. Don’t get me wrong, she is always amazing but today was special. We found about 100 girls waiting for us, but when Phoebe asked a question there was complete silence. Oh No! This can be so discouraging and we all wondered how it was going to proceed, but before we knew it Phoebe had them on their feet pointing to body parts and repeating after her. The girls started to laugh and by the time she had them back in their seats they were willing to participate and fully enjoying themselves. Pure magic!

We did our usual lessons with Phoebe charming the girls in every way and when we were finished a student named Imelda, asked if she could dance for us. Wow! We have been looking for dancers for a video to promote our online dance party/fundraiser in collaboration with Shake It So (coming in May).  We put a Shake It So sticker on Imelda’s  sleeve, cued some music and dance she did. And boy can she move. We all clapped and smiled through the performance as did all of the other students. Brynn loved that Imelda asked her for a hug when she sat back down.

Next, we headed for Alice’s house when our school visit was over. Alice is the head of our little sewing guild in Kimenyedde. Her brother, Fred and his wife Dawn live in Latham, New York and worked with us several years ago to start a cooperative here. Alice took the lead and found tailors to sew the kits and schools for distribution, and we have been bringing The MoonCatcher Project to this area ever since.

Alice, Ellie, Brynn and Phoebe in Kimenyedde.

It was so wonderful to see my old friend. We hugged and hugged. She was so happy that we were there. True to form she remembered that I love her homegrown ground nuts and had some for us to eat and more for us to take with us. I had been telling Brynn and Zak about them, and they agreed there was nothing so yummy.

Alice surprised us with a wonderful treat - ground nuts!

We arrived home late and I’m feeling sleepy, so I’ll end. It was a full productive day. I am so grateful.