It is hot outside, just like it always is. The air smells strongly of moisture and sweat, filled with the sounds of children laughing and playing. Beads of sweat cover their brows, and their uniforms are damp with it. Small hands with delicate fingers in every shade of brown cling to my arm and legs, pulling at my skirt, voices begging for attention. I have a small girl balanced on my hip with one arm, and a little boy, who is successfully fighting off all his companions to defend his place at my side, clutching the other.

I spent the weekend of September 13th-14th at Uganda Martyrs Junior Boys’ School in Namilyango. Run by the Little Sisters of Saint Francis, CARITAS For Children’s Catholic ministry partners, it is where most of the boys in our boarding school program attend, and I was eager to learn more about it, since the boys had not yet returned from break when I stayed there a few weeks ago on my first two nights in Uganda. Sr. Immaculate, CARITAS For Children’s Program Director in Uganda, is the head-teacher at Uganda Martyrs (and also one of the kindest and most capable women I have ever met), and I was able to witness first hand her incredible leadership of these young boys.

St. Anthony's is a Catholic nursery school in Nkokonjeru run by the Little Sisters of Saint Francis of Assisi. Part of my job here in Uganda is to help teach the children who attend St. Anthony's — their ages ranging anywhere from three to six or seven-years-old! On Monday, September 8th, the final term of the school year started for all the schools in Uganda and St. Anthony's was no exception. The odd thing about it though, is that in the first week of school, attendance is down at the nursery school. Parents bring older children to school first, and since most families have lots of children, most of those attending St. Anthony's this week are the children who walked by themselves to school in the morning. Next week, I am told, once the older children are settled in school, parents will take the younger ones and we will have full classes again.

On Saturday, September 6, 2014 the girls of Stella Maris returned for the start of another term. The teachers, who always go to their stations in Kampala, Jinja, Mukono, and Gulu, (where they remain all day checking off lists of requirements to clear the girls to return to school on the bus), woke before dawn to board the Stella Maris bus and begin the long journey.

In Nkokonjeru, Monday is market day. People come from the surrounding villages to sell produce, clothing, handmade items, and to buy provisions for the week. I’d never been to an outdoor market before, so I was curious what it would be like, and I have to say that it has far exceeded my expectations.

I arrived in Nkokonjeru on August 30th, but it was a long journey to get here. First it was two flights, one from Chicago to Amsterdam, and another from Amsterdam to Entebbe with a short stop in Kigali. I left Chicago at 4:10pm on the 27th, and arrived in Entebbe at 11:00pm on the 28th. The moment I stepped out of the airport and into the crowd of people waiting to meet those disembarking the plane, I was given a bouquet of roses in dusty pinks and yellows. A tall young man, who I later learned was Joseph Kkonde’s son, approached me, handed me the flowers, and took the cart with my luggage so I didn’t have to push it. Everyone came up to me and said “You are welcome,” and “Nice to meet you,” and I was so overwhelmed that I admit many of the names escape my memory. But they made me feel very welcome and I was instantly at home.

Félix Joseph, is the Location Coordinator for CARITAS' Haitian child sponsorship programs. Below is a bit of background information and reflections by Félix to help everyone learn more about him.

Culture is an incredibly important part of each of us — how we greet people, what we believe, and our views of the world, have a great impact on our lives. During our time in Uganda, we have not only learned many of the cultural traditions that are commonplace in the region, but we have also realized what we value as a part of our cultural heritage. Enjoy a glimpse into the culture of the CARITAS children in Uganda!

Now that we have been here for a month, we have decided to look back on some of the moments of culture shock and the funny things that have happened to us during our time here. We hope you enjoy some of our personal stories from our Uganda experience!