40,000/= a week in Jinja, Uganda
(A blog written by Carina Clark, LGH Volunteer in Uganda)

$20 a week (40,000-50,000/= shillings) in Jinja, Uganda…

I’m going to start blogging about how far $20 USD goes in Jinja, Uganda. But before I begin, please keep in mind the economic set-up of Uganda/Africa vs. the USA. Although most Ugandan’s live off of much ‘less’ money we live off of, the cost of food, rent, etc. is much cheaper here. This is one large reason that when “mzungu’s” (English speaking people from Europe, Australia, the US, etc. who are usually white) look extremely rich, and could most likely, “magically help anyone” with our connections and money. It seems, to me, that the percentages of money spent in the states on food, etc, vs. here in eastern Africa, is not SO far off from another (though, we in the states seem to spend money on more ‘unnecessary’ items in general). When I am in Africa, I can eat out or buy as many avocados or pineapples as I want. Ha. In the states, I almost NEVER go out to eat because it’s so expensive, and avocados and fresh fruit are so expensive to me. An avocado here, is about 5-10 cents. In the states, for a good big avocado, it’s probably between $1-$3. Clothes are also cheaper here, along with most other items (except imported items, they are more similar to the prices you’d buy them in the ‘western world’). But don’t get me wrong, the majority of people here do not live in conditions like we of the west live in, with our material items and luxuries (such as each family member having their own bedrooms, running AND hot water, flushing toilets, etc). But again, not everyone here does NOT have those luxuries. Just as anywhere else, there is the lower, middle, and upper classes.

$20 in Uganda can buy…
-20 boda/motorcycle rides. If each ride is about 5-10 minutes (equivalent to about 10-40 minutes of walking), it is usually 1,000/=. This is how people get around if they must travel far distances, or if you’re in a hurry or just don’t want to “foot.” Many people do just walk because they can add up for sure.
-135 chapati’s (kind of like tortillas. Made with flour and water and oil and salt. Delicious. People make ‘em and sell them all around town).
-200 carrots, eggplants, and other veggie
-10-20 shirts

Two weeks ago, Liz and I wanted to buy food and bring it to people who are staying at the hospital. We went to the Children’s Hospital, ready to go with only 20,000/= ($10 worth) of chapatti, bananas, bread, and popcorn. WE were loaded down and had to take a boda because we would be tired of walking. ? We wanted to take food to the hospital because hospitals in Uganda do not provide blankets, food, medications (you must go get it from a pharmacy). When we got to the hospital, we asked around for someone that could direct us, maybe show us the hospital and let us know who could use the food the most. When we found the management, they said that we must FIRST go to Jinja Main Hospital (down the street) and get permission to be here and pass out food. We reluctantly jumped on a boda and found the administration at Jinja Main. The lady told us that we CANNOT pass out food at the hospital. If we want to bring clothes, etc. we can, but not food. We did not get an ‘understandable’ answer as to why we could not bring food to people who, cannot get food from the hospital. She said that if we want to volunteer here, we must write a letter.

So we left the hospital a little disappointed and went to talk to a friend I’ve made who seems to know the ins and outs of Jinja. He suggested we take the food to CRO, a local place that provides food for street kids. We got to the compound and it was increadible. All the people working there were so kind and nice. They gave us a tour and told us about how the organization works. We gave them the food to pass out at 1p (we had to go before lunch), and I said I would come back to hang out and hopefully teach. They were happy about that!

Basically how CRO works is that the “street kids” can come here to get food, take school classes (they have a classroom and a little library), wash their clothes, shower, etc. They cannot spend the night here, but they can start to get ‘direction’ from this place. I like it because, I don’t like how mzungu’s give out food, or especially money to “needy street kids” when they ask. I think there is much problem in that. People come to expect handouts from all mzungu’s and, you can never REALLY be sure of where the food, or especially money, is going. Many times, it goes to their parents, or to a person who “runs” the streets (like in Slumdog Millionaire). Luckily, “word on the street” is that there isn’t a collector man who runs the streets right now.

The second half of the $20 for the week, went to a “bonding project” that I put on for EPOH since sewing machines from the EPOH building were stolen, and some of our workers were thinking that others were involved in the robbery. A lot of mistrust and suspection going on.

I bought a sheet and paint and paintbrushes. We talked about what it means to “trust” someone, and what it means to have good relationship with others. Then we brainstormed ideas of what we want to have in our EPOH work environment (such as, trust, love, relationship) and what we do not want (arguments, lying, hate). They traced their hands and filled the handprint in with paint. The painted hands formed a big circle. Inside the circle, we wrote the words of what they want ‘inside’ EPOH, and outside the circle they wrote words describing what was unwanted at EPOH. The word “EPOH” is backwards for HOPE. So we, and they, hope that they can move past distrust (or, dishonesty and potential employees stealing), to the future and a better future relationship.

The money from last week is also going towards the EPOH employees. I’m going to meet with each tailor, or tailor assistant and take them for tea for about 2 hours. (I have started with the meetings, they are going well so far, yet of course there are many other complicated factors that go into this that I had not anticipated.) I decided this would be nice since the Suubi women get to have people visit their homes, and we do a lot more with Suubi. I meet with each person and go over and questionnaire and a budget for them. I also get a chance to talk with them and hear about their lives. Today was the first meeting, it went well!

I'm adding to this post ALSO pictures (if I can get 'em to load) of my "class" with EPOH this week. They wanted to learn how to cook an "American dish," so with our resources at EPOH, I decided PB & J would be a good "dish." They LOVED it, and thought it was "sooo sweet!" A few of them even wrote down the "recipe" on a piece of paper. We talked about the difference between g-nuts and peanuts (g-nut sauce, a little darker and a little bit of a different taste) and I explained/showed them how to make their own sandwich. Then, they all made their PB & J sandwiches. It was fun!