Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Empowerment Center was full today!  Approximately 40 women and a few men were here for the day learning new dyeing techniques for the materials used to make the baskets.  Very interesting to see.  There were several large pots on wood fires behind the Center.  Each pot was used for a different dye.  Carrots were crushed and boiled to make a beautiful yellow dye; an herb (Nyarwehindura) was used to get a dark navy/black dye; the same herb was used with ash added to achieve a soft light blue/slate/green color.  We were also able to watch the women weaving – what an amazing skill.

There was also much time spent explaining and demonstrating improvements that could be made in jewelry making to make the products desirable for purchase in the United States.  Sue, Ginny, Toni and Alexander, with the help of Octavia, critiqued well over 300 necklaces one-by-one with the MEP women.  Additionally, we also time spent showing the men what type and quality of carving would sell well in the U.S.   We are anxious to begin carrying more wood figurines and walking sticks!

Believe it or not, there was more painting again today.  A strip was painted at the bottom of the columns and walls on the back veranda to match the green on the front of the building.  Then the walls above the tile in the new shower room were primed.

We also spent time getting the pillowcase dresses and shorts organized.  These items were donated by many kind individuals and they will be given to the village boys and girls this Saturday morning.  Luckily we have team members here who have experienced this event before, so it should go fairly smooth.  Each year is a little less chaotic.

The HANDS team stayed in Kabale today.  They shopped in the morning for a few needed supplies for the ACT Center, such as mosquito nets, towels and hooks to hang the nets. Along with Generous, Moses, Sharon and two local government officials they visited the Mushroom Training and Research Center just east of Kabale to increase their knowledge on the training, start-up costs and profitability of growing mushrooms.  We were warmly greeted and given a tour by Emmanuel, the manager of the center.  The discussion should “set the stage” for bringing more individuals in Muko sub-county into this profitable

new endeavor. They were also able to meet with the local chairman of Kabale District to inform him of ACT’s Mission.  He was pleased to learn about ACT and thanked us for all the efforts to improve the lives of the people of Uganda.

Bill and Michelle are staying in the village tonight to take advantage of all of the improvements that have been made to make the center a little more like home. 

Karen headed to Muko High School to hold her usual violin/viola practice.   All went well.

This day was very full – from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with dinner at 9:00 pm.  I tell you this so you understand why we think today we rated a 163.5%.