Opportunities Abound!
“She couldn’t believe that she had the chance to actually meet lawyers for the first time in person and they were so friendly and helpful to her. It really expanded her world and made her dream seem like more of a reality.”
Kristen: Hey Jen, got a couple questions for you about the trip. Can you please provide for us an overall chronology of the trip so far?
Jennifer: Sure! On Friday, May 7th, we took eight Gulu girls to Bwaise. We arrived in the afternoon and were greeted by our sisters. After lunch, Robinah organized a get-to-know you game and some ice breakers. By the end of the day everyone was dancing and mingling with girls from the other house.
- On Saturday, we rented a van and took 30 girls to the shopping center. Robinah bought them notebooks so they could write notes about everything new they saw. Many of them rode an elevator & escalator for the first time. We went to the zoo. Girls took notes on all the animals they saw. Lake Victoria was next to the zoo so it was fun seeing the girls run down to the lake and jump in the waves. Everyone had an amazing day.
- On Sunday morning it rained so many of the houses in Bwaise flooded. Needless to say, our day started a bit late. We took the girls to dinner at a nice Indian restaurant called Nawab. For many it was their first time in a nice restaurant. Then we got them ice cream after which they really enjoyed.
- On Monday, we headed up to Gulu with eight of the Bwaise girls. For many of the Bwaise girls, it was their first time leaving the five mile radius of their home. Ida, one of the hairdressing students, thought that Gulu was so far away that it wasn’t even in Uganda. She also said the being on the bus felt like she was on an airplane. We arrived in Gulu that evening and had dinner then the Gulu girls performed a traditional Acholi dance. The girls from Kampala joined in and learned some new moves.
- On Tuesday, the Bwaise girls got a tour of the local market. They helped prepare some traditional food like Gobe (greens with peanut sauce).
- On Wednesday, the girls hung out at the house and talked, laughed, danced and got to know each other better. They visited Restore Academy with John and Robinah.
- Today, we left for Bwaise with the rest of the six Gulu girls and arrived this afternoon. Many of the Bwaise girls didn’t want to leave Gulu because they though the Total Impact house was so big and nice. Doreen said that she thought everyone in Gulu lived in huts and was surprised to see the size of the Total Impact house!
Kristen: Who all has helped with the trip?
Jennifer: Of course staff and myself, and then Kirsten and her friend Ed, both from England, joined us at the zoo last Saturday. Kirsten is a lawyer with International Justice Mission in Uganda. She was able to talk with Pauline from Bwaise and Annett from Gulu about being a lawyer since they are both hoping to become lawyers one day. It was a wonderful connection for all of them. Kirsten was so impressed with the girls and invited them to come visit the IJM offices in Kampala. Tomorrow we will take Pauline and Juliet from Gulu, who is down this week and wants to study law, to visit her at work and talk to the lawyers there.
Kristen: I’ve heard many girls talk about how they are scared of the water; what did they think about the lake?
Jennifer: Everyone loved the lake! Some girls had an initial fear of the water, but quickly joined their sisters in splashing and jumping in the waves.
Kristen: Any hiccups in the trip?
Jennifer: So far, not really. I would say the only thing is that there weren’t as many activities planned in Gulu because there is not as much to do there as in Kampala. I don’t think the girls got bored – at least they said they weren’t bored. 
I think for the city girls it was refreshing to be in the country.
Kristen: Based on your observation, Jen, who do you think (thus far) the trip has impacted the most? What do you see that’s different?
Jennifer: I would say Juliet from Gulu has been very strongly affected by this trip. We took her and Pauline from Bwaise to the IJM offices today. We met with lawyers there and they were able to ask them questions about the profession. It was so encouraging for them and they got some great advice about studying hard, reading as much as possible and working to promote justice instead of make money. She couldn’t believe that she had the chance to actually meet lawyers for the first time in person and they were so friendly and helpful to her. It really expanded her world and made her dream seem like more of a reality.
Kristen: As a visitor and helper at the Total House, tell us what it has been like for you. Give us your perspective and what you see that is working. Tell us about the photography you have been doing with the girls.
Jennifer: Getting to know the girls at the Total Impact house has been amazing! They are so thankful and grateful for the opportunity to study and get ahead in life. They understand the importance of education and they all have such ambitious dreams. These girls are so bright! I know that they will have such a ripple effect on their country and touch so many lives. I have certainly taught the girls some things – how to play the card game spoons, about photography, and we’ve done drawing and art. But they have taught me so much as well – how to wash my clothes by hand, how to cook on a little stove with coals, how to kill three inch cockroaches, how to dance…although I don’t think I’ll ever be as good as them. My hips just don’t move the same way.
Overall, it has been amazing hearing their stories and sharing life with them. Also, experiencing new things through their eyes has been a treat!
