It was a public holiday today in Uganda so the Dwelling Places offices were closed and the kids were all off school. Lynn (brilliant northern Irish girl we are living with) has been trying to set up a library system in the home the past few weeks with the few books that have been donated to the kids. So we headed up with her today to have a kind of “book day” in the home. Lynn had suggested we have 3 different stations and the kids could move round them spending 20 minutes at each. So, Laura was reading to them, Lynn was creating stories with them and I was getting them to write a book review of the books they have been reading by making up a newspaper front cover that summarised the story as a headline story. Meanwhile Canadian Laura was busy keeping the smaller children entertained with chalks.

I am constantly going on and on to Laura about how education is everything and kids like these need education as much as possible, so I thought the book day was a good idea but I was a little apprehensive that they might not feel the same, as I seem to remember books being the last thing on my mind when I had a day off school, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. They all absolutely loved it, and the grounds of the home became completely silent as the air filled with the sense of concentration. It was just so gorgeous to see their faces light up at being given a challenge, and also made me really remember how big a difference even one little book can make in a child’s life. It’s so easy for us to throw out our old things wondering who would want them, but I’m telling you, these kids (like thousands of others) would be only too delighted to receive them! The longer we are away the worse I feel for always moaning at school and the more grateful I am for our education system in Scotland. It’s something the kids here literally dream about. As I would dream of running through African fields as a small child, they were dreaming about owning a book and maybe even their own set of pencils.

After we finished up with the book activities we managed to catch one of the original Soul Touchers Miss Erica Bonnar and her Soul Touch fundraising group on skype at the school she teaches at in Stirling. This group of brilliant passionate teens have been having several fundraisers for Soul Touch linked projects (particularly Uganda) and have been showing brilliant results. These teens all take time out of the lunches every week to meet together and plan different events on top of their school work. It was great for them to talk to some of the Dwelling Places kids, and for both groups to learn more about the cultural differences (I think the group in Stirling now have a new appreciation for washing machines after hearing the alternative!). It’s so important that our young people all over the world can connect up so they can learn the simple things about each other that make all the difference in their lives. You definitely don’t need to be in Africa to make a difference to African people, but I can promise that the motivation and fire to make a difference in these young people will blaze a lot stronger now they have met the people that own the lives their actions are changing! How cool to directly see the huge difference a simple school fundraiser can make, to literally save and change lives. Just think what might happen if we all chose to follow the example of these youth!

Jenn x