“Comfortable, Confident, Control” ~ Uganda Day 10

The MoonCatcher Team breaks into a taboo subject once again

No power or internet for days now. We gather this is routine in the rainy season, as no one seems to be ruffled by it at all.

We went to Bosoga Junior School today. Phoebe and I met with Tabitha and her sewing team while Maureen visited with her sponsor girl, Gladys.

Maureen and her sponsor child, Gladys

I saw my dear sewing friends Florence and Rose who I’d first met in 2014. We talked families and sewing and I showed them pictures of snow that just floored them!

We taught menstrual management to the P7 class. I wish we could do this in every school.

Some of these girls were unaware of what menstruation is.

It’s hard to believe, but this is a rather taboo subject that just isn’t discussed. The knowledge is not imparted from the mothers or teachers. It was wonderful to educate them before it was scary for them.

One girl asked,

“How long will I be having my period for?”

When the answer came back, “somewhere around age 50,” there was an audible gasp of disbelief. Yes, this is a long haul!

I love that these girls now have MoonCatcher kits to use when all this starts and the knowledge to know what it is about. Yay Phoebe! She did another fantastic job of making this fun and informative. Her MoonCatcher motto that she repeats at every lecture is

“Comfortable, Confident, Control”

We toured the school, which has a rabbit farm on the grounds and brick making as well.

Ellie taking the balancing challenge!

Maureen in the balancing contest

Before we left, Maureen and Ellie face off in a fun-spirited contest as to who can balance best! All Ugandan Women and girls are able to walk with many pounds balanced on their heads.  This is a lot harder than it looks!

Then we were off to Wairika to buy baskets and other crafts from a local women’s cooperative. We were careful to buy something from each of the artists. We will bring these back for sale, to raise money for the MoonCatcher Project.

Buying baskets from the local cooperative of women in Wairika.

Beautiful Handmade baskets.

We had brought an expensive overlock machine from the U.S. for Phoebe’s sewing guild, but found that the airlines had opened it and not repacked it properly. It was broken, and I feared it couldn’t be fixed.

This was a promise I’d made months ago, and it was breaking my heart that it was unusable.

We asked our friend, Paul, if he could take a look at it, and he took it away to work on. Later in the day we heard that it was fixed. I write this because it is BIG news for me that we are able to provide this machine. YaHoo! Another important day of work, and most importantly, promise keeping, is complete.  Looking forward to tomorrow!

The MoonCatcher Uganda Team!

1 comment