We were up and prepared to begin our morning workshop at the facilities at the hotel at 9am. We also need to adjust to African time. 9am means 10 or so. We originally expected 10-15 participants. 44 showed up from all the organizations we are beginning our work with! It was terrific. John explained the origins and underpinnings of the Unity Project. We have already seen how it fits into Lira over the past two days of meetings. There was great consensus among the participants that this would be an important project for the community. They are all doing such good work, and we have a few elements that we believe can help students and adults by using experiential exercises and problem solving groups of student action groups forming a Unity Council, and adults as a Unity Assembly to help support the children’s work. John, in particular, is brainstorming connections and ways in which to market the community goods for the members to increase their financial security.
After our tea break, we did a couple exercises with the group to help them recognize their own strengths, both individual and community. John has said a number of times, “There is nothing wrong with Uganda that cannot be fixed by what is right with Uganda.” We are intent on helping the community recognize the richness within it to solve its problems together.
Mid-afternoon, we came to Sankova Café (where we can use the internet) and got some work done. We also briefly met Eunice, whose program with women and children we will visit on Tuesday afternoon. I also met her in November 2010. It was a long, but exciting day.
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