It's not going to happen

We finished the training today, more than a week ahead of schedule. Our students were so interested and motivated and incredibly appreciative. The idea of this training is to teach how to teach. We challenged them to think about who they will train next and how a budget could work. They are planning to train 10 traditional birth attendants from around the area. Traditional birth attendants do not have any formal training, only what they have learned "on the job".

Transportation is a huge issue here, gas costs about $6 per gallon in a country where the average income is less than $1 a day. So for them to be able to get their students in the same place, and for 2 trainers to teach them will involve paying for transportation, food, etc. We are excited that they want to continue the program and plan a Safe Birth Project fund for their future.

We learned in the training that for now, women resting after the birth IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Talking with their husbands about family planning IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Waiting to resume their sexual relationship for 6 weeks after the birth IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. But our students are hopeful that, slowly, things can change.

Three of our hard working members are planning to go see the silver back gorillas in Western Uganda. Trying to get things arranged has been a challenge, something akin to "if it can go wrong, it will". We had to drive over an hour to go to the bank that was supposed to be able to wire money for the trip. Needless to say, it was not possible. On the way we encountered a circumcision parade. There was a group of drunken men, including the recipients of the circumcision ritual, who were dancing, singing and playing musical instruments on the side of the road. It turns out that circumcision for this particular tribe is not an option and that young men ages 15-20 are circumcised. Aren't we glad that we live in the USA!!!