The Gathering Gathers Momentum

After lunch that day, the action gathered momentum, following a carefully planned programme.  The theme of the afternoon's activities was Economic Empowerment, starting with remarks by Kezia Mukasa from the Uganda Reach the Aged Association.  Here is where we learned more of the plight of the GMs--and how neglected they are by their government.  Of the pain and the suffering they have withstood.  Here is where my copious notes become sketchy--so much information, all in little spurts, not tied together in any way.  I'll do my best to put it all together, hoping you can get the general ideas, and the feeling of this experience. 

The GMs were divided into four large groups according to their lanyard colours, and two Canadian GMs (at least) were assigned to each group.  Our job was not to participate, but to take as accurate and detailed notes as possible of the "breakout workshops"--the topics announced were Savings Schemes, Financial Management, Agriculture and Wealth Creation.   Heavy stuff!

Alix and I were assigned to a workshop on Household Income.  The question asked was basically "What income generating activities are used in your households?  What do you do to generate an income?"  They asked us (the rapporteurs) to listen for words and ideas that were repeated often (we were getting all our information through a translator as the facilitator and grandmothers were all speaking the Ugandan language.)

In foreground Alix and I bent over our notebooks as translator (left) dictates what is being said. 

Basically, the grandmothers have no support from the government or their husbands, and their children are either dead, or "gone to the city", so they  have to generate their own income to feed the children they have taken under their care.  The income creation starts with them. 

They agreed that this gathering gave them a chance to learn from each other how to use the few assets they have, the land especially.  And it is giving them a voice.  They can learn from each other, as they exchange  information about their projects.  Some of these were:  high value crops such as onions, potatoes, carrots, pawpaws, cabbage--which they could eat, but also sell.  Some of them are venturing into "cash crops" such as coffee, tea, tobacco.  And then there is animal production; poultry, goats, pigs,  rabbits and an occasional cow. And fishing.  Other examples:    Beekeeping, mushroom growing, Irish potatoes, manure, tomatoes, water!!, sugar, peanuts, sogum, cocoa, pineapples, hops, quarry (hammering large rocks into gravel to sell), milling grains for flour, weaving, trading goods and services with other households. Brick making and bricklaying.  Selling milk.  "Make sure your family has enough first."  Children can help with some of the work projects.  In a few rare cases, the husband helps, too.  Trading goods and services with other households.  "Grannies are the experts."

The next question was "How do you use the proceeds from your activities?"  A lot goes to medical care.  Remember, many of these GMs and children are HIV/AIDs positive.   Luckily now there are medications available to keep them healthy and productive. 

Other uses of their earnings were for planting, seeds, buying more animals.  Some have built stands at the roadside, or have a truck stand.  Some have bought a piece of land.   Some are becoming very competent entrepreneurs.  In all of this, they agree that the grandmothers are the experts, helping each other, with the assistance of the community based organizations which I will tell you more about later.

The facilitator at this workshop described a great metaphor for what they had been discussing.  She said something came into her head as they spoke--a tree with a trunk and roots and branches is like a household.  A tree without those things,  when the wind comes (hunger, disease) the tree may fall.  The household is the trunk, and the activities are the roots. The branches are the proceeds from your generating activities.  The tree with strong roots and trunk, many branches, can withstand the wind.  The tree = Family and community. 

As the workshop concluded the GMs said they would like to have more training and workshops, more education about agriculture, crafts, marketing, accounting.  They would like to have a training school for themselves and their grandchildren.  Lots of practical ideas were shared.  It was a most animated and exciting conversation.  All the GMs present had a chance to speak, and were thanked by the facilitator for their participation.  They truly do have a voice.    "You are the experts--we are here to learn from you."

While we were recording this workshop, there were three other workshops going on, which I can't tell you much about.  Except that they were probably equally animated and exciting.  At four o'clock we resumed our places in the large convention hall for a pleniary session.  They spoke about disclosure of HIV/AIDS--another difficult topic.  We did a stretching exercise called "picking mangoes--put them in the basket"--very stimulating.  Outcomes of first workshops--Grandmothers need to be listened to--need to be in the forefront, handled as special people.  They urged us to spend money at the market in the park.  Patience, daughter of Kaka Jolie reminded all GMs that she is there to help anyone who needs help--just go and talk to her.   Psycho Social support is needed.   

There is so much more I could write, but I must stop somewhere.  There was a tea break after this, and we all went outside to drink tea, schmooze with the jajas, and  relax, laugh and buy some beautiful articles to bring home.  Another page will be devoted to that later.

 

Tea Break after a busy afternoon.

 

 

The rest of the afternoon from 6 to 7 was devoted to Granny Networking, which covered many various activities, and from 7 to 10 there was a Cultural Evening and Dinner served in the park, followed by amazing entertainment.  What a day!!  What an Evening!

 



 

Dining and Dancing in the Park.