Tag: travel

Being the ‘Momma’ in Africa

by 8hummingbirdway

The Africa Posts

While in Africa on this journey with my son, as he attends to his missions (the non-profit groups he founded and co-founded), I have the status of “the Momma.” Sometimes I hear “Hello Mommy” in a restaurant, a park, or informal gathering mostly from a woman. But in formal groups where my son has provided support and funding, I am clearly recognized in an official capacity as my son’s mama (or “Momma”, as I hear it).

This status of Momma is definitely an honor, especially when I am recognized as the mother of my respected son. I am 2nd in order of respect in any of these groups, including head teachers and others of status. I am introduced after him and given substantial credit for the man he is and his good work. They want me to say a few words to the captive audience. And I do. In educational groups where Literate Earth Project is the group represented I say how important books were in our family, how I read to my son from early on. That’s about it, I’m no orator. It was uncomfortable the first time, but I appreciate the recognition that his background and mother are an aspect of who he is, what he does. And I get to express warmth to a group in just a couple of sentences, where I may have only had a chance to speak personally with 2 people.

In DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) there has been less call to talk. When I did speak, I said a few words about love – and especially honoring all children – in my broken French.

Interested in learning more about Remember Youth for Change, the local nonprofit group in Goma, DRC? https://www.facebook.com/rememberyouthforchange

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Off I go

by 8hummingbirdway

I am flying to Africa today, to a place where the people are more connected to their tribal origins. (Children speak their tribal language until they attend school.)

I hope to connect deeply to this continent and to her people.

I hope to know my son better and to be delighted by his good company.

I hope to be my best self, whatever that means in each moment.

I know I will have the opportunity to work with some Ugandan children.

I know I will be able to connect to Mother Earth in this new (to me) place.

I know my helping spirits will be available to me.

I know I will ask each morning for Creator to guide my steps.

I know I will turn myself over each day to the day’s events and needs and blessings.

I have brought some small gifts – a beloved stone for the continent itself, a work tool for the children, and some crystals and a feather, etc. for …I don’t know who will show up on my path! There will be drivers and teachers and people who make food for us.

I know this will be the trip of a lifetime!

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Africa!

by 8hummingbirdway

I am so excited! I’m going to Africa in February with my son! 

This trip is the result of shifting to a supportive alignment with him over the past month. I realized that it would be supportive to come on this journey with him and experience all that he has created and impacted in this part of the world. He opened the door to Africa to in 2014, and only one member of our family, my grandson, has taken him up on his invitations to accompany him on a visit.

I became aware that I finally have the resources and the time in my retirement to make the journey. Why wasn’t I going, even after asking him if family members still could come? I had to overcome some fear and discomfort – but if I don’t go now …I have no idea when he’s going again. Or what next year holds for me. I’m 68.

I had to ask myself – was I genuine in my support for him? In my love for my fellow humans that he was helping? Why on earth would I not support him in this way? 

It’s time to get over myself and my fears. 

I have my ticket and my backpack is waiting.

My son has been working in Africa in a helping capacity for over 15 years. When he was in college he spent part of a summer in Uganda under the auspices of “Soccer Without Borders.” His mission was to bring soccer to the village of Ndejje. The village, especially the children, took hold of his heart …AND he saw the absence of books. He learned that each student was required to hand-copy a large textbook in order to access the knowledge contained there. After his return to SUNY New Paltz, he learned how to create a non-profit organization, and The Literate Earth Project (LEP) was born. https://www.theliterateearthproject.org/

Within a couple of years, a library stood on the school grounds in Ndejje, and LEP had partnered with an organization called “Books for Africa,” which filled it with children’s books, encyclopedias, and more.

The first few libraries were largely funded from my son’s own financial donations. Today there are 16 libraries in Uganda, all within or near schools. The funding is largely external, and my son, the founder, still serves on the Advisory Board of LEP. The organization is now run by a dedicated team of full-time staff in Uganda, volunteers, committee members, and board members – with the support and gratitude of the Ugandan government.

Am I proud? Words cannot convey the depth of feeling within me – that my son had the vision, personal generosity, devotion and ability to bring LEP to life. I so love the video of opening that first library. It still makes me cry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywdRqyM-Sb4

Here is a later video about books being made available to children at the Imvepi Refugee Camp in Northern Uganda by a nonprofit that LEP partnered with.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXsBIGcdCAU

Over the years, my son has expanded his knowledge of the need in Africa and globally, as well as his commitment to be a helping force. He is currently the CEO of another organization that profides training and funds for other nonprofit groups globally.

My son serves on the boards of other helping organizations as well. And he has a paying job. He is truly an outstanding human. He is a force to reckon with, both globally and in our family. He has been a huge personal support to his 2 nephews, my grandsons, who have walked without a father for many years. He is also a regular human being; he’s fun, funny, forceful, and can be a “know it-all” – a trait he learned (from me) as a child.

Our trip in February will include visits to a handful of libraries in Uganda, as well as visiting the sites of organizations that “funded graduates” from the new organization that operate in Uganda and in the Democratic Repubidc of Congo. I’m learning about the individuals and the missions now!

I’m going to have the blessing of being with my son in the world he has engaged with so profoundly. I get to learn and even work with the children who benefit from his work while I’m there! My delight at this prospect is boundless.

I admit I’m a little nervous to step outside my comfort zone. I don’t love sitting in a cramped seat on an airplane for many hours, and I never had much of a desire to cross the ocean – something my son embraces as a result of having a musician for a father, who took him to Germany at the age of 13.

My grandson tells me to always know where we are staying – he almost got lost in Kampala … and to carry toilet paper, as the facilities in the villages are generally a hole in the ground.

I have no idea what I will confront, discover, and encounter in Africa!

Perhaps I’ll return with some things to share.

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