Anyone want to help?

Hey everyone! So I have a good friend who runs the organization I went to Ethiopia with and she hasn't been able to go back for a while so she has a ton of supplies that she was wondering if I could take over. My flight only allows me one bag so I don't have much room but I was wondering if any of you would like to help? She has hygiene kits, baby kits, and school supplies which Mike has told me will be helpful to have and give. Please let me know ASAP if you have room to take anything! Thanks :) 

Fundraising

Hey everyone, I hoe that all is going well. The summer is fast approaching and soon we all be in Uganda having the experience of a lifetime. I want to make sure that everyone is feeling good with the way that things are going, especially with regards to fundraising. Let me know if you have any concerns, and I think it would be good to share our methods and successes. I have been speaking to one of my friends that helps fundraise for Non-profits and charities and in April we are wanting to do either a benefit concert or dinner. Also for all the UVU students there are a few grant options available that we need to look into. Let me know if you are interested in the grant and we can start the application process. Thanks to you all for all you do.

-Jesse

Hi guys! DANCE tonight after the Musana Market! What a fun-filled HELP day:

Suzanne and Whitney, Mbale, Uganda Country Directors, are throwing a benefit dance party this Saturday night (TONIGHT) @ Noah's in Lindon from 8-12PM. I'm hoping some of our team will make it out!! It will be some great bonding time and a great way to support your fellow HELPers. Spread the word!

Training Session

Hey guys, Kellie here. I hope you're all doing well and are getting excited for our Ugandan adventure! So our training weekend is coming up next month, and since I'm driving down from Logan, I was wondering if any of you who live in the area would be willing to let me stay with you on friday night. I'm pretty easy-going, I'd just need a couch or floor to crash on. That would make it a lot easier for me to not have to drive home friday night and then back to Provo on saturday morning. So, just let me know! Thanks guys, can't wait to see you all again!

ISIC Card

I just called UVU and you can't purchase the ISIC card through them.  They said that I could buy it online here. 

Shots

I just want to let everyone know that you can also get shots at the county health department.  Its easy, just tell them you will be traveling to Uganda and they will look up the shots that you will need.

Hey Lugazi team!

I think it's time I introduce myself too (sorry, I'm a blog rookie so I've been a little post shy - I've been reading your great posts, but despite Jesse's efforts, I hadn't figured out how to post until now - uhhh it's the easiest thing ever if I actually accept the invite!)...

I met many of you while I was in Provo, but not all. I'll be your country director alongside Jesse.. I'm living in Seattle, WA. Just finished grad school at University of Washington. I am SO ready to get out of the rain and over to sunny Lugazi. I work at a little non-profit called the Fabric of Life Foundation. We support cooperative projects that aim to help women and their families - our biggest project is a school in Bamako, Mali that helps girls and young women move themselves from begging to self-sufficient. I fell in love with West Africa last summer and I'm anxious to set foot in East Africa.

I think this summer is going to be amazing! I believe we have the opportunity of a lifetime. First and foremost, I look forward to our team working side-by-side with Ugandans, and learning all that we can. While we have so much to give, we also have so much to learn. I believe we'll make relationships that last a lifetime. And while we'll "wrap up" some really cool projects by the end of the summer, it's the fact that those projects will carry on that makes them all the cooler. And the fact that the relationships we build will mean eye-opening cultural exchange on both ends and lifelong friendships that foster sustainable knowledge exchange and development. Jesse and I are working on getting in touch with our in-country partners now to build relationships early on. I feel so fortunate to be part of this!!

Please feel free to call me anytime to talk about project ideas, travel questions, etc.: 505-239-3869. Or email me arielmacpherson@gmail.com. I'll be reaching out to you guys in the next couple weeks just to check in. Wish I were closer to you all!

Ari

You Want Another Rap? Museveni

Museveni's rap is just too good to pass up. With Museveni in power the country looks to be in good hands (at least the country's music anyway).

Newest Updates & Information From Ari & Jesse

Hey everyone, we hope all of you are doing well and are keeping your enthusiasm for this summer. In this post we wanted to go over some general information that all of you should take into consideration.

-First of all if you have not had a financial planning session with one of the office staff we would highly recommend you schedule one as soon as possible. We have been able to speak with Mike Duthrie (HELP’s accountant) lately and he is awesome at elaborating effective methods for fundraising and how to go about it.

-Volunteer Training March 25-26. More information to come, but please put these dates down on your calendar if you haven’t already.

-The next issue is that of passports and visas. We hope that all of you already have a passport. If you do not we will have to expedite the process. The visa will be issued to us in country upon arrival, all you have to do is bring $60 US dollars and buy it at the airport.

-Get your immunization shots! Check out http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/uganda.aspx and schedule an appointment with a travel clinic (most college campuses have these) to make sure you’re covered in terms of immunizations. Travel clinics can provide
additional handy health-related travel tips as well. Do not wait until the last minute to do this. Sometimes it takes weeks for immunizations to take effect.

-Booking flights. It is recommended that you use the travel agent through HELP International for two reasons, 1. You pay the money to HELP and they in turn by your ticket, which means you can fundraise the total cost of your flight and 2 HELP’s travel agent is savvy on traveling through Africa and will avoid any unwanted layovers in less than desirable airports.

-SMART goals. It is assumed that of all you will be setting goals before we arrive in Uganda. These goals will be shared with us and we will help one another to achieve not only to help those in Uganda but us as well. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. We can go over this more in person. On a similar note, this is a part of HELP that we highly admire and often goes unnoticed, the fact that through HELP International we are becoming aware of citizens on a global level and our experiences in Uganda will impact our lives forever, hopefully with a positive influence and the ability to make positive change. We think that Smart goals are a great way to improve ourselves.

-2011 Lugazi, Uganda team get-together. We want the team to have a get together sometime this month if possible. Alissa mentioned that there is an Ethiopian restaurant in Salt Lake, that would be good. Let us know of any suggestions and lets get something organized. Also we think it would be cool to do a team fundraising project of some sort. Let us know if anyone has any ideas for that as well. For the fundraiser we could pick a project of something we know we will probably do
and advertise that specific project at our fundraiser.

-Travel Insurance. we think it is very important that we all have some type of insurance. So far the best thing we have found for our situation is called the ISIC card if you are a student. We will attach the link to the web site so you can easily access it, but if you have further questions let us know.

-Lastly, more as a note of interest, the Ugandan elections are still ongoing and it looks like it is a close race. President Yoweri Museveni has been the President since 1986 (about as long as most of us have been alive), however he is facing stiff competition from Former Col. Kizza Besigye from the IPC/FDC. In the most recent poll by the state paper “New Vision” Besigye has a five point edge (Besigye 45%-Museveni 40%). Mr. Museveni has bolstered his campaign by introducing a new tactic, rapping, yes that’s right rapping. Mr Museveni despite being 66 has turned into a Ugandan rap sensation (Jay-Z beware!). It will be interesting to see how the elections turn out and we are sure that even as we arriving there people will still be talking about it.

Hope all is well, we are very much looking forward to this summer.

Ari & Jesse

ISIC Card

My grandma sent me this article today and I thought you guys might want to read it. It sort of highlights some of the issues we will probably run into and maybe it can give some ideas for projects we could work on.

http://www.mormontimes.com/article/19748/Letters-from-Uganda-Latter-day-Saint-travels-to-Africa-to-put-faith-into-action

Hey there

Hey everybody! I figured I might as well introduce myself as well because I unfortunately won't be able to make it out to Provo for the training, so I probably won't meet any of you until we get to Lugazi. My name is Dylan Nugent. I am currently a freshman double-majoring in Finance and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. I'm originally from just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Like many of you, I enjoy most outdoor activities and am really into surfing and snowboarding (I've been out to Park City/Canyons before). At Notre Dame, I'm pretty involved in various intramural sports, a student business club, and the Center for Social Concerns. Hopefully, I'll be heading out to Lugazi as soon as my finals are finished (which I think is a few weeks into the first wave) and will be staying until the end of the second wave.

I'm really psyched to meet all of you and get out to Lugazi! I like to think I'm pretty friendly, so feel free to contact me if you need anything.

Dylan

443 605 4036

dnugent1@nd.edu

Hello!

Hey everyone! I guess it is time to introduce myself. I have never written on a blog before so I'm just learning :) My name is Alissa, I grew up in Utah and have pretty much always lived in Orem. I have a bachelors degree in Exercise Science, I don't know what I want to do with that, so for now I work at the tutoring center at Utah Valley University. I like being being outside-hiking, boating, camping.. and I am a HUGE Utah Jazz fan.

I am really excited to get to know everyone better and even more excited to have the opportunity to spend time in Uganda helping the people there. I am planning on going during the second wave which is June 8-July 20. I am hoping to travel for a couple weeks after that, however, I need a buddy! Anyone interested? I think if we are going to be in Africa then we should take advantage of that and see as much as we can. Who knows if we will be there again. Pretty much I want to see everything and anything so I'm open as to where to travel. I can also be flexible on the dates so please let me know if anyone is interested. Something to think about..

-Alissa
alissaboyer@hotmail.com
801.830.7660

P.S. There is an Ethiopian restaurant in Salt Lake City. I don't really know how this compares to the types of food in Uganda but it is worth checking out. The address is 1878 South Redwood Road.

African Restaurant

News

Hello everyone, I hope all of you are doing well in your respective areas of life. Lately I have been fascinated with the elections in Uganda, and they are becoming quite heated. I want to identify the implications that they will have for our work there this summer. They will be held on the 18 of February, so just a couple months prior to our arrival. In this post I am attaching just a brief summary of the politics in Uganda. I, just as I am sure all of you are, am seeking out what we can do to create effective sustainable development projects in country. I have been trying to explore multiple avenues we can take and adapt it to Uganda and ourselves. I wanted to share two interesting reads that really stuck out to me. The first is the power of cell phones in developing nations and their relative affordability. THe second is explains to some extent the food situation in Uganda with the affects of a recent drought. It is more in the north of the country but I still found it insightful.
Jesse

Summary of Politics

Mobile Phones

Drought in Uganda

Team Gathering and Further Information

Hi team, thank you to all those who were able to come to our first official team gathering at Malawi's Pizza on Saturday night (I know for some of you it was a long way and I really do appreciate you coming and taking the time). It was great fun and a great opportunity to start to build team unity and get to know each other. I am delighted that everyone is so excited to get immersed in the work in Uganda.
In this post I wanted to put some documents up that you might be interested in. The first is the 2010 country report (which is super long so prepare yourselves) to kind of you give you a feel of what has already been done and ideas for what can be done. The second is the project proposal outline. Talking with many of you yesterday and through e-mail you have great ideas on possible projects that we could work on while in Uganda. The formal structure for projects while we are in Uganda, is that first you fill out a project proposal, next you present your project before the team and it is then examined and voted on by the team. We do this to create the most effective projects possible. We also align our projects with other non-profits, NGO's and partners on the ground in Uganda. So as a project develops all these variables must be taken into consideration. If you have ideas I encourage you to study them and put together proposals at your earliest convenience. It will be more difficult, however not impossible, to access information on projects once we are in Uganda (due to the infrequency of internet access and glitches).
Also, while we were at Malawi's I had mentioned that I have been in contact with high school teacher that I know in Bountiful who teaches medical anatomy, and he has 100 extra children's hygiene kits that they need to donate. I told him that we may be able to help him and take them to Uganda. He said that his students would love for us to take them. I think it would be wise to take these and maybe do a class on the importance of hygiene along with handing them out (so as not to just arbitrarily give handouts, and seek sustainable development). So if anyone is interested in this as a project let me know and it could be something we could pursue.
I have also attached a little piece on some of the foods that are prevalent in Uganda and some of the cultural norms. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact Ari or myself.

Jesse

Country Report

Project Proposals

Foods

Some cultural differences

Another website I liked

Hey, guys! I'm super excited about this blog. And I'm even more excited about going to Uganda with you guys! It's going to be an awesome experience; not only to help others but to build relationships with people we might not have otherwise known. I am really glad to get to know all of you before we leave so we'll be able to work better together when we are in Lugazi.

(Precursor: I'm horrible with introductions--I never know what to say) My name is Haley Eldredge. I'm from Utah but I'm currently living in Massachusetts, about 40 minutes outside of Boston. I went to BYU last year and I'm planning on studying Coaching/Teaching P.E. when I go back to school next Fall. For the last eight months I've been working as a Personal Care Attendant for my friend, Reed, who is quadriplegic. That might sound like I've had a lot of training in the medical field--don't be fooled. I mostly just hang out with him and help him with every day things. I love most sports, especially running and baseball (go Red Sox!). I won't profess to be any good at any of them, but I'll always join in. I really like anything social and active. My family has too many people for me to tell you about all of them but they are the bomb dot com. Well, like I said, I never know what to say with these things. I promise I'm actually more interesting than I sound. At least, I hope. Guess you'll find out!

I really wish I could be there to meet you all in person, I'm sure you're all fantastic. I'm really glad to be doing this amazing thing with all of you. I think we'll really be able to make a huge difference and I'm grateful that we have such amazing opportunities to help others. See you in a couple months!

-Haley Eldredge

P.S. I wanted to know if any of you have been studying up on Luganda?? And if so, are you having success? How are you learning?

Jambo fellow HELP International volunteers! This blog is a wonderful idea and I am incredibly excited to get to know everyone better. I look forward to spending the next few months working closely with each of you to make our experience successful and a blessing to the lives of the people in Lugazi.

Well I guess I should introduce myself a bit. My name is Christine Alley and I am currently studying Neuroscience and Sociology at BYU. The goal is to get into med school and then be a FABULOUS pediatric oncologist when I am "all grown up." I enjoy playing sports and being outside. I am currently training for a marathon and will hopefully beat my older brother's marathon time (a little family competition is good for the soul, right?). I love to travel and am looking forward to completely immersing myself in the African culture. Well that is basically me in a few electronic sentences.

I look forward to meeting each of you and embarking on the journey of life time together.

-Christine Alley

Uganda

Fellow HELP associates, I am starting this blog with the intent to keep us connected in the beginning stages for our great Ugandan undertaking this summer. To begin I will introduce myself, I am a native of the beautiful beehive state and a senior at Utah Valley University majoring in Political Science. At Utah Valley University I am working with faculty and staff for sustainable mountain development through the Mountain Partnership. Also, I currently chair Public Policy for the Utah County Chapter of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce. I recently returned home from Scotland where I interned for the Scottish National Party in the Scottish Parliament. I served a two-year ecclesiastical mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Montevideo, Uruguay. I enjoy many outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, snowboarding, skateboarding and playing sports. I am an avid Boston Red Sox fan and love baseball. I am married to Kelsey Nuila Gray and have an adventurous one-year old daughter Nola.

I am very excited, as I am sure all of you are to work with the Ugandan people. There is ample opportunity and potential in the country and hopefully we can channel our efforts into success and lasting sustainable development in the country through our endeavors. The more I learn of the country and culture the greater inclination I have to help. Below I have listed links to relevant sites and information that have helped me to understand Uganda better. I am excited to be working with you this summer through HELP International, which has established an exceptional network and infrastructure on the ground in Uganda. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at anytime.

Jesse Gray
(801) 362-8237
jeslgray@gmail.com

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1069166.stm

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/uganda/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=Uganda&st=cse

http://www.monitor.co.ug/

http://www.newvision.co.ug/I/8/13

http://www.kiva.org/partners/65

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/uganda601/video_index.html