Second Home in Uganda

I may have been to Uganda four times now but each has been significantly differently and significantly special. My first year was full of excitement and emotion, it was my first time experiencing African culture and being exposed to such saddening poverty.The second year unfortunately I caught malaria and last year I began to grow in confidence. The work we were doing and projects developing focusing on women and young girls truly captured my heart.

This year the team was slightly different, compiled with families and youth workers. The atmosphere was calmer, relaxing and I never once stopped smiling. Since my first visit Uganda has felt a part of me but this year it felt as though I had come home. I felt more myself than I do in England. Children ran for miles to us, the muzungas, just to touch and see these crazy people wave.They grin, they chuckle and from an instance there is a bond. The strongest sort of bond ever created, love.

I may write in more detail about my trip another time but for now I thought I would just share a few snippets. A few pieces of writing, which I have written over the years at the end of working days in Uganda. The trip was far too short, I could have continued visiting schools forever. Continued sharing the importance of education and talking about menstruation with young girls. I would willing continue singing, dancing and playing sports with the children, as they watch their families and communities test for HIV/AIDS. Uganda has been an amazing part of my year and the people I met and friends I made will always have a part of my heart. I simply wish it could have been my whole year.

 Something so plan
Something used for a purpose
A carrying container
'Run, run, run' we say as we hop between each foot,
'Faster, faster...go now'
Produces joy from ear to ear
A moment shared is all it seems to take
A wave, a hello, or even just a water bottle
produce a smile on the surface
But who stops to listen.
Stops to hear
Stops to solve the cause of disease and poverty?
A wave can bring happiness
A wave can bring an inner warmth inside,
A condescending ear with out direction still means nothing..

 I can't think straight
My mind is overcome with thoughts
Their beautiful smiles,

Their heavenly heartfelt laughter
Why can't it always be like his for them
Why must they struggle to get water,
Why must they wear ripped and dirty clothes,
Why must they starve.

Today I danced and sang
Today I laughed and ran around
Today I wept at the happiness love can bring
and cried at their poverty.

 So proud, so welcoming
Straw for the roof
The rain can get in.
Mud on the floor
with one bed to rest in.

A food store in the corner
even though the grain won't far
You  know if you were hungry
what's theirs would became your buffet cart.

They would share
without a second thought
For they care
'what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine'

I just wish I could help them
provide for them all
Give them clothes, shelter and foods galore.
For each person, for each day, throughout their life,
So they could live in prosperity.

Who am I to say, let's change your life style?

Who am I to say let's urbanise your world?

Why should they listen to me?

I don't hold these answers,

but what I can do right now, 

in this moment,

is to talk and listen and hold them close.

Create a smile that lasts forever

embedded in their memories

And never let go!

            For  we are all equal,

Blind, deaf or colour of skin.

We are the same,

We can laugh together, cry together, care for one another.

And I will always remember these days.

Jessica (above) and so many others are now my friends. I hope they never forget the day when I was one of the muzungas that didn't just drive by but stayed to play.
As always I will be thinking of those who have touched my heart and praying for their health and happiness.

All my love always,
Stay Beautiful
     Zsofia xxxx

Girls having received panties and pads

The Art of Loneliness

We all have moments of loneliness, times when we feel as though nobody can possibly understand. There is no one there who one can rely on. No one around to emphasise with us in times when we can't truly understand ourselves. It's easy to say one feels alone, but in the true light of things are we ever actually completely alone?

People surround us in everyday life. The world is heavily populated after all you know. People are forever talking, the sounds of the rushing world past by. When are we free to be on our own, actually alone in body and soul. While we sleep? I suppose though my parents are only in the opposite room. When we are asleep we are peaceful and tranquil, when we awaken do even remember the feeling? The dreams we dreamt drift away as our eyelids awaken to a new day. With it the sense of alone has passed and it is as if we were never truly alone at all

Still we can all feel lonely. I can be in a sea of chatter and inside it is as though nobody notices I am even there. Crowds don't nessesarily mean you are with people, or noticed. I would say that in the most part the times I feel most lonesome are when surrounded by people. With people I can hide myself and be alone. But I am never actually on my own. Lonely in soul but submerged in a  crowded world.

I do however believe that many people are truly alone. In the sense of family and friendships. It breaks my heart to say this but there are people who have nobody. No one to talk to, share the day with, nobody to love them. Nobody in their hearts. That must be what true loneliness is, having nobody in your heart, friends, family. Without some form of love, you are empty and alone.

I may feel lonely somedays but my heart is always full of love from my parents, family and friends. Even when my body is on it's own, my heart is never left without love. I am so grateful for this and truly aware that many in this world don't have people to care for them. And I wish I could change this, I wish I could tell all the people in the world that I love them. 

May I use this time to say, that all I want, more than anything is for everybody to feel loved and cared for. Whoever I meet in my life, tomorrow or in many years to come, I hope they know how much I care. I love those I meet years ago and I love those whom I am yet to meet. We all need to be cared for, we all need love.

In a few days I fly to Uganda to work with the charity Teams4U. This is my fourth time in the town of Kumi. In this area there are so many with nothing in the way of materialistic objects or money  but some have a loving community, a real sense of togetherness. Then again far too many have no one, no family. While I am there I hope that they all know they have a place in my heart, maybe I can find a place in theirs. 

I will be thinking of them forever, and I will be thinking of you too. I pray that you never have to feel true loneliness, for remember, you will be in my heart always.

Stay Beautiful,

         Zsofia xxxx

Even this little cute chick needs to know it is loved!