​Monday - Peter Hills ACC Special Needs

Mondaywent to Kavule school to start our projects. We wanted to make a swing but needed the poles to make the frame. As we waited we planned additional playground equipment to leave for the children. Later we were to remember TIA (This is Africa), as the poles had not arrived. Eventually we saw a man arrive with two large poles strapped to his bicycle and realised this was what we had been waiting for. However our group decided we could make a roundabout and also a seesaw in addition to making the swing. Eric then asked me to go with Chris, Jordan, Luke, Livy and Barbara into Mbale to buy the equipment we needed. I agreed to negotiate for the things we wanted, a lorry axle, a metal pole, some rope and other small items.
Livy helped us find a garage where the owner said he could make us a roundabout. After showing us one in a nearby nursery he asked for 1,500,000 Ugandan shillings or about £300 to make it. I politely declined. However I did manage to buy a metal pole and have two brackets made and welded for a total price of 60,0000 shillings, about £20,to help us make the seesaw. Other purchases included rope and nails and screws. I was pleased I got the Ugandan and not the Mzungu price as I think I managed to save us some money. The Mzungu or white man's price for the rope was 50,000 shillings but I got the Ugandan price of 25,000 instead. Shopping in Mbale is an amazing experience as almost anything can be obtained if the price is right.
On return to Kavule we proudly presented our purchases before we managed to help put up the frame for the swings in the rain. Hopefully tomorrow we will complete this task before we complete the seesaw. I am beginning to believe the children think all these strange white people are crazy! To anyone reading this I would say come to Africa for a real life changing experience.
Peter Hills ACC Special Needs.