Beneath The Ugandan Skies!!
Detailed Summary: SAP Social Sabbatical “Uganda”
People
Quote: “I am not here by chance but by choice”
Song: “Beautiful People” — Chris Brown
I found myself in a place abundant with different people, personalities and outlook. Actually the blend and diversity made an encapsulating mixture, much like a “cocktail” drink. Without putting everyone into boxes, let me try and simplify the blend! Most people are God loving and fearing and interacted really magically without too much notice of religious beliefs. Being a lover of God myself, I also went to church on two occasions with other team members of alternate beliefs and found myself singing with the choir and gospels, fitting in as if I had been attending daily. The Bishop made us feel very welcome and hosted us with gratitude and generosity. Not being a gambler I was lifted to an opportunity to win an auction at the church, where people donated food and meat (Live Chicken) which was then sold to attendees and the profits were awarded to the church. We left early morning around 8:30am adequately suited and booted. Upon arrival we found many people waiting and we joined them with the eventual start around 10:15am. This was typical of Uganda as everything takes time to get started. However, this was a great opportunity to mingle and talk with children and others waiting for the service — all part of the experience, wonderful!
As part of our research we talked to many people in the streets, shopping areas, schools, churches businesses etc. People in general had an air of innocence and simplicity, I remember a few talking about how the “oil and gas had actually brought a drought and farming was becoming an issue”. It made me dwell deeper into myself as these types of comments were common. Lack of education was clearly prevalent although this meant taking things easy and keeping everything simple.
The amazing looks to us as Mzungus (foreigners) were full of curiosity and wonder, which forced one to take a step back and just be level with the audience.
In general, they were very kind and helpful, ready to take the extra step if you asked. Do you remember as a child you considered what others would think and say about you if you did something, like colouring your book…..well it was the same with the Ugandan people, they just nervously dwelled on what you were to say, think or do with curiosity, which encouraged a humble response.
However, some were quite affluent and showed enormous determination. Example: Our driver “Isma” was a graduate who was willing to partake in our activities without any requests in interviewing others, assimilating business responses and sharing best practices. I also remember the chef at our hotel “Patrick” who helped with our cooking night and also showed inspirational qualities. Example: One morning I made a spicy Indian style French toast for myself and a few of our colleagues, he noticed how I cooked and what I used and then how it was enjoyed by everyone. The next morning unannounced he made the exact same thing…impressive!
To summarize the people, I would say they are God loving, with simple and humble ways who are constantly caring, but don't underestimate them as are smart, diligent and adventurous!
What did I Learn: Keep everything simple — we often complicate things with process, procedures, rules, discussions which lead to complex solutions, often which the customer is not ready for. Build smart solutions with speed but ensure the customer or consumer is with you!
To Remember: Home is what you make it! We often criticise materialistic things and evaluate people without knowing anything. First talk and understand then look for a solution then working with others provide the result….Win Win!!!!
Project
Our Goal: Work with VSO and 3 Vocational Institutes to support them with: 1.) Marketing & Communications; 2.) Business Modelling; 3.) Management Information Systems
Quote: “We can’t continue to rely on funds only. We want to be self-sustainable”
Song: “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” — The Korgis
Week 1: Understand the requirements: orientation, culture and project familiarization and visits to vocational institutes.
Week 2: Commence workshops to enable vocational institutes, conduct field research and commence pondering on our solution. It was hands to the deck and deliver, investigate, align and design result, all working in harmony.
Week 3: Keeping one small eye on the final result we continued to deliver to another VTI and deepened the field research with video interviews, church and school visits, whilst at the same time we devloped our toolkit.
Week 4: The final VTI workshop commenced, part of the team worked to derive a sign off with principals from other VTI’s whilst the other part of the team finishing the field research findings, compiling the handover USB content, finalizing toolkit framework. Nearly there….we compiled and compressed our final presentation which consisted of three solid components: 1.) A story of how things could pan out in 12 months, being acted out by our team; 2.) A summary of what we learnt, delivered, and were inspired by; 3.) a video encapsulating the workshops — All 3 parts had the motion of fun, content and something the audience will remember.
What did I Learn: Keep it simple! The audience craves for more and more, however only so much can be remembered and executed upon. 1) Prioritize your content; 2) Deliver the message so the recipient fully understands; 3) Involve the key stakeholders to take ownership; 4) Follow-up to ensure the results happen quickly
To Remember: People are very smart although they may not seem so initially. The teams and VTI were so kind and full of praise with the overall teams efforts. Some quotes that stood out: “ You move us to the next level”; “Vocational Institutes is not only for boys, girl;s can do better”; “Rome wasn't built in a month, but we are close!”
Nature
Quote: “Be gratful for what you have and dont focus about what you don’t have!”
Song: “What a Wonderful World” — Louis Armstrong
Uganda is abundant with great nature: land, wildlife, people, waterfalls, volcanoes, lakes, mountains; food ++
We had the pleasure and the honour to witness just a small spoonful of greatness, although this leaves us with lots of appetite for the next serving. Our ventures included: visit to Murchison Waterfalls, game drives, hikes, lakes plus swimming, billiards, dancing, singing, cooking just as Uganda would do it!
Let the pictures do the talking!!
What did I Learn: Everything has a purpose, whether is the sun, the water, the lizards (in your room), the hippo’s or the birds chirping in the morning! We are blessed that we could see and hear the beauty of nature. Take a step back and respect all that your have without worrying about what you don’t have!
To Remember: Time is ticking, but long enough for everything to work out. I remember the birds building there nest every morning and evening — one day they will finish; the tiny mango’s that will grow up to become sweet red fruit in a few months; The goats that were lined up at the market ready for the next life; The baby elephants being chaperoned by the partners; The might of the energy generated by the stream of the Nile river through the 7 meter gap to create a waterfall; the waving of hello from children as we passed; The wonderful rolex (chapati with eggs and salad) which became our local food; The heat of the sun at Murchison and how my leg and arm was burnt in the sun, but the cooling of the swimming pool with the help of Tusker beer!
Facilities & Food
Quote: “Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things”
Song: “Don’t Worry Be Happy” — Bobby McFerrin
The first real experience of food, came when we ordered lunch after a 5 hour road trek from Kampala: 1) It came about 3 hours later — Ugandan’s dont like to say no, so they accept the order and go shopping for things they need; 2) It may not be what you expect — A vegetarian burger is some carrots and salad items in a huge bun….
However this was good learning as everyone ordered two hours prior to eating time, after all we are in Uganda. In addition, we learnt that there are some simple dishes that could be served within 30–45 minutes like rolex (a chapati with egg and salad — my favourite included chicken and green chilli), or omelette with salad.
Our favourite food places were:
“Glory’s Summit” — where pizza and Indian food were a delight, accompanied with music and billiards / pool — some memorable nights full of enjoyment here
“Hoima Resort” — good for lunch buffet and soccer games on television, they also had an open are on the top floor with great views of the countryside and mountains (it reminded me of Bogota, Colombia). We used this open space to convert to our own music night with soulful music being pushed out of the huge speakers via my laptop….lots of singing and dancing, great night!
“Rosaline’s Suites” — Primarily the best coffee in Hoima, where you could get your favourite cup of cappuccino or latte, etc. The chef was from Kenya and made exquisite burgers and masala chips quite quickly. This was a regular stop for most as coffee cravings came into play!
“Dinner Extravaganza” — This was our way of hosting. I had a crazy idea and made a plan and got full team buy-in, the process involved cooking, serving, purchasing, cleaning and partying for everyone at the hotel and VSO. The plan started with shopping: ordering meat in advance from Kampala, going to the vegetable market at 10am in the morning, going to get spices and groceries from “Lucky 7 supermarket”. Then it was free time, when some ventured to swimming pool and others just needed self-time! Come 4pm it was all hands to the kitchen: cutting, chopping, blending, frying, boiling, oven-making, peeling, washing etc. At 7pm we started to lay out the food, tables, cutlery, china, drinks etc. and food was served to about 40–50 at 8pm. We made Raita (yoghurt with cucumber and Indian spices), Paneer (15 litres of milk curdled) then cooked with corn, eggs and Indian masala; Vegetarian curry; Pillau Rice; Goat meat kebabs; Aubergine dip; Home-made bread; Paradise fruit salad all served with Ugandan Waragi, Wine, Beer and soft drinks. With background music now being pumped higher with rhythmic beats the dances and singing started!! A great night, when the team fully bonded and explored each other’s strengths whilst networking with hotel staff, hotel guests and VSO.
What did I Learn: Be patient with food it worth waiting for! There are so many strengths in others, just wait and give them a chance to show their stuff! Keep planning porfusely,all events are successful if the plan is solid and everyone believes in it!
To Remember: Cooking extrvaganza should be part of all social sabbaticals, it really helps to drive and bind the team. Simple food (rolex) is as good as more lavished food — be grateful you have food!!
Children
Quote: “If you don’t have a problem you don’t find a solution”
Song: “World Hold On — Children of the Sky” — Bob Sinclair
Going to school — we visited several. I remember one where is was primarily girls in pink blouses and blue skirts (great colour combination), we went to interview the teachers who were in the gardens. Whilst talking with them we were surrounded by at least 200 children in a circle (like cowboy and indian movies). I was recording the interview on video and remember, when turning the camera to the children they were shying away. I then showed them the result and suddenly they were all over me — following, jumping, talking…wow!! At the same time I remember my collegue who is whiter-skinned being mobbed by children who just wated to touch her arms — amazing for her and the children.
Being at church — everyone was dressed in there best! Speaking to many children who had come with parents, school teachers and friends, they were curious to see us Mzungu’s, after all this doent happen daily. Older children sand in a choir and many handed in the donations on behalf of parents. The Bishop took a special liking to children and gave inspirational and motivational speeches…..they will grow with positivity!!
In workshops — some teachers and students bought children. I remember a child on the floor, she was three weeks old and her mother came to learn the class two weeks after giving birth. My colleugue picked and caressed the child and I wondered how determined, strong minded and focused the mother has to be to ensure the training. At the same time, how the child could easily catch an illness, but my thoughts changed to the positive when I realised the strong do and will survive.
On the roadside, everywhere you went children would wave to say “hello”, they ran to the front of the roadside to see us passing, wanting to shake hands and give high fives. Some invited us to soccer, some bought us chairs to sit, some just looked with amzement and curiosity, but we always felt loved and never in any danger….oh how I wish every roadside was like this. Living in London, I can imagine the children on many roadside being quite direct, agressive and swearing with negativity — what happened here!
What did I Learn: Be young and youthful, it helps to break barriers which you have created. Be daring to do some of those things you would be embarrassed or scared about, dont worry about the result its forgiving — its just your perception. Treat diversity with equality — everyone is great!!
To Remember: The gaze, the inspection, the curiosity, the touching, the waving, the climbing, the dancing, the playing, the obedience, the discipline…..so many ways to remember them, but overall its was the loved that oozed from them without any nerves, almost purity. The made me feel my youth and gave me lots of inspiration. Miraculously, they were also inspired by the little things we said, had or did!!
Team Excellence
Quote: “Talk While you Walk”
Song: “Perfect” — Ed Sheeran
A team of 12 people from different parts of the World joined together in a small country to help reduce poverty in Uganda — 4 week mission!!
Respresentation from USA (2), India, Germany (4), U.K., Brazil, Japan, Ireland, Canada with different skills such as development, consulting, HR, marketing, sales, learning, finance — came together and teamed with VSO long-term volunteers.
Our mission: Fun, Inspire, Deliver flawlessly, Be inspired, Build a team and Enable.
My Mission: Find more in myself and be inspired to greatness!!
What did I Learn: Several things….I will try and summarise in a few phrases: Wisdom is delivered in different formats — be open, positive and willing to recieve wisdom in every way! Wisdom is learnt through experience, whilst experience is leanrt through hard work, honesty, ambition and integrity! Be a shoulder to someone and dont be shy to use a shoulder sometimes; Believe in others, greatness is round the corner! You are great because God loves you!
To Remember: Actually its not so many big things, but the little things — hundreds of them. Being challenged by situations and culture, being confused about work; missing home; not enough time to do everything — my blogs are massively behind! But the problem was me, once I accepted and opened even further everything was easier, actually I remember coaching others to provide some inspiration……it works!!! So look at the big picture and take it easy and positively — the rest will work out!
Beneath the Ugandan Skies something miraculous happened, here is my top ten summary:
1. We were inspired to inspire others
2. We departed some good skills amongst our work colleagues, partners and clients, whilst we received great new learnings to teach us new skills
3. Nature is glorious in every shape and form
4. Children are our future leaders — teach them your wisdom
5. Food comes in different guises — enjoy it every day and every way
6. Work will be completed when we pull together as a real team, plan, prepare and execute flawlessly
7. Be open and be accepting of everyone — children, the elderly, women, men, wildlife, flora, forests, lakes, seas, water sun and sky….it all makes our magical Earth
8. Live in hope, work hard and enjoy life — God is with you everywhere!
9. A new era may be unfolding full of love, charm and greatness
10. A new day is tomorrow — LETS MAKE IT HAPPEN!
