All I want for Christmas…

Over a year ago, my Mom and I had a crazy idea that we would be able to found a non-profit, construct a dormitory, and bring a home to 60 orphaned and vulnerable children in Nsumba Village, Uganda. Today, I get to announce that sometimes, crazy ideas are realized.

Future Diplomats Education Centre Foundation became an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization in December of 2011. Thanks to your help, we have just commissioned a dormitory for the children of Future Diplomats Nursery and Primary school.   

This is a major accomplishment for our young organization; we could not have done it without your support—whether financial, emotional, or professional.  

Now that we have provided shelter, we need to provide a place for the boys and girls to lay their heads. 

In America, I am privileged enough to sleep on a queen-sized mattress, in a high-rise frame off the ground, free from the threat of malaria-infected mosquitos. In the newly constructed dormitory, there are only six beds in the boy’s dormitory and five in the girls—this accommodates 20 children. Forty more children are on the waiting list, as the school is unable to squeeze any more bodies to the already limited space. Not one of them complains, but all of them deserve better.    

___

Traditionally, every year at Christmas, [due to the over commercialization and material obsession the season has evolved into] I make it a point not to ask for anything. For the first time in my life, I will be spending Christmas without family, homemade fudge, or a tree; for the first time in about 15 years, I will break my own rule and finally ask for something material…There is nothing that I want more than enough beds, blankets, and mosquito nets to sleep 60 children in 20 triple bunks.

This season should be about showing our love for those in need by spreading kindness, generosity, and selflessness. I know the American News Media keeps telling us that times are hard and the economy is still hurting…but this holiday season, I urge you to take a moment and think about the places in this world where times are perpetually harder and the economy is always hurting.

This year, I urge you to consider giving me [and therefore 60 children in Nsumba Village, Uganda] a Christmas gift by donating towards furnishing the newly constructed dormitory. Any contribution makes a difference. Donating towards beds, nets, and sheets will provide 60 needy children with the opportunity to lead happier, healthier lives.       

If you would like to make a Christmas donation, you may:

Click the link and follow the instructions on PayPal:

 OR

Write a check to FDEC Foundation and mail it to:

FDEC Foundation

PO Box  65141

Vancouver, WA 98663

With love and gratitude,

Kristen 

Future Diplomats Education Centre Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with tax exempt status.

Mombasa

A week in pictures:

Jump shot on our way to the airport

This is our, "YAY! Let's go to Mombasa!!!" face

Giraffe sniffing Mongoose

Snack time

Fort Jesus in the background

Abdul gave us flowers for our hair!

Our guide, Abdul

Scale-model of Fort Jesus

Side note: We got to Mombasa, realized how HOT it was, and had to buy men's shorts at a store to survive.

Market Bazaar aka Spice Market

We will one day admire this photo with the thought, "OH! Carlos the Camel...what was that guide's name?"

Amelia, Carlos, Kristen

Ended Wednesday enjoying the ocean from the rooftop

Feast prepared entirely without power.

We only had slices of turkey ($10 for 10 slices, give me a break...) but we managed to make everything else! 

Sunrise on our last morning.

Heading back to Kampala for tonight, then Nsumba Village tomorrow for a dedication ceremony of the completed dormitory!

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Best of luck recovering from your food comas!

With love,
Kristen

Those kids.

*Author’s note: I wrote this on Saturday, November 17, but am only just getting around to posting it. Keep that in mind while reading my timeline and events. 

I have been having a difficult time transitioning my programs to the Ugandan leaders. Part of this has to do with my lack of experience with such a big and important task. It also has to do with the denial that many of my co-workers and kids have about my impending departure. Mostly time is slipping away too fast for me to manage. School ends on Monday and most of our children will go back to their homes/villages until February. That gives me approximately one day to finish evaluations, transitions, and spilling of my love to these kids.

It also means my role with the peer-health education program is ending. This is why I was so upset to wake up to a text this morning from one of the teachers that co-facilitates the program. He informed me that no children would come today because they have been given the day off by Headmaster. Honestly, my first thought was, “Awww, Shit.” I knew that today was my last chance to meet with the whole group—like, ever.

We chose new members this week to replace the leaving P-7s and today was intended to be a surprise celebration/welcome party. I was worried that half the kids would listen to the closure notice; I also worried half would still show up and not find me there. To resolve this, Amelia and I put a note on the board informing all of the change of plans.

I know it is ridiculous and possibly immature, but I felt extremely sad and disappointed by the cancelled party. My love for those kids runs deep and I can already feel a broken heart coming on when I leave. I was very selfishly depending on today to spend more time with “my kids.”

As it turned out, I am not the only one with an emotional attachment. At exactly 2:00 (the time of the class) one of my P-6 boys shows up to my apartment and says, “Just saw the sign. Sorry it is cancelled today, but I wanted to see you to say hello.” We chatted for a few minutes and he went home. Then around 2:30, three more boys came to my apartment and say the same thing, “We are sad not to meet today, but we wanted first to greet you.” Amelia and I sat on my veranda with them and were able to talk and share some laughs. By the time 3:00 rolled in, I saw six more boys round the gate of my apartment and at that point, it was all I could do to hold tears back. These boys informed me that they had seen three of the new female members leaving the classroom when they arrived.

 [Our total number of kids who came to the “cancelled” C2C is at 13 out of 22]

I could not let these guys get away without some fun, so we took photos, played games, and of course I gave them biscuits (cookies)!

Many of these children live in the orphan’s home and on Saturdays Amelia and I go there to check on them. We decided to leave for the house earlier than we had planned so we could walk with the kids. 

Amelia and I decided to help carry firewood back to the House

On our way, we bumped into two very disappointed girls from my class who were walking back to the house after reading my sign.

[15 of 22]

As always, the home was a lot of fun. I was sure to get a photo of us with all the kids at the house. I am almost certain that will be the last time all of them are there until next February, since many go visit family during school holiday.

On the way back to our apartments, we ran into the first boy that visited me today and another boy from my class who said he and his sister both came but left when they saw the sign.

[For a grand total: 17 of 22…not a bad attendance rate for a cancelled class.]

Amelia made a fantastic observation that their dedication to show up even when they had been told otherwise speaks well for the program.

The children would never know it, but their dedication to the program, motivation to learn, and display of love for me have given me the push I needed to continue doing what I can, when I can despite a rocky transition and close deadlines. Clearly, I am doing something right by these kids; sometimes that is all we can ask for. 

With love,
Kristen

725,846,400 | 12,097,440 | 201,624 |8,401 |276 | 23

There was a time in my life—about 6 or 7 years ago—when I fantasized about being older and getting to travel. Those dreams were incomplete, mostly because as a teenager it is difficult to imagine where marriage and children fit in with career goals. In fact, it was difficult to imagine how travel fit in with my career goals.

I’m beginning to realize that for those of us who dream of traveling the world—and even more so for those of us who plan on working where we travel—there are great sacrifices that must be made. In 2012, I have missed Easter, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, family and friends’ birthdays, Independence Day, Halloween, and I am about to miss the upcoming Holiday season entirely. Leaving alone the missed holidays (which I will mention the Ugandans have very warmly made these days special for me and they are therefore not disappointing), I must also consider sacrificing the time with dozens of people that I love dearly, whom I have come to accept I must wait yet another year to see.

                                                                                  

I turn 23 today; my first birthday away from America, friends, and family.

The list of sacrifices may feel heavy, but during my 22^nd year I have:

1.       Graduated from University

2.       Been to the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans (within 4 months of each other)

3.       Fed giraffes and went scuba diving in Kenya

4.       Founded a 501(c)3 non-profit organization…FDEC Foundation…look us up ;)

5.       Nearly completed the first major fund-raising campaign for FDEC Foundation

6.       Wandered the streets of a post-Olympic London

7.       Went on three wildlife safaris

8.       Befriended people from all over the US, Canada, UK, Uganda, and Japan

9.       Visited three more States (Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey)

10.   Lived completely on my own (as in sans roommates) for the first time (and in East Africa, which I feel deserves extra self-pride)

11.   Proudly became the adopted aunt to dozens of incredible children for whom my love is eternal

12.   Had my first “vacation” in which I left home/work in Uganda, visited home/America for three weeks, and then returned to home/work in Uganda

13.   Racked up almost enough airline miles to get a free international ticket

Not a bad year.

A part of me does wish I were celebrating this day with a cold beer on tap while sitting at a table with my loved ones waiting on a hot fudge brownie with a candle and a dozen forks to be served… but I really can’t complain that I will begin my 23^rd year in East Africa. I’m sure I can teach the kids the Happy Birthday song for me…

With love,

Kristen

PS…before you feel bad for me “being alone…” you should know that I get to share this day with Amelia, who has already given me Hocus Pocus, my ballot (which I voted, and sent back with RPU to put it in the mail), E.L. Fudge cookies, and mini-bottles of Rum. :) I’m well taken care of on this end!