Day 7, April 26th, 2021: Workshop with the directors of RWECO-VIDE

After having the spontaneous idea on Friday to hold a workshop today, I want to check before breakfast if everything works out as planned. A nice employee suggests that instead of the restaurant that was agreed, I could also use their conference room. I am delighted with this great suggestion. After a short joint inspection, everything is clear, or so I thought...

All my African colleagues are there well before the agreed start time: Wow, I am impressed and have to admit that I expected them to be late - I rarely think in stereotypes, but in this case, I was a bit biased. However, the start is delayed by another hour. Why? Because I assumed that I could use the conference room free of charge, just like I could have used the restaurant. The room is supposed to cost 100,000 UGX for a half day (about 23 euros) plus drinks. It doesn't sound like much, but it is, especially considering that I am probably the highest-paying guest in the entire year 2021 and the conference room is available, so there is no loss of income. After some back and forth, we finally come to an agreement and are allowed to stay for free if we have lunch at the hotel. Well, for the next time, I know that I will check the conditions again in detail.

Since I arrived in Uganda with the motto "go with the flow", I find it easy to deal with such situations. I have experienced this in other stays abroad, but in the past, I always needed some time to get rid of my German efficiency behavior. Since I have also been out of the rat race in Germany for a while due to a professional change, no acclimatization phase is necessary this time, which helps me a lot in this assignment.

We use the remaining time very effectively. Since we will be working closely together for the next three weeks, I think it is important that my crew, whom I also like to call my temporary colleagues, know a little more about me than just the pure professional facts. That's why I have prepared a small photo presentation as an introduction and show them pictures of my life in Hamburg and my family. Of course, there are also photos of my cats :-)

Furthermore, it is important for me to emphasize once again that I am here as a volunteer, so only expenses are covered, but I do not receive any payment for my assignment (see blog post from Day 6). I also tell them that I don't know yet what will happen professionally after this assignment and that I will be unemployed for the time being, explaining what that means in Germany, especially now in times of the pandemic. In their eyes, I am surely incredibly rich, and yes, I am, compared to their standard of living. But I try to provide enlightenment and explain to them what it means for me to maintain a middle standard of living in Germany, the relationship between my rent and my income, how much taxes are automatically deducted monthly, etc.

After in the church service of the Church of Christ yesterday, among other things, the theme of "giving" was in the foreground and in my eyes was very much reduced to the topic of monetary donations, it is important for me to present my view of things: So I explain that in my opinion, my assignment is also a form of donation, namely a donation of my knowledge and my time, which is at least as valuable as money. And that I do this out of deep conviction and with all my heart.

My words are appreciated by my colleagues, and although this was by no means my goal or intention, they repeatedly emphasize how grateful they are for my arrival.

Afterwards, we get down to business, and I start with a small creative exercise, which is then carried out differently than I envisioned - but ultimately, the result is what counts, and everyone is very satisfied with it. My goal is to help in such a way that the project can continue to progress even without me. I also want to encourage my colleagues to generate ideas on how to start with little or no money. My motto, which I also pass on to them, is "start small and grow it step by step".

My colleagues have already built RWECO-Vide, under whose roof very successful "community-based projects" have been planned and implemented for almost 20 years. They also have great ideas for the tourism project. In addition to their regular professions as teachers, pastors, farmers, shop owners, legal advisors, etc., they volunteer for the Rwenzori Community Vision for Development (RWECO-VIDE), where the tourism project is also located. This work is very time-consuming, and it is noticeable that they are guided by high ethical standards, wanting to change things for the better for their fellow countrymen and in their country.

During lunch together, my colleagues tell me that they have all been suffering from malaria several times and that this is normal in Uganda. Well, that doesn't exactly reassure me...

In the afternoon, I show the hotel manager the various provisional repairs that I have made in my room, as well as the things that I could not repair. He promises to send someone to take care of the jammed fan and the broken bathroom window. I'm curious... if it works, I'm happy, if not, it's not a big deal.

Afterwards, I plunge into the life of Kasese alone for the first time.

I urgently need new cash. I hadn't expected these sums of cash that I constantly need here. So far, I had to pay for all services in cash. I will also have to pay the hotel completely in cash because the card reader is broken. The whole thing is made more difficult by the fact that the banks here have limited the minimum withdrawal amount to 1 million UGX (about 230 euros). In Kampala, I was able to withdraw at least 1,750,000 UGX (about 400 euros) at once. That means I have to visit the ATM a few times to get higher amounts. And, what can I say - I am with a very expensive German bank that charges 6 euros for every withdrawal abroad. In addition, there are the fees of the local bank, around 2 euros. So, it's an expensive pleasure. Soon, I will try to convince a local bank to pay me more than the maximum amount at once. However, this will be towards the end, as I have no way of locking anything in the hotel.

On the fourth attempt, it finally works, and I have found a bank that accepts my card and dispenses cash. Very nice!

The mosquito issue continues to accompany me, and since my NoBite supplies from Germany are running out very quickly, I go in search of a pharmacy that sells me something like that. Three pharmacies later, I still don't have any mosquito repellent as it is sold out everywhere, but I get the tip to ask in the supermarket. Unfortunately, no luck there either. However, I meet the saleswoman Momo there, who advises me very nicely. I will definitely come back!

Back in my hotel room, I feel a bit dizzy because during my absence, the room was sprayed with DOOM, which is some kind of strong chemical insecticide spray. Never mind, I prefer dizziness to mosquitoes. Together with my Raid plug-in, it should hopefully be mosquito-proof tonight.