No matter where you go, people are consumed with money. In Canada we have the little problem called consumerism. We have too much money and we spend it on the most useless things.
When many countries started announcing that they were falling into recession, the western world went a little crazy. Many compaines started laying off employees and many more people decided that they were going to be tighter with their money.
You would think that the problem in North America is that we have more money than we can handle and that's why we're so focussed on it but I've noticed that people in Uganda are just as consumed with money, even if they don't have it.
People will do anything to get by. I talked to one lady that used to smuggle medicine across borders. She would sell the drugs and then use the money to pay for food for her children.
When we first arrived in Uganda, many of us noticed that families would have advertisements painted on the front of their house. I can only guess that they do this to make money.
A couple of people working on the construction in our compound have been caught stealing. One worker tried to steal a bag of nails - almost worthless - and we found out that he was doing so to pay for his sick child's medicine.
These kinds of things happen all the time and unfortunately, I don't really have a solution for it. I would say to get a job and work hard but I've met some of the hardest working people and still, they get paid barely enough to get by.
I guess one solution could be for us in the western world to stop spending our money on ridiculous things like expensive beauty products and fancy cars. With the money we save, we could sponser a child so that they get the food and education that they deserve.
We take for granted the fact that we have free education up to the end of highschool. That's the real killer here. Many students are far behind on their studies because they can't pay for their school fees. Just to take a test can cost around 150,000 shillings. That equals about $100.
What is chump change for us can mean a world of difference to a student that is working hard just to put food on their plate for dinner.
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3 years ago
Hey Heather!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that you're having quite the experience in Uganda, many ups and downs! Either way, it's great that you're out there experiencing life (both your own and others'). I can't wait to read your human interest pieces and your many pieces to come when you're a world-famous journalist!!!!
-Kari P :)
Your second last paragraph is what hit me the most while I was in Kenya. These children take such a pride in their education, yet they can only make it through elementary school because many can't afford high school. I do not think that elementary school is free in many parts of Africa. I am looking forward to when I have my own classroom of students and we can raise money to sent African children to school.
ReplyDeleteYour blogs are amazing. So proud of you. Can't wait to see you again.