Some of the children at Mercy Orphanage 
Day four - 31 July 2009
In Africa, there is a saying that 'You [foreigners] have the watches. We [Africans] have the time.' Over the past two days, we have been forced to relinquish our hold on time sheets, accountability and schedules and come to grips with the concept of African Time, when things happen not when they are scheduled to happen, but when everyone is ready for them to happen.
In Uganda, it seems that no one is in a rush. The simple things in life are not taken for granted. Everyone we meet greets us with a warm smile and open arms.
We spent the day at the Mercy Orphanage in Kampala. Mercy has been running for five years by Sylvia (whose mother founded Mercy) and her team. Together they teach (not only lessons, but life skills) and raise 60 kids between the ages of four and 15. Despite the harsh living conditions where each child shares a bed smaller than the size of a single bed with one other child, and surviving on little more than one meal a day, the children at Mercy exude joy and innocence, unaware of the daily difficulties they face.
During the course of the day we taught the kids games like 'What's the time, Mr Wolf?' and 'All Over Red Rover'. However the more entertaining lesson was learned (albeit unsuccessfully) as Jonty and Chain Snore were taught by the kids to break dance with 'The Worm'. Once again, we were painfully made aware of how much each of us takes for granted simple things like a soft drink or a football (courtesy of Chain Snore) which are met with squeals of delight from the kids.
We may have taught the kids from Mercy some playground games. The true lessons, however, are those that they have taught us about the joys of simply being alive.
Mini
In Africa, there is a saying that 'You [foreigners] have the watches. We [Africans] have the time.' Over the past two days, we have been forced to relinquish our hold on time sheets, accountability and schedules and come to grips with the concept of African Time, when things happen not when they are scheduled to happen, but when everyone is ready for them to happen.
In Uganda, it seems that no one is in a rush. The simple things in life are not taken for granted. Everyone we meet greets us with a warm smile and open arms.
We spent the day at the Mercy Orphanage in Kampala. Mercy has been running for five years by Sylvia (whose mother founded Mercy) and her team. Together they teach (not only lessons, but life skills) and raise 60 kids between the ages of four and 15. Despite the harsh living conditions where each child shares a bed smaller than the size of a single bed with one other child, and surviving on little more than one meal a day, the children at Mercy exude joy and innocence, unaware of the daily difficulties they face.
During the course of the day we taught the kids games like 'What's the time, Mr Wolf?' and 'All Over Red Rover'. However the more entertaining lesson was learned (albeit unsuccessfully) as Jonty and Chain Snore were taught by the kids to break dance with 'The Worm'. Once again, we were painfully made aware of how much each of us takes for granted simple things like a soft drink or a football (courtesy of Chain Snore) which are met with squeals of delight from the kids.
We may have taught the kids from Mercy some playground games. The true lessons, however, are those that they have taught us about the joys of simply being alive.
Mini
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