August 11, 2016
Today our Kellermann Foundation boar members met with the Bishop of the local Kinkizi Diocese about 2 hours away from Bwindi. It is the politic thing to do as his approval and assistance are necessary to make any progress. After tea with him, we visited the Kinkizi High School nearby and had tea again with the headmaster there. We also checked out the classrooms and dorms and visited with the 6 Batwa students attending different grade levels. They represent the leading edge of the future for their people.
The 6 Batwa students currently in high school. A major accomplishment for them and the Batwa people
I toured the girls dorms and learned 300 girls live in one building-crammed 40 to a room.
There were signs everywhere regarding equality for women and girls, freedom and scholastic encouragement. Here is my favorite.
From there we drove to Bishops Primary School where 39 Batwa are enrolled and studying hard. Here we had tea and lunch. Because this school receives private funds from the Dioceses as well as from parents and other supporters, it is in much better shape than the high school. Better bathrooms with flush toilets, showers for the residents and less crowding in the dorms. Here is where I met up with Anivious, the Batwa girl Mark and I have been sponsoring for a couple of years.
Julia and Anivious, who is #1 in her 4 grade class.
I receive regular letters from the school regarding her grades along with a photograph, but there is nothing like the personal touch. Her 4th grade teacher pulled her out of class to meet me. She was very shy and confused at first about who I was, as I had not been able to give her advance notice, but eventually she warmed up. She seemed to understand some of what I said, but is very shy and spoke so softly that i could not hear her, let alone understand what she said. It helped a lot when a couple people helped with communication. I gave her a bible I had brought for her and she seemed confused by the gift. Finally, I helped her take the plastic off it and signed it for her. Then she realized it was for her. I invited her to join our group for lunch and with the help of another translator we got on better and she even asked me a couple of questions. I was surprised to find myself chocked up by the experience. Her teacher and the head master assured me she is a good student who is always first or second in her class. With luck and much effort on her part, she may graduate from university and become a nurse, her current goal.
Adventures with Julia 