Our Uganda Friday: 26 November, 2010

by Hanna Schwing

If you live in the U.S. or you know an U.S. American, you know that yesterday was Thanksgiving. I still feel stuffed from yesterday's meal and exhausted from days of preparing to host a Thanksgiving feast with some of my Kampala family. I am nevertheless looking forward to going to the Dance Transmissions Festival this weekend.










From Friday to Sunday there are performances by dance companies from Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, DR Congo, USA, Japan and France at the National Theatre in Kampala. The festival is organized by Keiga Dance Company, which was founded by Jonas Byaruhanga in 2004. Entrance is 5,000 shillings (about $2 for you non-Uganda based readers). See the festival program in pdf here.

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Our Uganda Friday: 19th November 2010

When the International Hospital Kampala opened their charity ward, Hope Ward, Dr. Ian Clarke the proprietor was lauded with praise and recommendation for the wonderful thing he was doing for the country. This was in April of 2006, and through donations from the public and donors, the Hope Ward is able to treat those people who are too poor to afford their own medical care.

Last night, IHK teamed up with Qwela to produce a charity concert like none ever seen in Uganda before. The concert coincided with the release of Dr. Ian Clarke's new book 'How Deep Is This Pothole' which is an autobiographical account of Dr. Clarke himself but also traces the changes in Uganda throughout the last 20 years.

The concert interlaced Qwela's performances with readings from the book with a totally authentic ethnic feel that the band is best known for.

Each ticket was a modest 60,000 Uganda Shillings with all the proceeds from the ticket sales and sale of the books going to buy drugs to treat cancer patients on the Hope Ward.

New Fabrics for New Products in the New Year!

TODAY! Awava @ Kansas State University Fair Trade Marketplace!

Hello Kansas! Don't forget, today and tomorrow Awava will be set up at the Kansas State University Annual Fair Trade marketplace in the KSU Union courtyard!

Come and pick up some gorgeous, handmade, fairly traded goodies for those special people in your life!

Awava's Kampala Holiday Sale @ KISU

Awava was at Kampala International School - Uganda Saturday for the International Women's Organization Annual Christmas Bazaar and we were a smash success! Our items were so popular that Hanna had to run out to pick up more product early in the day and we made several good connections for some exciting possibilities in the future! And of course we will keep you informed!

Due to our popularity, we only had time to snap these two photos while we were still setting up our table! But enjoy Darlyne's never-ending promotion of World peace.

Our Uganda Friday: 12 November 2010

by Hanna Schwing

















Yesterday marked the opening night of the French-German Film Festival in Kampala, presented by the Goethe-Zentrum Institut Kampala and Alliance Francaise Kampala. Running from Thursday to Sunday, the festival screens feature length and short films from France, Germany, and Uganda at the Cineplex Cinema in Garden City mall.

The French-German Film Festival comes just after the 7th Amakula Kampala International Film Festival, which occurred from October 29th to November 6th. With a theme of Inevitable Transition, the festival screened over 200 films, most focusing on Africa, at the National Theatre and 20 video halls across Kampala.

It's a good time to be film lover in Kampala.

It's also a good time to be a craft lover in Uganda! Tomorrow is the International Women's Association Market Day Sale at the Kampala International School, Uganda. If you're in Kampala, come to Bukoto, say hello, and buy some fair trade goodies!

Our Gulu Adventure (mostly) in Photos!

by Kate von Achen

The Kampala-based Awava team headed to Gulu on Monday to pick up products, place orders and most importantly, hang out with the artisans and have a party! We have had a lot to celebrate, let me tell you! In August we conducted a three day business skills and development training with the ladies and insisted on two months of follow ups on their books before awarding them their certificates, and last month Awava moved in to a brand new workshop in Gulu! The new shop has lots of space, natural light and ELECTRICITY!

After shifting to the new space, we ordered various items to be made by Nelson, a fantastic carpenter in Gulu and as of today, an honorary member of the Awava team. We decided to wait until everything had been constructed before we had our shop warming party and blessing by Lucy's priest.

Looking for Mama Lucy? How about Awava? Follow the arrow!

Wow! What a beautiful shop! And awesome bikes!

Why is that car parked on the sidewalk?

What's this? Information about Awava and about the women of Konye Keni?!

There's Ocen Esther! Hard at work on some children's oven mitts!

I model one apron while using the other's as a pillow (Awava likes their products to be multi-purpose).

And there's Darlyne, promoting World peace while organizing our beautiful shelves made by Nelson!

Nelson hung our kitenge (wax print) fabric rack just in time to get the fabrics displayed before the blessing!

The rent we pay the landlord is made worth it by his two beautiful (an ornery) daughters.

Yay, Nelson! Nice rack and table!

Seriously, World peace is very important to Awava.

Lakot Rosemary working hard on a children's oven mitt for The Community Mercantile!

We wanted to have a video of the shop blessing here but the internet will not allow the upload. We will try again in a few weeks from the US!

Ocen Esther pours water for Father Cyprian to wash his hands before sharing out celebratory treats!

What on Earth?! Why it is Kate and Lucy's favorite! Mango juice and the "Awava burrito", a culinary delight consisting of chapati, Nutella and banana!

A little prayer before we eat.

Awava Workshop Blessing Party

From left to right: Father Cyprian, Lakot Rosemary, Ocen Esther (behind), Auma Lucy (front), Hanna Schwing, Lalam Santa (behind), Alur Josephine (front), Akello Susan, Akello Grace, Darlyne Komukama and Aisha.

Awava Founder, Kate von Achen, presenting Mama Lucy with her very much deserved business skills training certificate.

Ocen Esther, phenomenal tailor and very, very excitable!

A slightly more composed Ocen Esther.

Akello Grace: could build a city of paper, astounding treasurer for Konye Keni and can work wonders with wire!

Lakot Rosemary: stitchin machine! And we promise she is not in pain, she was trying her hardest to stop laughing uncontrollably. Awava loves laughter, and there is A LOT of it ALWAYS!

Lalam Santa: paper rolling wonder!

Auma "Mama" Lucy, the best tailor that ever was!

Alur Josephine, the paper bead machine!

Akello Susan: Paper Bead Goddess!