TORUWU

Today we headed to Kikaji Training of Rural Women in Uganda, or TORUWU.  It is a fantastic program that teaches rural Ugandan women different crafts (basket weaving, bag making, wine brewing etc.), with the intention of giving them skills that can earn them money.  The Center also serves as a middle man between the craftswomen and the consumers, finding them markets where they can sell their products.  We spent an amazing day here getting a chance to interact with these women and learn their stories.

Basket woven by the women at Toruwu.

We were greeted with fanfare.  Meaning, a marching band greeted us at the entrance to the Center and walked us to the buildings.  Along the way the JHU/MakSPH students had fun dancing and interacting with the local children.  During the performance, the band played "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" from the Lion King, and we had a cross cultural experience when both groups started singing and dancing and having a blast.To add to the cross cultural experience, the band played both the American National Anthem as well as the Ugandan National Anthem.

Watching the youth group band perform

The first part of the day was spent in groups touring various homes in which the women working for the center do their crafts.  They invited us into their homes and showed us how they do the weaving and answered any questions we had about their work.  We then reconvened for lunch and delicious wine prepared at the Center with oranges, pineapple, and passion fruit.

We then moved into a very interesting discussion with Makerere Students, JHU students, and members of the youth group answering anonymous questions about each others cultures.  JHU students enjoyed learning about the Ugandan's take on the American system of government.

Interesting questions were brought up in the discussion

The day concluded with a dance performance by the youth groups accompanied by the band playing traditional African drums.  Some of the JHU/MakSPH students had the opportunity to show off some moves.  After purchasing some crafts made by the women, the students boarded the bus (sad to leave) and headed back to Ndere.

The whole group loved their time at the Kikaji Center learning about different cultures and getting to interact closely with these amazing women.  We are getting to bed early, packed and ready to head off to the Rakai Village tomorrow.

The whole group with the women at the center