Another way foreward

As one of the steps Liak is taking to improve the life of community members, it has written a proposal for a grant that if succeeds would help employ small section of its members, check it out here.
http://www.ned.com/group/lia-global/ws/lia_kireka_small_grants_application/


and see how you can help.

Kireka and plans

Liak computer and technology;
One of our primary activities has been computer training and has remained the same because without it, communication becomes a barrier more so with the global communities. With advancement of technology, time has come that every house hold should have computer literate to ease computer related knowledge. As it has been the case, life in Africa Kireka members few of them have had chance to learn this new technology much as the door has ever been opened for but perhaps due to other commitments. Now that many liakireka members who missed the chance to get the basics has learned the fruits of computer knowledge, and regardless of age every member wants to take learning computer as priority. With this interest of the members to learn, there is an idea of opening it for even non members that eventually there is hope to open up community computer learning center. As we hope for this, it will require some body not only with experience in that field but also profession in related not only to give basics but computer knowledge. Our community is lacking this kind of a person who would like to volunteer in this field. If some body is equipped with computer knowledge, is another way of making some body self reliance.

Liak Craft for development;
Every other day every thing is becoming technical, even what some body has already known, new fashion comes and people get fed up of the old styles. Our members have been so much on paper beads and it seems the global market is flooded with the same fashion styles of products that may not only be selling for the cause but also value for money. We at liak (life in Africa Kireka strive to look for a way of coming with new products be it from the same materials or totally a different thing like shopping bag that its raw material shall be wax, dye and some clothing materials. This we hope should go alongside with tailoring targeting the most disadvantaged woman and the widows who shall be equipped with skills. Anybody out there with this kind of skill and would like to help in anyway s/he can to make our dreams alive shall be of great importance to this kind of community. Below is quilts made up of old T shirts, if you didnt know what to do with old T shirt, send them and we make something new.






Liak community children:
Life in Africa Kireka, s 100 children Saturdays nutrition club has been reviewed by the members that since getting the fund is not very easy, and yet there is a lot more essential needs, the community is on the view that whoever would want to help these kind of kids can make interms of tuition or scholastics/uniform and other necessary school requirements. And as they continue with their Saturday programs that include music dance and drama, art and crafts and here the kids do painting of peace tiles whereby it carries what they want to communicate to who feel concerned about their future. You may choose to sponsor a kid through making purchase of what they make by themselves like the peace tiles. The kids still lack the costumes for their drama and every drama is interesting when the presenters look uniform. Much as they try to do it well but still without costumes it makes it too local. Thanks to the ballet modern dance school who performed with them at national threat in conjunction with students from Stanford University. It was a nice evening show, thanks to them for the gift to the kids and also their support through shopping at our gallery. Below is the peace title workshop


Liak community startup loan
One other thing dragging communities into poverty is where to start from, much as you may have the idea that can lead you to success. A well established community would be the best area for those who have some money and want to give inform of loans to transform people’s way of life. They say experience is the best teacher, some liak members have had loans from kiva that just like any other business, some succeeded in their plans and some didn’t, and since we were in the transition that calumniated into life in Africa Kireka from life in Africa foundation, there was need for break to see what went wrong and how to make it work better and I think time is ripe for things to work better. There are some wonderful members with good loans plan but they can not access those loans, being one of the community’s programs, any body out there thinking the same way but had not seen which community to contact about it, there you go. is one of the best the then borrower who would want loan again.

ASSUMPTIONS OF BIRTH DATES

History tells that December 25 was popularized as the date for Christmas, not because Christ was born on that day, but because it was already popular in pagan religious celebrations as the birthday of the sun. But could December 25 be the date of Christ's birth? According to Christina religious education, they say that before the gospel, there was gospel; does it mean that before the birth of Jesus Christ, 25th December has been celebrated? Like moon for the Muslims, perhaps sun for the Christians but what makes the difference is that the sun is hot and the moon is cold but both seems to be shining 12 hours that geographers call it the rotation of the earth.

"Lacking any scriptural pointers to Jesus’ birthday, early Christian teachers suggested dates all over the calendar. Clement...picked November 18. Hippolytus...figured Christ must have been born on a Wednesday...An anonymous document[,] believed to have been written in North Africa around A.D. 243, placed Jesus’ birth on March 28" (Joseph L. Sheler, U.S. News & World Report, "In Search of Christmas," Dec. 23, 1996, p. 58).

A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that December 25 couldn't be the date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:
First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7-8). Shepherds were not in the fields during December. According to Celebrations: the Complete Book of American Holidays, Luke's account "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (p. 309).

Similarly, The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted" shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields at night.

Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4). Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating. Its also true that most people don’t know their birth dates perhaps the parents did not keep track of the exact dates and months, in our culture, our forefathers used to match birth dates with events or seasons …. For example I gave birth when Obama was campaigning in Chicago :) you wonder how many times Obama campaigned in there to fix this new baby born birth date? Others say when the “mabira” give away was in high gear and the demand for sugar was very high for sugarcane to be planted.

Given the difficulties and the desire to bring pagans into Christianity, "the important fact then which I have asked you to get clearly into your head is that the fixing of the date as December 25th was a compromise with paganism" (William Walsh, The Story of Santa Klaus, 1970, p. 62).

If Jesus Christ weren't born on December 25, does the Bible indicate when He was born? The biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.
Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36), we can determine the approximate time of year Jesus was born if we know when John was born. John's father, Zacharias, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5). Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year (The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200).

It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child (Luke 1:8-13). After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (verses 23-24). Assuming John's conception took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months (the difference in ages between John and Jesus) brings us to the end of September as the likely time of Jesus' birth.

Although it is difficult to determine the first time anyone celebrated December 25 as Christmas Day, historians are in general agreement that it was sometime during the fourth century. This is an amazingly late date. Christmas was not observed in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, until about 300 years after Christ's death. Its origins cannot be traced back to either the teachings or practices of the earliest Christians. As I speak now, Ethiopians perhaps must have celebrated Christmas. But the bible says.. Blessed are those who believe without seeing.

As we celebrate this world important date, let us not celebrate it like that of Herode that turned into cutting of John the Baptist’s head because of useless promises! This is the time most people tend to promise others uncountable things. If I were you, I would not promise any body any thing this festive season but I would use it as thanks giving and surprises to the ones we intend to.


MERRY CHRISTMASS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

A word from lia offspring

It’s a moment to say thank you to Christina who is now saying goodbye to us for the accomplishment of all what she has achieved either to an individual or as a group. Changing a community is one of the hardest things on earth because it’s a group of organisms living in a geographical environment with common interest or culture. Some people it’s hard for them to change their cultures much as it might be beneficial to them but until they see its fruits. That is why some tribes in Uganda have vowed never to give up with female circumcision much as the majority is against it. Thank you Christina for having community empowerment campaign at heart. I belief you are taking breath from the big crowd while watching as they enjoy the party, or complaining but you shall be always contacted where necessary.

While the host takes a breath from the crowd, there is always a master of ceremony who keeps on informing the audience or visitors about the party proceedings. For this matter I would like to welcome and congratulate Grace upon taking this challenging task. And with the experiences she has because she has been the audience I belief she will emulate and perform better too. It’s my wish for the new managing director of life in Africa foundation to continue empowering communities by either creating more communities and empower them or empowering those already created. There are some people who don’t know even that they have rights and can also do some thing unless they are retrieved from that deep asleep. Do you know why every body on earth is jubilating about Obama’s victory? Is because people thought that those who have served America as presidents, since they were/are white, could be that they are not human being but divine :) so historians now belief Kwamekuruma of Ghana’s saying that apart from color, we are equal where as it was the day for musicians to remember the late lucky dube’s song of different colors one people.

I can see that life in Africa foundation is accomplishing its aim and objectives, from the time of its inception this has been the vision and it’s good to appreciate this big achievement. When you empower some body or groups of individuals, is the best gift on earth. Because you have empowered him/her/them in all aspects of life right from socail, economical, plotical and emotional. Just as a mother raises her child until he/she is capable of doing by his/her own. This is the time that, that kind of a child comes back and surprises his/her parents with gift and say thank you for raising me up.

The fastest community that benefited from life in Africa foundation's vision is life in Africa Kireka community and many individuals. Life in Africa Kireka is also challenged to sit with its community and see if they can meet their desires.

Moment of Joy

Music dance and drama is one another thing that brings people together to relax the mind after the whole day of rehearsal. Much as one has thousand problems, people have different ways of spending leisure that you know yourself, life in Africa kireka members just at the quarter have what we call a get together party on the last Saturday of every month. Even a sad one will one day rejoice!

Look at the members dancing with sacks of groundnuts on their heads. Some with children strapped on the back :) for every celebration for all Ugandan tribes, ladies are honored when in Gomes and men always have no choice. Every body has his/her own ways of rejoicing when that moment comes.

POVERTY PERSPERTIVE

To know the causes of poverty, perhaps we need to first know what poverty is and who is considered to be poor. It always amazes me when I hear people talk about poverty, you will get surprised to hear that even person who is doing fairly good will say that s/he is poor perhaps may not know what being poor means to an ordinary man. At the grassroots level we understand poverty as lack of necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water, health care and not forgetting lack of access to opportunities like education and employment which fuel the escape from poverty or allow one to enjoy the respect of fellow citizens. Perhaps if some body does not belief that s/he is rich then should use the word not having enough.

There are levels of riches just as poverty, if one gets sick and rushes to the clinic without rushing first to the neighborhood to borrow money either for transport or medical bills, then that person is neither too rich nor too poor but just has enough which our community discus as the best. Some people have turned luxuries to be necessities when people in our community may have not even met one basic necessity. The members of this community still live below the poverty line not because they want it or lazy but perhaps the world does not know that such people exist not because of their own making.

They are trying as mush as possible not to be spoon fed but to be productive that they can only cross over the poverty line if some one outside there supports them either in their income generating activities as you must have learnt in this blog or even sponsoring a child’s education. When the children’s parents are poor and not encouraged to go to school, they will be poor even for the tenth generations to come! And that is what economist say poverty cycle; this is what Kireka concern is concerned about.

Much as the government agencies may try, but might not rich all these needy people. But thank God for the upcoming of non governmental organizations, they have helped the government to reach many than before. I was amazed to read on the local news paper about the growth of Uganda’s economy at a rocket speed and this is very common with developing countries, they tend to measure only economic growth without considering economic development. And when they measure economic development, you can find in the hands of 1, 2, 3…5 people, with the majority yawing! There is massive production but is not backed by the market and at the end of the day a sack of maize is sold only to purchase a small basket of necessities leaving them with empty hands to take their children to school or get medical care and this does not make the balance sheet balance.

That is why lia kireka has engaged its community in income generating activities like making handcrafts that if they are supported in, their balance sheet will perhaps balance. We can therefore belief that the majority poor are the illiterate ones, a good number of people in developing countries like Uganda can not pick their names if even if they find it on the way. Based on enrollment data less than 1% of what the world spends every year on weapon was supposed to put every child in school but this did not happen. Infectious diseases like HIV/aids still is a cause of poverty, parents die at an early ages leaving behind helpless orphans, these need be cared for in terms of education, health etc. with no access to clean water, almost 2 – 3 people lacking access to clean water live on less than a dollar a day, including lia kireka community lacks access to clean water and sanitation, this kind of community of displaced persons is supposed to have proper sanitation and clean water. Apart from HIV/aids that can be controlled by other means, malaria may not be the same... 95% of the life in Africa kireka community living in Acholi quarters the outskirt of Kampala depends on cracking stone apart from the in hand crafts, from morning to evening in order to get what to eat but not to buy mosquito net!!

People used to die of natural deaths at the ages of 70 and above but today in Africa people die of natural deaths at the ages of 2 to 40 because of extreme poverty. They lack every thing including shelter, howver much you may eat, get satisfied and medical care, but you sleep in the drainage, you have wasted the food you have eaten. I refer you to my friends’ blog GHETO LIFE. Some people have theory that high birth rate is the one causing poverty in Africa and Uganda in particular, to some extend may not be true because China is considered to be one of the most populated country in the world but they are doing better than Uganda. Anyway, whereas the high birth rate in China is high, it matches its economic growth and development as Uganda is not.

Poverty can not be ended but reduced by access project this can be done by financing and implementation of projects supported by whatever fund and through community led development at the village level to help them achieve the community prosperity for all programs.

PEOPLE AND CULTURES

Apio Dorcus and Adongo Dorren my twin girls made one year on 14th October 2008 :) happy birth day to them. In some African cultures like japadhola in Uganda, twins are very important and it becomes a miracle when one gives birth to twins. In most cases people call it a blessing, when twins are born, there are some rituals performed to welcome the new born in the family. First they are not allowed to be seen by the neighbors until some simple celebration is done, normally food is cooked and served.

Twins have special names like in my females twins are named Apio for the first one to come out and Adongo for the last one to come those applied to girls and if boy’s opio is for the first one and Adongo is for the last one. Apoi/opio means first and Adongo/Odongo means last. The parents of twins are renamed Bawengi for father and miniwengi for mother. The twin mother does not go to their parents until q big celebration is done. Normally the mother of the twins invites her relatives and the father of the twins too invites his relative and celebrates. After this the mother can begin to visit her parents.

The father of the twin can not marry another wife unless the mother of the twins has given birth to another baby. That is about twins in my culture. The above are my first born and moreover twins