SHANTI UGANDA…BIRTHING CENTER February 12, 2010

We traveled an hour out of Kampala to the Leewero District to a remote village deep in the bush called Kasana. Here education is only for those who can afford it and there is no health care. Like many other parts of this country there are no jobs. we’ve come here to support the work of an amazing woman named Natalie who founded Shanti Uganda, a program that supports women and children. With the money we raised, Shanti Uganda will be able to dramatically impact this community with the construction of a birthing center, and we are coming here to get our hands dirty to help with construction.
The birthing process as it is is unbelievable. The women walk for miles to get to the hospital, often alone but hopefully another woman from the family can come to aid. Since most don’t know when exactly they conceived, they arrive often days early to wait in a dorm style room that offers no comfort physically or emotionally. I am not sure what they have to pay for the delivery, but whatever it is it does not include any of the supplies or materials that are needed. The woman must bring her own plastic to lay on the table, rubber gloves and such. They don’t even have water for the mother to drink during the labor process. The hospitals often don’t have the ability or desire to clean up after a birth so the women are sometimes strapped down to the table. Clearly there are no epidural, catheters & the equipment is outdated and not sterile. And, ALMOST EVERY PERSON here is HIV positive ,but the stigma is so strong that the mothers do not admit it the hospitals and therefor the child does not receive the precautions and medications that it needs to prevent transmission. The birth experience is so traumatic that many choose to stay home to bring their children into the world. This of course is not safe, and the mortality rate for child and mother is quite high.
The problem is overwhelming, but we are part of the solution. Off The Mat has donated $150 thousand dollars towards the vision of Natalie and her team at Shanti Uganda, and what is happening there is absolutely amazing. First a piece of land was purchased from a man named Sam,who has owed the land for many generations, providing much need financial flow for his family and they will eat for a long time because of this. sam is very grateful to be neighbors with Shanti because the value of the rest of his property has gone up as has the value of the surrounding neighbors. The community is very supportive of this project and Natalie has been working with the women for months now. They have learned to make beads and bags that go back to the US and Canada and are sold at above fair trade prices, earning them much needed income as well. The workmen (besides us of course) are all also hired from the village, and nearly all of the supplies are purchased here as well, stimulating the local economy. Many of these men have had little to no education so the work is invaluable, as they are also learning on site training in building, engineering and more that they will have forever.
The center itself will consist of a small compound that will have 2 buildings. One will be for pre-natal & post natal care including yoga, life skills, health, HIV prevention/education and a place for new moms to rest and relax with their newborns. The other is specifically for birthing itself and will also have a birthing tub. What’s great is that the traditional birthing attendants (the historical birthing assistant for the native culture whose practice was becoming extinct) will be working side by side with western midwives. This will enable the people to get the best care and most mindful attention while continuing the cultural integrity of the belief system of the native community. The center itself will be completely stocked of all necessary supplies and more, and has enough money for a small staff & security guard a vehicle for supply & volunteer pick up as well as for emergencies. Outside the two structures will be beautifully manicured gardens for the women to be able to walk around in while in labor as well as an her and vegetable garden. The local women, most mothers and grandmothers have taken the garden on themselves, and are teaching the westerners about regional produce and the best way to use the land. i was lucky enough to spend a significant amount of time with them, and they are so very beautiful & gracious. They are honored to be a part of this project and many come each week to volunteer their time for the benefit of their grand daughters and the many generations of women who will have safe and magical delivery experiences. There is even a 90 year old woman who walks there every week just to help out!
The engineering….. this is what truly blows my mind. The facility will be equipped with solar power (most homes have no power here, we even ate in the dark a few times) and a rain water collection system that will also have a filtering system both going in and out. The specifics of it are a bit over my head, but the waste water that has been used will also be separated into three bins for reuse weather it be in the latrines, gardens or in other areas. The construction itself is being done the good old fashion way. With mud bricks. We learned how to make the bricks and how to construct the walls. The bricks are 1st made in one area, then the compound that holds them together and fills in the cracks is mixed by foot. I swear, I was knee deep with bare feet stomping together a mix of dirt, straw, sand and water. There are no fork lifts or machinery at all. It is all created on the sweat of the backs of the people. Once the concoction was throughly mixed to the perfect consistency, we took handfuls of it to smoosh between the bricks. We were chanting a little ditty and even the local workman joined in.” Shanti Uganda, Shanti Uganda, Shanti Uganda…Brick by brick by brick.”
We worked long and hard, and ended our time there with a short yoga class for the workmen who eagerly asked “What is yoga?” (they were very strong & very flexible, must be all the manual labor) and ended the night with a bonfire full of signing and dancing. The women do these traditional tribal dances and tie this animal hide thing to their backsides and shake their booty in a way that no white girl like me should be able to…. but i did. The tied it on me and I had the time of my life. I spent most of the night with the kids however. Most have never seen themselves, as they dont have mirrors (hell they dont have food or clothes) so group I’m not the by group I took their pictures and then showed them on the digital camera. I could have gone on like that all night but their mothers/grandmothers told them to leave me alone.
Through all of this, I have been an emotional mush. I have been crying a lot and thisnis just not normal for me. In my real life, I’m one of the strong ones. Certainly the backbone of my community and the one who can usually stay strong and keep it together. But here, I’m not the same. Dont get me wrong, I’m not getting emotional because of the poverty or lack of education. Its not the sickness or even the struggles. I cry here because I am moved by the grace and strength of these people. They are full of love, laughter and gratitude and it is the beauty that moves me. I am so grateful to be here, to do this and to know that so many people back home are sending me love & prayers!

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