Welcome to Pagak

Today was my third day out in the field with fellow GSSAP member Candice Patton.  We are both interning with an NGO called BOSCO-Uganda for the next couple weeks.  BOSCO is an information communication training (ICT) center that uses solar panels to provide power for computers with Wifi internet connection.  This computer training is used to teach children and adults how to use computers with the end goal of promoting economic sustainability in rural regions by providing a connection to the global economy.  Anyways, Candice and I are stationed to work at a BOSCO facility stationed in Pagak (pronounced Puh-gawk) Primary School.  The following is a run-through of our interesting day.

Pagak is a small village off the beaten trail on the one road leading north out of Uganda into Juba, South Sudan.  It is about a 15-20 mile drive on a dirt road to reach Pagak, but if you have ever been nauseous while driving this road is not for you.  Although there is amazing scenery along the way with rolling hills of open safari land that even a Nikon couldn’t do justice, it is not for the faint of heart.  This road was meant for people who love rollercoasters.  Luckily for me, I worked at Dollywood a few summers ago and rode enough rollercoasters and motion rides to prepare my stomach for just about anything.  As if the bumps weren’t already exciting enough, there’s the added thrill of blaring your horn to narrowly dodge an oncoming bota bota (motorcycle), bicycles, pedestrians, and even goats.  The ride to Pagak is incredible to say the least.

Once we reached Pagak, we were greeted (swarmed) by the 800+ children just like Justin Bieber is at his concerts full of tween girls.  After settling the children down, we are able to work with around thirty children (age 9-17) who are in the ICT program.  This week the children and the volunteer teacher are sharing their culture with us.  Next week, Candice and I will be showing the children how to perform specific tasks on the computer, such as setting up email accounts and uploading pictures.  Today the children showed us how to make handmade stirring spoons, which are two feet long and about one and one-half inches in diameter.  After this, Candice and I went to a town hall to witness a land dispute.  I won’t go into detail here, but everyone reading this should do some research (or atleast one small newspaper article) to become informed about the world.  After nearly two hours of hearing Acholi clan elders discuss the land settlement, we went back to Pagak Primary.  The kids then taught us how to make homemade jump ropes made from braided grass. Next, we made a ring made from twigs used to practice throwing spears.  The day finally came to an end by building a small fire and roasting some maize (similar to corn) over the fire.  All in all it was a phenomenal day, and it’s only going to get better.