Small things make big changes in children's life

The recent soccer trip to SOS Children’s Village Kakiri and to the zoo in Entebbe made great impact on the lives of the majority of the SOS Gulu children. I have since then received tens of well decorated and nicely written letters from children, expressing their strong desire to go and study in Kakiri. Each time I travel to Kampala I am given several letters to carry to their colleagues in SOS Kakiri. Not only do they write letters, but they have also changed in many aspects. They can greet me several times a day and show signs of caring. Many children come to me to say hello immediately after returning from school.

As a good parent, I respond to their wishes positively. But not without a stringent attached. Many times I set for them stretching objectives. For instance a child whose position in class ranges between 20 and 30 out of 80 children, I tell her to be among the first five if she wants me to take her to SOS Kakiri next year. This has in one way yielded good results. Many children now are more serious with their studies. Some can also sustain a conversation in English, which was a myth previously. Small things make big changes in life.

SOS GULU SOCCER TEAM VISITS WILD GAME CENTRE AT ENTEBBE

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe, is undoubtedly a house to many exciting wild animals. Recently, as part of the second term holiday programme, SOS children in the soccer team toured the wildlife conservation centre with the aim of seeing various wild animals and birds.

The guide, who led the team during the tour, revealed to the children that the Uganda crane is a unique monogamous bird which sticks to only one partner for a life time. “Even when the partner dies, this bird (Uganda crane) will never engage or be engaged by another one until it dies. It’s very monogamous!” he emphasized.

A week after celebrating his 43rd birthday, Zakayo (oldest chimpanzee in the zoo) looked energetic, caring and bossy when we visited his territory. Minutes after hearing different styles of shouting, the huge but friendly animal became inquisitive to know the intruders that were disturbing its peace. It sent part of its advance team to monitor the situation before reluctantly emerging from its hide-out in a thick bush to greet the visitors. It wasn’t long before the guests were treated to a rear jungle play by the family of ‘Zakayo’ while Zakayo looked on in approval. Occasionally, the animal looked uncomfortable. Little did we know he never liked the presence of another male chimpanzee around his wives! “It normally makes sharp noise whenever it sees the male chimp around its wives,” explained the guide.

The children saw a lion, a hyena, bush riders, water divers, calabash monkeys, a buffalo, a warthog, wild pigs, tortoise, parrots and other rear water birds. The team came out of the jungle with lots of stories to narrate about lifestyles of the wild game they saw.

by: Frederick William Odoch, Administrative Assistant.

Construction of the new village in pictures

Construction of the new village is progressing well. Everyone on the site is busy performing an activity ranging from making blocks to laying them.





The site agent asserts that by end of 2007 five buildings will have been roofed.