During my research into finding a new charity project in Uganda I got to meet Urs Klauser who works as the field director for God Helps Uganda in Lira. He invited us to visit their orphanage after our first meeting. I was very much impressed of how well this place was organized and also how well the kids are taken care of. I immediately thought that this might be the right place to hand over the magic game box that was sponsored by SDSK (Schweizerischer Dachverband für Spiel- und Kommunikation). So Suzie, who is the president of this association and I decided to donate the box to this place if they were interested in getting it. As the games need some explanation, we planned to have two sessions with the staff of the orphanage and – of course – the kids.
After a short theoretical part, the staff was introduced in using all the games like diabolos, devil sticks, yo-yos, juggling plates, bilboquets, rainbow spiral, caleidoscope, whip top, jacob’s ladder, and others. They were quick learners and therefore we could very soon see smiling faces. After a while the first kids returned home from school and joined us. It’s so great to see how quick the kids learn to use these tools and later showing others – even the adults – how to use them. There was a lot of laughing going and everybody seemed to enjoy the playing.
At dusk we had to collect the games and put them back into the magic box as we had promised the kids in Chopalwor to play with them again so we could not leave the box at the orphanage in Lira yet. It’s always a bit hard to ask the kids to return the games but they bring them back without resistance which is always impressive.
We were a bit tired after travelling to Lira and playing with the kids but we were also very happy as it is always amazing to see how people’s faces change as soon as they start playing. Just fantastic!
Thank you very much God Helps Uganda, we will see you soon!
Suzie preparing the game’s buffet
Suzie teaching the staff about the theoretical background of playing
… then came the practical part: juggling plates
they soon mastered the games and started improvising…
mastering devil sticks and bilboquet
Suzie teaching Jonathan (who volunteers for GHU) how to use diabolos
Margareth trying to find out the secret behind the “Schnäpperli”
Jonathan trying out the rope top
then the kids came and picked whatever they liked from the buffet, in this case Jacob’s ladder
Juliette trying the juggling plate despite her dislocated elbow
we brought some photos of other kids and adults playing with the tools
swinging a melody tube
magnificent caleidoscope
balls are fun
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