Africa LN-4 Project
Dear Friends of the LN-4,
Home again, just barely. And again so much to tell that it can scarcely be encompassed in a coherent e-mail that would not become too many pages to read. We have also kept a daily journal. It is not yet finished, but if you would like to read it when it is, please let us know, and we will send it on.
When we last wrote we reported on some of the wonderful hospitality and logistical support we had received from Rotarians and Rotaractors in Kampala and Nairobi. We told of the success in fitting all the hands we had brought, as well as those we were able to rebuild with the new modifications Michael and Ernie sent with us. In the end, between Uganda and Kenya and with the help of many others, we fit 148 hands before we finally ran out. Exactly double our number from last November. A team picture from Nairobi is attached.
Best of all, and most poignant in our minds and hearts: seeing the return recipients in numbers, especially those from strife-torn Gulu, telling them of the background of Ernie’s invention, seeing them deeply moved by the story and clapping their prosthetic hands on their legs, learning that the hands have worked for them and that they are used by all on a daily basis, if in some cases only for specific tasks. We were overwhelmed by their gestures of appreciation. One came in the form of a letter from a man named Constantine directed to Ernie which “Gulu Charles,” the President of the Rotary Club of Gulu, translated from the tribal language and read to us and which Tim later read in his presentation at the District Conference in Mombasa. If Ernie would like us to, we hope to share it with you also.
The same recipient needed not only a hand but also a way to reopen his business, and Tim suddenly seized upon the idea of microfinance as an ancillary program for the LN-4 project. Microcredit, or microfinance, is a concept well understood in Africa, one which we hope will become part of what our friends in East Africa can initiate as we expand our ability to network with Rotary clubs and agencies in the areas where we work.
But back to Nairobi and where our mini report left off. After another day with GSE team leader Sumant and his wife Jyoti in Nairobi, we moved on to the District 9200 Conference in Mombasa. We were not prepared for all that awaited us, a VIP pickup at the airport, a long trip to the South Shore including a short ferry ride, and a luxurious all-inclusive destination resort on the white sands of the Indian Ocean accommodating over 1100 Rotarians, “Rotary Ann’s,” Rotaractors, and guests. Deep blue pools with swim up bars, thatched-roof open air restaurants and bars, monkeys dashing in and out of windows to steal any food they could get their hands on. We set up our booth outdoors across from the House of Friendship, hung our new banner at the entrance and put the 8 x 11 photos Michael had put together on the wooden board at the back. A huge rectangular tent had been set up for the meetings, with open sides to allow for breezes off the ocean. We sat at one of the front tables under the elevated dais, with Tim accorded DGN status. What we didn’t appreciate at the time was the great view up-front seating provided at evening events, including the slow African dance of all living PDG’s dressed in palm fronds with half coconuts dangling from their chests – it was hilarious! They looked as though they had been doing it all their lives. (We heard they actually got off easy this year and were able to keep their trousers on.)
“Keeping time” (i.e., on time) during the sessions was a strong motivating factor. The only problem with the concept was that most started half an hour late. It was easy to catch up through the ceremonial entrance, recognitions, presentations of flags, and the major addresses of the first day. However, on the second day when time was docked from the 20 minute plenary session talks (ours was up first), we really felt it. Having spent many hours putting together a PowerPoint presentation from the current trip, with data analysis and many recipient photos, Carol was nonplussed to realize there was so much light in the tent—it filtered through the roof—that even with a second more powerful projector fetched from Mombasa, no image was going to show on the large screens. We quickly reworked our presentation, more able to do so than some of the others, and however brief, it went over well and seemed to touch many of those present.
Visitors to our booth were numerous and serious with their inquiries.
On the third day we hosted a returning recipient from Nairobi in our booth. Francis Nzioka had helped with advance PR and then was one of two returnees training new recipients in Nairobi. He was terrific, articulate, and press coverage was excellent – both print and television. And for the first time we got to see a recipient eat a real meal, cutting the chicken cacciatore with the knife held by the LN-4. It was very natural for him.
The overall organization of the Conference is hard to convey. Audio video issues aside, it was very, very impressive, from the quality of the content of the sessions to the ceremonial aspects, the Rotary singing and dancing, the evening Cabaret and the Governor’s Ball, to the outstanding food service for so many guests. We joined the African dancing until 1 a.m. on Friday night but managed a 6 a.m. swim in the Indian Ocean on Saturday. The fine white sand beach was lovely. During Saturday’s closing sessions, we were touched by the generous words of PDG Mohamed Abdulla about us before presenting his auditor’s report. That afternoon we were also included in an invitation to tea with the district leadership.
At the final banquet, DGE Tusu was presented with the “chain of office” worn in Africa by club presidents and in this case by the DG, with all PDG’s names printed on small brass plaques hung around the neck on a ribbon. It was a very ceremonial and moving changeover and seemed very appropriate in the setting of a district conference.
Sunday morning we took down the booth, packed and at the invitation of Mohamed Abdulla accompanied him and his wife Molly and son Mahmoud to the private British era Mombasa Club for an afternoon of relaxation, touring, and swimming in the salt water pool before heading to the airport for the long trek home. What a contrast to the days of fitting hands, which we will always consider the most meaningful and rewarding part of our trip.
We now know LN-4 prosthetic hand works!
There is a huge need.
Our work is just beginning.
With many thanks to all of you for your wonderful support!
