A Women Together team—Ellen Krahn, Margaret Gibb, and Vicky Ahlberg left for Entebbe, Uganda on Sept 4 and arrived in Mukono, Uganda at 4:00 a.m. on Sept 5. Evelyn Franklin, a dedicated nurse and WT team member from Canada, was there to meet us at the airport. Evelyn had been in Uganda for two months teaching a Home Based Care course to 16 young people. The course, which Evelyn developed herself, teaches practical nursing skills for providing at-home care to the elderly—a much-needed ministry in a country with few caregivers due to the devastating impact of HIV/AIDs.
With 20 hours of flying time behind them and a few hours of sleep, the team was ready to go. Ellen and Margaret taught leadership training to the staff of ROTOM, a Christian organization dedicated to serving the needs of the elderly and those under their care. Vicky had a first-hand orientation on the work of ROTOM. Evelyn finished teaching her Home Based Care Course and prepared for her students’ graduation.
The team had the opportunity to visit some seniors in their humble village homes—a deeply moving experience. We met David, a man living alone in a home that needed extensive repair. He wept when we came to visit him and brought him groceries. He was so sad when we first came, but wept with joy when he was given sugar, flour, toothpaste, and other grocery items.
It was a joy to celebrate the graduates of the Home Based Care Course with their parents and friends. Equipped with basic health care knowledge, these students have seized a golden opportunity to learn. Out of the 11 students who graduated from Evelyn’s first class in 2017, nine are now employed, and out of the 16 who just completed their training, four are employed. This is good news. One of the girls, Viola, the valedictorian, is now pursuing her dream to be become a nurse. Women Together, through Evelyn Franklin, gave her hope and a future!
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