2024年
10月
17日
木
月曜は、唯一の休館日ですが、学期初めの校納金支払いなどの手続きのため毎週学校訪問に費やし、ようやくブログに手をつけられるようになりました。とはいえ、実は、5名の支援子供が2学期中頃位から音信不通やら所在不明やらになってしまっているので、まだ“手続き完了”ではないのですが…。
We have been using Monday, the only day the library is closed, to visit schools to pay fees for the new term and take care of other procedures. Now we finally
have time to work on the blog. That said, during the second term we lost touch with five students who are supported by the library or their whereabouts are unknown. So, their procedures have not
been completed.
Adong Rose(P.5)コロナの間、疎開?していたはる~か遠方の山村から戻り、Kitgumタウン近郊のOryangOjumap/sに転校してきて、我々が初めて見る制服姿です。エラ~い先生たちの部屋なので、少々緊張気味?
During the pandemic, Adong Rose (5th grade) relocated to a distant mountain village. She has returned and is now attending Oryang Ojuma Primary School on the
outskirts of Kitgum. This was our first time to see her in her school uniform. We met in the teachers’ room. Perhaps that’s why she looks a little nervous.
Canwat Brian (P.6 チャンワット ブライアン)たまたま屋外活動から教室に戻るところに行き会わせてパチリ。
We ran into Canwat Brian (6th grade) just as he returned to the classroom after working outdoors.
Aber Lydia(アベ― リディアP.1)クラス担任の先生と。実は彼女はリピーター、昨年と同じく1年生、つまり“落第生”なのですが、今年は、2学期までのところ上々の成績! このまま3学期もGo!目指せ進級!!
Aber Lydia (1st grade) with her teacher. She is repeating the first grade, but this year her grades through the second term are excellent! Keep up the good work in
the third term and shoot for promotion!
Lakica Grace(左から3人目、ラキチャ
グレイスP.1) 2学期の通知表をもらい損ねたままで、3学期に入っても、Podiまだ…なので、先生に聞きに来ました。ど~やら先生が紛失したらしく、おニューのを無料再発行してくれました! もし、こちら生徒側が失くしたりした場合は、実費+手数料を請求されま~す!
Lakica Grace (1st grade, third from left) started the third term without having received her report card for the second term. So we went to ask the teacher
about it. It seems the teacher lost the report card, so she reissued it at no charge. If students lose their report card, they must pay the actual cost plus a service fee in order to have it
reissued.
Aweko Babra(職業訓練校 美容師コース)DIT(Directorate of Industrial Training)という公的試験の受験料確認のため学校へ。実は、先週、学校の経理担当者の横領・使い込みが発覚、そのスタッフは逮捕され、今も留置所で取り調べを受けているとか、で、受験生一人一人につき納金状況を確認したい、とのことで,校長先生と話を。Awekoに関しては問題ないようですが、影響を受ける生徒もいるのでは…。
Aweko Babra is in the hair-dressing course at a vocational school. We went to the school to confirm payment of the fees for the exam offered by the Directorate of Industrial Training. Just last week, embezzlement by the school’s accountant was discovered. The staff was arrested and are being detained for questioning. The principal wants to confirm each test taker’s payments. There do not seem to be any problems related to Aweko, but other students may have been affected.
Latabu Jackline(P.7)最近姿を見てないので、一目見られたら、と思い校舎の方に行こうとしたら、「今P.7は、PLE(Primary Leaving Exams
小学校卒業認定国家試験、来月上旬に本番!)の模擬試験中なので、これ以上近くに行かないで!」と足止めされ、はるか彼方からパチリ。祈健闘‼!
We hadn’t seen Latabu Jackline (7th grade) recently, so we headed to her school. We were asked not to get too close as the seventh-graders were taking a practice
exam for the Primary Leaving Exams to be given early next month. So we took this shot from quite a distance. We wish her good luck!
10月9日は62回目のウガンダの独立記念日。去年はナゼかここKitgumにム大統領一行を迎えて盛大な式典が‼ 不測の事態に備えて図書館はクローズしました。今年も、K‘laなど都会では大賑わいのようですが、Kitgumでは、元々通り静かな祝日。3学期が始まり平日来られない一般ユーザーが多数来館。
Oct. 9 marked the 62nd anniversary of Uganda’s independence. For some reason, last year President Yoweri Museveni and his delegation came to Kitgum and there was a
grand ceremony. On the chance of unforeseen circumstances, we closed the library. This year there were big celebrations in Kampala and other cities, but it was a quiet holiday in Kitgum as usual.
It was the start of the third term, and many regular patrons who can’t come on weekdays visited the library.
乳幼児を連れて来た兄姉が読書中、乳幼児が寝たり遊んだりできるようにオモチャ付き別室を用意していますが、そこに入るのを拒むベイビーたちが、机を一つ占領! お漏らししないことを願いつつ…
We provide a separate room with toys where infants and toddlers can sleep or play while their big brothers and sisters read. Babies who refuse to go in there
take up an entire desk. We hope they don’t wet their pants…
手すきの時には、乳幼児室にスタッフが様子を見に行き、遊んであげられることもあります。Lawrenceは子供を遊ばせるのが上手です。 When they’re not busy, staff members go in to check on the little ones and sometimes play with them. Lawrence is good at playing with children.
Dickのクラス(P.3レベル)
Dick’s class (3rd grade)
3学期スタート初日、今学期も学校には行かれず図書館寺子屋で勉強する子供たちが来館。好物のビスケットをふるまいました。 Children who won’t be able to school again this term came to study at the library on the first day of the third term. We treated them to the cookies they love.
Lawrenceのクラス(P.2レベル)
Lawrence’s class (2nd grade)
Robinson のクラス(P.1レベル)& Joyceのクラス(就学前レベル)
Robinson’s class (1st grade) & Joyce’s class (pre-schooler)
「テストで間違えたところ、授業でよくわからないところなどを教えて!」というので、今学期から始めた上級生向けの“日曜寺子屋”。この日は生徒は3名、A.Rose(P.5)、Canwat(P.6)とAketowanga Sarah(P.6)。3時間ほとんど休憩なしで熱心に取り組んでいました! 中奥は、この日担当のRobinson。
This term we started offering Sunday lessons for upper-graders who have questions about mistakes they made on tests or things they didn’t understand in class. Three students came this day: A. Rose (5th grade), Canwat (6th grade), and Aketowanga Sarah (6th grade). They studied hard for three hours with almost no break. In the background is Robinson, the teacher today.
2024年
8月
07日
水
北半球は酷暑の極みでしょうか。こちらは赤道直下ですが、雨期、晴れればアッツ~ですが、曇れば涼しく、朝夕は毛布が必要…。オリンピックや夏休みで航空券が取りにくくなる前に―とバタバタとこちらに来ましたが、K‘laのGHの片隅に預け(置きっぱなし!)ていた老朽クルマを復活させるのに、2週間近くかかり、ようやくKtgに帰り着き、テンヤワンヤを片付け、この日曜日、一般ユーザーに向け再開館できました!
The northern hemisphere is baking in intense heat. We are at the Equator here, and when the skies are clear during the rainy season, it is hot! But when it’s
cloudy, it is cool and you need a blanket in the morning and evening. We hastily returned before the Olympics and summer vacation, when it would have been
difficult to get plane tickets. But it took us almost two weeks to revive our old car, which we had left (unattended) at the guesthouse in Kampala. Once we finally got back to Kitgum, we had to
do a lot of clean-up. This Sunday we finally reopened the library to regular patrons.
旧図書館、またしてもシロアリにやられてしまいました! コロナによる不測の長期休館とは違い、休館前に防除液を撒くなど対策していたのですが…。アフリカのシロアリは、手強し!!
The old library is infested with termites again! Unlike with the unforeseen lengthy closure of the library as a result of the pandemic, we sprayed insecticide there before closing up, but African termites are formidable!
段ボールを一箱ずつ開け一冊ずつ、棚からも一冊ずつ手に取り、ページを繰り被害を確認。まだ、まだ、時間のある時少しずつ片付けるしかない、という状況です。
Books are removed one at a time from boxes as they are opened and taken down from the shelves one at a time as well. Then we flip through the pages, checking
for damage. This can only be done little by little, whenever we have time.
もう20年以上前、この旧図書館での活動開始時に作って利用してきた書棚がご覧の通りの有様! 右半分は切断するしかないか、と話しています。 We began operating the old library more than 20 years ago, and this is what the book shelves we made then look like now. We figure we may have no choice but to cut off the right half.
周囲一面、雑草、雑草、雑草の海…。ヘビ(UGのヘビは全て毒蛇!)などの怖れがあるので早速、草刈り業者を依頼しました。しかし、この中でも、新館竣工時、亀田大使がお手植えの木はグングン成長中!!
A sea of weeds surrounds the library. There is a risk of encountering snakes (all snakes in Uganda are poisonous), so we immediately hired a contractor to cut back
the weeds. Amid all the weeds, the tree planted by Kameda Kazuaki, Japanese ambassador to Uganda at the time of the handover ceremony for the new library, is growing rapidly.
雑草、植込みを低く刈り込むと、改装なった図書館のペンキの色も一層鮮やかにみえます! 作業中、2名が、営巣中、子育て中だったWASP大型のハチ(スズメバチ?)に刺されてしまいました!! 応急処置で、大過無し、ヤレヤレ。 Once the weeds and other bushes were cut back, the paint on the renovated library looked brighter. Two of the workers were stung by large wasps (hornets?) that were building a nest for their young. First aid was administered and, fortunately, it was not serious.
刈り込んだ草、植木の始末も重労働! まだまだ数日かかりそうです。
Disposing of the weeds and plants that have been cut down is also a big job. It will take several more days.
支援子供の内、近隣の11名が集まりました! 中・高学年生は、例によって、全員対象の補習授業で学校へ、遠くの子はモチロン来られませんが、皆元気!!
Of the children supported by the library, eleven who live nearby got together. As usual, all of the higher classes at primary school and high school students had to
go to school for supplementary classes, and, naturally, the students who live far away couldn’t come. But they are all well.
剥がれ落ちかかっていた天井も、どこが、その箇所だったか分からないほどすっかりきれいになりました!
The ceiling looks so good now that it’s impossible to tell where it was about to fall in.
今回帰着後一番驚いたのは、“根なしカズラ”とかいう寄生植物の大繁茂! 植木や草花に絡みつき樹液を吸って草木を枯らします。植込み中にはびこっていて、毎日毎日採っても採っても、出てきます! 詳しい人に相談しても、根絶するには、周辺一帯の植物を全て焼き払うしかない、と。
シロアリ、ヘビ、ハチ、そしてコレ、アフリカの生き物は生命力旺盛です!
何かアイディアをお持ちの方、是非、お知恵拝借させて下さい!!!
What most surprised us after returning this time was the proliferation of dodder, a parasitic plant. It entangles itself with plants and flowers and kills them by sucking their sap. It grows
thick among the plants, and even if you pull it out every day, it keeps coming back. We consulted an expert who said the only way to completely eradicate it is to burn off all the plants in the
entire area. Termites, snakes, wasps, this plant – the living things of Africa are vigorous! If anyone has any suggestions, please let us know.
ようやく図書館再開! いつも長期休館のあとは、来館者が少ないのですが、この日曜日は、雨模様のお天気のわりに、70名超の来館者で賑わいました!
The library finally reopens! Whenever we reopen after a long break, there are few patrons. But this Sunday, despite the rainy weather, the library was crowded with
more than 70 patrons.
2024年
3月
08日
金
日本は春3月! 桜の便りはまだ?…としても、日に日に暖かくなっているのでしょうね。こちらは、乾季と雨季がせめぎあっていて、カーッと晴れメチャ暑いかと思うと、一転黒雲が沸き上がり激しい雷風雨が、という毎日、至る所に自然勝手に?生い茂るマンゴーの木々は、近寄ってよく見ると、もうたわわに実をつけています。March marks the start of spring in Japan, and even if the cherry blossoms are not in bloom yet, it must be getting warmer by the day. Meanwhile here the dry season and rainy season are clashing. The skies may be clear and it may be very hot when suddenly dark clouds appear and there are violent thunderstorms. Mango trees seem to be sprouting up everywhere. When you get up close you can see that they are already loaded with fruit.
支援を継続する子供、今年度から支援を始める子供たちが毎週㈯午前のミーティングに参集。月~金は毎日放課後、土曜は朝から夕方まで学校で行われる補習(必修!)に参加する高学年(大体P.5~P.6と最終学年生の全員が対象です!)の5名、他県など遠方の学校に通う5名、体調不良や家庭の事情で今日は欠席、という子たちも含めて、今年度は総勢22名を支援していきます。Children who continue to receive support from the library and those who will receive support starting this school year attend the weekly Saturday morning meeting. Five are among those who attend supplementary lessons after school on weekdays and Saturdays. (Generally, these lessons are required for upper-graders: fifth and sixth graders and those in their final year of school.) Five attend schools in distant areas, such as other districts. Some students could not attend the meeting on account of illness or for family reasons. This year the library is supporting a total of 22 children.
補習は、本とは朝から夕方までなのですが、今日は学校の都合で、午前だけ、といって高学年(P.6)の Canwat BrianチャンワットとAketowanga Sarahアケトワンガ が、午前組が散会した後、駆けつけてきました。 Supplementary lessons are usually conducted all day on Saturdays, but this day they were held in the morning only. Still, sixth-graders Canwat Brian and Aketowanga Sarah hurried to the library after their morning lssons.
今年は、普通のガバメント学校に併設の“特別学級”に、多くの図書館寺子屋の子供たちも引き受けてもらえることになりました!ヨーロッパ系NGO の資金によるプログラムとのことです。ノート、筆記具などは個人で用意しなければなりませんが、『高額な校納金や制服は不要、かばん・靴・体操着などは小学生らしければほぼ何でも良いetc』
というので、私どもばかりでなく、「普通の学校ではお金がかかりすぎてムリ!」という多くの貧しい家庭の子供たちが曲がりなりにも学校に通える!!のです。早速、寺子屋組9名を送り込んだ2校を訪問しました。
This year many children who attended lessons at the library have been accepted to “special classes” at government schools. This program is funded by a European NGO.
Students must provide their own notebooks, pens and pencils, but there are no high tuition fees nor are uniforms required. Any bags, shoes or gym clothes are acceptable if they are appropriate
for elementary school students. This means that not only students from the library but many children from poor families who cannot afford to send their children to ordinary schools can somehow go
to school. We set off to visit two schools that are being attended by nine students from the library classes.
Public p/sの特設学級。この中の7名が、図書館寺子屋からのシフト組です。この写真では、誰が誰やら、良く分かりませんが、全員、元気いっぱい、ニッコニコでした! Seven of the children in this special class at Public primary school studied at the library before entering this school. We’re not sure who everyone is in this picture, but they are all full of energy and have big smiles on their faces.
そのPandwong P/Sへは数日前からAringo Prossy ( 左端P.3)が通い始めています。Aringo が、緊張が解けないLacwec(右端P.2)を他のクラスメートたちと一緒に歓迎!
A few days before that, Aringo Prossy (far left, 3rd grade) began attending Pandwong Primary School. Aringo and a nervous Lacwec (far right, 2nd grade) were
welcomed along with their classmates.
Pandwong p/s への面接を受けるLakaraber Flavia Lacwec ラカラベー ラチウェチとお母さん。Lacwecの通学歴などを聞かれています。
Lakaraber Flavia Lacwec and her mother are interviewed at Pandwong Primary School. Lacwec was asked about her educational background.
昨年1年間Kitgum Boys‘(Boys といっても共学です!)p/s に通学支援したLakica Babraラキチャが、奥地の村の家族の元に戻ることになりました。出発直前の記念撮影です。
Lakica Babra, who attended Kitgum Boys Primary School (despite its name, it is coeducational) last year, will return to her family in an inland village. She posed
for a photo before departing.
Babraとは逆に、コロナ禍を数年過ごした他県の村から、一緒に暮らせるようになった家族のもとに戻ってきたAdong Rose(P.5)。タウンから約10~5km位西郊のOryang Ojumaオリャング地区の学校への初日。Ogen So (左端マスク着用)が緊張を解こうとふざけています。
In contrast to Babra, Adong Rose (5th grade), who spent several years in a village in another district on account of the pandemic, has returned to live with
her family. She will attend a school in Oryang Ojuma, 10-15 km west of town. So, Baba Ogen clowned around in an effort to get over her nervousness.
PLE(義務教育修了認定テスト)を合格、希望の美容師学校に入ったAweko Babra(後列右端)。今日は初めての実習、緊張!! Aweko Babra (back row, far right) has passed the PLE (compulsory completion exam) and entered the cosmetology school of her choice. Today is her first training, she looks nerves!
千葉市在住の支援者Y.Tさまが、メチャ高いEMS代を払って送って下さったXmas/New Year‘sのプレゼントを手に、一同ニッコリ!! ようやくお披露目できました‼ パチパチ~!!
3022744 Children are all smiles as they hold Christmas/New Year’s gifts sent by a supporter, Ms Y.T in Chiba prefecture via the very expensive international express
mail. The children were finally able to show off these gifts! --clapping !!--
2023年
12月
16日
土
ここ数か月の間、撮りためていた中から、少々時間が経ってしまったけれど今見てもマズマズ…というものや比較的近影というものをご紹介します。
Although some time has passed, we’d like to introduce a few of the not-so-bad photos we’ve taken over the past several months along with some more recent
shots.
今年度初の&最後の保護者同伴ミーテイング。
The first and last meeting of the school year at which children were accompanied by their guardians.
家族ごとでの話し合いタイム。 Time for talking with each family.
Acen Harrietアチェン ハリエット(S.1)とオジ、Lubangangeyo Stephenルバンガニェヨ スティーブン(P.5)とオバ。どちらも遠方在住、ミーティング当日は都合がつかず数日後、偶然同時に来館。“寺子屋学習組”だった頃の旧交を温めていました。
Acen Harriet (secondary school, first year) and her uncle, Lubangagneyo Stephen 5th grade) and his aunt. Both families live far away and were unable to attend
the meeting but came to the library at the same time several days later. They formerly attended lessons together at the library, and rekindled old ties.
“女の子を連れてきたLa賞”のXmasバージョン(折り紙サンタクロース*付き!)を被ってご満悦の子供たち‼ *こちらでは、“サンタクロース”ではなく、“Mr.クリスマス”というのが普通のようです。
The winners of the Christmas version of the La Prize for bringing a new girl to the library look satisfied with their prizes (complete with an origami Santa
Claus). (Here people refer to “Mr. Christmas,” not Santa Claus.)
学年代表として、某NGO主催の青少年リーダー育成プログラムに参加。修了証と記念品のTシャツを手に、“オディ~”(現地食名ピーナッツソース青菜あえ?)!! こちらでは、“チ~ズ!!”の代わりに”オディ~“といいます。 ラケーサンディ、チャンワット ブライアン, アケトワンガ サラ。3人ともP.5
Laker Sundayラケー サンディ, Canwat Brian チャンワット ブライアン, and Aketowanga Sarah アケトワンガ サラ, class presidents who completed a leadership development program
sponsored by an NGO, hold the certificates and T-shirts they received. (Here people say “odi” (ground nut paste) instead of “cheese” when posing for pictures.) All three students are in the fifth
grade.
ある日曜。開館までかなり時間があり、スタッフが揃わないので、UG国歌を斉唱! 英語なので、特に低年齢の子供には難し~ようです。
One Sunday there was quite a bit of time before opening, and the staff were not all there yet, so we sang the Ugandan national anthem.
旧知のシスターが、彼女が勤める幼稚園の卒園生の図書館ユーザーに連れられて訪問。彼女とはSally*さんのご紹介で、長~いお付き合い。*Sallyさんについては、少し前のブログやボランティアの欄でご覧ください。
A nun who was introduced to us by Sally years ago came by for a visit. (For more about Sally, refer to the previous blog entry and posts about
volunteers.)
2023年
10月
07日
土
2学期が終わり、Lumure村から3人の支援生が図書館に姿を見せました! 凸凹荒れ泥道を片道2時間もかけて徒歩での往復です。帰路、この頃連日のように夕方起こる雷付き強風雨に出会ってしまうおそれがあるので、近況を聞くのもそこそこに、早く帰してあげないと、と、大好きなビスケットも急いで食べさせるしかありません。
Three children from the village of Lumure who are supported by the library showed up one day after the end of the second term. It is a two-hour walk each way along
a bumpy, muddy road. Recently there have been storms with strong winds, heavy rain and lightning several evenings in a row. There was a risk of them getting caught in one of those storms on their
way home, so we had little time to ask what they’d been doing before sending them home. There was only enough time for them to eat their favorite biscuits.
Ktgタウンの支援子供たちにも、大人気のビスケット! 1袋30枚弱入り4000シル(約160円)! 水と粉を練って焼いただけ、ミルクやバターなど一切入っていない非常に素朴なモノですが、時々何かの折に一人2,3枚ずつ振る舞います。これを楽しみに図書館に通ってくるらしき子もいるとかいないとか…!?!
These biscuits are popular with the kids we support in Kitgum too! There are slightly fewer than 30 biscuits in a bag, which costs 4,000 shillings(=about160yen).
They are very simple biscuits made of water and flour that has been kneaded together and baked. There is no milk or butter in them. We give two or three to a child now and then. There may be some
children who come to the library just in hopes of getting biscuits.
3学期までの約3週間、別途費用を払って学校での補習に参加することを勧められますが、お金がない子は?!? そこで、図書館では、例によって通常の寺子屋を拡大充実し学習の機会を無料提供! この子たちにも時たまビスケットをふるまうので、それを目当てに来ているのかもしれません?!
Children are advised to participate in supplemental lessons that are conducted for three weeks before the start of the third term. But students must pay extra for
these lessons. So, what about the children who have no money? At those times the library expands its services to offer free extra lessons. We occasionally give these children biscuits too.
Perhaps that’s why they come.
読書に来る一般の子供のスペースも確保するため、低学年(P.1,2,3,4)生は、新図書館で、高学年(P.5,6,7)生は、旧図書館で、2,3名から5,6名のクラスに分かれ、先生が一人ついて、学校の期末テストの間違い直しやホリディパッケージ(数英理社などが一冊にまとめられた休暇用学習帳、お金持ちの学校ではこれを各自に購入させます。当方では、一クラス一冊ずつ購入、皆でシェア!)を利用します。一クラス5,60~100?名もいる学校の補習と違い、少人数クラスなので、“分かりやすい!”、“役に立つ!”と好評です。
In order to make room for other children who come to the library to read, children in the lower grades (first through fourth) study in the new library while those
in the upper grades (fifth through seventh) study in the old library. Students are divided into classes of from two to six children with one teacher. The students review the errors they made on
final exams in school and study with special vacation workbooks. (Each workbook covers mathematics, English, science, and social studies. At wealthy private schools each child is required to
purchase one of these workbooks. Here we buy one workbook for each class and the students share it.) Unlike the supplemental lessons at schools, in which there may be anywhere from 50 to 100
students in a class, our classes are small. They are popular with the students because the lessons are easy to understand and helpful.
約10ン~年ぶりに、Sally(ボランティアのコーナーをご覧ください。)が、夏休みを利用してもどってきました!今は母国イギリスで副校長先生をしています。変わらぬ優しい笑顔で、子供たちと交流してくれました。
During her summer vacation Sally Haiselden came back for a visit for the first time in more than 10 years. (See the volunteer area.) She is now the head teacher at
a primary school in her homeland of England. She talked with the children with her usual kind smile on her face.
ある日曜日、開館前から長蛇の列。満席で、入館制限を実施。一人退館すると一人入館、右手奥の入り口外には、順番待ちの子供が列を作っています。この日は“新規”来館者数(コロナ後)の新記録!!
One Sunday there was a long line in front of the library long before it opened. The library was full, and we had to limit admission. When one child left,
another came in. Outside the door that can be seen in the background on the right, children formed a line to get in. That day we set a record for new visitors to the library (since the
coronavirus pandemic).
この日最後に来た女の子二人、お互いに“新規”の相手と誘いあってきて、二人とも“女の子を連れてきたLa賞”を獲得!!
These two girls, the last to come to the library that day, invited each other to come with one another. They each were awarded the Prize for Bringing a New
Girl.
2023年
6月
30日
金
こちら、ようやく雨季らしく雨が降るようになってきました! 誰もかれも総出で、畑仕事に取り組んでいる感じです。みんな大好き貴重な蛋白源であるハネアリ(翅を取って生食したり、炒め煮にしたり)が大量発生し、犬猫までも大喜び!! こちらの人はwhite
antsといいますが、百害あって一利なしのシロアリ(こちらはtermiteと呼ばれます。)とは違うとされます。私ども二人は、どちらも×ですが。。 今回は《近在組》の様子をお知らせします。
Rain typical of the rainy season has finally begun to fall. Everyone seems to have come out to work in the fields. Winged ants, an important source of protein
popular with everyone, are out in force. Even dogs and cats are rejoicing! (People pull off their wings and eat the ants raw or stir-fry them.) These ants are referred to locally as “white ants,”
but they are different from termites (also sometimes called “white ants”), which do nothing but harm. Personally, we don’t like either of them. This report focuses on
children living nearby.
就学支援継続中の10人。Laker Sundayラケーサンディ(P.5), Latabu Jacklineラタブジャクリン(P.6), Aber Fortunateアベーフォチュネト(p.6),Otema Brianオテマ ブライアン(P.6), Agenorwot Marcy Oyella(P.6)
アゲノルォト マーシーオイェラ(P.6),Pikica Marvineピキチャマーヴィン(P.7), Aketowanga Sarahアケトワンガ サラ(P.5)、Anenocan Mirriamアネノチャン ミリアム(P.7)。 2学期が始まってようやくもらえた1学期の通知表を手に、意気軒昂です。
Anywar Joelアニワ―ジョエル(S.4)、Wokorac
Dickウォコラチ ディック(S.3)Secondaryに通う2名。JoelはO.レベル(日本の中高レベル)の最終学年。UCE(卒業認定テスト)を控え、猛勉強中。Dickは、日曜など図書館を手伝ってくれていますが、来年はUCE受験生!! 二人ともコロナに翻弄され、生活苦に堪え、何度もドロップアウトしかけましたが、何とかここまで踏ん張って来ています。
The schooling of 10 children is being paid for by the library. Laker Sunday (5th grade), Latabu Jackline (6th grade), Aber Fortunate (6th grade), Otema Brian
(6th grade), Agenorwot Marcy Oyella (6th grade), Pikica Marvine (7th grade), Aketowanga Sarah (5th grade), and Anenocan Mirriam (7th grade) are in high spirits as they hold their report cards for
the first term. The second term has already begun.
Anywar Joel and Wokorac Dick are in the fourth and third years of secondary school, respectively. Joel is studying hard for the Uganda Certificate of Education
examinations, comparable to the GCE O-level in the United Kingdom. Dick helps out at the library on Sundays. Next year he will take the UCE examinations also. Both of them were affected by the
pandemic and have had hard lives. After having dropped out of school numerous times, the two of them have somehow managed to get this far.
Aber Lydia アベ―リディア(P.1)祖母(赤いT-シャツ 姿)の左側 Agenorwot Priskaアゲノルウォット プリスカ(P.1)
祖母の右側。手製の酒(密造酒?)を売ってこの長屋で孫たちを養う祖母と暮らし、入学手続き後数日通っただけで、学校から追われ、図書館寺子屋に通うようになり、今学期から、当方の支援就学生の輪に加わりました。左側の3少年、この家庭訪問時は、某NGOが支援する貧しい子供のための“特設学級”*に通学中、という話でした。
Aber Lydia (1st grade) to the left of her grandmother (in the red T-shirt) and Agenorwot Priska (1st grade) to the right of her grandmother, who sells homemade liquor (moonshine?) and
raises her 5 grandchildren in this row house. Priska completed the enrollment procedures and started school. But after a few days she was sent home because of money and began studying at the
library. From this term her schooling will be supported by the library. During our visit to her home, we were told that the three boys on the left were going to a special class for poor children
supported by a non-governmental organization.
A. Priskaと
A.Lydia。登校初日。校納金等支払い手続き後、初めて教室に。制服はこのあと仕立て屋に行き採寸注文。できるまであと数日、私服登校の許可をもらいました。当地(東アフリカ、多分アフリカ全体!)では、公立でもナーサリーから全て制服必着! 汚れ、痛み、サイズなど厳しく✓され、×だと追い返されることも!
Priska and Lydia on their first day of school. After paying their tuition and other expenses, they went to a classroom for the first time. After that they
went to a tailor to be measured for uniforms. It takes several days for the uniforms to be finished, so they received permission to attend school in their own clothes until then. In eastern
Africa (or perhaps all of Africa) even in public school children wear uniforms from nursery school on. The uniforms are regularly inspected for cleanliness, wear, and fit, and children are
sometimes sent home if their uniforms are not in order.
Lakica Babraラキチャ バブラ(P.1)上述LydiaやPriskaと同じく今学期から当方の支援就学生になりました。オジ夫婦に養われ学校に通うのは初めてです。
Like Lydia and Priska, the expenses of Lakica Babra (1st grade) are being paid for by the library starting this term. She is being raised by her aunt and uncle.
This is her first time to attend school.
L.Babra : Ktgで病院を経営するオーストラリア人医師A.Wright(右端)とオーストラリアから来訪中の友人夫妻に、生まれて初めての制服姿をお披露目。 Babra shows off her first-ever uniform for Dr. Andrew Wright (far right), an Australian who runs a hospital in Kitgum, and friends who came to visit from Australia.
オジ夫婦とその子と。 オジは教会とその周辺一帯の草刈り人。
Babra with her aunt and uncle, who cuts the grass at the local church and the surrounding area.
A. Lydia & A. Priska(Public p/s) 制服を着て初めて登校。go to school for the first time in their new uniforms.
L. Babra(Ktg B p/s) go to school for the first time in their new uniforms.
A.Lydia,A.Priska,L.Babra 初めての土曜ミーティング参加。しかしこの日は先輩上級生たちは、テストや補習などで登校日のため不在でした。当地では、前日㈮夕方にならないと翌日㈯が登校か休みか分からないので、連絡できず、一部だけ出席という事態が頻繁に起こります…。
266 2582: Lydia, Priska, and Babra participate in a Saturday meeting for the first time. That day upper-graders were unable to attend because they had to go to
school for tests or supplementary lessons. In this area students don’t find out until Friday evening whether or not there will be school on Saturday, so often only some of the students can come
on Saturdays.
上述某NGO の”特設学級”*が打ち切りになり、また図書館寺子屋に戻ってきた3人、手前から、Okema Denishオケマ デニシュ(P.3), Oola Peter Ronald オーラ ピーター ロナルド(P.4), Omara Oscarオマラ オスカー(P.4)。
The NGO’s special class was canceled, so the three boys, (from the front) Okema Denish (3rd grade), Oola Peter Ronald (4th grade), and Omara Oscar (4th grade),
returned to the library to study.
Lakica Graceラキチャ グレイス(推定7歳)。彼女自身の3人の子のシングルマザーであるオバ一人の稼ぎでは、上の子たちを学校に通わせるだけでも四苦八苦。Graceは寺子屋生になりました。奥は、Laker Lisa ラケー リサ(15歳)。彼女はいわゆる学習困難児。経済的には就学可能ですが、何校も尋ねて、試しに受け入れてくれた学校からも結局断られ、もう何年も図書館に通ってきています。祖母、両親、家族で、将来について話し合ってはいるものの、今しばらくはこのまま寺子屋通いを続けたいようです。天使のような子です!
Lakica Grace, who is about 7 years old, is being raised by her aunt, who is single, along with her own three children. It is a struggle for the aunt just to send her older children to school. So Grace began studying at the library. In the background is Laker Lisa, 15, who has a learning disability. Her family could afford to send her to school, but after visits to several schools, even those that initially admitted her ultimately declined to let her attend. So she has been coming to the library for several years. She has discussed her future with her grandmother, parents, and other family members, but she wants to continue to study at the library for a while longer. She is as sweet as an angel.
《遠方組》のAromorac Babra(P.7), Lubangangeyo Emmanuel(P.6),Lubangakene
Stephen(P.5)の3人、悪路を片道2時間ほど歩いて図書館に。今朝郵便局で受けとったばかりの新しい本(支援者の方が、高い書留料金を払って送ってくれました!)を手に。天気が心配だったので、短時間で出発させましたが、間もなく降り出し、田舎道沿いには雨宿りできるような建物も無い(木は、落雷の怖れがあり×!)ので、ビショぬれになっただろうと…。
Aromorac Babra (7th grade), Lubangangeyo Emmanuel (6th grade), and Lubangakene Stephen (5th grade), who live in a remote area, walked about two hours over poor
roads to get to the library. They are holding new books that had just arrived that morning via the post, sent at great expense by a supporter. We sent the children home after a short time because
we were concerned about the weather. Not long after they left, it began to rain. There is no place along the rural roads to take shelter from the rain, so they must have got soaking wet. (Trees
may be struck by lightning, so sheltering under a tree is no good.)
2023年
6月
13日
火
日本は青葉の季節も終わり、うっとうしい梅雨…でしょうか?
UGは、といっても、ここKitgumを含む北部・北東部だけなのかもしれませんが、雨季の真っ最中のはずが、雨がほとんど降らず、青物葉物野菜が取れず、穀類豆類や他のものにまで物価高騰が及び、人々は、このままでは、旱魃、飢饉になる!と恐れています。空腹を紛らしてくれたアチコチに自生?!するマンゴーの季節も過ぎてしまい…。 そんな中、2学期が始まりました。何日かに分けて、他県、またKitgum県内でも奥まった村々に転居した支援子供の家庭や学校訪問をしました。タウン内や近在の子供たちのところは、Podiまだ、ですが、先ずは“遠方組”の訪問の様子をご覧ください。”近在組“についても、追ってお知らせしますので、折々、✓お願いいたします。
In Japan the season of fresh greenery is no doubt over, and the dreary rainy season must have begun. In Uganda – or at least the north/northeastern regions where
Kitgum is – we should be in the middle of the rainy season. But very little rain has fallen, and green leafy vegetables cannot be grown. Their price and the prices of cereals, beans and other
foods have risen sharply, and people are concerned that they will face drought and starvation. Mangoes, which grow wild throughout the area and which people had been eating to fill their bellies,
are no longer in season.
Meanwhile the second school term has begun. Over several days we visited the homes and schools of children supported by the library who have moved to other
districts or to rural villages in the Kitgum District and other districts. We have not yet visited students nearby, including those in town or in nearby villages.
ルバンガニェヨ マニュエル(P.6)。今後一緒に暮らすことになったオジさん家の前で。Lubangngeyo Emmanuel (6th grade) in front of the home of his uncle, with whom he will live.
同じ敷地内に点在する家々に住む親類たちと。 With relatives who live on the same property.
ルバンガニェヨ スティーブン(P.5)、ルバン エマ, アロモラチ バブラ(P.7) コロナ以前、図書館寺子屋で一緒に勉強したことのある3人が偶然また同じ学校で学ぶことになりました。
Lubanganyeyo Stephen (5th grade), Luban.Emma, Aromorach Babra (7th grade) Before the pandemic,studied together at the library. By coincidence, they now attend the same school.
“2学期が始まってからもらえた通知表”*を手に。頑張った成果が数字に表れていて、この笑顔!前列右は、担任の先生。*当地では、学期の終了日に通知表が渡されることは稀れ。期末試験が終わってから終了日まで、1週間ほど休校になり、採点や成績処理時間が確保されてはいるのですが…。
They are holding the report cards they received once the second term began. (In this country, students rarely receive their report cards on the last day of
the term. There is a break of about one week between final exams and the last day of the term. During that time, tests are scored and grades are compiled, though.) They were all smiles seeing
that their marks reflected their hard work. Their head teacher is on the right in the front row.
アケロ シャロン(P.7) 祖母と暮らす家の前で。「藁屋根を修理したいけど、お金がなくて…」と、おバアちゃん。Akello Sharon (P.7 7th grade) in front of the house where she lives with her grandmother, who said she would like to repair the thatch roof but has no money to do so.
受け取ったばかり通知表を手に。3学期のPLE(Primary Leaving Examinations全国のP.7生が一斉に受ける卒業認定テスト)に向けて、やる気マンマン!? Here she holds the report card. She is a candidate for the Primary Leaving Examinations, which is taken by seventh graders nationwide November in the third term. She is full of ambition.
アドング ローズ(P.5)。遥かAgago県でオジさん一家と暮らしています。通知表はPodiまだ、です。広~い校庭では牛が遊んでいます! Adong Rose (5th grade) lives in the distant Agago District with her uncle and his family. Her class has not yet received their report cards although they are two weeks into the second term. Cows frolic in the large schoolyard.
Babaの電話を借りて、遠く離れて暮らす兄と、久々、半年以上ぶり位に話せて嬉しそう!
She was happy to be able to use Baba Ogen So’s phone to speak with her brother, who lives far away, for the first time in more than six months.
アチェン ハリエット(S.1)今年度1学期からPader 県のSecondaryに進みました! ようやく私どもが初めて学校訪問できた日は、1学期の終業日、もらったばかりの通知表を手に。
Acen Harriet (1st grade) advanced to secondary school in the Pader District in the first term. When we were finally able to visit her school for the first
time, it was the last day of the first term and she had just received her report card.
Kitgumに来県する用があったオジさんに連れられて来館‼ 新図書館ができる前にAgago県の親戚に引き取られた彼女には初めて見る“新“図書館です。 Her uncle, who came to Kitgum on an errand, brought her to the library. She was taken in by relatives in the Agago District before the new library was built, so it was her first time to see it.
2023年
4月
25日
火
雨季の真っただ中!のハズなのに、カーッと晴れ渡った青空が、もう数週間続いています。K’laからの途中では、洪水で、道路が冠水し、騒ぎになっているところもあったのですが、北部や東北部はカラッカラに干上がっています‼ 種まき、植え付けができない!! と村々から悲鳴が上がり、町の市場からは、青物葉物が姿を消し、たまにあってもメチャ高~!!!
Although we should be in the middle of the rainy season, we have had clear blue skies for several weeks. On the way back from Kampala the roads were submerged
in some places on account of flooding, and it was a bit of a mess. But in the north and northeast it is very dry. People in the villages are lamenting that they cannot do any sowing or planting.
No green vegetables can be seen in the markets, and when they are, they are very expensive.
初ミーティングに来られた子供たちからも、「食事が満足に摂れない!」と訴えが…、しかし学校の給食費は、バカ高くて、とても全員分は負担できないし…。メイズ、イモ類、マメ類、これから旬を迎えるマンゴーなどで何とか乗りきるしか‼ そんな状況で、Rubangakene Dauzi, Opoka Brian, Omara
James Aryemo Sundayが、間もなく1学期期末テストが始まるかというこの時期になっても、図書館にも学校にも姿を見せません。Acen
HarrietとLubangangeyo Emmanuelの二人とは、ようやく保護者(二人とも孤児で、オバ、オジが保護者)と連絡がとれ、Emmanuelは学校に戻り、図書館にも姿を見せました。Acenは遠方のうえ、この1学期から、新しく入学したSecondaryもさらに遠方で、学校と連絡がとれず未確認、写真もありませんが。。
The children who came to the first meeting said they are not getting enough to eat. But school lunch fees are so high that we cannot cover them for all of the
children. They just have to get by on maize, potatoes, beans, and mangos which will soon be in season. Rubangakene Dauzi, Opoka Brian, Omara James, and Aryemo Sunday, who should soon be taking
end-of-term exams, have not been seen at the library or at school. We were finally able to contact the guardians of Acen Harriet and Lubangangeyo Emmanuel. (Both children are orphans being raised
by her aunt and his uncle.) Emmanuel went back to school and has also come to the library. Acen is now living far away, and the secondary school she newly entered is even more distant. We have
not been able to contact the school to find out about her. Nor do we have a photograph.
遠方ですが、引き続き同じ村々で、前と同じ学校に通う子供たちは、私どもがまだUGに戻る前に、Joyceが訪問し、校納金支払いなど済ませました。 Before we returned to Uganda, Joyce visited the distant homes of the students who continue to live in the same villages and attend the same schools and paid their school fees.
Aciro Rose (5th grade)
Aromorac Babra (7th grade), Lubanganyeyo Stephen (5th grade)
引き続きKitgum primary Schoolに通学中。 Otema Brian (6th grade), Agenorwot Mercy Oyella (6th grade), Pikica Marvine (7th grade), and Aber Fortunate (6th grade) are also continuing in Kitgum Primary school.
Akello Sharon(p.7)
この新学年から同じSecondary に通う
Wokorac Dick and Anywar Joel are attending the same secondary school this year. They are in their third and fourth years, respectively.
引き続きPublic P/Sに通学中 Canwat Brian (5th grade), Laker Sunday (5th grade), Anenocan Mirriam (7th grade), Aketowanga Sarah (5th grade), and Latabu Jackline (6th grade) are continuing in Kitgum Public primary school.
支援者の皆様からの年末年始のお便りが届き始めました。まだ…、の子供たちは自分にはいつ来るのかな、と楽しみにしています。普通の航空便(エアメール)だと、2か月前後かかるようですので、できるだけお早く、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 Letters from supporters that were sent during the year-end and New Year holiday season have begun to arrive. Children who have not received letters yet are eagerly awaiting theirs. Air mail takes about two months to arrive, so please mail letters early.
Pikica Marvine with Lub. Emmanuel
Pikica Marvineは、ごく最近、小さいころから母親代わりに育ててくれた祖母を病気で亡くし、今は遠縁の家に身を寄せています。今日は、支援者の方からのお手紙に、久しぶりに笑顔が! 偶然来館したLubangangeyo Emmanuelと。
Pikica Marvine recently lost her grandmother, who had raised her since she was a baby. She is now living with distant relatives. A letter from a
supporter put a smile on her face, the first we’ve seen in a while. Here she is shown with Lubangangeyo Emmanuel, who happened to come to the library at the same time.
. “皆さんに!”といただいたクリスマス音楽メドレーオルゴール付きのカード、 就学支援中の子供たちに披露。今年のクリスマスシーズンには、一般の来館者に向けても大いに活用したいと思います。 A card that plays a medley of Christmas music was sent to the library to be enjoyed by all the children. Here we play the card for the children. We hope to make good use of the card next Christmas season for general library users as well.
2023年
4月
05日
水
さすがアフリカ!やっぱりウガンダ‼と思えるトラブル続出!!!、まだまだ戦いは続いてますが、何とかこのようにブログ更新ができるようになりました。写真と併せてご覧ください。
As is typical of Africa and Uganda, problems have been occurring one after another. We’re still tackling them, but meanwhile we’ve managed to put together this
latest edition of our blog. Please take a look at the photos.
以前から気になってはいた新図書館の屋根に覆いかぶさっていた高~い巨木! ついに、土中から大きな根っこが浮き上がり、巨体全身で建物にのしかかり、このままでは建物が破壊される!!という緊急非常事態。大騒ぎの末、ようやく片付けました。木を切るのは偲びなかったのですが…。
We had been concerned about a very tall tree whose branches spread over the new library’s roof. A large root also broke through the ground. The weight of the
tree overhung the building, and there was a danger of it destroying the library if nothing was done. After a lot of commotion, this emergency was dealt with. We didn’t have the heart to cut the
tree down, though.
またまたシロアリ来襲! 旧図書館では約20冊ほど被害に、残念ですが処分! さらに新図書館の外側にも魔の手が!! 幸いまだ内部は無事なようですが、用心のため薬剤を散布。いつもながらJoyceが献身的に。
Termites continue to attack! About 20 books in the old library were damaged, so, unfortunately, we had to dispose of them. The demonic termites have also begun attacking the exterior of the
new library. Luckily, the interior is still unaffected, but as a precautionary measure we sprayed pesticide. As usual, Joyce was a devoted worker as always.
図書館再開初日、どうやって再開を知ったのか、「今日は授業がないから」と一般の子供ユーザーたちが来館。
Children patrons somehow learned of the library’s reopening and came the first day as they had no classes at school.
再開前の清掃。就学支援中の子供の中で、「授業がない」Canwat Brian, Latabu Jackline, Laker Sunday, Aber Fortunateが汗を流してくれました。 ≪今日は以上ですが、まだまだ続きます。近日中、乞うご期待!≫
Canwat Brian, Latabu Jackline, Laker Sunday, and Aber Fortunate, whose schooling is supported by the library, helped clean the library before its reopening as they had no classes. They
worked up a good sweat.
《 That’s it for today. Until next time! Maybe very soon!! 》
2022年
12月
15日
木
コロナの影響で、より住居費、食費など生活費がかかるタウンから、多くの子供たちが、奥まった地域、村々に移り住みました。
UGでは、郵便制度が未発達、タウンにも一軒しかない郵便局で投函はできたとしても、配達サービスはありませんので、受け取るには私書箱を所有していなければなりません。そもそも奥地、村々には郵便局自体が無く、第一、私書箱を持てるような“お金持ファミリー”は、村に一軒あるかないかでしょう。私どもが支援する子供たちのところで、郵便局を利用できるようなファミリーは皆無・・・、
という訳で、 2019年には、タウンにいて、お便りできた子どもたちのうち、10名ほどの子どもたちは、残念ながら今回は参加できないので、タウンに残った子供たちが、一人でお二人以上の支援者の皆様に書きました!
3名のスタッフが手取り足取り補助しましたが、まだ未完成、意味不明、ミスだらけかもしれませんが、お受け取りいただいた皆さま、はがき一枚でも、日本語ででも、どうぞ、お返事くださいますよう心からお願いいたします。 尚、引き続き世界的に郵便事情が混乱しています。日本⇔UG、航空便で、片道2か程かかります。
Because of the pandemic, many children moved from the town, where the cost of food and housing is higher, to remote regions and villages.
In Uganda, the postal system is rudimentary, and even if mail can be sent from the town's lone post office, there is no delivery service. So the only way to
receive mail is by having a post office box. In remote regions and villages, there are no post offices, and at most one well-to-do family in a village may have a post office box. None of the
families of the children for whom we provide support is able to use the post office in town.
Thus, unfortunately, 10 of the children who were in town and able to write letters in 2019 were unable to do so this time. So, each of the children who has
remained in town wrote letters to at least two supporters.
Three staff members provided help along the way, but the letters may still have incomplete or unclear parts or other mistakes. We sincerely hope the
recipients will send a reply. A postcard is fine.
Postal services around the world are still in disarray, and air mail between Uganda and Japan can take two months.
Aketowanga Sarah(アケトワンガ サラ)
Canwat Brian(チャンワット ブライアン)
Latabu Jackline, Wokorac Dick(ウォコラチ ディク, Laker Sunday(ラケー サンディ)
Agenorwot Mercy Oyella(アゲノルォト マーシー オィェラ), Aber Fortunate(アベ― フォーチュネト)
Otema Brian(オテマ ブライアン), Aryemo Sunday(アリィエモ サンデイ)
Lubangangeyo Emmanuel(ルバンガニィェヨ エマニュエル)
Omara James(オマラ ジェイムズ), Joyce(スタッフ), Agenorwot Mercy Oyella
Anywar Joel(アニワ― ジョエル), Rubangakene Dauzi(ルバンガケネ ダウジ)
Latabu Jackline(ラタブ ジャクリーン), Anenocan Mirria(アネノチャン ミリアム)
Pikica Marvine(ピキチャ マーヴィン)
2022年
12月
10日
土
3学期はエボラ対策のため、通常より2週間短く切り上げられました。今年度は、コロナのため1学期のスタートが大幅に遅れたので、年間を通じ、正味は通常の3分の1程度の授業日数だったのではないでしょうか? 学校閉鎖中もPCやTV,ラジオなどで学習できたような恵まれた子供たちと、何とか食べて生きるのが精いっぱい、学習の機会はゼロだったような子供たちと、格差がますます広がった感の否めない年月だったと思います。ともあれ、図書館と子供たちの近影をご覧ください。
To prevent the spread of the Ebola virus, the third term ended two weeks earlier than usual this year. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the start of the school
year was considerably delayed, so only about one third of the usual number of school days were held. While schools were closed, some children were fortunate to be able to learn via personal
computers, television or radio whereas others had no opportunity to learn and it was all they could do to get enough to eat. This gap seems to have widened in recent months. Anyway, please enjoy
these recent photos of the library and the children.
コロナの間、遥か遠い東部に、メードとして出稼ぎに出されていたAryemo Sunday(P.5)。皆の協力で学校に戻れ、久しぶりの教室に姿をみせました。Fifth-grader Aryemo Sunday had been sent to the distant
eastern region to work as a maid during the pandemic. Through the efforts of many, she was able to return to school and came to the classroom for the first time in quite a
while.
こちらも同じく授業の無い日、悪路をものともせず、遠方から訪ねてきたPingoloya Gifty。以前の寺子屋仲間のWokorac Dickと再会。
Pingoloya Gifty likewise traveled a long distance over a bad road to visit on a day without classes. She was reunited with Wokorac Dick, with whom she had studied at the library.
雨がよく降り、故Emmaお手植えの生垣がグングン成長! 剪定に汗を流すBaba。
Lots of rain has fallen, and the hedge that the late Emma planted is growing rapidly. Here Baba works up a sweat trimming the hedge.
日曜日など学校が無い日は、朝早くから長蛇の列。Babaが並ばせ、手洗いを指導。On Sundays and school holidays, children form a long line from early in the morning to get into the library. Baba lines them up and washes their hands.
片道6~7キロの悪路を徒歩で、Aromorac Babra(P.6)とLubanganyeyo Stephen(P.4)姉弟が、授業がない日に訪ねてきました!
Siblings Aromorac Babra(sixth grade)and Lubanganyeyo Stephen(fourth grade) came to visit on a day when there were no classes, walking 6 or 7 km over a bad national road.
この頃平日昼間よく来る女の子。いつも赤ちゃんを背負って。 聞けば、コロナで生活が厳しくなり、小学校をやめ、ベビーシッターとして働くため村から町に出て来た、とのこと。This girl often visits the library on weekdays of late, always with a baby on her back. She told us that her family was struggling on account of the pandemic, so she quit primary school and came to town from her village to work as a babysitter.
図書館の近くで、大きなシロアリの塚を発見!私たちの大切な本を荒らしたアリたちのアジトはここだったらしいと。 BabaやJoyceが、マスクと手袋で武装して、薬剤を撒き、徹底的に退治しました!
We discovered a large termite mound near the library. Apparently, it is the hideout of the termites that have been damaging our precious books. Protected by masks
and gloves, Baba and Joyce applied pesticide to the nest and exterminated the termites.
新図書館内に設けた”幼児ルーム”。兄姉が読書中、小さい子はここで、おもちゃで遊んだり、お昼寝したり・・・。手すきの時は、スタッフがお相手をしたり...
In the new library’s nursery, small children can play with toys or nap while their big brothers and sisters read. Staff members play with them when they’re not busy.
2022年
9月
23日
金
コロナ禍に端を発した経済停滞、社会不安の影響で、多くの人々が、私どもが支援する子どもたちも保護者と一緒に、または子供たちだけで食費住居費のかかる町暮らしを止め、さらに奥まった村々に移り住んでいます。
探すツテ、手掛かりがなく今も音信不通になったままの支援子供も5人ほどいますが、Joyceなどの奮闘で探し当てた子供たちを、数か月続いている雨季で、4WDの大型タイヤが埋まってしまうドロドロ泥土の悪路を1日1件ずつ、丸一日がかりで訪問‼、等々のリポートです。
やはり、“百聞は一見にしかず”、写真と説明でご覧ください。
As a result of the economic stagnation and social unrest caused by the pandemic, many people have given up living in town, where the cost of living is higher, and
have moved to villages farther inland. Among them are children supported by us, who relocated either with their parents or on their own.
Though we had lost touch with five children we support and had no way of finding them nor any clue as to their whereabouts, Joyce and others had located almost all
of them.
During the months-long rainy season, we spent nearly an entire day traveling to see each child, our four-wheel drive vehicle getting stuck in the mud of the bad
roads along the way. Here is the report. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” So, please take a look.
Adong Rose (P.4)父、兄姉と別れ、カラモジャランドとの境界に近い村で一人、オバさん宅に預けられています。長い間、靴と算数セットが欲しいと聞いてましたが、ようやく叶えてやれました。左は校長先生、右はオバさんの夫。
Adong Rose (P.4=4th grade) parted with her father and siblings and is now living with her aunt in a village near the border with Karamoja. We’d heard long ago
that she wanted shoes and an arithmetic kit and were finally able to get them to her. On the left is the school principal. On the right is her uncle.
Ojok Emmanuel(P.6)とAkello Sharon(P.6)兄妹。支援者の方からいただいていたTシャツを手に。近隣ではコロナの影響が酷く、最近まで学校閉鎖だったため、成績は中程度ですが、二人ともリーダー格!と。
Brother and sister Ojok Emmanuel and Akello Sharon (both P.6=sixth graders) hold T-shirts they received from supporters. The pandemic took a heavy toll in the
vicinity, and until recently their school was closed. So, their grades were not so well, but they are both leaders in their class.
Aromorac Babra(p.6)と Lubanganyeyo Stephen (p.4)姉弟。村の学校では、制服や靴などうるさく言われないので、他の多くの子供たちと同じく二人ともハダシでした! 念のため、と持って行った靴がピッタリでした。Babraの制服のシャツは、ただ今修繕中とのこと。
Brother and sister Aromorac Babra (P.6) and Lubanganyeyo Stephen (P.4) attend a village school that is not strict about requiring uniforms or shoes. So, like
many other children, they go to school barefoot. The shoes that were taken along just in case they could use them fit perfectly. Babra’s uniform shirt is being mended.
Canwat Brian(p.4), Aketowanga Sarah(p.4), Latabu Jackline(P.5), Laker Sunday(p.4)。町のPublic 小学校に通学継続。
約3年ぶりに図書館に姿を見せました。制服は、小さくなりすぎていたり,ネズミなどに食いちぎられていたり…、なので、直したり、村の学校に転校し不要になった大きい子たちの『お下がり』をもらったり…。
Canwat Brian (4th grade), Aketowanga Sarah (4th grade), Latabu Jackline (5th grade) and Laker Sunday (4th grade) continue to go to Public primary school. They
came to the library for the first time in about three years. Their uniforms had become too small for them and had been chewed on by rats. They have mended their uniforms or gotten hand-me-down
uniforms from bigger children who transferred to a village school and no longer needed theirs.
Acen Nakate Harriet (P.7)。こちらも3年ぶり.県境を二つ越えた東部の県に、何年も眠っていた支援者の方からの手紙とプレゼントを持って行きました。彼女は間もなく、PLE(Primary Leaving
Exams小学校卒業テスト)を受験します。副校長先生は、「優秀なので期待できる!」と。
Acen Nakate Harriet (7th grade) crossed two regional borders to the eastern district. After three years she was given letters and presents from her supporter
that had been waiting for her for several years. She will soon take the Primary Leaving Exams to graduate from primary school. The vice principal said she is an excellent student with a promising
future.
Opoka Brian (S.3)。祖母や義弟妹を養うためS.(Secondary)を休学続きで、出稼ぎに行っていたりしましたが、久々姿を見せました。手にするのは、長い間この時を待っていた支援者の方からの手紙とプレゼント。右端は仲良しのRubangakene Dauzi
(S.3)。二人の間はLawrence、故Emmaの弟。大学の費用を貯めるため、図書館を手伝ってくれています。大変頼りになっています!
Opoka Brian (S.3=3rd year secondary), who had dropped out of secondary school and gone away to work to support his grandmother, sister and brother-in-law,
came to visit for the first time in a long while. He holds his supporter’s letter and present that had been waiting for him for a long time. On the far right is his friend Rubangakene Dauzi
(S.3=3rd year secondary). Between them is Lawrence, younger brother of the late Emma. In order to save money for college, he is helping out at the library. He is very reliable.
Wokorac Dick(s.2)。お母さんが、ガバメント病院の清掃員に就職できたので、secondary (高校)に通えるようになり、学校休暇や日曜などに、図書館を手伝ってくれるようになりました! 赤ペンで採点中。
Wokorac Dick (S.2=2nd year secondary) was able to start secondary school because his mother got a job on the cleaning staff of the government hospital. He has
begun helping out at the library on school holidays and Sundays. He is grading papers with a red pen.
2022年
8月
09日
火
2020年早春、例年並みの一時帰国のつもりで日本に戻りましたが、直後に世界中で拡がったコロナ感染のせいで、UGに戻れなくなり、2年半が経ってしまいました! この間に失ったモノ、コトの回復に奔走、早くも1カ月強が過ぎました! K’LAのアチコチの省庁を右往左往して、ようやく、クルマの再登録など肝心カナメの用件を済ませ、KITGUMに戻り1週間。失った、損なわれたモノ、コトの大きさにア然としながらも、少~しずつ前に進んでいる感じがする毎日です。その様子を、“百聞は一見にしかず”… 写真で、ご覧ください。
In the early spring of 2020, just after we returned to Japan for our annual visit, the coronavirus pandemic broke out and we were unable to return to Uganda for two
and a half years. Already one month has passed since we came back. During that time, we have been busy recovering all sorts of things that were lost. After running from one government office to
the other in Kampala, we were finally able to re-register our car and take care of other essential matters. We have been back in Kitgum for one week. While we were shocked by the magnitude of how
many things – both tangible and intangible – we had lost, we are moving forward little by little. “Seeing is believing,” as they say. So here are some photos.
ブッシュ化しつつある植込み。故EMMAのリーダーシップで苗木を植えたのが、もう2メートルほどにも成長! 木々の間に、ヘビの抜け殻も発見! 奥のTRC(古い図書館)には、サソリも‼
Overgrown shrubbery. Planted under the leadership of the late Emma, these shrubs are now almost two meters tall, and we found snake skins amid them. There were
scorpions in the old library building in the background.
成長が遅い日陰では、踏みつけられ、ゴミ捨て場と化していたので、ゴミを取り除き新しく植え直しを。 こちら雨期が始まったので、根付くことを期待して。
The trees in the shade, which were growing slowly, had been trampled down and trash was being dumped there. So we cleared the trash and replanted. The rainy season has begun, so we hope the trees
will take root.
ターマイト(こちらの白アリは日本の白アリと比べ、大きく非常に活動的。冬が無い熱帯の気候が関係しているのでしょう。見た目は違いますが、木材、家具、本などを食い荒らすことは同じ)やネズミ、ゴキブリなどに蹂躙された本棚、机、椅子、そして多数の本…。 壁、机、椅子に強力な薬剤を散布、固形剤を置くなど、シロアリ、ネズミ、ゴキブリETC対策、全てバッチリしていたつもりでしたが、3年は長すぎました…。一冊一冊手に取り中まで丁寧に確認し、焼却するかどうか決めますので、大変時間がかかっています。
Termites, mice and cockroaches had overrun the bookshelves, desks, chairs and many books themselves. (The termites here are bigger than those in Japan and much more
active, perhaps because there is no winter here. Though they look different, the way they devour wood, furniture, books, etc. is the same.) We had applied strong chemicals to the walls, desks and
chairs and set out bait in an effort to thwart the pests, but three years had passed. We are carefully checking all the books to determine which must be incinerated, but it is a time-consuming
process.
焼却処分が決まった本。今までのところ、60~70冊前後を処分しました。残念です。
Books to be incinerated. So far we have had to dispose of more than 60 books, unfortunately.
緊急の招集に応じて集まったPRIMARY P/S, PUBLIC P/S、PRISON P/Sに通学中の支援子供たち。3年近くの間にすっかり成長しました!でも面影表情はそのまま!! 奥にBABA OGENの顔も。
Students supported by the library who attend Primary, Public and Prison primary schools hastily assembled at our request. They had grown a lot in nearly three
years. But their facial expressions were still the same. Baba Ogen can be seen in the background.
2020年2月以降、KITGUMに届き、郵便局の私書箱で眠っていた支援者の方々からのお手紙、ようやく支援子供( ABER FORTUNATEとOTEMA BRIAN)の手に渡りました! あと2通(LATABU JACKLINE宛てとOPOKA BRIAN宛)が本人の来館を待っています。
左からPIKICA MARVIN, ABER FORTUNATE, OTEMA BRIAN, AGENORWOT MERCY OYELLA, LUBANGANYEYO EMMANUEL
Letters from supporters that had been sitting in our postal box since February 2020. We were finally able to give them to the recipients, Aber Fortunate and
Otema Brian. Letters to Latabu Jackline and Opoka Brian will be given to them when they come to the library.
(l. to r.) Pikica Marvin, Aber Fortunate, Otema Brian, Agenorwot Mercy Oyella, Lubanganyeyo Emmanuel
正面入り口のドアのガラスに大きな穴と縦横に長~いひび割れが‼! 詳しい人たちの話では、Flying Stone(草刈りやクルマが跳ね上げ飛ばす石)で、よくあることと。原因も、いつなったのかも、全く分かりませんが、ガラス屋を呼び、リペア中です。
There was a large hole and many long cracks in the glass of the front door. According to knowledgeable people, they were caused by rocks kicked up when mowing and
by passing cars – a common occurrence. We don’t know the exact cause or when this damage occurred, but we hired a glazier to do repairs.
2022年
6月
09日
木
1学期に続き今回もJoyceが、雨期の赤土の泥流、泥濘に手を焼き足を取られながらもBodaBodaや乗り合いタクシー(Mini
Bus)で、UG全国土の半分ほどの広い地域を東奔西走し、Ktg県内の4地域に加え、他の9県に、四散してしまった子供たちを訪ね、校納金支払いを済ませ、写真を撮ってきてくれました。
Following on her travels during the first term, Joyce once again traveled over a wide area by boda boda and minibus. This time she covered nearly half of Uganda,
slipping and sliding through rivers of red mud in the rainy season. In addition to four parts of the Kitgum District, she visited nine other districts to see children who are now scattered over a
wide area. She paid their school expenses and took photos.
Joyce and Aryemo Sunday in St. Mary’s Kitgum boy’s primary school.
Omara James & Joyce Oyella at Prison School during payment.
Joyce with Aromorach Babra and Rubangakene Stephen at Lumule Primary School.
Joyce on a boda boda travelling to Adilang via Pader and Patongo to meet pupils
Joyce during home base visit.
Rubangakene Dauzi, Anywar Joel and Joyce in Kitgum Town College.
今学期から通学を再開できた2名(Anywar Joel, Aryemo Sunday)を加え、計20名を支援中です!! しかしながら、手掛かりがなくたどり着けない子が2名(Aketowanga Beatrice, Aweko Babra),
さらに、祖母や年少の子供たちのため、日雇いなどして、食費などを稼がなければならない2名(Ajok Scovia, Opoka Brian)もいます。日本などなら、夜間学校とかもあるのですが、何か手が無いものかと思案するばかり…もしお知恵があれば、お知らせください。
Including two children, Anywar Joel and Aryemo Sunday, who resumed attending school
this term, the library is supporting a total of 20 children. We have no information on Aketowanga Beatrice and Aweko Babra, so they could not be found. Ajok Scovia and Opoka Brian are working by
day to support their grandmothers or younger children. In Japan or many other countries, they would be able to attend night or correspondence school. We are trying to think of a way for them to
return to school. If anyone has a suggestion, please let us know.
Adong Rose, Joyce, Caretaker & Teacher at Wol Primary School in Agago District without pair of shoes.
Pupils with Joyce at Kitgum Primary School during payment of fees & requirements.
Akello Sharon and Joyce in Aywee Primary school.
Nakato Harriet, Joyce Oyella and caretaker at Opyelo Primary School in Patongo.
Angee Irene, Joyce and caretakers in Adilang Agago District.
Joyce at Kitgum public primary school.
中でも一番心が痛むのは、『Amoi
Robinaが結婚した!』という話。彼女が初めて図書館に来たのは、2019年の3学期頃、既に12,3歳でした。実父が亡くなった後、彼女や妹たちを連れて再婚した母に連れられて、Lira県からKtgに来て、図書館のことを知り、『勉強がしたい』と通ってくるようになり、学校にはほとんど行ったことがないので、1,2年生位の小さい子たちに交じって図書館寺子屋のメンバーに。通常なら、1年位、最短でも6か月位は様子を見て、就学支援をするかどうか判断するのですが、まじめでひたむきな態度に、『彼女には時間が無い、待たせるのはかわいそう…』と、2020年2月1学期から2年生として就学支援を始めました。2年生用の椅子に大きな身体を小さくして、恥ずかし気に座り、でも、変わらぬ真摯な通学、学習ぶりでした。
――なのに、1カ月もたたないうちに、コロナで学校閉鎖。KTGにいる理由がないからと、彼女たち姉妹は、Lira県の亡父の親類に戻され、そして、結婚…。コロナがなければ、あのままずっとKtgで実の母と暮らし学校も続けていられただろうに…とかわいそうでなりません。ただ、彼女が望んだのでないかも、強いられたのかも知れないけど、相手がよい人で、彼女が幸せであればと祈るばかりです。 UGに戻ったら、一度はLira
に尋ねてみたいと思っています。
The story that saddened us the most was that of Amoi Robina, who has married. She first came to the library around the third term in 2019 when she was 12 or 13. After her father
died, her mother remarried and brought her and her sisters from the Lira District to Kitgum. After she learned of the library, Amoi Robina began coming, saying she wanted to learn. She had very
little education, so she studied with the small children at first- or second-grade level. Ordinarily, children are observed for six months to a year before a decision is made as to whether the
library would support them go to school. But Amoi Robina was a serious student and devoted to her studies. Because of her age, we felt that she had little time and it was a shame to make her
wait. So in February 2020 she entered school as a second grader with the library’s support. She squeezed her much larger body into a small second-grader’s chair. Though she was embarrassed, she
attended regularly and studied diligently.
But within one month or so the school was closed on account of the coronavirus. As there was then no reason to stay in Kitgum, she and her sisters were sent back to the Lira District to
live with relatives of her deceased father. …Then she was married. If not for the pandemic, she would likely have stayed in Kitgum with her mother and continued to study. It’s very unfortunate.
It may not have been what she wanted, and she may have been married against her will. We just hope her husband is a good person and she is happy. When we get back to Uganda, we’d like to visit
her in Lira.
2022年
4月
04日
月
1回目(2/27付)に続き、さらに多くの支援孤児たちの近況、近影が送られてきました。
今回は、Ktg県内のもっと奥まった地域、また別のいくつかの県の僻地に散り散りになっている子供たちに、公共交通や、連絡通信手段もない中、土埃と汗にまみれて、Bodaboda(バイクや自転車の後部に客を乗せて運ぶ、クルマの無い一般庶民のアシ)で、辿り着き、1学期分の学費を納金してくれました。
今の住居での暮らしは?、その場所で、2学期以降も、引き続き通学し続けられるのだろうか?
など不確実ですし、さらに、足跡が辿れなかった、連絡が取れなかった、直接会えなかった4人、さらに、家族のため生活費を稼がなくてはならない、病人や幼い子供たちの世話をしなければならない、等々で、通学が難しい状況の2名などに対して、どうしたらよいか思案に暮れています。
とにかく、元気でいてくれることを祈るばかりです。
Since our report of Feb. 27, we have received more news and photographs from Kitgum of children supported by PR Africa.
This time Joyce and Astrid traveled to the deeper interior of the Kitgum District and to remote areas of other districts without public
transportation or a means of communication, covered in dust and sweat, to locate children scattered over a wide area. They traveled by boda boda (bicycle and motorcycle taxis commonly used by
those who don’t have a car) and paid the 19 children’s first-term school expenses.
We are not sure how the children are doing in their new locations or whether or not they will be able to continue going to school from the second
term on. There are four children who about whom there has been no news, with whom contact has been lost, or who could not be seen in person. Two other children are unable to go to school because
they must earn money for their family’s support or take care of ill family members or younger siblings and relatives. We are trying to figure out a way for them to return to school... We
just hope they will be well.
4月2日はアンデルセンの誕生日で『国際子どもの本の日』とか。「家庭に良書があれば子どもは育つ」---とのこと。また、古代ギリシャ ラムゼス2世の図書館のドアに、『魂の癒し場所』との文字があったそうです。早くKitgumに戻り、この文字を我々の図書館に掲げ、本どころか、紙切れ、筆記具も手にするのが難しいthe poorest of the poor
childrenが、本に触れられるほぼ唯一の場所=図書館を一日も早く再開できるように、と願っています。
April 2nd, H.C.Andersen's birthday is International Children’s Book Day. It is said that children grow up well when there are good books in their home. Above the door of the library
of Pharaoh Ramses II in ancient Greece was the inscription “the house of healing for the soul.” We hope to return to Kitgum as soon as possible, inscribe this motto on our library, and reopen the
facility, the only place the poorest of the poor children, who have no access to pens, pencils or paper much less books, can contact with books.
2022年
2月
27日
日
およそ2年続いた学校閉鎖が解除され約1カ月が経ちました。今までのところPR Africaが支援する子供たちの内、12名(写真をご覧ください)が通学を始めています。UGでは、始業日に生徒たちが一斉に登校するということはなく、日々、徐々に通学し始め、ほぼ全員が揃うのは、1カ月後くらい、というのが常です。
通学を希望する学校に、まず3000~5000ugx(ugシリング)位を払って登録しなければならないので、登録料が払えるまで、登校できないからです。
JoyceとAstridが、乾季の炎天下、汗と土埃にまみれて、徒歩でプライマリー(小学校)4校と+セカンダリー(中高校)1校を訪ね、子供たちの通学状況を報告してくれました。
登校が確認できていない子供たち13人については、Drop out とか、Not reported
と区分され、そう書き込まれているだけで、その子供本人が、お金の支援が受けられても「もう学校に通う気はない。」と思っているのか、お金があれば、「できれば通いたい。」と思っているのか、保護者の意向は?など確かめてもらっています。
After being closed for nearly two years, schools reopened about one month ago. So far, 12 of the children supported by PR Africa have returned to school.
In Uganda, children do not all return to school on the first day but instead return over a period of days. It takes about one month for all of them to start
attending school. Because students must first pay between 3,000 and 5,000 shillings to enroll at the school they wish to attend, they cannot start school until this amount has been
paid.
Joyce and Astrid visited four primary and one secondary school and reported on the status of the children going there.
Thirteen students who have not returned to school are merely listed as “Dropped out” or “Not reported.” Does the child have no desire to go back to school
even if financial support is available? Or does the child want to go to school if funds are available? What are the wishes of the parent or guardian? This is being investigated.
Aber Fortunate, Pikica Marvine, Agenorwot Mercy Oyella, Otema Brian,Lubanga nyeyo Emmanuel
Rubanga kene Dauzi
Can wat Brian, Latabu Jackline, Laker Sunday, Anenocan Mirriam
Omara James
2021年
4月
01日
木
一年半ほど前、Kitgumでボランティアをさせていただきました。
その時にEmmaと出会い、彼の人柄の良さ、 一生懸命さがとても印象に残っているので 突然の悲報に非常にショックを受けました。彼の周りはいつも笑顔で溢れていました。
子ども達へ愛情を持って関わり、勉強を熱心に教える姿は、 同じ子どもと関わる仕事をしている者として 刺激を受け、勉強になることも多くありました。 私自身も、Kitgumの町を案内してもらったり 生活面でもたくさん彼に助けてもらいました。
20年という短い人生ながら、懸命に生きた 彼の存在は私も含めたくさんの人の心の中で 生き続けることと思います。
私自身、体調を崩して数ヶ月の休職を得て先日復職を果たしたところでした。 宮本さんからお知らせをいただき、 いつ何が起きるかわからない人生の中で 今ある環境、命に感謝し、1日1日を大切に 頑張っていこうと思いました。
ご冥福をお祈りいたします。
A year and a half ago, when I was a volunteer in Kitgum, I met Emma. His good character and dedication left a deep impression on me, so I was
shocked by the sudden news of his death.
People were always smiling when they were around Emma. He treated the kids with affection. And, as a person working with those same kids,
seeing him eagerly helping them with their studies was inspiring, and I learned a lot. Emma also showed me around Kitgum and helped me a great deal in my everyday life.
Though his short life ended after only 20 years, Emma, who lived life to the fullest, will live on in my heart and the hearts of many
others.
I recently returned to work after taking several months off on account of illness. When I heard the news about Emma from Miyamoto-san, I
thought to myself that one never knows what will happen in life. So I want to be grateful for my situation and my life now, treasure
every day, and work hard.
May Emma rest in peace.
2021年
3月
04日
木
1月9日、既に2か月前になりますが、Emmaが20年そこそこの人生を終えた、との知らせがありました。10月21日、『テコンドーの緑帯を得た!』と、嬉しそうな写真付きで、「こちらは皆元気にしている。図書館も大丈夫、心配なく」とのSMを最後に、連絡がとれなくなりました。ウガンダは今年、5年に一度の大統領+国会+地方議員の選挙イヤー。毎度、投開票の1年近く前から開票の数か月後まで、大統領が統率する軍や警察など与党勢力と野党支持者の間に暴力沙汰が頻発し、多数の死傷者が出ます。電話、インターネット、SNSなど制限されるのは常ですが、首都カンパラの日本大使館からの情報とBBCニュースから、今回は、たぶんコロナ対策ということも加わり、一層統制が厳しくなり、治安が悪化、通信事情も厳戒下だろう…と推察し、事態が鎮静化するのを待つしかない…と思っていたところでした。
This is to inform those who had a direct connection with him and readers of our blog of the death of Kafa Emmanuel on January 9. He was about 20 years old.
We last heard from “Emma” on October 21 in a text message in which he reported getting a green belt in tae kwon do. He attached a couple photos in which he was beaming with pride. He said that everyone there was well and that the library was fine, and urged us not to worry. After that we were unable to reach him.
In Uganda, general elections of the president and legislators are held every five years, and an election was held earlier this year. From about one year prior to the election until several months after the vote-counting, there are always numerous incidents of violence between the ruling party forces, including the military and police, which are commanded by the president, and supporters of the opposition. People are often killed or injured in this violence. The use of phones, the Internet, and social networking services is usually limited. But, based on information from the Japanese embassy in Kampala and BBC News reports, we surmised that this year communication was difficult on account of the pandemic as well as deteriorating security under stricter than usual controls and limits on communication under full alert. All we could do was wait for things to calm down.
2012年 2016年
(中)ユーザーだった小学生の頃 (後ろ右)子供たちの読書のヘルプ
2017年
(右端)のちに新図書館が建つ場所で就学支援生たちと
(far right) With the children on the site where the new library was later built
2018年
(左)支援者の皆さんへの手紙書きのヘルプ
(left) Helping children write letters to supporters
10月21日から1月9日までの3か月足らずの間に一体何が?!? Emmaは小中学生の頃、血液の問題で、Kitgum, Gulu,
Kampalaの大病院に何度も入退院し、検査/治療を受けてきましたが、ここ数年は、落ち着いているらしく、病院通いも不要になったように見えました。彼は、高校生になってから、学業の合間に図書館を手伝ってくれるようになりました。IQ, EQともに高く、責任感があり学校でも頼りになる人柄でHead
Boy(男子生徒代表)を務め、手先が器用、折り紙などとても丁寧で日本人顔負け、音楽好きで教会のブラスバンドのリーダーをし、好成績で大学入学資格を得て、入学手続きの途中でした。”教師志望“というのも納得の、子供への温かな対応、子供たちからも大人気、また、知的好奇心旺盛で、日本/日本語などにも興味関心を持っていました。昨年2月からのロックダウンで、大学も閉鎖続き、手続きも中断のまま、ついにただの一日も、オンライン授業すら受けることもできませんでした。最後はGuluの病院で、2019年10月のAnywar
Patrick(=Oyoオヨー)のように、血液不足のため輸血が間に合わず、亡くなったそうです。
なぜ?、どうして? 問いかけても穏やかな優しい笑顔が浮かんでくるだけです。一日も早くKitgumに戻り、手を合わせたいと願っています。いまはただ安らかに、と祈るだけです。 合掌
So, what happened from October 21 to January 9? When he was a primary and secondary school student Emma was often hospitalized in Kitgum, Gulu, and a large
hospital in Kampala to undergo tests and treatments for a blood disorder. But for the past few years his condition had been stable, and he had not needed to see a doctor. Since entering high
school, he had helped out at the library between his classes. He had a high IQ and EQ as well as a sense of responsibility. Because of his reliability, he was named “head boy,” the student
representative at his school.
Emma was good with his hands and could fold origami as well as any Japanese. He loved music and was a leader of the band at the churches. He got good grades
and was in the process of being admitted to university. He hoped to become a teacher and would have been a good one as he was kind to children and well-liked by them. He was full of intellectual
curiosity and was interested in Japan and the Japanese language. Under the lockdown, all schools were closed, and Emma was unable to enter university. He could not take online classes for even
one day. In the end, like Oyo, Anywar Parrick who died in October 2019, Emma passed away at a hospital in Gulu, unable to get a transfusion on account of a shortage of blood.
When we ask ourselves how and why this happened, the only answer we receive is an image of Emma’s kind, gentle smile. We hope to return to Kitgum as soon as
possible and offer prayers at Emma’s grave. May he rest in peace.
2020年10月 生前最後のSM,「テコンドーの緑帯を得た!」と喜びの報告。
Oct. 2020 Joyful at getting a green belt in tae kwon do (his last SM)
2020年
10月
23日
金
ウガンダは10月9日58回目の独立記念日を迎えました。
例年は、首都Kampalaばかりか、Kitgumのようなド田舎でも、中央からのVIP…ファーストレディなど、を迎え、賑々しい催しが行われ、Kampalaなどでは海外からの来賓も多数迎え、国を挙げて、お祝いムードで盛り上がるのですが、コロナ禍の今年は、ふつうなら数時間にも及ぶ大統領のスピーチがあったのかどうか、BBC Newsでさえも報道が確認できません。
On Oct. 9 Uganda marked the 58th anniversary of its independence. Ordinarily, lavish events attended by high-ranking government officials, the first
lady, and other dignitaries would be held not just in the capital of Kampala but even in rural areas like Kitgum. Many guests from overseas would come to Kampala, and the country would be in a
celebratory mood. But this year, because of the havoc caused by the coronavirus, we can’t find out even from the BBC News whether or not the president gave his usual hours-long
speech.
9月下旬のコロナ対応スピーチで予告されていたように、この15日、国境封鎖が解除、エンテベ空港も再開され、もちろん厳しい条件付きではありますが、国レベルの公務やビジネスなどの出入国が可能になったようです。1月、新図書館の引き渡し式にKitgumに来てくださった亀田大使もついに離任されました。
As was announced in his late September speech on the coronavirus, on Oct. 15 the country’s closed borders were opened and Entebbe International
Airport was reopened. Of course, there are strict conditions for entry, but evidently it is now possible to enter the country for national affairs or business.
Kameda Kazuaki, the Japanese ambassador to Uganda, who came to Kitgum for the handover ceremony for the new library in January, has left his
post.
また、Primary校とSecondary校で、各々の最終学年(P.7, O.4,
A.2)だけの授業も再開。ただし、手指洗いの水道設備やソーシャルディスタンス等を確保できることなどが条件のため、ごく一部の学校だけで始まっただけとのこと。 今年度私どもの就学支援生の中には当該学年の子供は無し。もしいたとしても、彼らが通うガバメント学校は“水道設備”など無いので条件をクリアできないでしょう…。ほとんどの子供たちは今も“食”にありつきやすいタウンよりさらに田舎の村々に行ったきりのようです。
In the primary and secondary schools, classes have resumed only for the highest grades (P. 7, O. 4, A. 2). But because running water for
hand-washing and social distancing are required, apparently only a few schools have actually resumed classes. None of the students the library is supporting this school year is in those grades.
Even if they were, the government schools they attend do not have running water and cannot meet these requirements. Apparently, most of the children are still in rural villages rather than in the
towns, where it is easier to get food.
9月末、”科学者たちは、アフリカの低い新型コロナ致死率の背後にある理由を見つけようとしている“というロイター通信の記事がJapan
News紙に掲載され、広島のNさんがコピーを送ってくださいました。南アフリカやモロッコの感染者数、死者数は決して少ないとはいえませんし、ウガンダを含む他のアフリカ諸国でも徐々に感染者数、死者数ともに増えつつはありますが、確かに当初予測されていたよりははるかに低く抑えられています。要因として、
①感染状況、人数などの把握、集計が不十分、不正確、
②人口構成…住民の平均年齢が大変若い、
③結核予防BCGなどの効能、
④早々の国境封鎖や外出、移動制限、
⑤数々の感染症に見舞われてきた経験が活きている
等々が考察されています。
In late September a Reuters article under the headline “Puzzled scientists seek reasons behind Africa's low fatality rates from pandemic”
appeared in the Japan News, and N-san in Hiroshima prefecture sent it to us. There have been quite a few coronavirus cases and deaths in South Africa and Morocco, and in Uganda and other African
countries as well the number of cases and deaths are gradually increasing. But the numbers are far lower than initial projections. The article suggests several factors:
1. Inaccurate official figures, unrecorded deaths
2. Demographics: Africa’s youthful population
3. Cross-protection from the BCG tuberculosis vaccine
4. Early closure of borders, travel restrictions
5. Resistance as a result of past exposure to other coronaviruses
私どもには、20~年のウガンダでの見聞から、いずれもが適っているよう思えます。
例えば①、どういう人が何人住んでいるかも定かでない奥地の村々では、多くの人々がコロナに限らず、どんな疾病ででも医療を受けることなく死亡、ほとんどは、“マラリアで“と処置されます。実は、”コロナで“だったとしても、PCR検査など不可能ですから、本当のところは誰にも分かりません。
コロナ死者数は増えないわけです。
② 確かに…、が、そもそも①と同じで、正確な人口動態調査は不可能、住民の人数、年齢などつかめないと思いますが。
③ WHO、Red
Crossといった国際医療機関にバックアップされたガバメントのチームが村々に分け入って無料接種を行っています。しかし、村落の年長者(呪術医!?)、親、保護者たちが占い?!などにより子供たちへの接種を妨げるケースが多々あります。昨秋、当局から「通学している子供たちは全員学校で受けるので、図書館塾の子供たちにも接種を受けさせて。」と依頼があり、子供たちに「接種してから図書館においで。」と伝えたら、かなりの子供たちが図書館に来なくなり、聞くと、親や保護者が、「害があるので受けさせない、だめというならもう図書館には行かせない!」と、拒絶。家庭訪問するなどし手をつくしましたが、全員に接種させることはできませんでした。
④ これもアリですね。日本などがまだボーッとしているうちにさっさと空港も国境も学校も閉鎖、厳罰付きの外出・移動制限など導入、あまりの素早さにビックリしました。
⑤ コレラや熱帯病等、毎年、散発の報道があり、ヒヤッとさせられますが、私どもが知る限り、抑え込みに成功しています。
理由はどうあれ、空恐ろしい予言が的中することなく、一日も早く収束するように、と祈るばかりです。
Having observed the situation in Uganda for more than 20 years, we believe all of these are plausible.
1. In remote villages where it is unclear who and how many people are living there, many people may die from the coronavirus or other
illnesses without receiving medical care. In most cases, their deaths are attributed to malaria. Even if they are said to have died from the coronavirus, there is no way to administer a PCR test,
so one really knows whether they had the virus or not.
2. It’s true that Africa has a youthful population, but as with 1), it is impossible to conduct an accurate census, and the number of
residents and their ages cannot be accurately determined.
3. Backed by international organizations such as the World Health Organization and Red Cross, government teams fan out to villages to
give free vaccinations. But in many cases village elders (witch doctors?), parents, and guardians prevent children from being vaccinated on the basis of fortune-telling. Last fall, we were told
by the local authorities that because children who attend school are vaccinated there, those who come to the library should be vaccinated also. But when we told the children they could not come
to the library until they had been vaccinated, many of them stopped coming. When we inquired, parents and guardians told us that they would not have their children vaccinated because they
believed the vaccinations were harmful and that if it was a requirement, they would no longer send their children to the library. We visited their homes and did everything we could, but we
weren’t able to get all the children to get vaccinated.
4. This is also a factor. While Japan and other countries were still in a fog, Uganda and many African countries promptly closed their
borders and schools and introduced strict travel restrictions with penalties. We were surprised by how quickly they took action.
5. Every year reports of outbreaks of cholera and tropical diseases give everyone a scare, but as far as we know, efforts to suppress
them have succeeded.
Whatever the reasons, we hope the scary predictions are off the mark and the pandemic will end as soon as possible.
2020年
8月
17日
月
UGは空港や国境を封鎖、外出や行動制限を継続中。そろそろ政府は学校や市場、公的機関の再開を考えているようですが、厳しい制限下にもかかわらず、1か月ほど前に公的には初めての死者が出てからは1,2日毎に1,2名ずつの死亡者が報告されるようになっています。Kitgumでは、首都K’laやケニヤ/タンザニア国境地帯のように深刻にはなっていないようですが…。
The airport and borders in Uganda are still closed, and the restrictions on going out and on travel remain in place. The government is apparently considering reopening schools, markets and public institutions before long. Despite the tight restrictions, about a month ago the first death in Uganda was officially announced, and since then one or two deaths have been reported every couple days. The situation in Kitgum is not as serious as it is in the capital of Kampala or along the borders with Kenya and Tanzania, but…
Kitgumからメールが来ました! We have received e-mail from Emma!
”3勇士” Emma, Issac, Lawrence. 大人は外出時、マスク必着!でないとポリスや治安部隊にひどい目に遭わされる可能性が‼ コロナよりも“怖い”とか!?! ガバメント敷地内は、出入りが制限されていて閑散としているため、ちょくちょく出没するヘビ対策に長靴も必要!
Masks must be worn when going out or you may get in trouble with the police or the security forces. Because access to
government property is restricted and all is quiet, boots are essential to prevent being bitten by the snakes that often appear.
”3勇士” が、生垣や植込み、石畳の雑草と格闘すること~時間!! Thanks to the battle of the “three heroes” with the hedges, shrubbery, and weeds between the paving stones,
おかげで、サッパリ、スッキリしました!!!!
the library grounds are neat and tidy.
上の作業日とは別の日、久しぶりにGinnery地区の子供たちが訪ねてきたそうです。ずいぶん大きくなっている様子‼! 全員、土間/ワラ屋根の家住まい、水道も無く、流水で手を洗えるような子たちではありません。なんとか無事でいてほしいです!
On another day, children from Ginnery came to visit for the first time in a while. They have grown a lot! They all live in homes with earthen floors
and thatched roofs and cannot wash their hands in running tap water. So we hope they will stay safe.
Arop Joshua Akello Sharon Medina B2
(図書館塾生/Library pupil) (P3) (図書館塾生/Library pupil)
Adong Rose (P2) Canwat Brian(P2)
2020年
5月
29日
金
Kop Ango~? ようやく解除ですね~but
当方ハイリスク高齢者ですので、まだ当分は自粛しようと思っています、歯医者だけは、診療再開するそうですので、治療再開しようと思ってますが、うつるのも、うつすのもマズいので、県境を越えて横浜の母や九州の親類などに会いに行くのもまだまだ・・・ガマン!
Here in Japan the state of emergency has finally been lifted, but because we are high-risk senior citizens, we plan to continue to exercise self-restraint for
a while longer. The dental clinic will start seeing patients again, though, so I plan to resume my treatment. But we mustn’t catch the virus or give it to someone else, so we still have to
refrain from going out of the prefecture to visit my mother in Yokohama、Kanagawa Pref. and relatives in Kyushu for a while longer.
図書館スタッフの一人Emmaとファーザー(私どもの借家のオーナー)からKtgの状況を伝えるメールと写真が来ました!
We received e-mail messages with a lot of pics from Emma who is a library staff member, and from Fr.Anthony, our landlord. They are telling us about the situation in Kitgum.
Ktgでは、Emma(3月から大学に通うはずだったけど...)、Isaac(今夏,大学入学申し込み申請を考えていたけど...)、Lawrence(A.2,なので近々授業が再開され、今年秋の終わり頃、国のセカンダリー卒業統一試験を受験することになりそう...)たちが、時々子供たちの相手をしてくれたり、フェンス越しに図書館の様子を見に行ってくれたり、INtネットカフェで、メールをくれたり...有難いです。
In Kitgum Emma, who should have started university in March; Isaac, who was thinking about applying to university this
summer; and Lawrence, whose A.2 classes will resume soon and who will probably be able to take the unified examination for secondary school graduation in late fall, sometimes play with the
children, check on the situation at the library, and send us e-mail from an Internet café, for which we are grateful.
図書館 私どものKitgumの宿
UGでは、出入国完全禁止、国境も空港も閉鎖、罰則付きの厳しい行動制限下、現在までの感染者数300人程度、その大多数は、物資運送の長距離ドライバーたちだそうです。死者はゼロとのこと。Ktgでも、日の出から夕方まで、Ktg県内に限り行動自由、ただし移動手段は徒歩と自転車のみOK。県をまたいでの移動は、治安当局の許可を得た生活必需物資の運搬車両等だけ可。品薄のため物価高騰、1,5倍~ほどと!。
They said that what with the travel ban, the closure of the borders and airports, and the strict restrictions on activities that carry penalties, so far there have
been only 300 coronavirus cases and no deaths in Uganda. In Kitgum, people are allowed to move freely within the Kitgum District only from dawn ’til dusk and only on foot or by bicycle. Travel
outside the district is only allowed as permitted by the security authorities for activities such as transporting daily necessities. Because there is a shortage of goods, prices have soared to
1.5 times the usual.
小学校はP.7(Primary7)、高校はO.4とA.2(Ordinary4とAdvance2)が再開されたそうです。今年度私どもの支援生徒には該当者がいません。他は既に3か月以上登校無し、FMラジオによる補修授業あり。が、当方支援子供の家庭やその周辺では電気がないのが普通なので、利用は難しい。子供たちの大多数は、政府の『感染の可能性がさらに低く、収穫時期が近く食べ物にありつきやすい奥の村々に行って農作業を手伝うように』との指導に沿い、疎開中。タウンに残っている数少ない子供たちは時々、Emmaたちのところに顔見せに来ていることようです(写真をご覧ください)。
At the primary school, seventh graders(P.7) have returned, and at the high school classes have resumed for students in Ordinary 4(O.4) and Advanced 2(A.2). This
school year there are no students in those grades among those supported by the library. The other students have already been out of school for more than three months. Lessons are available via FM
radio, but there is typically no electricity in the homes of our students or in their areas, so the children can’t take advantage of the lessons. Most of them have followed the government’s
recommendation to evacuate to more rural villages where the likelihood of infection is lower and where food is readily available. The few children who remain in town sometimes come to see Emma
and other staff members. (See photos.)
Aber Fortunate Omara James Pikica Marvine
Agenorwot Mercy Oyella Aketowanga Beatrice
2020年
4月
06日
月
…ですが、時間の経つのは本とに早く、毎年一度の帰国もひと月が経ってしまいました。当方ハイリスク高齢者ですので、ひたすら外出自粛、”巣ごもり”しています。もっと高齢の親、親類、友人たち誰一人にも会っていません。今のところ我々二人も、親、親類,友人たちにも”陽性者”は出ていないようです。
UGは、まだ感染者は少なく死者も出ていないとのことですが、私どもが支援している子供たちの家々や近隣周辺には水道も無く、劣悪な衛生環境からすれば、遅かれ早かれ、大変な事態に陥るのでは…?と震えがきます。図書館スタッフも子供たちもInt.ネットはできないので、手紙を書こうと思ったのですが、トロ~イ日本政府と違い、UGは既に『国外からの入国禁止』、『全国民の外出禁止』が発令したそうで、物流、交通手段も無くなり、EMS(国際宅急便)でも配達されないのであきらめました。UGへの帰路航空券は既に取ってありますが、①UGへの入国不可、②EKは全便運航停止中(帰路チケットは有効期限が1年延長に…)、③ぬるま湯日本でも遂に出国禁止勧告が出たので、①②③すべてが解除になるまでは、子供たちや人々の健康が守られるように、命が助かるように、遥か日本から祈り続けるしかなさそうです。
まさに”非常時”‼、皆様もどうぞご自愛の上お元気でお過ごし下さい。
PS: 支援物資をお送り下さるという有難いお申し出もいただいていますが、上の様な状況で、いつ現地で受け取れるか、利用できるか見通しが立ちません。帰UGの日が決まりましたら、お知らせいたしますので、お待ちくださいますようどうぞお願いいたします。
Time truly flies. One month has already passed since we returned to Japan for our annual visit home. As we are at high risk for
serious complications from the coronavirus because of our age, we are refraining from going out. We have not seen my mother, who is even older, or any of our relatives or friends. So far neither
we nor any of them has been infected.
In Uganda few people have been infected with the coronavirus, and there have been no deaths. But there is no running water in
the homes of the families of the children we support or in their neighborhoods. In light of the poor sanitation, we fear sooner or later the situation will be serious.
Neither the staff of the library nor the children who use it have access to the Internet, so we decided to send a letter to them. But, unlike the
slow-moving government of Japan, Uganda has already banned the entry of foreigners and instituted a lockdown. The use of private vehicles has been prohibited, and public transport has been
halted. International express mail will not be delivered, so we abandoned that idea.
We already have our airline tickets to return to Uganda, but 1) we are banned from entering the country, 2) Emirates has
canceled all flights (our return tickets are open with a one-year validity), and 3) even complacent Japan finally prohibited travel abroad. So, until these three circumstances change, we must
remain in Japan and continue to pray that the children and others in Kitgum stay healthy and that their lives are spared.
To all those reading this, please take care of yourselves too amid this crisis.
One final note: Some people have kindly offered to send emergency supplies to the library, but because of the current situation,
there is no way to know when we will be able to receive them there or if we will be able to use them. Once we know when we will be able to return to Uganda, we will notify you. So please wait
until then.
《写真は全てコロナ騒ぎが起こる前、今回の帰国よりずっと以前折々に撮ってあったものです》
毎日多くの来訪者がある県庁の敷地。部局ごとの多くの建物が散在。しかし、水道は敷地内に2か所の外付け蛇口があるだけ。清掃スタッフが管理し,彼女たちがお休みの時はロックされて使用不可。図書館の向いの立派な2階建て戦争ミュージアム。エアコンやWiFiといった設備が整ったこの建物内にも水道は無し!
The grounds of KTG district government headquarters, which many people visit every day. Various departments are housed in the many buildings. But there are only two water faucets outside. When
the cleaning staff in charge of the faucets is off work, the faucets are locked and cannot be used. The big building opposite the library is the National Memory and Peace Documentation Centre.
Although it has air conditioning and Wi-Fi, there is no running water!
帰国直前の日曜日、一般の図書館利用者の列。上述の事情なので、開館日はいつも 右端に手洗い用の雨水利用のタンクを用意。 Patrons line up outside the library waiting to get in. This photo was taken the Sunday just before we left to return to Japan. Because of the water situation described above, when the library is open we put a large bottle of rainwater (seen at right) outside the library for people to wash their hands.
Ktgのバスパーク。K'laやGulu、さらに奥の村々に行き来する人々はここから乗り合いバス(ミニバンや小型トラック)で移動。“外出禁止令”が出て、今は、乗り物も人々の姿も消えたそうです。この広~いバスパークにも水道は一つもありません! This photo shows the bus station in Kitgum. People who want to travel to even more rural villages can catch buses (actually minivans or small trucks) here. But because of the lockdown, no vehicle and no one can be seen these days. No water is available at this big bus station either.)
藁屋根+牛糞と泥の壁+土間…の支援子供たちの家々。水道も電気も無し、換気をする窓もありません。 Homes of several students who are receiving support from PR Africa are seen in these photos. They have thatched roofs, walls made of mud and cow dung, and earthen floors. They have no running water, electricity or windows for ventilation.
2020年
3月
07日
土
新しく就学支援を始める9人の家庭訪問の写真と制服姿をご覧下さい。( )内は,小学校で面接と英語と算数のテストの受け、決まった学年。
例:P.2は小学2年生。当地では、”父親不在“(生死にかかわりなく)、祖母、母、オバなどが多くの子供を養う貧困”母子家庭“が大変に多い。
Take a look at these photos taken during visits to the homes of the nine students who will be newly supported by the library this year with the students in their new uniforms. The number in parentheses after each name indicates the grade that the children will enter based on interviews at the primary school and tests in English and arithmetic. In this area many families are poor and are headed by the mother, grandmother or an aunt because the father, who may or may not be living, is not present.
Ajok Scovia/アジョク スコヴィア(P.4)
, Anenocan Mirriam/アネノチャン ミリアム(P.4) 母のみ(mother only)
Ajok Scovia/アジョク スコヴィア(P.4) 母のみ(mother only)
Aromorac Babra/アロモラチ バブラ(P.3), Lubangangeyo Stephenルバンガニェヨ スティーブン(P.2)
Laker Sunday/ラケー サンディ(P.3)
Amoi Robina/アモイ ロビナ(P.2)
Anenocan Mirriam/アネノチャン ミリアム(P.4) 母のみ(mother only)
Latabu Jacline/ラタブ ジャクリン(P.3) & Canwat Brian/チャンワット ブライアン(P.2) (従姉弟 母/伯母のみcousins, mother/aunt )
Aryemo Sunday/アリェモ サンディ(P.4) 母のみ(mother only)
Aromorac Babra/アロモラチ バブラ(P.3), Latabu Jacline, Laker Sunday/ラケー サンディ(P.3) 母のみ(mother only)
Amoi Robina/アモイ ロビナ(P.2) 母のみ(mother only), Canwat Brian, Lubangangeyo Stephen/ルバンガニェヨ スティーブン(P.2) (姉弟 母のみsiblings, mother only)
2020年
2月
10日
月
早速、就学支援生ミーティングを開き、一般の子供へのサービスも始めました!
After the handover ceremony we wasted no time in holding a meeting for the students we support and began offering services to other children.
2020年度1学期目前、いつもの“新学期スタートミーティング”を開催。今年も支援を継続する12人、今学期から新しく就学支援を始める9人とその保護者が対象。数名の子供本人や保護者は、田舎に行ったまま戻っていない、体調不良などで欠席ですが、出席者は新しく広~い建物で、ご覧のような笑顔、笑顔、です!! Students receiving support from the library attend the annual meeting prior to the first term of the new school year. This year’s meeting was held for 12 students who will continue to receive support and nine more who will receive support for the first time as well as their guardians. A few children and their guardians were absent as they had not returned from the countryside or because they were ill, but those who attended were all smiles when they saw the big, new library building.
式後初めての日曜日、アヤノさん(昨年のボランティア)の看板に迎えられ、開館時刻より1時間以上も前から、一般ユーザーの長蛇の列。でも、今までのように1時間も外で待たされることなく、すぐ入館でき、まだ、こんなに余裕があります!
Patrons line up to enter the new library the first Sunday after the handover ceremony, welcomed by the new sign made by last year’s volunteer Ayano. Children
began forming a long line outside the library more than one hour before it opened. Unlike in the past when they sometimes had to wait for an hour outside, now they can come in right away because
there’s plenty of room.
今年度ピカピカの1年生の3人。初めての来館です。その後ろには、引き渡し式当日、亀田大使から頂戴した日本国外務省特製カレンダーが‼ Three new first-graders visit the library for the first time. The Foreign Ministry calendar given to the library by Ambassador Kameda on the day of the ceremony can be seen in the background.
新図書館の目玉の一つ、幼児ルーム。今までは場所が無く、兄姉が本を読む間、狭い机の上でジ~ッとよいこしてるしかなかったのですが、ご覧のようにおもちゃで遊んだりお昼寝したり…おもらししても問題ナイ!?! スタッフが手すきの時は、一緒に遊んだり、絵本を読み聞かせたりもできます。
The baby and toddler room is a special feature of the new library. Until now there was no place for them and they just had to behave on top of a small desk
while their big brother or sister was reading. Now they can play with toys or take a nap. And if they wet their pants, it’s no problem! When staff members have the time, they can play with the
babies and read picture books to them.
目玉その2は、広~い倉庫。これまで整理、保管する場所が無く、あちこちに分散して積み上げ、埃をかぶらせていただけの物資や本の段ボール箱のほんの一部ですが運び込みました。活用しやすいようにジックリ整理していきま~す。人手が足りませんが…。
Another nice feature of the new library is the large storage area. In the old library there was no place to organize or store things, so supplies and boxes of books were piled up here and
there covered with dust. We’ve brought some of them to the new library and will organize them carefully so they are easily uses. If only we had more people…
2020年
2月
01日
土
大使館GGPスタッフの適切、かつ強力な主導により、“遅くても2月以内には…”との予想より1か月近く早くその日を迎えることができました!! Kampalaから遠路ご臨席いただいた駐UG亀田大使は、スピーチの中で私どもの20年近くになる活動について温かいお言葉でご紹介下さいました。“By the end of February at the latest…” That was what we were told about the date of the ceremony for the handover of our new library. Thanks to the firm, effective leadership of the staff in charge of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) at the Japanese embassy in Uganda, that day arrived almost one month early. The Japanese ambassador to Uganda, Kameda Kazuaki, came all the way from Kampala to attend the ceremony and kindly acknowledged our nearly 20 years of work in Kitgum in his speech.
数日前から、県職員、PRAfricaスタッフ、子供たち一丸となっての大掃除の甲斐あって数年前の完成当時の奇麗さが蘇り、テープカットを待つ新図書館。UG国旗と日の丸も嬉しそう。正面奥には、初公開の手作り看板。「ブログでも見ましたよ!いいですね‼。」と大使にもご同行のGGP担当F女史にも大変お褒め頂きました。
The new library looks brand new prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony after district government workers, PR Africa staff and the children all pitched in to clean it thoroughly for several days before the big event. Even the flags of Uganda and Japan look happy! Our new handmade sign made its debut at the entrance. Ambassador Kameda and a GGP staff member who accompanied the ambassador to the ceremony praised the sign saying, “I saw it on your blog! It’s great!”
銘板序幕 LC Chairman(県知事)、大使
The chairman of the Kitgum District local council and Ambassador Kameda unveil the plaque on the library.
学校組と図書館組両方からの子供代表とBaba Ogen。
Student leaders of the school and library groups pose in front of the new library with Baba Ogen.
2020年
1月
22日
水
《お手紙を手にオディ~》 と 《新図書館近況》
Children pose with letters & an update on the new library
走行距離25万キロオーバーの超オンボロクルマの修繕等々に手こずってる間に、1月も下旬になってしまいました! 1通また1通と皆様からのお手紙がご到着中~!!
ンが、受取人(=子供たち)が、3学期終了後、クリスマス前後から、Ktgよりさらに奥の村々に行ったままなので、手渡しして写真を撮ることができません! 1か月以内位には、全員戻ってくることを期待していますが…。〈写真説明は全て左から右〉
今日は、“お手紙を手にオディ~”(チーズと言う代わりに、こちらではオディーといいます)は、5名のみです。
Time flew while we dealt with having repairs done on our old, worn-out car, which has more than 250,000 km on it, and it’s already late January. Letters from you
are coming in, but many of the recipients (children) have been in villages more remote than Kitgum since Christmastime after the end of the third term, so we haven’t been able to take pictures of
them with your letters. We hope all of the children will return by the end of January, but for now here are five children saying “odi” (cheese) with the letters they have received.
Pikica Marvin(ピキチャ マーヴィンP.4⇒2月からP.5)とAgenorwot Mercy Oyella(アゲノルォット マーシー オイェラP.3⇒2月からP.4)
Pikica Marvin (fourth grade, fifth grade from February) and Agenorwot Mercy Oyella (third grade, fourth grade from February)
Laker Sunday(ラケー サンディ図書館塾生*) とAryemo Sunday(アリェモ サンディ図書館塾生*) Aketowanga Sarah(アケトワンガ サラP.2⇒2月からP.3),
Laker Sunday and Aryemo Sunday (both students at the library*) Aketowanga Sarah (second grade, third grade from February)
* 2020年度(来月2月スタート)から、就学支援生に加えようと内々候補にしている子供がこの2名を含めて図書館塾生の中に 5名ほどいます。これまで繰り返し保護者を交えて面談して絞ってきました。今後、家庭訪問し、LC(地域の民生リーダーたち)と意見交換し決定します。早く決めたいのですが、子供本人や保護者が田舎に行ったきりだったり、訪問を早めにしても、新学年スタートまでに、その家の事情が良くも悪くも急変し、事前準備に大変な手間ヒマをかけた家庭訪問や懇談が無駄になってしまったり、します。このロスを最小限にするため、できるだけギリギリに訪問、懇談を行います。*Five children who study at the library, including these two, are being considered for educational support from PRA when the new school year starts in February. These students were selected after several meetings at which their guardians were present. The final decision will be made after visits to their homes and discussions with the leaders of the local council. We would like to make a decision as soon as possible, but the children and their guardians sometimes go off to the countryside for a while. And even if we visit their homes in the near future, before the new school year starts their family circumstances may suddenly change for better or worse and the visits to the home and talks with the family, which require a lot of advance preparation, may be for naught. In order to minimize this waste of time and effort, the visits and talks will be conducted as close to the start of the school year as possible.
Left: 銘板〈左奥〉と UG国旗と日の丸掲揚用のポールとBaba Ogen。Plaque (background, left), flagpoles for the flags of Uganda and Japan, and Baba Ogen.
Right: 銘板〈左端〉とポール2本。大理石の銘板には、“THIS LIBRARY WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN ……この図書館は日本政府からの支援で建設された……”等々と刻まれています。“引き渡し式”に向け、少しづつ準備が進んでいます。 Plaque (far left) and flagpoles. The inscription on the marble plaque states: “This library was constructed with support from the government of Japan.” Preparations for the handover ceremony are being made.
2019年
12月
31日
火
12月5日㈭にKitgum郵便局から発送した“ごあいさつ状”が支援者の皆様のお手元に届き始めたようで、関連していただいたご質問にお答えいたします。
Letters to our supporters that were mailed from the post office in Kitgum on Dec. 5 have begun to reach their recipients. In that connection we have received several questions.
Q1:「3学期が終わり手紙書きを始めた」そうですが、子どもは「期末テストが終わった、結果はまだ分からないが進級できると思うetc」と書いています。通知表がまだ、ということですか? 進級できるかどうか、とは、義務教育の小学校なのに落第がある、ということですか?
The letter I received indicated that the third term had ended and that the child was awaiting examination results but expected to advance to the next grade. Have the children not yet received
their report cards? As the letter referred to whether or not the child would be promoted, does this mean that children can be held back at the compulsory primary school level?
A:学校、学年にもよりますが、テスト終了後は授業が無く子供たちは登校不要になり、1週間ほど経て終業日を迎え、この日に通知表が渡され、進級可・不可が分かります。しかし、その「採点期間」と称する時間が過ぎても通知表の用意ができない教師がかなりいます。来年度が始まるまでもらえないことも珍しくありません。今回も半数近くの子供がもらえていません。
進級不可つまり落第もかなりあります。特に中・高学年(P.4~P.7)は珍しくありません。経済力のある家庭の子供はリピートしたり、転校したりしますが、貧しい家の子は費用が嵩むので、落第、そのまま、小学校中退…になってしまうのが一般的で、図書館学習組の子供たちにもそういう子供が多数います。‘図書館塾’ではほぼ能力別に分けた5クラス各10名前後の子供をスタッフ1名が教えますので、5,60~7、80名以上ものすし詰め教室の学校では落ちこぼれてしまった子供も目覚めて、適宜、通学を再開させるとトップクラスになる子が続出!
It depends on the school and the grade, but after examinations there are no classes and children need not go to school for about one week until the official last day of the term. On that day
children receive their report cards and find out whether or not they will be promoted. But quite a few teachers are unable to prepare their report cards by the end of the grading period. Students
often do not get their report cards until the start of the next school year. This year, nearly half of the children have yet to receive their report cards.
Quite a few children are not promoted. This is not uncommon among upper graders (primary grades 4 through 7) especially. Children from families with financial resources may repeat a grade or
transfer to another school, but expenses for children from poor families run up, so in many cases they drop out of primary school after failing. Quite a few children who study at the library fall
into that category. Children who attend classes at the library are divided by ability level, and one staff member teaches about 10 children. So, in many cases, children who had fallen behind at
school where they were crammed into a classroom with anywhere from 50 to 80 other students, bestir themselves and when they go back to school are at the head of their class.
新学年度開始前に2019年度の通知表を受け取れた支援生たち。この子たちは全員優秀な成績で進級決定!!
Q2:昨年までは40名前後の子供たちが手紙書きをしていたと思いますが、今年は半数くらいかと。どうしたのですか? Through last year around 40 children wrote letters. This year the number is about half that. What happened?
A:既に当該の皆様にはお知らせ、ご相談してきましたが、昨2018年度末から今2019年度にかけ、多くの子供が当PRAfricaの支援を離れました。家族とか親類とかの誰かが費用負担できるので当方からの支援を受ける必要がなくなったという子が15名ほどいます。
当方が通わせている比較的費用が安い公立小学校から、費用の高い私立小学校に転校した子どもも複数います。残りは、何らかの事情で、保護者ともどもスッといなくなってしまい、支援継続ができなくなったケースです。こちらでは氏名も住所も登録や届出制度など無く、痕跡なく引っ越してしまうのが一般的なので、日頃から子供たちにも保護者にも「引っ越す時は前もって相談を!」と言っているのですが、「ホウレンソウ(報連相‽)無し」が文化?なので徹底しません。「遠くに引っ越したらしい。」と分かった時には、元の住まいの近所の人々や仲良くしていた子供たちに聞いても何も手掛かりはありません。
We have already notified some of our supporters directly, but from the end of the 2018 school year through this school year, PR Africa’s support of many children ended. In the cases of 15
children, a family member or relative was able to assume paying the school fees and our support was no longer needed. Several children we were sending to the public elementary school, for which
the fees are relatively low, transferred to private primary schools for which the fees are high. The rest disappeared with their guardians for some reason, so we were no longer able to continue
to support them. There is no system here by which people’s names and addresses are registered nor is there any notification system, and it is common for people to move away without leaving a
trace. We ask children and their guardians to speak with us before they move. But in this culture it is common for people to move without informing others or consulting with them, so we are
seldom notified. When we learn that a child has moved far away, even if we ask neighbors at their former residence or the children’s friends, there is usually no clue as to where they have gone.
ほぼ1年以上、音沙汰なし、消息不明の受取人=子供の手に渡らないままのお手紙の数々…
Q3:日本の郵便局で訊くと、「航空便ならⅠ,2週間で届くはず」といわれるのに、どうして何か月も時には1年以上もかかるのですか?
When I inquired at the post office in Japan, I was told that air mail should arrive there in a week or two. So why does it sometimes take several months or even more than one year?
A:UGでは、郵便局は私どものいるKtgタウンのような各県庁所在地に一軒しかありません。またEMSなどの国際宅配便は個配が原則ですが、一般の航空便・船便などは日本のように個配はしません。郵便局の私書箱に入れられているのを適宜見に行き受け取るしかありません。郵便局にも決まった開業日・時間があるのですが、なぜか閉まっていることがシバシバあり、私書箱を✔するのも一苦労です。私書箱は年6万シルほどの使用料がかかり、一般の住民でこれを利用できるのはおそらく1%にも満たないと思います。私どもの支援を必要とする家では、郵便局など人生一度も行ったことがないのが普通、第一、家には紙も筆記用具も無いのが普通、あっても読み書きできないのが普通ですから…。引っ越し前に相談があったので別々の遠くの村に引っ越した後も当方が支援を続け、今も各々の村の学校に通っているAngee
Irene とAcen Harrietは、書けるかも知れませんが、書いた手紙をどうやって投かんできるでしょうか?また支援者の方が、直接この子たちに届けたいと思っても宛先住所をどうしたらいいでしょうか? 私どもが年一回彼女たちを訪問する時に手渡し、受け取りするしかないのです。
In Uganda, there is only one post office in each district government seat, such as Kitgum. As a rule, international express mail items are to be delivered individually, but items sent via
ordinary air mail or sea mail are not. We must go to the post office now and then to see if there is any mail in our box. The post office has regular hours, but for some reason it is often closed
during those hours, so we have difficulty collecting our mail.
A post office box costs 60,000 shillings per year, and less than 1 percent of the general population can afford that. Most of the families that need our support have never been to the post
office. This is typical. First of all, they have no paper or writing implements, and even if they did they cannot read or write.
Angee Irene and Acen Harriet informed us beforehand that they would be moving to remote villages, and we have continued to provide support for them to attend school in their villages. They
could perhaps write letters, but how could they mail them? Some supporters have indicated they would like to send letters directly to the girls and have asked what they should do about an
address. All we can do is take the letters to them on our annual visits to their homes.
Kitgum県唯一の郵便局の私書箱。中央の柱のすぐ左奥、真ん中あたりが私たちのPOBox240です。
2019年
12月
21日
土
”99%完成”のところで、足踏みをしていましたが、ようやく出来あがりました!
Progress on our new sign had been stalled at 99 percent complete, but the sign is now finally finished.
乾季到来!と思われるような青空、眩しくて「オディー」といっても笑顔が歪んでしまいます!
The brightness of the blue sky heralding the arrival of the dry season causes scrunched-up faces as everyone says “odi!”
透明プラスチックフィルムで全面をカバーし、木枠をつけました! 額縁に入れたような感じです。The new sign covered with clear plastic film and with a wooden frame around it.
来年早々、「引き渡し」を受けられそうな新図書館(中奥)と現在使用中の建物(右端)。The new library, which is scheduled to be turned over to us early next year (background), and the current library (right)
みんなの協力で、ここまで成長しました!乾季を乗り越えてほしいです。
2019年
12月
06日
金
昨年より1週間ほど早く作業開始。昨年は、支援者の皆様のお手元に届くのが大変遅く、「半年以上もかかった!」という方もいますが、今年はできれば年内~Ⅰ月頃までに届くように、と子供たちもスタッフ一同も張り切っています。 写真説明は全て左から右です。
This year the children began writing their cards about one week earlier than last year. Last year’s cards arrived very late. In fact, some people said it took more than six months for their cards to reach them! This year the children and staff are working to ensure that supporters receive their cards in December or early January.
図書館塾生の5人。人生初めての英語の手紙書きに挑戦! 前列 ラタブ ジャクリン, アリエモ サンディ, アロモラチ バブラ, ラケー サンディ, 後列 アニワー ジョエル(今年から、S.S.* O.1。自分の手紙は即日終了。後輩たちの面倒を見てくれています), スタッフ(s) Isaac, Joyce, Grace,アジョク スコヴィア。
5人とも来年度から就学支援する予定です。S.S.*=Secondary School ほぼ日本の高校に該当。最初の4年間がO(Ordinary)レベル,後の2年間が(Advance)レベル。
Five students who study at the library for over 1 year show off the first letters they have ever written in English. Front
row: Latabu Jackline, Aryemo Sunday, Aromorac Babra, Laker Sunday. Back row: Anywar Joel; staff members Isaac, Joyce, and Grace; Ajok Scovia. Anywar Joel, who is in Secondary School O. 1*,
finished his letter in a jiffy and then helped the younger students with theirs. All five students will receive educational support for the next school year.
*A six-year program consisting of four years at Ordinary level followed by two years at Advanced level.
L.Sunday, A. Joel
L.Jackline, A. Sunday, Joyce(s)
L.Sunday, L. Jackline, A. Joel
A. Sarah
L. Emmanuel, Isaac(s)
A. Babra
学校の帰りに来館したP.2からP.4の支援生たち。
前列 マーシー オィエラ, ピキチャ マーヴィン,
後列 アベー フォーチュネト, オマラ ジェイムズ, ルバンガニェヨ エマニュエル, オテマ ブライアン。
Primary school students who receive support from the library stop by on their way home from school. Front row: Mercy Oyella, Pikica Marvine. Back row: Aber
Fortunate, Omara James, Lubangangeyo Emmanuel, Otema Brian.
さすが就学生、早くもほぼ完成! 右端2名は初めて書いたアドング ローズ、アケトワンガ サラ
These students finished their letters in no time! O. Brian, A. Fortunate, O. James, P. Marvine, Adong Rose, Aketowanga Sarah
Isaac(s), A. Scovia
L.Sunday, L. Jackline, A. Joel
Grace(s), Sam(s),
Aketowanga Beatrice アケトワンガ ベアトリス
A. Rose, A. Sharon
2019年
11月
22日
金
建設を始める時、用地の向き、形状などの関係で仕方なく、木を2本ほど伐りました。その代わりにはなりませんが、新図書館全体をグルリと取り囲もうと苗木を植えました。屋根より高い木だと雨どいに落ち葉が詰り、雨水利用に差し支えたり、枝が折れるなどソーラーパネルに障害が出たりしますので、成長しても屋根より下までの高さにしかならない生垣、葉色は、新図書館の外見の色にマッチした黄緑です。十分大きくなるまでには数年かかるそうですが、来年2月頃、大使館⇔KTG県⇔私どもPR
Africaの“引き渡し”時には、数十センチの高さに一列に並んで来館者の目を楽しませてくれるでしょう!!といいたいのですが、さしもの雨季も終盤、雨が降る日の間隔が開き、雨量も激減しています。1日でも降らないと乾燥がひどく、ちゃんと根付いてくれるかどうか…。図書館学習組の子供たちが、整地、植え付けから、毎朝の水やり、雑草取り等々、一生懸命世話してくれています。幼い頃から、畑の手伝いで鍛えているからでしょう、鍬の使い方、苗の扱い方など、堂に入ったものです。約160本の苗木を植え終わり記念写真、ハイ, Ode(オディ~)!!、今日は、ご褒美のビスケットを一枚ずつ手に、もう一度Ode~‼
When construction on the new library began, because of the direction the site faced and its shape, unfortunately we had to cut down two trees. Though they can’t replace those trees, we recently planted seedlings all around the new library. The leaves from trees taller than the roof would clog the rain gutters and interfere with our using rain water. And branches might break off and damage the solar panels, so we planted a hedge that will grow no taller than the roof and whose yellowish green leaves will match the color of the library’s exterior.
We were told it will take several years for the plants to reach their full height, but they should be 20 or 30 centimeters tall by next February and delight our guests when the library is turned over to PR Africa by the Japanese embassy and the local government. Or at least that’s what we hope. For now, the rainy season has ended, so there will be days with no rain. And the amount of rain has decreased considerably. When rain doesn’t fall for even one day it gets quite dry, so we’re not sure if our seedlings will take root.
The children who study at the library have worked hard to take care of everything from preparing the soil and planting to daily watering and weeding. Perhaps because they have been working in the fields since they were small, they are very good at using a hoe and caring for the seedlings. We gathered for a group photo after planting about 160 seedlings. Say odi! (the local version of “Say cheese!”) After giving everyone a cookie as a reward, we posed for another photo. Once more: odi!
2019年
11月
01日
金
2017年2月下旬に着工、8か月後の10月に完成の計画でした。長~い長い道のり、何度も挫けそうになりましたが、皆様の励ましで遂にここまでたどり着きました! この後、工事完了承認を受けるための各種文書が大使館を通して、外務省とKitgum県との間で行き交い、最終的には来年2月頃に、いよいよ私どもPRAfricaに利用運営が委ねられる予定です。
Construction of the new library began in late February 2017 and was scheduled for completion eight months later in October. It was a long haul, and we were often
frustrated, but with your encouragement, the building has finally been completed. Next, documents to certify the structure’s completion will be processed by the Foreign Ministry and government
officials in Kitgum via the Japanese embassy, and in February operation of the library will officially be turned over to PR Africa.
Babaたちが2日間付ききりで注文し続け、何とかOK!となった書棚と机‼
Bookshelves and desks Baba and others spent two days ordering arrived after we managed to get approval for them.
大使館のS氏も来館し、工事終了を確認!
10月21日にはKTG県側からの文書も大使館に提出されたとのことです。
“99%完成”の看板と毎㈯ミーティングに参加の就学支援生たち。高学年生は全員対象の毎㈯補習のため学校へ行き、中・低学年生も数名はマラリア(おまけに最近は風疹*も流行っていて騒動に!)等で欠席ですが、アヤノさんのKTG出立直前、"もう待てない!"ので撮りました。
風疹* 北部一帯で流行りだし、WHO、赤十字、医療NGOなどが子供に無料の予防接種を実施。ところが、「毒だ!受けさせるな!」という風評があり、図書館組の子供の中にも、保護者が“受けさせない!”という事例が発生! 同じ家の兄弟姉妹なのに、就学生は学校で一律に受けさせられ接種済み、図書館生は未接種、という事態が起きています。
Students we are supporting to school pose with the 99% complete library sign at the weekly Saturday meeting. All upper graders were absent in order
to attend supplementary lessons at school, while several middle and lower graders missed the meeting on account of malaria. (There has also been an outbreak of rubella* recently.) But we couldn’t
wait any longer as Ayano was about to leave Kitgum, so we gathered for this group photo.
*Rubella is prevalent throughout northern Uganda. The World Health Organization, Red Cross, and medical non-governmental organizations give free vaccinations to children. But groundless rumors that the vaccine is harmful circulate, and the guardians of several of the children who study at the library have told them not to get the shot. In some cases, among children in the same household, those who attend school have been vaccinated while those who study at the library have not.
10月9日はウガンダの独立記念日、今年は57回目。以前は、多少、学校に通ったことがありそうな人たちでさえも「独立記念日? 何それ? ヘ~、アッ、ソッ」というような人がほとんどでしたが、ここ数年はラジオの普及が進み、認知度が少しは上がったかと…今日は久々P.6 生が来館しましたので、日本在住のNさんから届いた英字新聞を紹介。
Oct. 9 marked the 57th anniversary of Uganda’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. In the past, even people who had had some schooling seemed to be unfamiliar with Independence Day, but with the proliferation of radios over the last few years awareness of the holiday has a bit increased. On the day this photo was taken sixth graders had come to the library for the first time in a while, so we showed them a special page on the holiday that was published in an English-language newspaper and sent to us by N, who lives in Japan.
2019年
10月
07日
月
7月頃から、既存の薬剤に耐性のあるらしい悪性のマラリアに罹り、入、退、転院を繰り返してきましたが、遂に、輸血用血液が必要な量、入手できずに逝きました。マラリアの合併症の中で最悪といわれる“黒水熱”も、皆様からお送りいただいた葉酸、鉄分、ビタミンB12などを摂取し、一度は乗り切り、安定していたのですが…、残念です。
小さな棺の中に、皆様から頂いていたお見舞いカード、おもちゃ、彼が図書館で使っていたノートなど入れてあげました。遺影用の写真は、安定期に、たまたま自宅の前にいたところを撮ってあったのを拡大して木枠に入れ飾ってもらいました。まさかこんなことに使うとは思ってもいませんでしたが…。Oyoオヨ~(ニックネーム)には、学校に通わせてあげられなかったことが悔やまれますが、後に続くお金がないため義務教育の小学校にさえ通えない多くの孤児たちへの支援を彼のことを心に、できる限り続けていくつもりです。これからも皆様の温かく力強いご声援・支援を心からお願い申し上げます。Apwoyo Ma Tek!!
Anywar Patrick, 10, has died. Since July he had been suffering from a virulent form of malaria that was resistant to existing medications and had been in and out of the hospital. He came down with blackwater fever, one of the most serious complications of malaria, and had been taking the supplements that many of you sent – folic acid, iron, and Vitamin B12. He recovered, and his condition was stable for a while, but in the end he was unable to get the amount of blood required for transfusion, and he passed away. It is truly regrettable.
Into his small coffin we placed the get-well cards and toys you sent to him as well as the notebook he used at the library. For his portrait, we enlarged a photo taken recently when he was out in front of his house while his condition was stable. We never dreamed the photo would be used for this purpose. It is regrettable that we were unable to send Oyo (Patrick’s nickname) to school. But, with thoughts of him, we intend to go on with our endeavors and support the many other children who are unable to get a compulsory education at elementary school because they have no money. Your continued kind, encouraging support would be greatly appreciated. Apoyo ma tek!
2019年
9月
26日
木
入手できないスチール製の代わりに木製書棚が地元業者によって製作中、同時に、アヤノさん(68thボランティア)が、今まで皆様から頂戴してあった折り紙などを活用し手作りの看板を作ってくれました! “完成‼”と言いたいのですが、雨風土埃を防ぐためにも仕上げに使おうと決めていた“無色透明ラッカー”がKTGには無い! K’laでなら売っている!!そうですが、アヤノさんの約3か月のボランティア期間も残り少なく、彼女が立つ前に入手は困難…なので、“99%”完成記念写真を図書館寺子屋組の子供たちとパチリ。マラリアが猛威を振るっていますので10名ほどが欠席ですが、次々交代で欠席するので全員集合は“100%完成!”時に。
Because we could not get steel bookcases, wooden ones are being made by a local contractor. Meanwhile, Ayano, our 68th volunteer, has made a new sign for the library using origami and other materials from supporters. We’d like to say it’s finished, but clear and colorless lacquer for weatherproofing the sign, the final step, is not available in Kitgum. It is sold in Kampala, but Ayano’s three-month stay as a volunteer is almost over, and it will be difficult to get the lacquer before she leaves. So, we took a photo of the 99% finished sign with students who study at the library. There is an outbreak of malaria now, so some ten children have been absent, and we had to give up on getting a shot with everyone present.
99%”完成記念写真 Ayano, library staff and children pose with the 99% complete sign.
作成中のアヤノさん Ayano makes the new sign.
2019年
9月
12日
木
皆様のご声援、祈りのおかげで、Anywar Patrick(アニワーパトリック10歳)が、幸運にも再々々…輸血を受けることができ、昏睡状態から再び回復しました!!(彼のために輸血が受けられなかった患者さんもいるかもしれないと思うと複雑ですが…)
鎌状赤血球細胞自体を根本的に治すことはできなくても、輸血が必要となる溶血を起こさせないために、血液にダメージを与える感染症にかからないように気を付けなければならないのですが、写真のような住環境…電気も水道もなく、生活排水を流す下水路もなし、窓もないワラ屋根土間小屋に大人から乳幼児まで何人もの家族でザコ寝…ですから、「マラリアにかかるな!」というほうが無理… 日頃から少しでも血液の状態を良く保つため、たくさん皆様からお届けいただいた“葉酸”、“鉄分”、“ビタミンB12”などを摂らせます。まとめて渡すと、いくら説明してもガバッと飲んでしまったり、兄弟姉妹たちが食べ?てしまったりするので、近くに住むJoyceに預かってもらい、毎夕1回ずつ服用しに来るようにします。『元気になってね!』の手作りカードをお送りくださった方もいました‼ Apwoyo Ma Te~k!!!!
Thanks to your support and prayers, luckily Anywar Patrick, 10, was able to have a series of transfusions and recovered from his coma once again! (I have mixed feelings when I think that there may have been others who were unable to get transfusions as a result.)
While his sickle cells themselves cannot be repaired, in order to prevent hemolysis that requires transfusion, he must be careful not to catch any infectious diseases that might damage his blood. But, as you can see from the photograph, he lives in a windowless thatch-roofed home with an earthen floor and without electricity, water, or sewer for domestic wastewater. Everyone in the family, from adults to babies, sleeps crowded together. So telling him to avoid catching malaria is pointless. In order to maintain his blood in good condition, we will have him take the folic acid, iron and Vitamin B12 that many of you generously sent. If we give it all to him, no matter how clearly we explain how to take it, he will take too much at one time or his brothers and sisters may eat it. So Joyce, who lives nearby, is keeping it for him. He goes over every evening to Joyce’s place to take a proper dosage. He also received a handmade get-well card!!! Apwoyo Ma Te~k!
2019年
8月
26日
月
先回お知らせした鎌状細胞貧血にマラリヤを併発し意識不明から回復したAnywar Patrick(10歳)、写真のように無事退院し、その後元気に過ごしていると思いきや、容態が急変、わずか1週間ほどで再入院になってしまいました!
鎌状細胞貧血には根本的治療法はまだ無く、“葉酸”と“鉄分”の摂取が対症療法として著効が認められているそうです。当地では入手困難ですが、日欧米などでならドラッグストアのチェーン店などでサプリとして比較的お手軽に入手できると思い、AnywarPatrickに“葉酸”を、“鉄分”を、お送りいただけますよう心からお願い申し上げます。厚かましい限りですが、なにとぞ一日も早く、お願いいたします。Apwoyo Ma Tek in advance!!!
As you can see from the photo, Anywar Patrick, 10, whom we wrote about last time, was discharged from the hospital after being unconscious with sickle cell anemia and malaria. He seemed to be doing well after that, but his condition suddenly deteriorated, and he had to be hospitalized for another week.
There is no cure for sickle cell anemia, but folic acid and iron are recognized as being effective in controlling its symptoms. It is difficult to get folic acid and iron here but relatively easy to buy as supplements at drug stores in Japan, Europe and the United States. We would like to ask our supporters to send donations of folic acid and iron supplements asap for Anywar Patrick. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated. Apwoyo Ma Tek!
2019年
8月
20日
火
2学期も大詰め、期末テストが終わり、終業日まで登校不要となった中・低学年の子供たちが図書館に来るようになり、写真のようにすし詰め状態。
The second Term is coming to an end, and final exams are over. Students in the middle and lower grades, who don’t need to attend school through the last day, have been coming to the library, and it is packed, as you can see.
その中、Anywar Patrickアニワーパトリック(10歳 写真前列右端 兄Omara Jamesオマラ ジェームス12歳は就学支援中)が“貧血”で瀕死の事態に陥ってしまいました!
彼はもうかれこれ5,6年図書館に“通学”していて今年1学期から“正式”就学支援する予定でしたが、悪性の貧血*のため体調不良になることが頻繁で、就学手続きの時期を逸し、今学年も引き続き図書館で学んでいました。今回は元々の貧血に加え、マラリアを併発し、意識不明の重体に‼ 多量の輸血が必要でしたが、Kitgumだけでなく北部地域ではGuluなどの大病院でも血液が無い!… 母親(前列真ん中)からの輸血も限界で、「もうだめか…」と思われましたが、ギリギリのところでようやく血液が届き、ご覧のように回復しました! ずっと付ききりで世話をし、何度も血液を提供しているお母さんも疲れ果てていますが、まずは一安心。数日様子を見、状態が安定すれば退院の予定です。
*貧血:当地では、鎌状細胞貧血などそれ自体で致命的となる悪質な貧血患者が大変多い。それに加えてマラリアを併発し亡くなる例も多い。救命には輸血が必要ですが、Kitgumなど貧しい北部地域では、劣悪な住環境によるマラリア罹患率が非常に高く輸血用血液不足が恒常的。Kampalaなどに転院したくても体力もお金も無く…重篤な事態に陥る人が大勢います。
Among those students, Anywar Patrick, 10, (front row, right) was near death with a severe case of anemia. After studying at the library for five or six years, he was scheduled to receive our support to attend school starting the first term of this school year. (His brother Omara James, 12, receives support from the library.) But he frequently became ill because of his anemia* and missed the chance to enroll in school. So he is studying at the library again this year. In addition to his anemia, he also got malaria and was unconscious in critical condition. He needed numerous transfusions, but there was no blood available in Kitgum or at the big hospital in Gulu, also in northern Uganda. The best he could get was transfusions from his mother (front row, center),but it reached the limit. It was feared he would die, but a supply of blood arrived just in time, and, as you can see from the photo, he has recovered. His mother, who tended him the entire time and repeatedly donated blood for him, is exhausted but relieved. If Anywar Patrick continues to do well, he will be released from the hospital in a few days.
*Many people in this region suffer from sickle-cell anemia and other serious forms of anemia that can be fatal. When anemia is accompanied by malaria, many people die. Life-saving transfusions are necessary. In Kitgum and the rest of northern Uganda, a high percentage of people are infected with malaria as a result of their poor living environment, so there is a constant shortage of blood for transfusions. Even if patients wish to be transported to hospitals in Kampala, many of them are not strong enough or can’t afford to do so. Many of these people become gravely ill.
もう一つ“無い”のは、新図書館の書棚! 東京の外務省に承認されたBOQ(資材の数量、コストの一覧表)に基づきスチール製を購入しようと業者がKampalaに出向き何日も東奔西走しましたが見つからず… 大使館にBOQの書き換えをお願いし、当地の家具作り業者に木材製を作ってもらうことになりました。折悪しく雨期の真っただ中、停電も多く、材料の木材を十分乾燥させるのに時間が必要で、出来上がりはまだ先…、従いまして、先月半ばの大使館GGP担当S氏の来訪で一気に進んだのがまた足踏み状態。やっぱりTIA!=This is Africa~!!
しかし、アヤノさん、着々と新図書館のため、いろいろ用意してくれています。
今取り組み中なのは、現図書館で愛用してきた“LIBRARY”の掛物=以前のボランティアさんが段ボール紙と折り紙で作ってくれたもの、長年月、風雨に耐えすっかり傷んでしまいましたが、手作りの味わいが捨てがたかった…=のリメーク!
There is also a shortage of bookshelves for the new library. The supplier who was to purchase steel bookcases based on the bill of quantities (BOQ) approved by the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo spent several days in Kampala searching for some with no luck. It was decided to ask the embassy to revise the BOQ and have wooden bookcases made by a local furniture maker. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of the rainy season, there were many power outages, and time is required to dry the wood. So the shelves will not be finished for a while. Accordingly, the progress that followed last month’s visit by S-san, the embassy official in charge of the grant program, has come to a halt. Oh, well. This is Africa! But, Ayano-san is steadily getting things ready for the new library. Right now she is remaking our “LIBRARY” sign. The current sign was made by a former volunteer from cardboard and origami paper. After years of exposure to the weather, it is damaged, but we wanted to stick with a handmade sign.
2019年
8月
03日
土
特記のない場合の写真説明はいつも通り左から右へ、です。
Laker Lisa ラケー リサ(14才)に 個人指導中のアヤノさん、オーストラリア留学とフィリピン生活経験のある保育士さんです。Ayano gives personal instruction to Laker Lisa, 14. Ayano is a nursery school teacher who has studied in Australia and lived in the Philippines.
Grace, Nancy(右端奥)スタッフになって3年目,今やベテランです。Eunice, Emma(左端奥)高校在学中から休暇の時手伝ってくれました。高校教師を目指し大学に入学するので間もなくKTGを離れます。 Grace, Nancy ( far right, background) in her third year on the staff, is now veteran. Eunice, Emma (far left, background) started assisting us during his vacation from high school. He will soon leave Kitgum to go to university so he can become a high school teacher.
今日が2日目、最新入りスタッフKibwota Isaac キブウォタ アイザック(左端手前)、8日だけ先輩のAgeno Rwot Euniceアゲノ ルウォット ユーニス(右端)の授業を参観。
On his second day at work, new staff member Kibwota Isaac (left, foreground) observe lessons along with Ageno Rwot Eunice (far right), who has worked at the library a mere eight days longer than Isaac.
アヤノさんと子供たち、今日の勉強が終わってリラックス! Ayano and kids relax after the day’s lessons.
Aciro Grace アチロ グレイス(中央)年少組を指導中。Aciro Grace (center) provides instruction to lower graders.
手前からEunice, Baba Ogen, アヤノさん (from the foreground) Eunice, Baba Ogen, Ayano
2019年
7月
19日
金
当初の完成予定2017年10月より既に1年8ヶ月以上経過、手間が掛かるだけで先が見えませんでしたが、ここにきて大使館の強力なリーダーシップ、的確な働きかけにより大きく進展! 大使館GGP(日本政府による草の根無償支援事業)担当のS氏がKitgum入り。
NさんがUS帰国中ですので今回は英文はありません。写真説明はいつも通り左から右です。
県知事と異動してきて3日目の副CAOとも会談。68thボランティアのアヤノさん*, CAO補佐, Baba, S氏, 副CAO(スーツ姿), 県知事, 業者(青シャツ) *追ってご紹介します。
S氏のイニシアチブで、KTG県、3施工業者の責任者たちが初ぞろい。この後2時間以上、細部にわたり話し合い今後について確認、合意。
懸案だった周辺の整地整美の責任分担が明確に。
鳩首ミーティング1 3人おいてCAO、県エンジニア、CAO補佐
雨樋が付きました。
その2 県エンジニア、CAO補佐、2人おいてCAO、県財務局長
雨樋から集まる雨水を溜めるタンクの設置
雨樋⇒排水パイプ⇒タンクが繋がりました。
タンク内に落ち葉、飛来ゴミ、土埃り等が入るのを防ぐための仕掛け(ポリバケツの底に釘で穴を開け、メッシュと細かい砂利を敷き詰め、水タンクの蓋に穴を開けバケツを装着、バケツの蓋にもパイプを通す穴を開け…雨水はこのパイプを通りタンク内に入り、ゴミはバケツに残る、というもの)
椅子62脚搬入
天井の剥離とその修繕
机10台搬入。机の表面がザラザラ…、さらに磨きをかけニスを塗りなおすことに業者も同意。
2019年
7月
08日
月
PART Ⅱ: Posing with letters from their sponsors, students say “odi”! (Here we say “odi” (ground nut paste) instead of “cheese.”)
1学期終了後田舎に行ったまま戻らない子供たち、家の用事、学校の行事や全員対象の土日の補習のため図書館に来られない中高学年生たちへのお手紙が渡せずにいます。
期末試験後には、少しは時間ができ来館すると思います。今しばらくお待ちください。
We have not been able to give letters from the supporters to children who went back to their villages at the end of the first term and have not yet returned or to students in the upper forms P.6 and P.7 who have not been able to come to the library because of chores at home, school events, or supplementary lessons on Saturdays. They will likely stop by after final exams, so please be patient.
今年度からSecondary School(ほぼ日本の高校に該当)に通っている3人、Anywar Joel(アニワー ジョエル), Opoka Brian(オポカ ブライアン), Rubangakene Dauzi( ルバンがケネ ダウジ)遠距離通学で中々図書館に来られませんが、久しぶりに元気な姿を見せてくれました!Starting this year, three students are commuting to secondary (high) school: Anywar Joel, Opoka Brian, and Rubangakene Dauzi. They have to go a long way to school, so it is difficult for them to come to the library. It was good to see them looking well!
Aciro Sundayアチロ サンディ、
Laker Beatriceラケー ベアトリス
Pingoloya Giftyピンゴロヤ ギフティ
Pikica Marvineピキチャ マーヴィン,
Omara Jamesオマラ ジェームズ
Ongom Ronald オンゴム ロナルド
Aweko Babra アウェコ バブラ
Opoka,Dauzi,Joel Secondary生3人、今度は、Dauziがお手紙を受け取りに来たのに付き添ってきました。
2019年
7月
03日
水
二人が就学支援生に加わりました!(写真説明は全て左から)
Two new students are among those supported by the library.
1722:Aketowanga Sarahアケトワンガ サラ13歳、Aketowanga Beatriceアケトワンガ ベアトリス12歳。二人とも生まれて初めての制服!Public小学校の面接の結果、サラは2年生に、ベアトリスは1年生になりました。
Aketowanga Sarah, 13, and Aketowanga Beatrice, 12, wear school uniforms for the first time! After interviews at Public Primary School, it was decided that Sarah would enter second grade and Beatrice first grade.
1711:Joyce, 妹(10歳図書館で学習中)、母、Sarah
Joyce, her sister (10 years old and studying at the library), their mother, Sarah
Sarah, 妹、母。この小屋で弟(8歳図書館学習中)と5人、母が近所の畑仕事や家事を手伝い生活。父は行方知れず。Sarah with her sister and mother. Five people, including Sarah’s younger brother, 8, who studies at the library, live in this hut. Their mother helps with work in nearby fields and with housework to support the family. The father’s whereabouts are unknown.
伯母(亡母の姉)、Beatrice。父は乳児の時死亡、母と田舎で暮らしてきた が、母も亡くなり叔母に引き取られた。叔母は小さい畑を持っていて衣食住は何とかなるが学費までは難しい…。Her aunt (sister of her deceased mother) and Beatrice. Her father died when she was a baby. She was living with her mother in the countryside, but her mother died and she was taken in by her aunt. Her aunt works a small field and manages to eke out a living but does not make enough money to cover school cost.
伯母、Beatrice, Joyce Aunt,
2019年
6月
11日
火
今年はいつものAdilangに加えPatongoにも。
This year’s visit included Patongo as well as Adilang.
Acen Harriet アチェン ハリエット(P.5 両親なし)Ktg Primary Schoolに通い、成績も上位を維持してきましたが、乳児の時、母親が死去(父親については情報ゼロ)以来育ててくれた親類の事情で今後Agago県のPatongoという町の叔母宅に身を寄せ、この写真の学校に転校することに。検討、相談し、引き続き当PRAfricaで就学支援を続けます。
Annual Visit to Agago District: This year’s visit included Patongo as well as Adilang.
1704: Acen Harriet, a fifth grader at Kitgum Primary School, has consistently got good grades. Her mother died when she was a baby. (There is no information on her father.) On account of the circumstances of the relatives who have raised her since then, she will go to live with her aunt in the town of Patongo in Agago District and attend the school in this photo. After discussing the matter, we decided that PRAfrica would continue to provide Acen with support.
転校手続きを済ませ一安心。制服も注文しました! 左から、これから世話になる叔父さん、図書館スタッフJoyce, 先生、Acen。Acen looks relieved after completing the procedures to transfer to her new school. She also ordered a uniform! From left: the uncle with whom she will live from now on; Joyce, a member of the library staff; a teacher, and Acen.
Angee Ireneアンゲー アイリーン(P.6 母あり)とお馴染みAdilangのOrina Primary School。彼女も成績良好で順調に進級。土曜なので学校はお休みですが集まってきた近所の子供たちと。
Angee Irene (sixth grade) and the Orina Primary School in Adilang. Angee also gets good grades and has steadily been promoted. It’s Saturday, so there is no school, but she has joined other neighborhood children.
母、弟妹、祖母、親類一同、近所の人たちと。With her mother, siblings, grandmother, other relatives, and neighborhood children.
2019年
5月
30日
木
二学期のスタートが近づき、休暇中、畑仕事の手伝いをして過ごしていた田舎の村々から三々五々子供たちが町に戻り図書館にも顔を出すようになりました。休館中、支援者の皆様から届いていたお手紙が一通また一通と子供の手に…。(P.数字は学年、下線は普段呼ばれている名前)
With the approach of the start of the second semester, children have begun to appear at the library after returning to town from villages in the countryside where they spent their vacation helping in the fields. We have been passing out letters from supporters that arrived while the children were on holiday. (The underlined names are those by which the children are ordinarily addressed.)
Akello Sharon (P.2)
Sisters Aber Fortunate (left P.3) and Agenorwot Mercy Oyella (right P.3)
Lubanga Ngeyo Emmanuel (left) (P.2) and Wokorac Dick (right) (P.7)
Rwot Omiya Innocent (P.5)
Aol Fiona (P.6)
2019年
3月
10日
日
Adyero Priska(アディエロ プリスカ 左から二人目)に、M.Wさんからいただきました。来週行われる実力テスト代をもらいに、補習(全員必修!)を受けに登校する途中、図書館に偶然立ち寄りました。同じ6年生の3人にも喜ばれてこの笑顔!
Otema Brian(オテマ ブライアン左)にM.YさんからとAgenorwot Mercy Oyella(アゲノルヲット マーシー オイェラ 右)にY.Tさんからいただきました。
他にもK.I, H.T, T.Y, N.R, M.O, Y.S, I.K (敬称略)から頂戴していますが、中・高学年以上の子ども達は、毎週土曜日、学校で全員対象の補習を受けるため、図書館ミーティングに来られません。平日も朝は7時前には家を出、帰宅は夕方遅くですので、図書館に来られるのは日曜のみ、しかし体調を崩したり、何か家で用事があったりと、2,3週間顔を見せないこともあり、お手紙を手渡し写真を撮ることがままなりません。今日は、受取人本人に代わって、ミーティング参加の低学年組の感謝の笑顔をパチリ‼!本人への手渡しと写真は、私共が一時帰国から戻ってからになってしまいます。ご了承ください。
2019年
3月
08日
金
Such a long time!!! 何年ぶりでしょうか、久々、”ヴォランティア手記”に新掲載!!
是非ご覧ください。
2019年
2月
25日
月
新学年度が始まり、平日の一般子供利用者は姿を消しました。しかし、校納金(公立でも高額!!)や箒、トイレットペーパー、洗剤など学校に物納しなければならない品々、制服や学用品等が用意できず学校に行かれない子供たちが寺子屋塾への入塾を希望して連日続々と来館。前年末、20数名だった塾生の数が倍以上に!!!詰め込んでももう席が作れないので、就学年齢は6歳ですが、6、7歳の子は、帰ってもらうしかありません。「来ないでね。」といっても、毎日何名か来ます。Babaが指を使って1,2,3…10の数え方を教えています。
The new school year has begun, so young library patrons are no longer seen on weekdays. But some children can’t go to school because they can’t pay their school
expenses, which are high even at government schools, or provide the required brooms, toilet paper, detergent or other supplies, or prepare their uniforms or school supplies. Many of these
children have been coming to the library hoping to attend its school. At the end of last year there were 20-some students. This year that number has more than doubled! Even if they crowd in,
there is not enough room for all of them. So, although children start school at age 6, we have had to send the 6- and 7-year-olds home. But even if we tell them not to come, some come every day.
Baba teaches them to count to 10 on their fingers.
2019年
2月
08日
金
11月~12月に来てくれた67番目ボランティアのマリナさんのキトゥグム再訪‼! 二度目のケアプログラム実施。今回は、計画、準備の段階から、当日の進行、運営まで、当方のスタッフを前面に立て、ご自分は裏方に回り、助言者、相談役等を務めてくれました。今回のテーマは、『勉強に関連した辛い嫌な体験・良かった嬉しかった体験』。難しそうだったので、支援生の参加は中・上級生以上だけに絞り、一般の来館者も数名入れました。見つかった課題も含め、次につながる貴重な経験ができました。
Our 67th volunteer, Marina, who was here in November and December, returned to Kitgum to carry out the second care program. This time library staff handled everything from planning and
preparation through implementation while Marina worked behind the scenes offering advice. The theme of the latest program was “Unpleasant and Happy Experiences Related to Studying.” It seemed
like a difficult topic, so participation was limited to students in the middle and upper grades who receive support from the library along with several other library users. Including the problems
that were found, the program was a valuable experience that we will be able to build on.
初登校日!! 青シャツは、これまでと同じPrimary小学校、白シャツはPublic小学校。
First day of school! As before, blue shirts are worn by students in Kitgum Primary school, while white shirts are worn by those in Kitgum Public school.
彼女たちの家からは、Primaryは遠すぎるので、種々検討の結果やや近めのPublicに決めました。
These girls live too far from Primary school, so, after considering various options, it was decided that they would attend Public school, which is a little closer.
左から、
Akello Sharonアケロ シャロン(12歳)、Aciro Sundayアチロ サンディ(13歳)、Awilo Agnesアウィロ アグネス(8歳)、Adong Rose アドング ローズ(8歳)、Laker Beatriceラケー ベアトリス(9歳)同じ村の仲良し5人組。初めAgnesが図書館に。あと次々と。悪路片道1時間以上の遠距離にもかかわらず、全員ほぼ皆勤賞! 熱心な学習態度で、当初はA,B,C…も名前も数字1,2,3…も書けなかったのが、力をつけ、今年度から就学支援することに。Public小は面接だけなので、以前少しだけ学校経験のあるシャロンだけが2年生、後の4人は揃って1年生、同じクラスに。
Lubanga ngeyo Emmanuelルバンガ ニェヨ エマニュエル(11歳)実父は彼が赤ちゃんの時ゲリラに殺され、村で育ったが実母も一昨年HIVで死に、Kitgumの祖母に引き取られ、図書館に通うように。学校に通うのは、生まれて初めて。でも、図書館での勉強が生きて、転入テストで、2年生に編入! 担任の先生(右側)と。
今年度(2月スタート)から新しく就学支援する子どもたちの家庭訪問
Visits are paid to the homes of students who will receive support during the new school year, which starts in February.
2019年
1月
22日
火
2019年
1月
21日
月
2019年
1月
12日
土
コンクリートの強度を高めるのに必要な水やりをせず、セメントを塗って直ぐ黒タールを塗っている! 仕方なくBabaと子どもたちが、バケツで水を汲んできて撒いたが、ご覧の通りの雑な仕事のまま、姿を消して早や45日!
外ドアの丈が短かすぎ!「このままでは、蛇など小動物が出入りする‼」と強く要求、施工業者は初め「これでいいのだ」と言い張っていたが、ようやく丈を長くするための鉄板を溶接した。
外トイレのドアの閂。はまらなかったのをガンガン叩いて無理やりはまるようにしたので、ドアも壁もご覧のように傷だらけ…
雑なタール塗りだけでなく、ドアとドア枠が合っていないことも写っていた! 上の方は隙間がないが、下の方にいくにしたがって、間が最大5㎝程広くなっている。
上から落ちた壁の塊。Babaの掌サイズ!「もし下に子供でもいて直撃したら!?!」と聞いても、「そんなことはあり得ない‼」と県責任者も施工責任者も一笑。
2019年
1月
07日
月
Apwoyo Katoo Mwaka~!! 明けましておめでとうございます。
新年初めのアップに相応しくない全然おめでたくない記事で恐縮ですが、新図書館工事の種々問題箇所の写真です。
2018年
12月
30日
日
2018年
12月
17日
月
来年度(2月スタート)から就学支援を始める予定の5人です。
2018年
12月
07日
金
チェックイン チェックアウト
アクティヴィティ
グループ 1 グループ 2 グループ 3
参加者一同
家庭訪問
2018年
12月
03日
月
お知り合いの中に、このHPをご覧いただけなさそうな方をご存知でしたら、宜しくお伝えください。
昨年皆様から頂いたお返事の一部です。悲しいことに、この中には、こちらに届いた時、既に受取人の子どもと連絡が取れない状況になってしまっていて、いまだに手渡せないものがあります。
These are some of the replies we received last year. Unfortunately, by the time the
cards arrived, we were no longer in contact with some of the children and are still unable to deliver those cards to their recipients.
2018年
11月
27日
火
2018年
11月
14日
水
全3枚のうちの1枚目と3枚目を嵌め込むワーカーたち。Workers put the first and the third of the three glass blocks into place.
2018年
11月
02日
金
支援通学生と保護者の緊急ミーティング。
An urgent meeting is held for students whose schooling is supported by PR Africa and their and guardians. After a discussion and time for questions, the students were asked to sign a written agreement to reaffirm the terms of the verbal agreement made when they began receiving support. Although over a month had passed since the start of the third term, several students had not returned to school or the library from villages in the interior and could not be reached, so it was feared they had dropped out. The meeting was held to raise awareness so that anything unusual would be noticed and addressed promptly and this problem would not recur.
文字を書き慣れているP.7(7年生)生も、ご覧の通りの緊張ぶりです。
慣れていない保護者に、ペンの握り方を教えるスタッフ。 心配そうにのぞき込む孫娘たち。
お祖母ちゃんの署名とサイン代わりの拇印押しが終わり、ほっと安心の孫娘。
2018年
10月
24日
水