SisterRosemary

EDUCATION.

We really need to offer, at least, an education, especially to women and children who lost all their chances. And of course, for the women now, a good number of them will need reading and writing skills at least, for their children definitely, we need to invest in quality education and health. For the women too, we need to give them quality health. At least they should be able to access a doctor, and they should also be able to get good attention in some health centers or clinics at least, because sometimes in Uganda you get hospitals that are so congested, or you have to pay for your medication and these women don't have a lot of money. And for women with HIV / AIDs, they are accessing medicines given by the government, but what they need is HOW They are being taken care of while they are taking the medication - how is their feeding, how are their children, while they take these medications? Their nutrition is very, very important.

It is common that women who are escaped have HIV / AIDS, and that clinic within our school is of great support to not only the women in our centre but also around the community. We make sure people get quality medication and that they are able to see a doctor at least once in a week. We give as low a charge as you can get anywhere, so people can access this medication. And I have to rely on people who can help me get quality medicine and medication to put in this clinic, I have to rely on some donations as well to help these people.

I don't think I can even support anyone who thinks of killing people in the name of religion! Because for any religion, you have to save life at all costs. And of course, life is not given by anybody, it's given by God. Whether you have faith or not, God has given you that life, and I don't think that thinking "I will take somebody's life because of my faith" is right.

Well, it didn't affect my work exactly. Positiively or negatively, it's not about my work. But I really do feel it was a great highlight, because these same children who are in that video are children who have also been with us. So there was a great awareness in the public eyes, especially in the international community, but again, I say, the emphasis is there. And for me, I personally think the emphasis should NOT be on the rebel leader. The emphasis should be on those who were affected! Because even if we catch this man today, where are our plans for those who have been affected? Otherwise, I am very happy that many people saw this video, I am happy that it did, at least it made people aware of what has happened in Uganda for all these years. But people should know that it is NOT finished - we are dealing with the aftermath of this war. People need a lot of healing process, and there are so many things we need. If there are non-governmental organizations who have been in Northern Uganda and now want to say "it is time for us to leave," It would not be a good thing, because for ME this is the time to begin, the time to start rebuilding people.

I keep track of them, and a good number of them are working on - a lot of them have little shops, selling dresses, or small businesses they have started. Sometimes we look for them for employment, WE have to create the employment. Like I have some girls, for whom I started clinics, I say "Why don't you work as a cleaner in the clinic?" For some of the girls, we have taught catering, in almost all restaurants and hotels in Northern Uganda, you will find at least one girl from St Monica! At least one girl! And sometimes they start their own small eating places, I think they are quite busy. When I go around the market, I always come back quite refreshed, I always find at least one girl working. And if I don't see them working, I say "come back, we will teach you how to make money."

Hahahaha! I was BORN in a coffee growing area, so tea has no meaning to me!

We just pick coffee from the plants, and we dry, we roast, and we grind with our stones, and boil it crude. That is what my dad taught me. My mother was not able to make coffee, but my father was doing that, he taught me how to make crude coffee. And there is no Nescafe for me, I strongly believe the coffee in my father's garden is the best, because I picked it, I ground it, and I roasted it! The process of making it!