Jan
21
2018
0

Day 10

SlingI love to see all the women with their babies on their backs. They carry them so easily in a simple piece of fabric and the babies seem so comfortable.

Written by Anna Williams in: This is Epic | Tags:
Jan
21
2018
0

Day 9

KinglyIt’s good to see that Dad is totally on brand!

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Jan
21
2018
0

Day 8

Baby Giovanni

Beautiful baby Giovanni.

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Jan
09
2018
0

Uganda – Day 2 – part 2

 

Day 2 – Part 2
I decided that I really couldn’t squeeze everything into one post today n

This afternoon we have privilege of visiting one of the Village Savings and (VSLA) groups. It was about a 30 minute drive from our hotel accommodation (pretty good really bearing in mind it isn’t on the tourist route). The drive took us down what I would have considered some dirt tracks, passing on the way an occasional house with small children and scrawny goats and chickens wandering about outside .

When we arrived we were greeted by 25 women all wearing bright yellow tshirts bearing the logo of This is Epic and the name of the group. What a welcome! When I leave Africa I am going to demand that I am greeted in this way. They sang to us we swayed our way to a tree bearing Jack Fruit (smells like vomit apparently) and proceeded to greet us with more songs.

They then got down to business and started the process of the group. Ok in Very simple terms here is what happens…

Each group consists of 15-30 members and each member saves a weekly amount into a locked box which has three key holders. In this group each time they put in 2000 Ugandan shillings they received a stamp in their loan book which was one share. Some were saving up to 5 shares each time but if they were unable to afford it they didn’t have to contribute.

Each week there is a compulsory 500 Ugandan shilling payment to the Welfare money. This money is accessible even outside of group time should a member have an emergency. It has to be repaid but does not have interest added.

Throughout the process the members are able to borrow from the fun and this is repaid with interestThe term of each loan cycle is 8-12 months and at the end of the cycle the money is divvied up according to their savings with interest.

The group was fascinating. They have a particular process and order in which they do things and they were meticulous with their book keeping. In particular at one point there was a discrepancy between the ledger and the cash that was in the bowl so they recounted and recounted and then they all counted out loud together until it was resolved.

It was amazing. So insisting to hear the stories of the women and how VSLA and This is Epic is changing their lives. I had not expected to feel so emotional about it and on more than one occasion I could feel the tears pricking the back of my eyelids. The money that we raise in Guernsey is life changing. Without a doubt it changes everything for these families.

I also met this gorgeous little baby who was called Giovanni. I could have smuggled him away with me. Just gorgeous.

(more…)

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Jan
08
2018
0

Uganda – Day 2 Part 1

8 January 2017
You know how sometimes you do something and realise that it is an life changing moment? This trip feels a little like this.

I have been pretty anxious about leaving my husband and children to come but I knew it was the right thing. Being able to come with my Dad and sister had been particularly special.

Today we drove from Kampala to Kyotera. The journey took us about 3 hours and on the way we got to see what I imagined Africa would like like.

The traffic in Kampala was incredible and I couldn’t get over how many motorbikes there were. Not only that I have never seen so many people on one motorbike – at one point I saw 4 grown men all crammed onto the same bike. If they aren’t carrying multiple people though they are carrying sacks of coal or 10 foot lengths of wood or chickens. Amazing! Then there are the minibuses. Crammed with 16 people and all their luggage. The city is teeming with life; women carrying large bundles on their heads with a baby strapped to their back and bustling market places.

On the drive to Kyotera by the road were multiple stalls selling everything from fruit and flip flops to bed frames, sofas and mattresses. Scrawny cows and goats wander down the verges and gorgeous little children sit and play in the dust. The drive was made even more perfect when the random radio station picked up Africa by Toto.

Written by Anna Williams in: This is Epic | Tags:
Jan
06
2018
5

Uganda – Day 1

So today my Dad, sister and my sister’s sister-in-law (confused yet?!) head off to Uganda.

We are going to visit the This is Epic the projects in Kyotera.

I have never been to Africa (except Egypt but that doesn’t feel like real Africa!) so I am really excited.

I am hoping to blog about my experiences whilst I am out there.

So today we left Guernsey set at 10.15am, got an airport transfer to Heathrow and and we have to wait until 8pm tonight. We are on a night flight to Dubai and then we have to get another flight to Entebbe

Think we might be pretty tired by this time tomorrow!

 

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Aug
11
2017
0

A year in pictures – Day 218

Y-front runSuper busy day but we started off with going to watch the Y-front run.

This is a brilliant event run by This is Epic which encourages runners to participate in a 10k run or a shorter fun run – it also then asks people to wear y-fronts whilst they do it. This year participants were encouraged to decorate their pants, and most people wore them on top of their running clothes, although there were a few who just wore pants!

This is my cousin’s wife Vicky, sporting a fantastic pair of pants which were decorated beautifully by her daughter Rosalie. She even included a tail! Great work!

Written by Anna Williams in: cousins,This is Epic | Tags: ,
Jul
21
2017
0

A year in pictures – Day 197

Gin

This evening The Mister and I went to the ‘after party’ for the 7 Iron Men in 7 days event.

It was great to meet up with a bunch of people who had taken part in My Epic Week, each pushing themselves to the limit in order to raise money and pursue a challenge.

It was also brilliant to hear about the stories from This is Epic. The things that have helped and made a different.

It was also lovely to meet one of my Dad’s friends. She likes gin so we got on pretty well!

Written by Anna Williams in: This is Epic |
Jul
15
2017
0

A year in pictures – Day 195

Epic Iron Man

This week my crazy brother-in-law Philip and his friend Warren have been attempting to do 7 iron man triathalons in 7 days.

That means, a 2.5 mile swim in the sea, 112 miles on the bike followed by a full marathon.

Ridiculous!

Warren has had to pull out as he was so exhausted and Philip is just completing day 5.

The Mister went down to run some of the marathon with him and he was joined by my nephew for part of his first lap.

Whilst Philip and I don’t always see eye to eye on things, I am so proud of him for attempting this. He is incredibly fit and has the most astounding mental strength I think I have ever seen. I am still not sure whether he will complete but whether he does or doesn’t he will have taken himself to the limits.

Written by Anna Williams in: This is Epic | Tags:
Apr
24
2017
0

A year in pictures – Day 113

London Marathon heroes

I am so proud of my sister and brother-in-law today.

They ran the London Marathon in a time of 3 hours and 36 minutes. I think they are complete heroes and Philip did a brilliant job of pacing and supporting Louise but I especially think my sister is a legend. She has had a calf injury and has been worried she wouldn’t finish. At about 10 miles in her calf went pop and she took painkillers, walked a bit and then managed to finish the job.

My sister is rock hard. Fact.

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