Creativity is Not Inherited, It’s Learnt

Craft training started on the 15^th and 16^th of August in Migyeera and Nabbingo respectively, the artisans were eager to learn from their new trainer (Miss. Flavia). As a training strategy the trainer critiqued the Artisans who have been producing trays and baskets all along to know their weaknesses and strengths, for those who had never made these items she taught them putting emphasis on the principles and basics of making a creatively woven craft piece starting with the star basket in Migyeera and the bullseye tray in Nabbingo.

Above; the trainer shows the participants how to star the star basket

 

 

The Artisans kept on making inquiries every step they made so that they don’t make any mistakes; they worked hard in their quest to master the craft.

Participant being shown the next step

 

 Learning is a great experience; most Artisans surprised themselves for they did not know their true potential in crafts making, when you’re willing to learning, practice and work hard, the sky is the limit.  By the time we left everyone had started their own star basket.

 

 





 

The participants start the star basket with guidance from the trainer

 

The participants in Nabbingo working and getting assistance from the trainer

 

It made me proud the following week when most of the Artisans came with finished baskets,

 

The Artisans pose for photos with their baskets

 

one of them went further to use the acquired skill in her craft pieces (Harvest basket); she owned the design and made a unique piece of craft,

 Kyakuwa Cissy tries the Star design on one of her famous Harvest baskets

 Also in Nabbingo one of the participants worked hard and was able to make six(6) bullseye trays that were sent in the last shipment.

 

 

 

Nassali Mary works hard to finish the last of her six trays 

 

This proved that training doesn’t only broaden their skills but also nurtures their creative minds helping them to think outside the box instead of confining themselves to only that which they have been taught. Using the skills to try out different products enables the Artisans create new unique designs and items.

 

By; Clair Namukwaya

Micro Enterprise Program officer
(Crafts & Tailoring) CALU

 

The Chess Club in St.Lawrence Migyera

 

Daring ideas are like chess men moved forward. They may be beaten but they may start a winning game. Some of St. Lawrence chess players.

Chess is a board game of strategic skills, played by two players who move their 16 pieces according to the specific rules; the objective is to the opponent king under direct attack leading to checkmate.

The game is played by two players, on a chess board. A chess board is a square board divided into sixty four alternating dark and light squares.
Chess is not a new board game in Uganda as it is in St.Lawrence Migyera where it was introduced by Tim Cusack in June 2013.
The game was introduced to a beginner's class of twenty six learners and four teachers but the club is getting new entrants each new day. The participants are highly increasing by 5%.

The chess club is one of the new and fast going clubs in the school with over forty participating learners. The membership is free and open to all classes of learners in the school.
The chess players are guided by four teachers namely Christopher,Saidi,Ronald and John who help and guide the learners. Club members meet every Wednesday and Friday.

The introduction of chess has rilly boasted the board game activities in the school with chess being the most yearned for.
For the short period that the chess training has been going on, it has boosted the games and sports department in the school.
It has also promoted the strategic thinking and team work among learners and the entire staff.
The number of participating members is growing day by day indicating that the learners are interested in the game.

The community of St. Lawrence appreciates the contribution and effort of Tim Cusack and Change a life at large who have made it to develop chess game in the school.

Lilian Nabanjala
FIELD OFFICER,
SPONSORSHIP CALU

Judith's Take on our trip to Uganda

Judy helping Pin a Princeton Tiger Pin on a young child in Nabbingo, Uganda

My experience in Uganda was phenomenal. I had so much fun. Seeing how much each adult and kid had to strive everyday just to survive nearly broke my heart. I wish I could have helped them more than I was able to. We were met by Fr. Lawrence and members of the Change A Life Uganda staff at the airport and drove to Fr. Lawrence’s Father’s house in Nabbingo.  His Father’s name was Tata, and he had a beautiful home with over 180 chickens. Timmy and I were able to chase and catch the chickens in the coop while we were there. It was FUN!!

Evelyn holding our Thank You Gift and New Pet, Snow the Chicken!! 

At first I went to St. Joseph’s Primary School in Nabbingo, were they wore Blue Uniforms. I taught them chess and they were all so happy and excited. They were grinning cheek to cheek. Even the kids I was not teaching were jumping all over each other just to see what we were doing. Most of the kids, whom we were not teaching were trying to play chess, and move the pieces around, and they didn’t even know how to play the game. It was inspiring. When we left to go to Migerya everyone was sad, but we felt that we had done a great job and they will teach the others.

Judith Teaches abou the ROOK at St. Joseph’s Primary School – Nabbingo, Uganda

When I got to Migerya we went to St. Lawrence’s Primary School, were they wore yellow uniforms, and Timmy and I taught chess there also. Like in Nabbingo, all of the children were very excited and jumping all over the place. I stayed there for about four days and three nights.  We went on Safari over the weekend taking a boat along the Nile River one day and driving through the Jungle the next day. We saw a wide variety of animals including Elephants, giraffes, water buffalo, wildabeast, baboons, and many different birds, trees and insects while on safari. When we returned from safari I was going to stay in the dorms with my new friends who were visiting Uganda with us Laurene and Killian. They were staying in the dorms and journaling with the Ugandan girls during the entire trip.

I also had the opportunity to meet our sponsored child, Sylvia Nalule, and her family gave us a chicken as a Thank You gift!  I named her “Snow” and we left her with Tata, because she was an egg layer not a fryer or roaster, which is what they called the chickens they cooked and ate.  I look forward to seeing her next year when we visit Tata’s home again. Sylvia was very shy when we first met her, but she got used to us after a while and we became like sisters.  We visited her home and met members of her family there as well.

Here we are with Members of “Our Extended Family”!! 

When we returned from safari I stayed 2 nights in the girl’s dorm.  While I was there I noticed the girls playing chess on a board at night. They love chess and played for hours every night.  I made great friends who welcomed me into their hearts in Uganda. They taught me so much I will never forget them. I miss them so much already. Not every girl had a mosquito net. Some had holes in it some didn’t even have one. I loved interacting with all the girls and experiencing what it is like to live in Uganda. Washing your clothes, going to the bathroom, eating certain foods. I stayed in one of their study classes where they did math and I helped them solve the puzzle. They said I was very smart.  It was interesting and extravagant.  I wish I could go back sooner to see them all again. They were very sad when I said I was leaving. My best friend was Gorette and I miss her so much that it is painful. I didn’t get to say goodbye to anyone in person, but I wrote a letter. I hope they recieved it already.

Judith standing next to her New BEST Friend Gorette, but who is that monkey in the window?? 

My favorite part of the trip was getting to change children’s lives by teaching them chess and making new friends. I learned so much from this experience and was lucky enough to go with such a wonderful team, which made my trip the best they could.

Timmy is playing Kizuto while Judith plays another St. Lawrence Student while a few learners look on.

Timmy's take on Our Trip to Uganda!!

I had a GREAT time on my trip to Uganda this summer!! My Mom, Dad, Judy and I went with Change A Life Uganda to teach Chess to students at St. Lawrence School in Uganda.  Uganda is a country in Africa and my family and I flew there on LONG plane ride.  I missed the last day of school, which was kinda sad because I didn’t see my friends before Summer Break. I met a lot of new people and made a lot of new friends.It was a very long trip, but I was able to watch a lot of movies like the Croods and Incredibles on the plane ride over. We stopped over in London, England and took a bus tour of the city.  We rode on a two-story bus riding past Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. It was chilly, so my mom and I went inside and started playing Chess on the Bus before returning to the airport and flying to Uganda.

Ev & Timmy Playing Chess on the Bus in London

I got to teach chess at a school named St. Joseph’s Primary School in Nabbingo, Uganda. They were very excited to learn a new thing like Chess and everyone was coming into the room to see what we were doing. Their teacher Mr. Morish learned how to play Chess with us and was he very excited as well.  We had a nice time teaching the class how to play Chess. We drank soda and my Mom made funny pictures of some the children who weren’t playing Chess.

Judith, Timmy and Dave watch on as the students of St. Joseph’s Primary School play their first few games of Chesss – Nabbingo, Uganda

It was a lot of fun in Nabbingo at night as well.  We played with some children and passed out clothes, dolls and pins that light up.  The children were so happy to get these things. I also got to play with Tata’s Chickens while we where in Nabbingo. Judy and I chased and caught the chickens and were able to carry baby goats and even touch a young cow.  There were a lot of cows and goats roaming around free, even a few very big pigs were just running loose at peoples homes. Sometimes they tied a log to their foot or tied them to trees if they were big.

Timmy catching Chickens at TaTa’s House in Nabbingo, Uganda.

After that we went to Migyera and taught the students at St. Lawrence Primary School how to play Chess. We had more time to play here, and the students were very excited that we were coming. They put on a Very Big show for us when we arrived and served us a big meal at the church.  We taught Chess for 3 days in Migyera, but we went on Safari after the first day teaching Chess at St. Lawrence School.

Timmy & Judy play Chess against the Teachers as the Learners from St. Lawrence Primary School look on – Migyera, Uganda

I saw a lot of animals on Safari, like giraffes, elephants, hippos, baboons, antelopes, water bucks and crocodiles. We rode a boat on the Nile River to see the animals and it was a lot of fun. We spent the night and then took another safari in a van before going back to the school to teach Chess again.

Ev & the kids pointing to Uganda on the Globe at Murchison Falls, Uganda

Everyone was happy to see us come back from Safari and were excited to play Chess against us.  Everyone was gathering around to watch us play Chess and we got to play basketball, hangman, tic-tac-toe and a lot of other fun things while we were there.  We had a GREAT time and I hope to go back again really soon!!

Students Dribbling the Basketball at St. Lawrence School Migyera, Uganda

The Difference Dynamic (dare to be who YOU are): What’s your mindset: Chess or Checkers??

WHAT'S YOUR MINDSET: CHESS OR CHECKERS??

This is Timothy S. Cusack (in the green shirt and glasses). I knew who he was in high school, but didn’t know him. He believes deeply in the strength of family. He understands the importance of building into the community. He pours back into others and teaches his children to do the same. His life exemplifies Ubuntu, an African principle of unity.

Here is his response to The Difference Dynamic questions.

My Name is Timothy Cusack. I was born in Paterson, NJ. I lived there until the middle of seventh grade, when I moved to Lakewood, N.J., where I finished middle school and attended Lakewood High School. Upon graduation, I attended Seton Hall University.

I became a foster child and ultimately an emancipated minor due to my mother’s health issues. My mother was very ill when I was growing up. She had diabetes, multiple sclerosis and numerous other illnesses over her short lifetime. Because of her illnesses, she required 24-hour medical supervision and was placed in a nursing home in her early 40’s. I was placed in foster care and was able to see the good and the bad of the system first-hand. It changed my life and showed me the importance of family, and the concept of “extended family”. Looking back it was probably my first encounter with the concept of “UBUNTU”.

I don’t think of a “harmonious world” in the Utopian sense, because I don’t think humanity will ever be ready for that state of being, but rather a world where we can actually communicate with each other without all the hate and vice we have today. In the words of Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along!!” I know there will always be strife and conflict in the world, but could it actually be over something worthwhile? We need to “TALK” out our differences a little more and fight “A LOT LESS!!”

I really don’t remember where I heard this quote, or how badly I have screwed it up over the years, but it is the “mantra” I try to live by and instill in my children (it is also the focus of our Change for Chess Program): “I believe that 90% of the world is playing CHECKERS while only 10% of the World is Playing CHESS, and half of them are PAWNS!!”

I think this is VERY true in today’s society with sooooooo much talk about the top 1%, 5%, or 10% having 50%-75% of the world’s wealth. Those are the people playing chess!! Everyone else is playing checkers!! They have a different mindset and way of doing things that allow them to be successful.

I just want to get on the board. I can accept being a PAWN because I know how to play the GAME, and I know if I can stay alive long enough I can get promoted to become a more powerful piece on the chess board of life!!

This is what I teach my children and hope to teach other children through our Change for Chess Program. www.ChangeForChess.org

***

So there you have it. A story of family, strength, strategy, and communication. Now that’s a powerful difference dynamic.

Here you have Timmy, Judith and I attempting to leave our Change For Chess Class at St. Joseph’s Primary School Nabbingo, Uganda

Re-Post From:  The Difference Dynamic (dare to be who YOU are): What’s your mindset: Chess or Checkers??. 

Who will be next to share their story?

Judith Leaving the Change for Chess Program with her New friends at St. Joseph's Primary School Nabbingo, Uganda

Chess Program At St. Lawrence Migyera

Judy and Timmy carrying out a chess session at St. Lawrence

It was a happy 28^th Friday 2013 morning when Chang For Chess was introduced to St Lawrence Primary School Migyera. Chess was introduced to both children and the teachers by the Well’s family headed by Timothy S. Cusack in companiship with his children, Judy and Timmy.  Both the students and the teachers at St. Lawrence Primary School very much enjoyed the game because it was so interesting. Some teachers had ever heard of the game but they had never got a chance of playing it. And for the Children it was their first time to hear of chess and when they were told that they were going to learn Chess, they were so eager to learn. And as I write, they are perfecting the game so well.

Still more, the Well’s family did not only teach St. Lawrence children only, but they further went on and Introduced Chess to another school called St. Josephs in Nabbingo were most of our primary sponsored Children who live around Nabbingo go for school. It was such a great moment when Timothy, Judy and Timmy stormed St. Josephs. The children were so much welcoming since they were so much eager and looking forward to learn chess.

Timmy & Judy play a Demonstration Game of Chess at St. Joseph's Primary School

Am so happy to see it that these two schools have established and formed a “CHESS CLUB” in these schools. Long live Change A Life Uganda and the Change For Chess Program!! 

BY Lilian Nabanjala

Social Worker CALU

Change For Chess' Mission

Timmy & Judy play Chess against the Teachers as the Learners from St. Lawrence Primary School look on – Migyera, Uganda

The mission of Change For Chess is to promote and support Chess as an Educational Tool that will energize and excite young Ugandan Learners about the joys of academic excellence, stimulate critical thinking, and enhance their emotional development.  Integral to this is utilizing Chess as the centerpiece in bringing together children from various social and economic sectors of society, with the aim of promoting better understanding, respect and appreciation among the various Students, Teachers and Parents involved in the Change For Chess Program.  The ultimate goals of our efforts are:

(1) To help Students improve academically, gain self-confidence, foster creativity and learn a deeper respect for the game of Chess and their fellow Students.

(2) To help the Schools develop more Learners and Graduates who are thinking “Outside of the BOX”, Creative, and Productive members of society.

(3) To establish the Teaching of Chess as a recognized profession, alongside the teaching of any other academic skill such as Math, Science, Music, Art, etc…

While our major emphasis will be on serving the disadvantaged children of Uganda, we also recognize that chess is beneficial for all children, regardless of financial, racial, social or religious considerations.  We further believe that there is a great social good to be achieved by having children from different components of society intermixing for chess activities, whether for instruction, tournament play, or general recreation.  Change For Chess will therefore support Chess Initiatives for children from all socio-economic areas, although the majority of our efforts will be toward those with the fewest resources available to them.

Judith Teaches abou the ROOK at St. Joseph’s Primary School – Nabbingo, Uganda

Change For Chess Programs

Change For Chess teachers have taught classes to children at home here in the United States and in Uganda. Headed by our young Chess Coaches, Judith & Timmy Cusack, a pair of outstanding and tirelessly dedicated Chess Players & Teachers, we carry out our mission of helping children through a multi-pronged approach detailed below.

1. Change For Chess identifies, trains, and supports young Chess Players who in the future will become Chess Teachers, bringing the benefits of playing Chess with them into the schools, libraries, community centers and homes of the children they will be teaching.  We will conduct extensive seminars to train these Chess players in teaching skills and then provide instructional materials and manuals to assist in their classroom instruction.  A vital part of the long-term success of our initiative is to make teaching Chess a full-time profession, much like teaching math, science, music, art, language, or any other skill.

2. Change For Chess will identify and provide support for Schools wishing to start/create a Change for Chess Program at their School or in their community.

3. Change For Chess will organize tournaments on a regular basis for the young learners to have an opportunity to put their skills to the test, challenge other children, meet new friends, and compete for prizes.

4. Change For Chess provides Chess Sets and teaching material for the Schools to utilize in the classrooms, and also provides “Paper” Chess Sets for the children to take home so they can practice and play casual games with their friends and family members. (These are GREAT for take home projects to have Learners create their own Chess Sets!!)

Timmy, Judith, Morish and I attempt to leave Chess Class at St. Joseph’s Primary School Nabbingo, Uganda

“I, for one, believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.”
-Malcolm X

Always show Good Sportsmanship by shaking hands at the conclusion of each Chess Match!!

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
- Lao Tzu

Students at St Joseph’s Primary School practice Chess after School.

Share this:

Loan Disbursement at Kitebi.

 In its efforts to change the economic  life of its beneficiaries, Change a life Uganda has always supported  them financially. This is done through giving them soft  loans  so as to startup businesses or supplement on their already existing businesses  in order  to enhance growth and development in their families and economic life.

Recently one of the loan groups , that is the Kitebi group received its loans in the second cycle.

This is agroup of nine members each dealing in adifferent activity. Among the  the activities  is fish  mongering , chacoal selling, tailoring, merchandising among others.

Some photos were taken during the exercise.

By Nankinga cate, program officer (loans) CALU

Microenterprise Program Overview

The CALU Microenterprise program is designed for the purpose of providing loans to socially and economically disadvantaged households, and women owned small businesses. As such, several projects and services have been sponsored that directly affect rural residents and enterprise by generating strategies to help strengthen competiveness and sustainability for small household businesses in underserved communities.

CALU offers services for very specific purposes.

•   Microloans/Individual loans

• Group and business Loan Advantage

• Crafts and tailoring

• Children Enterprise

We recognize that small business is critical to community recovery and strength, to building futures, and to helping the undeserved and underprivileged compete in the marketplace.

CALU microfinance program helps such groups of people start, build and grow businesses. CALU is committed to helping small businesses in the poor rural communities succeed.

As such, several projects and services have been sponsored that directly affect rural residents and enterprise by generating strategies to help strengthen competiveness and sustainability for small businesses in underserved communities.

Microloan

The micro loan is designed for undeserved individuals, families and households.

Group and Business Loan Advantage

CALU works to provide loans to small groups and businesses that might not otherwise be able to obtain financing. Group and business Loan Advantage is designed to expand access to capital for small businesses and groups in underserved communities.

Crafts and Tailoring

The crafts and tailoring projects are designed to develop practical, aesthetic and thinking skills and creativity through the conception and production of individual works and an in-depth engagement with materials. Skills not only refer to manipulating materials, but also conceiving, evaluating and solving problems. It is also a strategy to improve self-sustainability options for households specifically targeting women.

Children Enterprise

We want our children to be prepared for a successful future in educational and adult working life. We recognise that the jobs, technologies and services are changing and will continue to change rapidly over time and so it is important to have core skills that can be applied and employed regardless of job, available tools or working environment.

 Aims

We want children to

•    Raise their Aspiration

• Apply learnt skills 

•   Develop the core skills of communication, numeracy, literacy, problem-solving, and working with others.

• Develop their Awareness of others/issues as they plan and make decisions

• Achieve well across the curriculum and in life.

• Enhance personal and social development. All directed to tackling child poverty. An activity can be classed as enterprising by;

•  Having a real reason for it. 

• Children taking over-all responsibility for planning and decision making for the project

 By: Collins Kivumbi

Micro enterprise Program Coordinator

CALU