So our final day in Kampala arrived and I'm sure we all had mixed emotions. It has been an incredible experience here and a lot of hard work has been pt in by the Brass For Africa Team and of course the wonderful musicians we have been working with.
The day started a little later than planned, traffic problems I believe ( have I mentioned that before?) but we finally got through to the Mummy foundation as Lucy ( who helps run the foundation) and the girls wanted to see us and say goodbye. They sang us some songs and then Lucy presented us with some presents, all of which were beautiful and some of which were hand made.
Considering they have no money this was a touching gesture. It struck all of us that it seems the people with the least often give the most. I think Pamela (Jim's wife) lost a litre of fluid in crying, it was so touching.
We moved on to M-Lisada to say our goodbyes and also listen to the Jazz Band. We saw some of the dancers practise and Chris ( an American jazz musician who runs the jazz band) pointed out one of the dancers who used to be M-Lisada but is now one of the top dancers in Uganda. She works 6 days a week and earns about 15,000 shillings a month, that's about £4.25.
The jazz band came on and ran through 5 or 6 tunes, including Take the A Train. The Brass for Africa team were invited to ruin the band by joining in we did our best with a couple of standards, mercifully in user friendly keys!
We said our goodbyes 2 hours later than planned and headed back to the hotel to pack. Our journey to the AIrport in Entebbe involved another whopper of a traffic jam and Mark, our driver detoured through one of the slums to cut a few corners.
We eventually arrived 90 mins later and had the tension of seeing if Pamela, Angus, Gracie and Gaynor could get on the flight as it was over booked. Thankfully all made it, as the next flight was not until Sunday. Angus graciously said he would forsake school and stay, bless him.
And so adventure is over, It has been one of the most moving weeks of my life and I'm very privileged to have been asked to come along and help. Thanks to all the Brass for Africa Team,Gill Leather, Simon and Sue Hogg, Marc and Carol Edwards, Mark Brown, Pamela, Angus and Gracie Trott, Gaynor Popplestone.
A massive thanks to our leader, Jim Trott and Bosco Segawa and Godfrey Mboira.There are so many deserving causes around the world and you can't help everyone, but Bosco and Godfrey have made a massive difference to how music is perceived in Kampala.The standard of music and the enthusiasm of the musicians is testament to their inspirational leadership and teaching,
Jim has campaigned for 6 years to bring funds and instruments to help these causes and he can see the slow but definite progress that is happening out in Kampala.
There are wonderful things going on in the slums of Kampala and I'm very proud of being a very small part of it.
The day started a little later than planned, traffic problems I believe ( have I mentioned that before?) but we finally got through to the Mummy foundation as Lucy ( who helps run the foundation) and the girls wanted to see us and say goodbye. They sang us some songs and then Lucy presented us with some presents, all of which were beautiful and some of which were hand made.
Considering they have no money this was a touching gesture. It struck all of us that it seems the people with the least often give the most. I think Pamela (Jim's wife) lost a litre of fluid in crying, it was so touching.
We moved on to M-Lisada to say our goodbyes and also listen to the Jazz Band. We saw some of the dancers practise and Chris ( an American jazz musician who runs the jazz band) pointed out one of the dancers who used to be M-Lisada but is now one of the top dancers in Uganda. She works 6 days a week and earns about 15,000 shillings a month, that's about £4.25.
The jazz band came on and ran through 5 or 6 tunes, including Take the A Train. The Brass for Africa team were invited to ruin the band by joining in we did our best with a couple of standards, mercifully in user friendly keys!
We said our goodbyes 2 hours later than planned and headed back to the hotel to pack. Our journey to the AIrport in Entebbe involved another whopper of a traffic jam and Mark, our driver detoured through one of the slums to cut a few corners.
We eventually arrived 90 mins later and had the tension of seeing if Pamela, Angus, Gracie and Gaynor could get on the flight as it was over booked. Thankfully all made it, as the next flight was not until Sunday. Angus graciously said he would forsake school and stay, bless him.
And so adventure is over, It has been one of the most moving weeks of my life and I'm very privileged to have been asked to come along and help. Thanks to all the Brass for Africa Team,Gill Leather, Simon and Sue Hogg, Marc and Carol Edwards, Mark Brown, Pamela, Angus and Gracie Trott, Gaynor Popplestone.
A massive thanks to our leader, Jim Trott and Bosco Segawa and Godfrey Mboira.There are so many deserving causes around the world and you can't help everyone, but Bosco and Godfrey have made a massive difference to how music is perceived in Kampala.The standard of music and the enthusiasm of the musicians is testament to their inspirational leadership and teaching,
Jim has campaigned for 6 years to bring funds and instruments to help these causes and he can see the slow but definite progress that is happening out in Kampala.
There are wonderful things going on in the slums of Kampala and I'm very proud of being a very small part of it.