Hey everybody.
As i mentioned in an earlier email, i just got back from Uganda.
While i was there, i met with Semivule and Baka among others.
While my brother Kwame and I were talking to Baka, a brilliant suggestion
came up. Here is what we were thinking.
Imagine the international community, which is approx 100 on the BI list,
each contributed about $10 dollars only per term( subject for debate)
towards raising school fees for those who just can't afford at Budo and are
always being kicked out of class and sent home for not paying up.
Now 100 guys contributing 10 dollars means 1000 dollars..which is about 1.8
million shillings.
Now...most of us earn about 10 dollars ...in only one hour...but now..think
of the difference it can make in a budonians life ..if we collected this
money, we would be able to pay for roughly 10 students who have either not
payed anything ..or those with balances...the common case is that many just
have unpaid balances.
Paying for about 10 students... is a really great thing..i think...in that
.. they will have a chance to complete their education in this prestigious
and good school and make something of themselves in future. I personally
think it is all about giving each one a chance. Thats why we are doing
this...to give those who are not financially able.. a fair chance.
Let me know what u guys think about this.
solo.
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From: da-pain Sent: 1/25/2003 2:31 PM
hey guys, hiya!!!! i am glad solo had to bring this up because i have for long thought many of us had somethig like this in mind.
Firstly, let us not think so big of small things, ten dollars a term [ whereby a term=1/3 of the year = 4months] is not that significant to many people on this BI-link. Infact Solo said, $10 a term, which makes it $30 a year with a 100 members coming to up to $3000 annually but also pointed out that the figures are subject to DEBATE. I personally appreciate many of us may be excellent at budgeting for each penny that goes through our wallets, but let us as Budonians kiss the floor and embrace reality yet again. And if you may excuse me and allow me speak as one of the "disadvantaged veterans" there are many people in Budo that really need a helping hand with financial matters, their problems may not be evident from the faces/smiles/images they wear while at nagalabi. But most assuring is the fact that the administration of Budo wells knows who is in which situation, when, or even why?? The teachers in Budo can tell who honestly deserves the help or even who would benefit from this kind of scheme. Let us trust these teachers this one more time, we trusted them to make the choices about the clothes we brought is school, the topics to study so we could be what we are and i think we dont lose much entrusting this unto their care that they make decissions based on the best of their judgements and thereafter recommend who needs this kind of support,
If we are to think along with Gali and Robbie for a minute, i hear give to the bright and "corsi",talented and the like, how about those that have alot of potential within them but their potential has been suffocated by these financial inadquacies?? In the west, there are counsellors and many psychologists, social workers and the like to attend to a person's psychological needs and help them fight these battles arising from psychological[emotional],social,economical pressures, but back home one has to swim against tides and if you are not Ganzi, you could drawn. Why not give even those that dont fair that well but are financially disadvantaged a benefit of a doubt?
I would find it absurd that someone can make such a proposal but be unwilling to account for any money forwarded to him, Regarding this, i believe the administration of Budo would reasonably consider effectively accounting for any pennies given to them. If we are to fear that our legs may be pulled along the way, i mean am not being naive or arrogant but life can be about a gamble, shan't we trust anyone to do anything because we are not on ground to monitor it ourselves? shall this be the obstacle to what would well be a revolutionary and beneficial venture like this? I am just so positive we can breathe life to many domant or even frustrated potentials in Budo. This is for a nobble cause afterall.
If you are scared your lecturer is racist, shall you boycott the lectures/exams, [ the essence of courage is not that your heart shouldnt quake but that no one should know it does] remember for everything we have to look at the +ves and -ves and see which ways more, in this case, THINK!!!! Bakka had a trademark quotation, "aspire to inspire before you expire"
We know what it is like, to feel but not touch, or even touch but not pertake of an opportunity, a dream that may be just ten dollars away like in this case, come buddies!!!!
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From: BALA Sent: 1/25/2003 2:37 PM
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From: da-pain Sent: 1/25/2003 3:05 PM
I appreciate the idea of students competing for whichever money that may be collected but competing under which circumstances, psychologist within this fraternity may back on this, how fair can it be when people are at different levels in meeting their hierachy of needs? There are no fair circumstances within which people can compete in Budo.
When i was i Budo, i had a classmate who had lost both parents, no family support whatsoever, he was struggling to manage at school, and he was responsible for a younger brother and younger sister, he had to make sure they all get school fees from the small shop [ basically kiosk] that parents had left behind, he put a muchuba to make some change from that for their survival. He would leave school to visit his brother and sister, taking them two grand from his own resources. At end of term, he would keep his things at some teacher's house the night before end of term, pick his report so early in the morning before house work and take a taxi to to the sister's school, get her home and then do the same for the younger brother. Holiday was yet another challenge for him, to run a family and take on worries beyond his age's expectations. He never got the D1s like some of you but he would manage to be in the mediocrity of the class, BA GUY, I can bet my kidneys on half my class having known about this guy's situation much as he tried to live a life of teenager/student in class, mess and a parent when alone deep in thought.
There are people who may be dyslexic foreaxmple, have other problems like family problems, that not only hinder their perfomance but also limit their zeal and ability to compete, shall they be forgotten and forsaken??? If anything, people can apply for any assistance but not on grounds of academic perfomance.
what if bright kids tell their dads not to pay their fees because i mean, they are bright enough to qualify for this help, isnt it??
I strongly disagree with academic excellence being one criteria upon which such decissions should be made, consindering 90% of Budonians get to Budo because they have proved their academic worth in the first place
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From: VINE... Sent: 1/25/2003 4:07 PM
Bala,
I find myself supporting your views. However I am afraid we may be running too fast on matters of 'how'. And I think it better if we entrust our resources to someone down there in Nagalabi and ask for ALL NECESSARY ACCOUNTABILITY. I mean ,we cannot do everything! Someone's got to do some work too,and maybe they are meant to do it. Not that we ourselves will be perfect in handling this scheme (remember many now-honourables who took nyondo for simple parties; they could ressurect!) It is definate that even criteria for award of these benefits could become one long debate,as all cases are more situational than out-layed. I understand that in the U.S you face a board to prove your cause; so they can get a humanistic view of your situation. I am yet to know the truth in this. And it's psychologically demeaning to face a group of former-students to express how much you need their money,however poor you are. We are dealing with humans here.
Maybe we could think of how to get this money as the big issue now. For one, I've had to boggle my mind to estimate that $10 is about £6-7.
So?
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From: VINE... Sent: 1/25/2003 4:10 PM
Da-pain,
Gwe, you brought out a lot that our fellow dignified Budonian classmates go through. Eeh, for a moment I cannot imagine how I would cope with such a life if it came my way. Not that I have not had my own battles to face!
Thanks for this caption; it may get us more focussed.
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From: VINE... Sent: 1/25/2003 4:34 PM
One heavy point, Da-pain!
Vine..K
It's fast, it's easy and it's free! Click here to download MSN Messenger
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From: aiee Sent: 1/25/2003 8:58 PM
there is kanyama on this issue!
now, i have been trying to set out a scheme like this for my homeland,
kigezi. it bears loads of similarities with what we have got here.
i will give you a brief of some of the issues i wrote in a report on this
issue and passed it on to some bakiga i know.
the idea was to get guys contributing about the same amount of money we are
talking about here and channel it to help marginalised performers from those
famously gorgeous highlands. the idea was to start off in education then
branch off to basic services and the empowering the communites to be self
sustaining.
the education bit is the one that i want to highlite. i hoped that we could
have system of indentifying pontential via our connections i.e to say
politicians and religious leaders-though we were non political and non
religious for reasons well known to any mukiga-, headmasters, and
headmistresses we know and our relatives ofcourse. i included amongst those
to be considered relative b'se it would be like chatting up a hooker when u
missus is crying out for some! the idea was that we could get those guys who
had overshined in villa schools in PLE via our contacts, spots in KCB and
all these other third world schools like SMARCK,NGO,NTARE etc and we would
fund there studies probably even thru uni. as the program went on expanding
i thought we could pick quality students at any level of education and
support them financially incase they had just hit a brick wall maybe b'se of
peros packing, peros being fired or generally those things of ug.
scholarships could even be offered here, i mean abroad-ask me how later-
as the organisation grew we could also help fellow ugians build models of
our program in their regions.
i thought as per monitoring the colour now as we r still small, we could
share the burden. we get p'ple going back home regularly and i thought if
these p'ple could spare a bit of time we could go thru' the a/cs, the
students and gene sort things out issues on the ground. as we grew the guys
in k'la-returnees- would then be more involved, then we could think about
employing a full time field officer.
however i must say that the report i wrote though i began optmistic it
created loads of doubts in my mind. there are many issues to deal with. What
is kigezi? how about the families these kids leave back in mts? they may
have no blankets yet this guy is living a life of luxury on kawukumi and
posho in budo. there were many issues to sort out.
however, listen to me. i believe nothing is imposible and as long as we have
our hearts in the right place we can do it. hard decisions may have to be
made that may not impress the whole community but via concesus not democracy
we can achieve the targeted goals! i am still working on my kigaland
project!
i am tired! it was a hard rugger game today, i need to rest my body. for my
rugger buddies, u will not believe it but for the first time i was punched
in a rugger game! i was going to murder the guy but then u cannot play
sports in anger.
laters
From: Solo Sent: 1/26/2003 2:37 AM
First of all, i would like to commend aiee on his institution of the
financial assistance program back in Kigezi, which happens to be my dear
homeland too. Any voluntary assistance offered to the needy is a true gift.
Secondly, I wanna say that im really glad that we as budonians are actively
discussing this issue of helping out the fellow budonians and there is
constructive dialogue about how best such contributions should be used. Lets
keep this spirit up.
Then I wanna say that my thinking was along the lines of da-pain.
In my view, the students who are most deserving of scholarship money are
those students who are working really hard in class and at the same time
cannot pay their school fees. What is actually really good about this, is
that both the teachers and the admin. know who these students are. I mean,
who would better deserve the money than those working hardest, but are sadly
unable to afford the school fees.
Gali brought up a good point concerning...accountability.
I think that we ought to (to some extent) trust the school admin. to
distribute these funds to those who we eventually decide upon. and as aiee
mentioned, every now and then, one of us goes back to the motherland ..and
can check personally on how this project is going.
Another thing that we should talk about is...how much do we give....i was
originally thinking 10 dollars per term... we could shoot this up ...and
contribute a 2hrs wage.... depending on how willing all of us are to give...
the more we give, the more people we are able to help.
Recommend Delete Message 13 of 19 in Discussion
From: Ash Sent: 1/27/2003 6:54 AM
Budonians and our mmoobb gas!!!Any thats a great idea and i guess all of us will be willing to contribute so long as the system is trusted. I please beg you guys not to only talk about academics but also Sports, Music and Dramma. What about discipline and stuff like that .I suggest that scholarships be based on general stuff...as you remember Busu's.....whole some education!, otherwise we should welcome ideas from students at school now. I wonder if the computer room is still oparating
Gakyali Mabaga!
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From: MSN Nicknamemedi800 Sent: 1/27/2003 12:35 PM
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From: MSN Nicknamemedi800 Sent: 1/27/2003 12:51 PM
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From: da-pain Sent: 1/27/2003 1:11 PM
medi man, Thank you bro, in my opnion anything counts, more or less than $10 according to the size of our wallets, much as we are talking about setting $10 as the standard amount, I reckon it is subject to people's stati. Medi, that is very kind and manly of you, cheers buddy.... am being prompted to imagine you really know what it means to need. [ no offence] so when is your electricity getting back for you to be online? meanwhile i didnt know loadshedding extended to dar' though when i was home for christmas, there was no loadshedding for a full five weeks, bravo!!! or was it some kind of commercial break for UEB???
okay, Medi oyeee''''.
oyee'
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From: MSN NicknameDKaw4 Sent: 1/27/2003 4:28 PM
hey fellas,
Medi that's a good idea....I fully support you as long us we can figure out a way to handle this cash (should I say with transparency)..........from the famous history of house fund..........and Kisamba Mugerwa's ntandikwa..there many hurdles in our way but we can do it if everyone gets serious..
..I also want ot advice the Budonian pal who wants to come to the US.... i don't want to cause a conflict of interests but I should suggest to him or her to be open minded...As Ssenyange suggested....just look for who gives you the most financial aid. There many opportunities and thousands of courses u can do over here...In UG we always believed that at campo it was do or die.... Medic, Law, Architecture and Engineering...but that's really old school kind of thinking........the US is blazing with technology and all that stuff so ........ don't limit your chances by only looking for a Uni which offers architecture..u can always get there at some point.......otherwise....I can give the fella some information..just halla!!....aight fella's!
Later!
Kawuma.
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From: BALA Sent: 1/27/2003 9:28 PM
Ok guys... it is clear that there is quorum support for this philantropic effort. So... Lets do it. If you have not yet registered your information on the BI Contact list (link on the left), this is the time to do so. If you have any problems with this, email me your information at fbalagadde@hotmail.com and I will have you registered. I need the following details:
1. BI Nickname of creator e.g. BALA
2. Name (Last, First):
4. Years Spent at Budo:
5. E-mail address:
6. Street or P.O.Box Address:
7. Years Spent at Budo... e.g 1906 - 2000:
8. City:
9. Zip Code:
10. Country:
11. Home Phone:
12. Cell Phone:
13. Fax
14. Zip
Ok... this is the way foward... Each BI member will identify him(/her)self with a local BI chapter based on his/her geographical location. Each chapter will have a treasurer who will be responsible for linking with his/her chapter-members, receiving the donations and fowarding them to the chief treasurer or to a designated, trusted pointman on the ground at Budo.
One good thing about this system is that there is absolutely no operational overhead, meaning that 100% of your donations will go towards funding the chosen scholarship recepients at Budo. The rest of the details will be communicated to the chapter treasurers themselves. What BI can guarantee is utmost accountability on behalf of the treasurers. We are currently linking with Budo to set in place some sort of accountability.
Now... as for the BI chapters themselves, here is what we have so far.
1. BI USA Inc. (North America i.e. USA & Canada)
2. BI UK Inc. (UK and EU countries) Quick question... is the UK currently using the Euro? If not, we might have to split the second chapter.
3. S.A
4. India
5. Australia & New Zealand
6. Tz
7. Suggestions....
If anyone is left out, again, let me know. A link with the chapter information will be created soon. This is also the time to bring in any more suggestions.
Take care,
-Gakyali Mabaga
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Recommend (1 recommendation so far) Delete Message 19 of 19 in Discussion
From: Ksk Sent: 1/28/2003 1:16 AM
I felt like I had to say something before the heat died down on this particular issue (and God forbid that it does)... People!! donot even underestimate the potential of this one. With the collective efforts of everyone am sure we can manouvre through the "technicalities"
I've read all your suggestions on how to go about it and I was thinking maybe I could provide a solution to some of the missing links... (its open to debate). A group of us (the majority are Budonians, although there are non Budonians) have started some kind of 'community help group'... our main focus though is disavantaged kids (kids with cancer, in prisons, orphanages.. etc), and we operate along the same lines... each contributes a small amount of money per month then we see how to use it approriately...(we've realised that even the tiniest contribution counts). Although we are only just beginning, when we were discussing our 'projects' some guys were thinking that maybe we shld look at the educational aspect of it, get a few kids that are really bright from local schools.. and pay like for 1 or 2, monitor their performance... etc!! We however put this on hold temporarily because of various reasons... (esp. since we are few and it would be a bit too costly)ok... you must be wondering where am heading with all this..
What I was thinking is along these lines..Since most of us are old budonians, am sure guys would be more than glad to help in this noble cause.!! Maybe we could come in handy when it comes to "Ground work" like liazing with the school administration on issues like 'who is eligible for the scholarships, keeping track of funds accountability ... keeping track of the performance of the scholarship recipients,...we could even interview them and try to guage who shd benefit.. afterall this is Ug. and people are going to try to beat the system. Am not promising much since I havent even discussed this with anyone. Am just saying, maybe we could be the "pointmen" Bala was talking about... You guys set your criteria, deal with the funds and anything that needs to be taken care of... we cld be the go between, get to know these students and advise them accordingly... !! Also, There are so many resourceful teachers out there that you could contact.. personally I think Ms Ojiambo would really be a resourceful person... (am sure most of you just recoil seeing the name) but she is one of those honest and genuinely concerned teachers... we could talk to her and see what she has to say (unfortunately, Ive lost track of the other teachers and staff... but we could try to find out).
This could be the start of something big... if this can work out then maybe we can try to get more people in Uganda involved.. am sure it would be a challenge to the 'older generation budonians' and so many others! Let me not get carried away..., I'd like to know what you guys think and where you think us guys would come in handy!
I have to get back to work!
Later....
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From: Solo (Original Message) Sent: 1/29/2003 2:46 AM
hey emma...just how long will that be ...till every single person agrees on
one thing...first of all..is that possible?
I agree u have a good point..when u imply we ought not to paapa...
but like u sed...collecting money is a hard thing..its also a thing that
takes a long time....maybe if we start collecting the money early enough..
then by the time we come up with solid ways to use it..its already in
hand...
From: sabiiti Sent: 1/29/2003 3:37 AM
Solo, is what possible?
What i'm asking here is not the agreement of every single member. I'm asking
for a sense of commitment from everyone out there who deems this a worthy
cause. With donors that are spread all over the continents, we only have
one's WORD to tie them to any pledge they make (so help us God).. that's
what i'm asking for.
So far what we have here is a proposal... no idea how many individuals
actually support it...no idea how many of the individuals who support it are
actually willing to part with cash...yet, we are talking of ways in which to
use the money we collect.. what money?! From who?! Who's the We?!
From: BALA Sent: 1/29/2003 4:02 AM
Emma... your suggestions will keep us honest to reality and down to earth. But let's also not forget that limits themselves only exist in the mind. I believe that this is a noble cause and it gives each one of us a unique opportunity to change the world around us. None of us can achieve this individually. Yet if we work as a team, this seemingly big task becomes simplified. Just put youself in the shoes of the "might be" beneficieries and imagine just how this would change your circumstances. To what extent would you go to make this happen if you were a beneficiary? So guys... lets give this a chance.
Donations will be received by the treasurers by way of physical mail. In a few days, we will be sending out letters to each member to this effect. If you are not registered on the BI contact list, and would like to receive the posted information, email your mailing address to "Managers of Budonians International"
Like Solo said, lets get things rolling and worry about the specifics when we are in orbit.
From: sabiiti Sent: 1/29/2003 4:22 AM
Noble cause, good ideas... what can i say, i'm all for it.
But Bala, let us not set off in orbit with a shady craft, we may never make
it back to earth.
From: da-pain Sent: 1/29/2003 9:40 AM
Firstly I think I understand Emma's case, much as someone may have their details on the BI link or even post a message of "this is a great idea/thing to pursue", this may not mean the person is willing to send in that $10 cheque or postal order. So in line with that, I am wondering, Bala are you just going to send notices to anyone who has their mailing address at BI link or those that pledge to undertake the "parting with the $10" challenge. Do you think it is wise to test our commitment at this stage by may be just entering our names in some section on this page, if we not only think it is a good idea but are also willing to make a donation?
Then, Bala asked about this euro thing in UK, atleast England is still using the GBpounds.
And as for Gali, I am so sorry but I dont think it is logical that we encourage students from Budo to give in views on this. If they are reading/suggesting without our knowledge, then i mean we cant help that, but it should not be us welcoming their ideas on this. I appreciate they may be greatly endowed with wisdom but for heaven's sake they may have unrealistic clues about what $10 means to me or even the hassles involved in raising and collecting it. Atleast you may have a more realistic clue just like many on BI.
Anyway, I dedicated the previous days to sketching my $10. so i have it ready, who is collecting it in UK, I am ready to send mine thanks..
From: MSN NicknameDKaw4 Sent: 1/29/2003 2:55 PM
hey fellas!!
Now that things seem to be rolling!!..I just have one thing to say....We have very many members on this list but as you might notice ....not everyone is really on this site everyother day...and remember that not every one gets updates on what is giong on on this site.......so I suggest that since some of us have agreed to do this thing, then Bala..or whoever else is managing this should send out an email to all the members and clearly explain what we are trying to do ........and the full details of what is being suggested. Then those who are willing to send in their ten $$ or more... should respond to the email.....as well as post their current particulars..........
Kawuma.
From: Mark Sent: 1/31/2003 6:55 AM
We need a treasurer to ensure, someone like me!
From: Gali Sent: 1/31/2003 10:05 AM
Gwe MArk,
Do you think this is Entertainment Committee??
By the way, why don't you donate some color to the BI from those millions that you made from Enterte...eh Mark-toe, you guys were like the most loaded guys on campus via enterte.
From: Ash Sent: 1/31/2003 2:30 PM
Gwe ka Katumba...stop cracking! The treasurer is already known and if you didnt know...its me.......why are you laughing then???
From: sabiiti Sent: 1/31/2003 5:01 PM
Ashy is the treasurer..?!!! tufudde!!
Emmanuel Sabiiti
Middlebury College
Box 4399
Middlebury, VT 05753
phone: 802 443 4572
From: BALA Sent: 2/4/2003 10:35 PM
I am sure a lot of you are wondering what's going on with the BI philantrophic mission at hand. We are working on it. Lets not for get that this is an international endeavor. The responsibility of being a continental treasurer is not an easy task either. But as I said... we are working to guarantee utmost accountability for every single penny that gets donated to this cause. Rest assured... once it is clear that we have a working and dependable system, we shall immediately let you know. I'm excited!
Meanwhile... I was shocked by the space-shuttle tragedy... On the good side though, it is clear that this tragedy will strengthen the space program. I will not be suprized if guys start taking vacations to places like the moon not very long from now.
From: Gali Sent: 2/5/2003 10:32 AM
But Bala,
Even as you think on the bright side of things as concerns the space program, do not forget that some people have evil purposes as to try to conquer space. The superior nations like US are trying to militarize space. Imagine what power they could have once they have satellites and weaponry in space to destroy nations at an instance...not good. Take the space program with a grain of salt. Not all intentions are good...and if any are "good" benefits, they shall only be geared to the rich likes of Lance Bass...etc.
From: zurkov Sent: 2/10/2003 8:23 PM
Uhmmm Gali, as a man of the field let me inform u that the ISS is primarily a business like any other. Primary motive $$!! The ideas you present are quite far-fetched given that the US is eons away from deploying the TMD system that would shield it from ICBM's here on earth. The TMD is a "dudu" compared to the space-based infrastructure necessary for the militarisation u r talkin about!
On the other hand a space facility would have immediate benefits for the common man like faster computers and better drugs. Its amazing what one could do in a clean zero-gravity environment! So dont be such an alarmist!
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