This post was written by Dave Santulli, United Planet’s Executive Director

I recently returned from Sarajevo.  During my stay, I had the privilege to visit the war museum and I found this poem which gives a glimpse into the realities of the war.  It also reminds us of how important the work is that we do at United Planet to encourage mutual understanding, lend support to one another, and preserve peace.

Listen
To the breathing of
Planet Sarajevo

Listen
to the Girl crying:
“Death, don’t take me along.”

How many times have we
Uttered
with tears
our ardent prayers for peace?

Death cares not for the girl’s tears,
Death cares not for human prayers

Listen
To the breathing
of Planet Sarajevo

See how full of bloom
Planet Sarajevo is!

Can’t you hear
the blood
pulsating through its veins?

People go-
to have their teeth filled

People go-
to take children for a haircut

People go-
to buy newspapers
the one over there
breeds pigeons.

This one, see,
cannot live
without crossword puzzles

See
how people go
carried away with work!

See how all of them
have aged overnight!
What has made them, all at once
so- beautiful?

On Planet Sarajevo
I saw a man-
he was smoking a pipe- and rushing
by!

On Planet Sarajevo
I saw a man-
eating- and weeping

I saw a little girl,
on Planet Sarajevo,
in the park which was not there
picking up flowers that were not
there!

Death is a thorough reaper,
in vain the girl’s tears,
in vain every prayer for peace!
In the universe-
its name is Bosnia-
a little girl,
with the hand which she has not,
picks up flowers which are not!

This is not war
-in war, there are flowers
everywhere-
this is the struggle from the
Beginning of Time!

In it two principles are fighting
-from the Beginning of Time
to the Day of Judgement-
the principle of Good
and the principle of Evil!

Let there never be an end
to the struggle between Good and
Evil!

Should Good
disappear from the World?

Should the Girl
kiss the hand
of Death the Reaper?
Don’t you hear her crying:
“Death, don’t take me along?”

Don’t cry, little girl
Don’t cry, daughter!

Never, never
will the end come

to the struggle between Good and Evil.

-Abdulah Sidran Sarajevo, February 1, 1994

These are some of Jamie Attard’s photos from Uganda. See the post below for more information on Jamie’s time there.

This post was written by Jamie Attard, a Long-Term United Planet volunteer in Uganda.

Hello once again,

The rematch took place on July 27th, unexpectedly, but eagerly anticipated by all.  It was the final week of term and the morning break had provided the opportunity for the students and teachers to collude.  Before I knew it, teams had been formed, students organized, and another soccer match was scheduled in front of the orphanage on a beautiful and clear day.  My team in the last game was narrowly victorious, 10-9, and although I had different team members this time I was confident of yet another victory.  How quickly that balloon of confidence was deflated!  Two of my teammates, whom I called Bob the Builder and Tim the Tool Man, decided a wall was the best measure of defense and occupied themselves at the start of the match to constructing a wall of mud with the aid of a plastic bottle of water.  The two girls in my team whom I dubbed Houdini and Copperfield did wonderfully to provide the illusion of intending to kick the ball but rarely ever touching it.  My other team mates (all under ten years of age) could certainly kick the ball, but their sense of navigation seemed distorted, appearing more keen on sending the ball careening into the ditches filled with polluted water and mud rather than scoring a goal.  It wasn’t all bad though, I had another teacher in support and I also had the best player on the field, Quacky, who happened to also be a duck.  Although Quacky had a tendency to want to rummage in a large rubbish pile in one corner of the yard, he occasionally would grace us all with his presence in the middle of the field, quacking loudly and fluttering his wings, always allowing my team to regain the advantage of play.  So what was the final score?  Well, the game started well and after a 3-1 start I decided it was best to be the goalkeeper and allow my other teammates to score.  Whether due to my poor keeping (in an effort to avoid a ball covered in grime and filthy mud) or poor attacking (for reasons explained above) the score soon became 3-7 and in order to prevent a humiliating loss I decided to rotate myself out of goal keeping to help the offense.  We caught up quickly and soon the score was 9-9, once again the game had come to a nail biting finish!  Tension mounted, students on the sidelines were enveloped by a frenzy of noise, all players were shouting instructions simultaneously…but there would be no winner this time.  The bell had sounded, lunch was over, it was time to go back to class.

I couldn’t have thought of a more fitting end for that game, or a better account of my experience here in Uganda.  An experience where I feel I have made headway (scored goals) and encountered frustrations (conceded goals), with the understanding that I have at least helped to shape the game, and possibly created the environment necessary for that winning goal to be finally scored (delivering permanent and significant change).

It is my last week on the project here, and I am now making preparations to head back to the US.  When I think about what I have accomplished, it is easy to get lost in the details and fail to see the bigger picture, that elusive lasting change, just as one gets lost in the pixels of a TV once too close to the screen.  But at the least I am taking away a better understanding of this continent, of the entire blue and green globe and of humanity, all which may help me one day to make that large scale difference I seem to be looking for.

At the Institute we have finally launched our website (www.ialuganda.ac.ug).  I have contacted about 70 organizations in the hope that one may donate some books or computers, despite a counter intuitive ban on the importation of used computers currently in Uganda.   The institute management software I programmed is being populated with all the school financial and academic data and has been holding up well.  The student yearbook has been published and is finally on sale.  I helped develop the first annual report, strategic plan and marketing plan (including the first detailed competitor analysis) for the Institute, now all published.  I published the first academic program (90 pages in all!), introduced new courses, recruited new staff members (with the aid of a formal interview process and aptitude test), and changed the fee structure to introduce more transparency and consistency.  Over a number of months and staff meetings there is now a wider acceptance of accountability towards the students, and for every one of our subjects offered the lecturers are in the process of developing course outlines (a number have already been completed!)  People do things here now that for many would seem obvious, like taking minutes of meetings, seeking feedback, sharing their opinions, setting goals and trying to exert efforts beyond their responsibilities.  All being said, there are still many areas for improvement, but at least there is more responsibility, direction and positivity now.

I only teach half a day each week at the orphanage, and I don’t feel I have had as much of an impact there with regards to affecting change.  Pieces of foam from an old couch are still used to clean the blackboards, there are giant craters in the floors, pieces of wood flake off constantly from the ceiling and walls, tables continue to break down and be piled in a heap, smoke from people burning rubbish outside regularly wafts into the classrooms, there are never enough pencils, or paper, or erasers, time has dissolved any remnants of the staples and glue that used to hold the text books together…Teachers though certainly know I don’t approve of caning or hitting students, and at least while I am around that doesn’t happen.  I sometimes honestly wish I could find an eraser and clear from the minds of these children some of the bad approaches and techniques they have learnt.  But these children have no other options, so some education is better than none at all, and you have to remind yourself that they really have done so well to get so far.  At 7 in the morning I sometimes run into some of my students, selling maize piled in a pot on top of their heads to help support their families, which always ends in me buying maize that I never feel like eating.  On a personal front I have learnt once more how much I hate the sound and feel of chalk on a blackboard.

I wanted to thank everyone for all their donations, which totaled close to $900 after deducting the wire transfer and exchange rate fees.  I am directing $250 and adding $250 of my own money to go to the orphanage towards books and stationery.  The remaining $650 I am providing to the Institute to support the acquisition of more books and computers.  I am also contributing another $250 to the Institute but this money I am directing towards supporting certain business initiatives I have been helping to start.  Like a wild west outlaw I have been constantly shooting ideas of ways to make money here, so I hope some of the ideas will help people to make an easier living.  My ideas won’t create another Google or Microsoft, but by involving teachers and students at this Institute in new business ventures I am hoping to create new employment opportunities and focus on the practical application of business skills in real life.

Well, this is where I must end, for me one more chapter is complete, though I am yet to figure out how I will write my next one.  There is always as much of a need for financial support as for human capital here, if you have an interest to help more.  Thanks for walking along with me on this journey.  Its time for me to step out of the tropical jungle of Uganda, and onto the fast treadmill of life back in the United States.

This post was written by Sydney Yovic, a Short-Term United Planet volunteer in Chile.

My quest to Santiago, Chile was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. That statement may seem over the top, but with a lot of thought and reflection, I find it to be unquestionably true. In the short 23 years of my life, I have been fortunate enough to travel to many countries in Europe as well as China, Australia and New Zealand. I have seen and experienced most of the United States and yet none of these travels can compare with the Quest to Chile. I sit here totally perplexed as to how a two-week volunteer trip could possibly impact me to this degree, and so I ruminate. Maybe it was Santiago’s terrain; a city of architectural treasures, sprouting with palm trees and flowers, yet still nestled between the majestic, snowcapped Andes. Or was it the food, the fresh produce on every street corner, grape vines in my host mom’s backyard, or the pomegranate tree, ripe and flourishing, outside my bedroom window? My eyes were spoiled for two weeks and so were my taste buds, but I am certain that the people of Chile left the imprint on my heart.

Every person I came into contact with made me feel more than welcome and was eager to talk to me, regardless of the obvious language barrier between us. I came to Chile knowing just basic Spanish from high school and the crash course I gave myself prior to my departure. The Chilean people did not get frustrated with me, in fact, they embraced the language barrier and taught me many Spanish words and phrases. I found myself being invited to lunch with my coworkers and their families, playing games with the children at my work site, and staying up until 1 or 2 in the morning talking and laughing with my host mom Maggie, a strong and loving, Chilean woman. My conversations seemed more meaningful because they took hard work, not to mention some hand motions and acting as well. I learned from every person I talked to in Chile, whether it was a sopapilla street vendor helping me with the currency, a child with cerebral palsy teaching me Spanish vocabulary, or my host mother explaining the history of Chile and the culture of the indigenous people, the Mapuches.

I volunteered at a Teleton, a rehabilitation clinic for kids and teens. During my workdays, I was helping the children with puzzles and cognitive activities before their doctors appointments. Although they were appreciative of me for traveling such a far distance to help them, I left everyday thinking how grateful I was to be learning from their unchanging high spirits and kindness.

Chile is a spectacular place and I have met lifelong friends there. It is dripping with culture and beauty, from the Andes, to the Pacific Ocean, to my street, Simon Bolivar. The Chilean people are bursting with life and their warmth and smiles are contagious. They have an unwavering strong nature, even in the face of the devastating earthquake in Concepcion. I can only hope to strive for that sort of strength and persistent good spirit. My only regret about my Quest to Chile is that it wasn’t forever. I could not have dreamed up a more perfect experience.

This post was written by Sabreena Jiwani, a Short-Term United Planet volunteer in Italy.

I have been here for a little less than a week and have already seen/heard things I never imagined I would.

Where is ‘here’? I am at a Rifugio Re Carlo Aberto located by the village of Luserna San Giovanni. This village is about an hour south of Turin, Italy. It’s beautiful here. This the view from my balcony. It was amazing as I walked into my room and saw this view.

The rifugio is a place for elderly people with Alzheimer’s. It’s amazing how many different ways the staff and management tries to make sure that their patients are “happy”. I help with the physiotherapy side of the Rifugio and its really interesting how we take small things our body can do for granted. On Tuesday mornings, we have a “Gimnastico” session. We do small activities such as: Can you join your hands in a “prayer” position and then twist your wrists left and right? I am sure most of you can. But in many cases here, the elderly have a really hard time with that. Also, I noticed that they don’t remember my name. The incredible thing is that they remember me but my name is not registered in their memory.

The best thing about Italy is their life style. Everyone is very calm, laid back, and they don’t get angry at small things. Oh, and of course another great thing in Italy is their GELATO!!! And it’s simply beautiful here. Here is a picture of the view about 5 minutes walk from the rifugio.