The baby was fussy, I could tell it was time for his nap but he refused to lie quiet and sleep. I saw his mother was busy preparing a meal for me and her other foreign guests so being the grandmother of the group I got up and began my famous ‘Nana rock’ on him. I cradled him in my arms and swayed gentle back and forth looking intently into his face smiling and speaking quietly to him. I would make wide yawns with my mouth and let my eyes droop until he began to mimic me and soon was fast asleep. It worked every time.
The others in the group looked up at me amazed as I lay him back in his bassinet and asked how I was able to get him to sleep so quickly. Before I could explain my ‘Nana rock’ my Ugandan hostess spoke up and said, “She is the ja-ja.” That was the day I became the grandmother to the children of Uganda (ja-ja means grandmother).
I can remember a time when I didn’t want kids. I wanted to be an important scientist making a lasting mark on humankind that would live on past me. Then life got in my way as I found I was pregnant. So I adapted by expanding my dream of conquering the world to include my child. We delved into the world of science, history, music, and art through reading and trips to many museums. We hunted artifacts like seashells and rocks. I found that making my mark on the world was my kids. They would live after me my testament to my existence and I was thrilled.
Then came the day I became a grandmother. I insisted that everyone call me Nana instead of grandma because it didn’t sound so old. I was much too young to be a grandmother. But oh what a thrill to be able to hold a baby again and bond with them and love them as my own. Now I was ‘ja-ja’, grandmother to a nation. Truly God has blessed me beyond measure.
What many people do not understand is that kids are kids are kids no matter where they are born or what society they grow up in. No matter whether they live in war or peace, whether they are rich or poor, all kids have the same needs. Babies need to be cuddled and rocked to sleep. Preschoolers want to put their new skills to work and use the words ‘I can do it by myself’. School age kids need friends. Teenagers need to stretch their boundaries. All kids need the basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and an education but above all else they need to know someone loves them. Yet these are the very things many of the children of Uganda are missing.
People further believe that children of poverty have no hope, no future, and exist only day by day not thinking of tomorrow. But they are very wrong. I have seen their expected faces and listen to them describe their dreams of the future. Like any other kid they want to be a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, even a famous athlete. Even in the midst of poverty and hopelessness their children hearts are open to a better tomorrow.
Many have been faced with the burden of becoming the head of their household after all the adults have died of AIDs. Many of these children are themselves kids some younger then 10 years of age. They now have to find food, shelter, and all the other basic needs for themselves and their siblings at 10 years old! What were you doing at the age of ten? I was riding my bike without a care in the world never once did I think about having to feed my brothers or live without my parents.
Sometimes they are taken in by relatives or neighbors but their life is no better as these adults struggle to feed the extra mouths on incomes levels that average $1500 US dollars a year.
Sometimes they are cared for by their own ja-ja, one who watched her own children die a horrible death, who can no longer work, who has no income, and now she has the responsibility for grandchildren she cannot feed.
It is time for new ja-jas to step forward to begin to rock the Ugandan children in their loving arms. I know you are out there and are looking for a way to love one more child. The Friends of TOUCH organization has ways for you to reach out and love these kids through monthly donations, prayer, and volunteer work. I challenge you to show them you care. Leave your mark on the planet by caring for these kids. Show them they are loved by becoming a ja-ja!
What can Ja-Ja’s do:
- Hold a fund raiser: bake sale, yard sale, spaghetti dinner
- Spend a hour in prayer for these kids per day
- Sponsor a child
- Hold a Sponsorship party at your home
- Get your pastor or civic group leader to allow FOT to present the needs of these kids as a special speaker.
- Get FOT corporate sponsors
- Introduce FOT to other organizations who help kids to partner with
- Conduct other fundraiser events as big or as small as you desire
Thanks to all of you who have some along side us and who love these precious souls as much as we do.
D
Technorati Tags: children, grandparents, Ugana, Africa, poverty, child sponsorship
The others in the group looked up at me amazed as I lay him back in his bassinet and asked how I was able to get him to sleep so quickly. Before I could explain my ‘Nana rock’ my Ugandan hostess spoke up and said, “She is the ja-ja.” That was the day I became the grandmother to the children of Uganda (ja-ja means grandmother).
I can remember a time when I didn’t want kids. I wanted to be an important scientist making a lasting mark on humankind that would live on past me. Then life got in my way as I found I was pregnant. So I adapted by expanding my dream of conquering the world to include my child. We delved into the world of science, history, music, and art through reading and trips to many museums. We hunted artifacts like seashells and rocks. I found that making my mark on the world was my kids. They would live after me my testament to my existence and I was thrilled.
Then came the day I became a grandmother. I insisted that everyone call me Nana instead of grandma because it didn’t sound so old. I was much too young to be a grandmother. But oh what a thrill to be able to hold a baby again and bond with them and love them as my own. Now I was ‘ja-ja’, grandmother to a nation. Truly God has blessed me beyond measure.
What many people do not understand is that kids are kids are kids no matter where they are born or what society they grow up in. No matter whether they live in war or peace, whether they are rich or poor, all kids have the same needs. Babies need to be cuddled and rocked to sleep. Preschoolers want to put their new skills to work and use the words ‘I can do it by myself’. School age kids need friends. Teenagers need to stretch their boundaries. All kids need the basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and an education but above all else they need to know someone loves them. Yet these are the very things many of the children of Uganda are missing.
People further believe that children of poverty have no hope, no future, and exist only day by day not thinking of tomorrow. But they are very wrong. I have seen their expected faces and listen to them describe their dreams of the future. Like any other kid they want to be a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, even a famous athlete. Even in the midst of poverty and hopelessness their children hearts are open to a better tomorrow.
Many have been faced with the burden of becoming the head of their household after all the adults have died of AIDs. Many of these children are themselves kids some younger then 10 years of age. They now have to find food, shelter, and all the other basic needs for themselves and their siblings at 10 years old! What were you doing at the age of ten? I was riding my bike without a care in the world never once did I think about having to feed my brothers or live without my parents.
Sometimes they are taken in by relatives or neighbors but their life is no better as these adults struggle to feed the extra mouths on incomes levels that average $1500 US dollars a year.
Sometimes they are cared for by their own ja-ja, one who watched her own children die a horrible death, who can no longer work, who has no income, and now she has the responsibility for grandchildren she cannot feed.
It is time for new ja-jas to step forward to begin to rock the Ugandan children in their loving arms. I know you are out there and are looking for a way to love one more child. The Friends of TOUCH organization has ways for you to reach out and love these kids through monthly donations, prayer, and volunteer work. I challenge you to show them you care. Leave your mark on the planet by caring for these kids. Show them they are loved by becoming a ja-ja!
What can Ja-Ja’s do:
- Hold a fund raiser: bake sale, yard sale, spaghetti dinner
- Spend a hour in prayer for these kids per day
- Sponsor a child
- Hold a Sponsorship party at your home
- Get your pastor or civic group leader to allow FOT to present the needs of these kids as a special speaker.
- Get FOT corporate sponsors
- Introduce FOT to other organizations who help kids to partner with
- Conduct other fundraiser events as big or as small as you desire
Thanks to all of you who have some along side us and who love these precious souls as much as we do.
D
Technorati Tags: children, grandparents, Ugana, Africa, poverty, child sponsorship
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