When we first started helping out Jaja Barb with her container, we were really overwhelmed (as she was) by the variety of the contents. Our biggest struggle with the “filler goods” was trying to figure out what to do with it all. Certain things like the meal kits, clothes and hospital sheet sets were easy to donate to various non-profits in Jinja. Other things, like the boxes of Foster Grant sunglasses, were a bit harder to find a home for.
We knew we wanted to donate them to do some good in Uganda, but as Barb’s trip began to wind down and she prepared for her return to Canada, we really struggled with the hundreds of leftover sunglasses. Jen had an amazing idea to try to donate them to the local “boda” (motorcycles for hire) all over Jinja.
Anyone that’s ridden on a motorcycle here will tell you that it’s a dangerous proposition. You literally take put your life on the line when you’re on a motorcycle in Uganda. Road conditions are terrible, most drivers are uneducated, laws are not enforced and there’s really no standard behavior.
Boda drivers are in harm’s way every day. Most drivers are very underpaid and many of them drive bodas during the day and work at night, often as security guards. Very few own their motorcycles. They rent the bikes at an average $4 a day, well above the average income for a “normal” job. Most forego safety equipment because it’s so expensive.
Jen’s idea was quite clever. The glasses were more than fashion accessories to a boda driver. Sunglasses protect their eyes from the constant dust cloud that is the Ugandan road system, and they protect passengers and other drivers from the harm that can come from temporarily blinded drivers.
Makenna at one of the tables.
We put the Her idea took on a whole new level of cleverness when we put the sunglasses out on a table in the Keep and she invited one boda driver, Okiria, to take a pair and “tell his friends”.
Okiria, the first driver, who called “a few friends”.
The result was staggering. The driver left, and came back with five friends. Those five left, and ten more came in. Those ten left, then twenty came in. Within fifteen minutes, The Keep was packed with boda drivers with a line stretching out the front gate and into the street.
The line of bodas waiting for sunglasses at the Keep.
Outside, the street was clogged with parked motorcycles.
The line of bodas outside the Keep.
Within forty minutes, we had distributed over 250 sunglasses, one pair to a driver, and drivers were still coming. This was an amazing example of how effective and efficient the “Ugandan social network” can be.
We had such an amazing response that we’re already planning our next distribution. Barb hopes to bring more glasses, and we’ll fundraise to buy some helmets for the drivers as well. We can get local helmets (“single use” lifesavers) for as low as $7, and better ones are obviously a bit more. It was a fun and surprising day! Thanks to Jaja Barb and her supporters and donors for the great donation!
We can’t post all the pictures, but I made a collage to show off all the bodas with their new glasses!
