Confident Children out of Conflict (CCC) - A visit to an orphanage.

Today, five of us from Canada House went to CCC to drop off donations from various sources. One of the donors was the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations (CFSACO), which is where I work when I am back in Canada.

There are 29 girls ranging in age from 2 to 18 who eat at CCC. Many of them still live on the streets and come to CCC for meals. There is also one 14 month old boy living there.

For more information about CCC you can visit: http://www.confidentchildren.org/ 

Breakfast at CCC

When I tried to take a picture of this little girl outside she grabbed
my hand and pulled me inside then asked me to pick her up.

A group of girls learning a dance from one of the youth volunteers  from Oregon

Benny Pong, one of our Canadian civil/military cooperation (CIMIC) officers.

Jeff Leaman, one of our Canadian Staff Officers, showing the girls how the toys work

David Clark, a member of our National Support Element (NSE) Staff.

Carry ?, an American Staff Officer who wanted to visit CCC with us.

Two of the youth volunteers from Oregon.

Cruise on the Nile

On 18 February 2012, myself and some Canadian colleagues decided to take a boat trip on the river Nile from Juba. The day was hot and the river was warm.  Most of the animals and the people were sleeping but we still managed to see a few things.

Chris Hannah

Johanne Blais, David Clark, Chris Hannah, Jeff Leaman

One of the many tugboats that work the Nile. One of these can push four  barges.

An abandoned barge

Jeff Leaman, Pino Talarico

Yes, folks, it's a TseTse fly.

Johanne Blais, Jeff Leaman, Chris Hannah

A barge full of UN equipment waiting to be unloaded.

Feed me. I'm hungry

Come, give me a kiss. I won't bite.

Dave Clark, Johanne Blais, Pino Talarico, Jeff Leaman, Chris Hannah

Our boat unloading a previous tour.

Trip to Uganda:

Having spent 82 days on mission working almost 7 days a week I decided to take a trip to Uganda for the weekend of 11 Feb. This included visiting the cities of Kampala and Entebbe.  In addition to lounging around the pool and watching satellite TV I visited a museum in Kampala.  I have a DVD of the displays in the museum which I am bringing home with me. Here are some pictures of other things I did there:

Walking up the hill towards the Baha'i Temple in Kampala

Kampala from the top of the hill on which the Baha'i Temple is situated

Still walking up the hill

Pictures from the Animal Sanctuary in Entebbe

Lion sleeping in the afternoon

Seen in animal sanctuary. Not sure if these were inhabitants or visitors

Did you know that you can hire a car and driver for less than USD $50 per day in Kampala? I found out later that I could probably have hired him for USD$25 but I still think I got a bargain.  Don't bother with taxis if you decide to go for a visit.