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When we set up Hours of Human Happiness it was in close co-operation with Milton Makambila, our valued local contact in Kyemula and with the villagers themselves. We also gained a lot of insight into the history and culture of Uganda through reading ‘Having People, Having Heart’ by China Scherz, and subsequently corresponding with her as one of the few anthropologists to write contemporaneously about working in Uganda.

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China writes about the Ugandan concept of ‘mutima’, or heart. She says,’ a person with the heart for helping helps those he does not have an obligation to help’. This form of helping has become increasingly necessary as societal changes have left many unable to care for the children who would traditionally have been their responsibility’. Mutima differs from other forms of responsibility in its lack of obligation or responsibility. China further noted that whilst many people would take in children as mutima the paying of school fees was one of the problems most frequently mentioned.

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There is a kinship between the concept of mutima and charity as the practise of charity means giving without expecting a reward or payment and she noted that in Uganda when people get help from outside it is highly valued. She quotes a village elder ‘just imagine, a person who is not a relative and he, or she, thousands of miles away wants to help them.’

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Our sponsorship scheme came out of a discussion many years ago between Chris Bird, our treasurer, and Milton Makambila, the pastor and village elder in Kyemula who is our main contact there, about the best way we could support the village school – then mostly classes held under a tree or in a shelter.  Milton wanted to welcome all children to the school regardless of whether they could pay fees, but this policy resulted in insufficient money to pay the teachers adequately or provide nutritious meals.  He hoped that if we could provide some input to make up the shortfall in income, he could ensure education for all.  Milton, the headteacher, the parents and carers, and the teachers drive the planning and have overseen the expansion and improvements to Jackie School – we simply facilitate.

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Hours of Human Happiness is not corporate, we don’t employ analysts – we speak, and listen, directly through trustee visits and daily interchange via email and WhatsApp, with village contacts.

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We believe that the children value knowing someone far away cares enough to support them and we recognise that our sponsors have ‘mutima’.  We hope our sponsors and donors will agree and continue to support Hours of Human Happiness in just the same way that they have since we began.

 

Karen Whitaker

Chair of Hours of Human Happiness

26.1.26

 

China Scherz Having People Having Heart University of Chicago Press ISBN 978022119670