Open Letter to Sheeru who shouldn’t have missed the #GetUpSpeakOut Camp

Dear Sheeru,

I miss you terribly my dear trouble maker. But the guilt of leaving you behind for camp won’t go away until I let you in on what happened. From 7th to 13th May was one of the most memorable weeks ever.  It was lit! A proper turn up, we should so be there for the next one.

From when I jumped on to the bus i got to Hana International school in Nsangi, i found very many pips of different cultures and background. There were Burundians, Rwandans, Congolese, Kenyans, Tanzanians, basically East Africa was there. There was just that thrill i can’t put to words.

At around 3pm, we finally arrived at Hana International School . My friend, these guys landed us straight into an army barracks, a swarm men and women in uniform welcomed us. I later understood it was just a tight security check up. We settled in real fast,  till supper time where we were served a sumptuous meal. By this time i was already blown away.

After supper hundreds of us gathered at the basketball  court  around fire that changed colors from green, orange, red and purple like the amazon lights they called it camp bonfire.  This facilitated the team building and ice breaking sessions which included introductions, dance battles and lots of sexual reproductive health talk. Thereafter we said our goodbyes, the girls headed off to their dormitory first and then boys sloped down to dormitories to sleep.

By 6am loud music interrupted our sleep apparently it was an alert for to go for ‘aerobics’. I later found out, these were some fashionable exercises with an instructor and music. I found them amusing.

It was a long exciting week, my friend a lot of cool stuff happened including modeling and SRHR dance theater competitions. However, lemme fill you in on what i would think were the highlights of my camp experience.

I know you might think i’m bluffing but i kid you not.  Iam still coming to terms with the whole experience myself.  Do you remember those famous successful people we used to see on Uncle’s TV? They were at camp! They talked to us and there was nothing more inspiring. The likes of  Dr Maggie Kigozi, Hon Gen Elly Tumwine, Maj Rubaramira Ruhanga, Dr. Naboth Cole, Dr. Christine Mbabazi, Miss Uganda Leah Kagasa and Mr. Alain Sibanelar, the UNFPA country representative among other notable people whose names i can spell or remember.

I was starstruck  when I saw Navio, Ceasorous, Nutty Neithan, Naava Grey, Tonix and  Geo steady, the Reach A Hand cultural icons blaze the stage with hit after hit.The best part was leaving the camp equipped with entrepreneur skills. I learnt  how to make shoes, necklaces, bags, liquid soap, hair shampoo and paper bags. Am serious, in one week I learnt every skill I had ever dreamt of and they called that getting up and achieving your dreams #GetUpSpeakOut. All those questions about our body changes and sexual reproductive health, I got a chance to ask them, I have all the answers in my head and others written down for you.

Finally the best for the last! Don’t break a bone but Miss KDK, Chidinma herself was there, escorted by the famous Emmanuel Ikubese the Shuga actor! Now allow me go do some home chores we shall continue from there when we meet to plan for next year’s camp.  

Your truly

H