Just Another Thought

Yesterday night, as Andrew and I walked through some short cuts in Kazo, we had some meaningful talks. The way Andrew responded to any of mine questions was to first of all repeat my questions in my original words and then try to answer in his own words.

I started by asking him what do people here, in Kazo, expect from life. Of course, before getting any useful responses from him, I rephrased my question several times to let him understand. he answered me with 'nothing'. and he was deadly serious. It is true that people here cannot expect much from life. The heavily corrupted political system greatly limits any school gratuates. 5 out of 10 children could make to the end of the primary. Out of those, 3 would probably go to secondary. In the end, we could hope one would make it to the uni. The tragedy does not stop here. among those who finally gratuade from the uni, very few of them could actually get a job which could fulfill their potential. The problem is at the root of the foundation of the government. If the government lacks transparency and the economy is under-developed, no matter how foreign countries try to help, the money for development will not actually reach the community. I was right in saying so months ago, and now I am going to confirm it. It was wonderful to see Timothy being saved from a remote villige, but is also sad to see that such bright kid is left with no future no matter how hard he works, how good he will be. Of course, some may say that if one is good enough, he or she will make the change. However, a change in the government now would benifit millions. It is just despairing to see even the local government has the funds NGOs needed, but not giving any of them. Has it to be a revolutionary change one day that changes everything? Why can't the country learn from the history? are we only learning from repeating what we went wrong and making up new explanations and more complex theories?

Those questions make me recall the past few days, or even few months reading academic papers and conference reports. Every year, the topic is different, but the essence is the same-solving the problem which has not been solved for decades. Each time, professors from the west are invited to Uganda, to other African countries where they have conferences in luxurious hotels, enjoying top-end services. Down to the communities, people are waiting each day for the promises which have never been materialised.

I believe in science, but the reality is that science, most of the time, is better at solving problems of the future, not the problems people all over the world face each day. I wanted to dedicate myself on the pursuit of academic knowledge, but now,I have another equally-important duty-to discover and help the life of the unknown.