Xマスと年末年始が含まれる学年度末休業に入り、就学支援子供たちも平日来館できるようになりました。　
　ウガンダ発着の郵便事情がコロナのダメージから未だ回復せず、船便は受け付け不可、航空便でも1年以上たっても、届かない!　行方知れず!!　が当たり前という状況ですが、EMS利用なら1月中にはお手元に届くかも？と期待して子供たちが絵葉書を描きました。12月10日にKtg郵便局で発送‼　相変わらず幼稚な色えんぴつ絵ですが、無事届きましたらこのe-mailで「届いた～！」とお知らせいただければ有難いです。モシ、モ～シできましたら絵葉書を手にしたお写真を一枚e-mailしていただければ更にさらに有難いです！！
 The year-end school vacation, which includes the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, has begun, and the students whose schooling we support are able to come to the library on weekdays.
The postal system in Uganda has yet to recover from the harm inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic. Sea mail is not accepted, and even airmail is taking more than one year to arrive! It’s normal to have no idea where your mail is, but the children drew picture postcards hoping that they would be delivered in January if they were sent via international express mail. They were mailed from the Kitgum post office on Dec. 10. As usual, the children drew simple pictures with colored pencils. If you receive a card, please let us know via e-mail. If you can attach a photo of yourself with the card you received, that would be even better.

年一回の保護者会。１３家族、35名が参集。欠席８名。
昨年は”落第”が3名‼　スレスレかろうじて“進級”が４，５名もいたのですが、今年は落第ゼロ‼!　心配だった低空飛行児たちも、グ～ンと上昇、一躍トップクラスにまで上がった子たちも‼　図書館補習の驚きの成果! 一同拍手!! 指導したスタッフ一同、満足感、達成感で自信の笑顔!!!
 Thirty-five members from 13 families attended the annual meeting for parents and guardians. Eight were absent.
Last year three students failed, and four or five students barely advanced to the next grade. But this year no one failed! Even the “low fliers” that we were worried about had no difficulty being promoted, and some of them were top of their class. This is the surprisingly good result of their extra lessons at the library. We applaud them! The staff members who taught them smile with confidence, feeling gratification and a sense of achievement.

 月曜は、唯一の休館日ですが、学期初めの校納金支払いなどの手続きのため毎週学校訪問に費やし、ようやくブログに手をつけられるようになりました。とはいえ、実は、５名の支援子供が2学期中頃位から音信不通やら所在不明やらになってしまっているので、まだ“手続き完了”ではないのですが…。
 We have been using Monday, the only day the library is closed, to visit schools to pay fees for the new term and take care of other procedures. Now we finally have time to work on the blog. That said, during the second term we lost touch with five students who are supported by the library or their whereabouts are unknown. So, their procedures have not been completed.

Robinson のクラス（P.1レベル）＆ Joyceのクラス（就学前レベル）

Robinson’s class (1st grade) ＆ Joyce’s　class (pre-schooler)

　北半球は酷暑の極みでしょうか。こちらは赤道直下ですが、雨期、晴れればアッツ～ですが、曇れば涼しく、朝夕は毛布が必要…。オリンピックや夏休みで航空券が取りにくくなる前に―とバタバタとこちらに来ましたが、Ｋ‘laのGHの片隅に預け（置きっぱなし！）ていた老朽クルマを復活させるのに、2週間近くかかり、ようやくKtgに帰り着き、テンヤワンヤを片付け、この日曜日、一般ユーザーに向け再開館できました！
　The northern hemisphere is baking in intense heat. We are at the Equator here, and when the skies are clear during the rainy season, it is hot! But when it’s cloudy, it is cool and you need a blanket in the morning and evening. We hastily returned before the Olympics and summer vacation, when it would have been difficult to get plane tickets. But it took us almost two weeks to revive our old car, which we had left (unattended) at the guesthouse in Kampala. Once we finally got back to Kitgum, we had to do a lot of clean-up. This Sunday we finally reopened the library to regular patrons.

支援子供の内、近隣の11名が集まりました!　中・高学年生は、例によって、全員対象の補習授業で学校へ、遠くの子はモチロン来られませんが、皆元気！！
Of the children supported by the library, eleven who live nearby got together. As usual, all of the higher classes at primary school and high school students had to go to school for supplementary classes, and, naturally, the students who live far away couldn’t come. But they are all well.

ようやく図書館再開！　いつも長期休館のあとは、来館者が少ないのですが、この日曜日は、雨模様のお天気のわりに、70名超の来館者で賑わいました！　
The library finally reopens! Whenever we reopen after a long break, there are few patrons. But this Sunday, despite the rainy weather, the library was crowded with more than 70 patrons.　

補習は、本とは朝から夕方までなのですが、今日は学校の都合で、午前だけ、といって高学年（P.６）の　Canwat BrianチャンワットとAketowanga　Sarahアケトワンガ　が、午前組が散会した後、駆けつけてきました。　Supplementary lessons are usually conducted all day on Saturdays, but this day they were held in the morning only. Still, sixth-graders Canwat Brian and Aketowanga Sarah hurried to the library after their morning lssons.

今年は、普通のガバメント学校に併設の“特別学級”に、多くの図書館寺子屋の子供たちも引き受けてもらえることになりました！ヨーロッパ系NGO の資金によるプログラムとのことです。ノート、筆記具などは個人で用意しなければなりませんが、『高額な校納金や制服は不要、かばん・靴・体操着などは小学生らしければほぼ何でも良いetc』 というので、私どもばかりでなく、「普通の学校ではお金がかかりすぎてムリ！」という多くの貧しい家庭の子供たちが曲がりなりにも学校に通える!!のです。早速、寺子屋組9名を送り込んだ2校を訪問しました。
This year many children who attended lessons at the library have been accepted to “special classes” at government schools. This program is funded by a European NGO. Students must provide their own notebooks, pens and pencils, but there are no high tuition fees nor are uniforms required. Any bags, shoes or gym clothes are acceptable if they are appropriate for elementary school students. This means that not only students from the library but many children from poor families who cannot afford to send their children to ordinary schools can somehow go to school. We set off to visit two schools that are being attended by nine students from the library classes.

Babraとは逆に、コロナ禍を数年過ごした他県の村から、一緒に暮らせるようになった家族のもとに戻ってきたAdong Rose（P.5）。タウンから約10～５km位西郊のOryang Ojumaオリャング地区の学校への初日。Ogen So （左端マスク着用）が緊張を解こうとふざけています。
 In contrast to Babra, Adong Rose (5th grade), who spent several years in a village in another district on account of the pandemic, has returned to live with her family. She will attend a school in Oryang Ojuma, 10-15 km west of town. So, Baba Ogen clowned around in an effort to get over her nervousness.

ここ数か月の間、撮りためていた中から、少々時間が経ってしまったけれど今見てもマズマズ…というものや比較的近影というものをご紹介します。
Although some time has passed, we’d like to introduce a few of the not-so-bad photos we’ve taken over the past several months along with some more recent shots.

今年度初の＆最後の保護者同伴ミーテイング。
The first and last meeting of the school year at which children were accompanied by their guardians.

読書に来る一般の子供のスペースも確保するため、低学年(P.1,2,3,4)生は、新図書館で、高学年(P.5,6,7)生は、旧図書館で、2,3名から5,6名のクラスに分かれ、先生が一人ついて、学校の期末テストの間違い直しやホリディパッケージ（数英理社などが一冊にまとめられた休暇用学習帳、お金持ちの学校ではこれを各自に購入させます。当方では、一クラス一冊ずつ購入、皆でシェア！）を利用します。一クラス5,60～100?名もいる学校の補習と違い、少人数クラスなので、“分かりやすい！”、“役に立つ！”と好評です。
In order to make room for other children who come to the library to read, children in the lower grades (first through fourth) study in the new library while those in the upper grades (fifth through seventh) study in the old library. Students are divided into classes of from two to six children with one teacher. The students review the errors they made on final exams in school and study with special vacation workbooks. (Each workbook covers mathematics, English, science, and social studies. At wealthy private schools each child is required to purchase one of these workbooks. Here we buy one workbook for each class and the students share it.) Unlike the supplemental lessons at schools, in which there may be anywhere from 50 to 100 students in a class, our classes are small. They are popular with the students because the lessons are easy to understand and helpful.

ある日曜日、開館前から長蛇の列。満席で、入館制限を実施。一人退館すると一人入館、右手奥の入り口外には、順番待ちの子供が列を作っています。この日は“新規”来館者数（コロナ後）の新記録！！  
 One Sunday there was a long line in front of the library long before it opened. The library was full, and we had to limit admission. When one child left, another came in. Outside the door that can be seen in the background on the right, children formed a line to get in. That day we set a record for new visitors to the library (since the coronavirus pandemic).  

　こちら、ようやく雨季らしく雨が降るようになってきました！　誰もかれも総出で、畑仕事に取り組んでいる感じです。みんな大好き貴重な蛋白源であるハネアリ（翅を取って生食したり、炒め煮にしたり）が大量発生し、犬猫までも大喜び!!　こちらの人はwhite antsといいますが、百害あって一利なしのシロアリ（こちらはtermiteと呼ばれます。）とは違うとされます。私ども二人は、どちらも×ですが。。    今回は《近在組》の様子をお知らせします。
　Rain typical of the rainy season has finally begun to fall. Everyone seems to have come out to work in the fields. Winged ants, an important source of protein popular with everyone, are out in force. Even dogs and cats are rejoicing! (People pull off their wings and eat the ants raw or stir-fry them.) These ants are referred to locally as “white ants,” but they are different from termites (also sometimes called “white ants”), which do nothing but harm. Personally, we don’t like either of them.        This report focuses on children living nearby.   

《遠方組》のAromorac Babra（P.7）, Lubangangeyo Emmanuel(P.6),Lubangakene Stephen(P.5)の３人、悪路を片道2時間ほど歩いて図書館に。今朝郵便局で受けとったばかりの新しい本（支援者の方が、高い書留料金を払って送ってくれました！）を手に。天気が心配だったので、短時間で出発させましたが、間もなく降り出し、田舎道沿いには雨宿りできるような建物も無い（木は、落雷の怖れがあり×！）ので、ビショぬれになっただろうと…。 
Aromorac Babra (7th grade), Lubangangeyo Emmanuel (6th grade), and Lubangakene Stephen (5th grade), who live in a remote area, walked about two hours over poor roads to get to the library. They are holding new books that had just arrived that morning via the post, sent at great expense by a supporter. We sent the children home after a short time because we were concerned about the weather. Not long after they left, it began to rain. There is no place along the rural roads to take shelter from the rain, so they must have got soaking wet. (Trees may be struck by lightning, so sheltering under a tree is no good.) 

　日本は青葉の季節も終わり、うっとうしい梅雨…でしょうか？
UGは、といっても、ここKitgumを含む北部・北東部だけなのかもしれませんが、雨季の真っ最中のはずが、雨がほとんど降らず、青物葉物野菜が取れず、穀類豆類や他のものにまで物価高騰が及び、人々は、このままでは、旱魃、飢饉になる！と恐れています。空腹を紛らしてくれたアチコチに自生？！するマンゴーの季節も過ぎてしまい…。　そんな中、2学期が始まりました。何日かに分けて、他県、またKitgum県内でも奥まった村々に転居した支援子供の家庭や学校訪問をしました。タウン内や近在の子供たちのところは、Podiまだ、ですが、先ずは“遠方組”の訪問の様子をご覧ください。”近在組“についても、追ってお知らせしますので、折々、✓お願いいたします。
　In Japan the season of fresh greenery is no doubt over, and the dreary rainy season must have begun. In Uganda – or at least the north/northeastern regions where Kitgum is – we should be in the middle of the rainy season. But very little rain has fallen, and green leafy vegetables cannot be grown. Their price and the prices of cereals, beans and other foods have risen sharply, and people are concerned that they will face drought and starvation. Mangoes, which grow wild throughout the area and which people had been eating to fill their bellies, are no longer in season.
 Meanwhile the second school term has begun. Over several days we visited the homes and schools of children supported by the library who have moved to other districts or to rural villages in the Kitgum District and other districts. We have not yet visited students nearby, including those in town or in nearby villages.

 アチェン　ハリエット（S.1）今年度1学期からPader 県のSecondaryに進みました！　ようやく私どもが初めて学校訪問できた日は、1学期の終業日、もらったばかりの通知表を手に。
 Acen Harriet (1st grade) advanced to secondary school in the Pader District in the first term. When we were finally able to visit her school for the first time, it was the last day of the first term and she had just received her report card.   

 Kitgumに来県する用があったオジさんに連れられて来館‼　新図書館ができる前にAgago県の親戚に引き取られた彼女には初めて見る“新“図書館です。  Her uncle, who came to Kitgum on an errand, brought her to the library. She was taken in by relatives in the Agago District before the new library was built, so it was her first time to see it.

雨季の真っただ中!のハズなのに、カーッと晴れ渡った青空が、もう数週間続いています。K’laからの途中では、洪水で、道路が冠水し、騒ぎになっているところもあったのですが、北部や東北部はカラッカラに干上がっています‼　種まき、植え付けができない!!　と村々から悲鳴が上がり、町の市場からは、青物葉物が姿を消し、たまにあってもメチャ高～!!!　  
 Although we should be in the middle of the rainy season, we have had clear blue skies for several weeks. On the way back from Kampala the roads were submerged in some places on account of flooding, and it was a bit of a mess. But in the north and northeast it is very dry. People in the villages are lamenting that they cannot do any sowing or planting. No green vegetables can be seen in the markets, and when they are, they are very expensive.

初ミーティングに来られた子供たちからも、「食事が満足に摂れない！」と訴えが…、しかし学校の給食費は、バカ高くて、とても全員分は負担できないし…。メイズ、イモ類、マメ類、これから旬を迎えるマンゴーなどで何とか乗りきるしか‼　そんな状況で、Rubangakene Dauzi,　Opoka Brian,　Omara James　Aryemo Sundayが、間もなく1学期期末テストが始まるかというこの時期になっても、図書館にも学校にも姿を見せません。Acen HarrietとLubangangeyo　Emmanuelの二人とは、ようやく保護者（二人とも孤児で、オバ、オジが保護者）と連絡がとれ、Emmanuelは学校に戻り、図書館にも姿を見せました。Acenは遠方のうえ、この1学期から、新しく入学したSecondaryもさらに遠方で、学校と連絡がとれず未確認、写真もありませんが。。
 The children who came to the first meeting said they are not getting enough to eat. But school lunch fees are so high that we cannot cover them for all of the children. They just have to get by on maize, potatoes, beans, and mangos which will soon be in season. Rubangakene Dauzi, Opoka Brian, Omara James, and Aryemo Sunday, who should soon be taking end-of-term exams, have not been seen at the library or at school. We were finally able to contact the guardians of Acen Harriet and Lubangangeyo Emmanuel. (Both children are orphans being raised by her aunt and his uncle.) Emmanuel went back to school and has also come to the library. Acen is now living far away, and the secondary school she newly entered is even more distant. We have not been able to contact the school to find out about her. Nor do we have a photograph. 

遠方ですが、引き続き同じ村々で、前と同じ学校に通う子供たちは、私どもがまだUGに戻る前に、Joyceが訪問し、校納金支払いなど済ませました。  Before we returned to Uganda, Joyce visited the distant homes of the students who continue to live in the same villages and attend the same schools and paid their school fees.

　支援者の皆様からの年末年始のお便りが届き始めました。まだ…、の子供たちは自分にはいつ来るのかな、と楽しみにしています。普通の航空便（エアメール）だと、2か月前後かかるようですので、できるだけお早く、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 Letters from supporters that were sent during the year-end and New Year holiday season have begun to arrive. Children who have not received letters yet are eagerly awaiting theirs. Air mail takes about two months to arrive, so please mail letters early.  

さすがアフリカ！やっぱりウガンダ‼と思えるトラブル続出!!!、まだまだ戦いは続いてますが、何とかこのようにブログ更新ができるようになりました。写真と併せてご覧ください。
As is typical of Africa and Uganda, problems have been occurring one after another. We’re still tackling them, but meanwhile we’ve managed to put together this latest edition of our blog. Please take a look at the photos. 

 またまたシロアリ来襲！　旧図書館では約20冊ほど被害に、残念ですが処分！　さらに新図書館の外側にも魔の手が!!　幸いまだ内部は無事なようですが、用心のため薬剤を散布。いつもながらJoyceが献身的に。
 Termites continue to attack! About 20 books in the old library were damaged, so, unfortunately, we had to dispose of them. The demonic termites have also begun attacking the exterior of the new library. Luckily, the interior is still unaffected, but as a precautionary measure we sprayed pesticide. As usual, Joyce was a devoted worker as always. 

　図書館再開初日、どうやって再開を知ったのか、「今日は授業がないから」と一般の子供ユーザーたちが来館。
 Children patrons somehow learned of the library’s reopening and came the first day as they had no classes at school.

　再開前の清掃。就学支援中の子供の中で、「授業がない」Canwat Brian, Latabu Jackline, Laker Sunday, Aber Fortunateが汗を流してくれました。　≪今日は以上ですが、まだまだ続きます。近日中、乞うご期待！≫　
 Canwat Brian, Latabu Jackline, Laker Sunday, and Aber Fortunate, whose schooling is supported by the library, helped clean the library before its reopening as they had no classes. They worked up a good sweat.   
《  That’s it for today. Until next time! Maybe very soon!!　》

 コロナの影響で、より住居費、食費など生活費がかかるタウンから、多くの子供たちが、奥まった地域、村々に移り住みました。 
 UGでは、郵便制度が未発達、タウンにも一軒しかない郵便局で投函はできたとしても、配達サービスはありませんので、受け取るには私書箱を所有していなければなりません。そもそも奥地、村々には郵便局自体が無く、第一、私書箱を持てるような“お金持ファミリー”は、村に一軒あるかないかでしょう。私どもが支援する子供たちのところで、郵便局を利用できるようなファミリーは皆無・・・、
 という訳で、 2019年には、タウンにいて、お便りできた子どもたちのうち、10名ほどの子どもたちは、残念ながら今回は参加できないので、タウンに残った子供たちが、一人でお二人以上の支援者の皆様に書きました！
 3名のスタッフが手取り足取り補助しましたが、まだ未完成、意味不明、ミスだらけかもしれませんが、お受け取りいただいた皆さま、はがき一枚でも、日本語ででも、どうぞ、お返事くださいますよう心からお願いいたします。　尚、引き続き世界的に郵便事情が混乱しています。日本⇔UG、航空便で、片道2か程かかります。
 Because of the pandemic, many children moved from the town, where the cost of food and housing is higher, to remote regions and villages.  
 In Uganda, the postal system is rudimentary, and even if mail can be sent from the town's lone post office, there is no delivery service. So the only way to receive mail is by having a post office box. In remote regions and villages, there are no post offices, and at most one well-to-do family in a village may have a post office box. None of the families of the children for whom we provide support is able to use the post office in town.
 Thus, unfortunately, 10 of the children who were in town and able to write letters in 2019 were unable to do so this time. So, each of the children who has remained in town wrote letters to at least two supporters.  
 Three staff members provided help along the way, but the letters may still have incomplete or unclear parts or other mistakes. We sincerely hope the recipients will send a reply. A postcard is fine.  
 Postal services around the world are still in disarray, and air mail between Uganda and Japan can take two months.

　3学期はエボラ対策のため、通常より2週間短く切り上げられました。今年度は、コロナのため1学期のスタートが大幅に遅れたので、年間を通じ、正味は通常の3分の１程度の授業日数だったのではないでしょうか？　学校閉鎖中もPCやTV,ラジオなどで学習できたような恵まれた子供たちと、何とか食べて生きるのが精いっぱい、学習の機会はゼロだったような子供たちと、格差がますます広がった感の否めない年月だったと思います。ともあれ、図書館と子供たちの近影をご覧ください。       
　To prevent the spread of the Ebola virus, the third term ended two weeks earlier than usual this year. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the start of the school year was considerably delayed, so only about one third of the usual number of school days were held. While schools were closed, some children were fortunate to be able to learn via personal computers, television or radio whereas others had no opportunity to learn and it was all they could do to get enough to eat. This gap seems to have widened in recent months. Anyway, please enjoy these recent photos of the library and the children.

新図書館内に設けた”幼児ルーム”。兄姉が読書中、小さい子はここで、おもちゃで遊んだり、お昼寝したり・・・。手すきの時は、スタッフがお相手をしたり...

In the new library’s nursery, small children can play with toys or nap while their big brothers and sisters read. Staff members play with them when they’re not busy.

コロナ禍に端を発した経済停滞、社会不安の影響で、多くの人々が、私どもが支援する子どもたちも保護者と一緒に、または子供たちだけで食費住居費のかかる町暮らしを止め、さらに奥まった村々に移り住んでいます。
探すツテ、手掛かりがなく今も音信不通になったままの支援子供も5人ほどいますが、Joyceなどの奮闘で探し当てた子供たちを、数か月続いている雨季で、４WDの大型タイヤが埋まってしまうドロドロ泥土の悪路を1日1件ずつ、丸一日がかりで訪問‼、等々のリポートです。
やはり、“百聞は一見にしかず”、写真と説明でご覧ください。

As a result of the economic stagnation and social unrest caused by the pandemic, many people have given up living in town, where the cost of living is higher, and have moved to villages farther inland. Among them are children supported by us, who relocated either with their parents or on their own.
Though we had lost touch with five children we support and had no way of finding them nor any clue as to their whereabouts, Joyce and others had located almost all of them.
During the months-long rainy season, we spent nearly an entire day traveling to see each child, our four-wheel drive vehicle getting stuck in the mud of the bad roads along the way. Here is the report. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” So, please take a look. 

2020年早春、例年並みの一時帰国のつもりで日本に戻りましたが、直後に世界中で拡がったコロナ感染のせいで、UGに戻れなくなり、2年半が経ってしまいました！　この間に失ったモノ、コトの回復に奔走、早くも1カ月強が過ぎました！　K’LAのアチコチの省庁を右往左往して、ようやく、クルマの再登録など肝心カナメの用件を済ませ、KITGUMに戻り1週間。失った、損なわれたモノ、コトの大きさにア然としながらも、少～しずつ前に進んでいる感じがする毎日です。その様子を、“百聞は一見にしかず”…　写真で、ご覧ください。
In the early spring of 2020, just after we returned to Japan for our annual visit, the coronavirus pandemic broke out and we were unable to return to Uganda for two and a half years. Already one month has passed since we came back. During that time, we have been busy recovering all sorts of things that were lost. After running from one government office to the other in Kampala, we were finally able to re-register our car and take care of other essential matters. We have been back in Kitgum for one week. While we were shocked by the magnitude of how many things – both tangible and intangible – we had lost, we are moving forward little by little. “Seeing is believing,” as they say. So here are some photos.   

ブッシュ化しつつある植込み。故EMMAのリーダーシップで苗木を植えたのが、もう2メートルほどにも成長！　木々の間に、ヘビの抜け殻も発見！　奥のTRC（古い図書館）には、サソリも‼
Overgrown shrubbery. Planted under the leadership of the late Emma, these shrubs are now almost two meters tall, and we found snake skins amid them. There were scorpions in the old library building in the background.   

成長が遅い日陰では、踏みつけられ、ゴミ捨て場と化していたので、ゴミを取り除き新しく植え直しを。 こちら雨期が始まったので、根付くことを期待して。
The trees in the shade, which were growing slowly, had been trampled down and trash was being dumped there. So we cleared the trash and replanted. The rainy season has begun, so we hope the trees will take root.  

ターマイト（こちらの白アリは日本の白アリと比べ、大きく非常に活動的。冬が無い熱帯の気候が関係しているのでしょう。見た目は違いますが、木材、家具、本などを食い荒らすことは同じ）やネズミ、ゴキブリなどに蹂躙された本棚、机、椅子、そして多数の本…。　壁、机、椅子に強力な薬剤を散布、固形剤を置くなど、シロアリ、ネズミ、ゴキブリETC対策、全てバッチリしていたつもりでしたが、3年は長すぎました…。一冊一冊手に取り中まで丁寧に確認し、焼却するかどうか決めますので、大変時間がかかっています。
Termites, mice and cockroaches had overrun the bookshelves, desks, chairs and many books themselves. (The termites here are bigger than those in Japan and much more active, perhaps because there is no winter here. Though they look different, the way they devour wood, furniture, books, etc. is the same.) We had applied strong chemicals to the walls, desks and chairs and set out bait in an effort to thwart the pests, but three years had passed. We are carefully checking all the books to determine which must be incinerated, but it is a time-consuming process.

緊急の招集に応じて集まったPRIMARY P/S, PUBLIC P/S、PRISON P/Sに通学中の支援子供たち。3年近くの間にすっかり成長しました！でも面影表情はそのまま!!　奥にBABA OGENの顔も。
Students supported by the library who attend Primary, Public and Prison primary schools hastily assembled at our request. They had grown a lot in nearly three years. But their facial expressions were still the same. Baba Ogen can be seen in the background.　

2020年2月以降、KITGUMに届き、郵便局の私書箱で眠っていた支援者の方々からのお手紙、ようやく支援子供( ABER FORTUNATEとOTEMA BRIAN）の手に渡りました！　あと2通（LATABU JACKLINE宛てとOPOKA BRIAN宛）が本人の来館を待っています。
左からPIKICA MARVIN,　ABER FORTUNATE, OTEMA BRIAN, AGENORWOT MERCY OYELLA, LUBANGANYEYO EMMANUEL　
 Letters from supporters that had been sitting in our postal box since February 2020. We were finally able to give them to the recipients, Aber Fortunate and Otema Brian. Letters to Latabu Jackline and Opoka Brian will be given to them when they come to the library.    
(l. to r.) Pikica Marvin, Aber Fortunate, Otema Brian, Agenorwot Mercy Oyella, Lubanganyeyo Emmanuel 

正面入り口のドアのガラスに大きな穴と縦横に長～いひび割れが‼!　詳しい人たちの話では、Flying Stone（草刈りやクルマが跳ね上げ飛ばす石）で、よくあることと。原因も、いつなったのかも、全く分かりませんが、ガラス屋を呼び、リペア中です。
There was a large hole and many long cracks in the glass of the front door. According to knowledgeable people, they were caused by rocks kicked up when mowing and by passing cars – a common occurrence. We don’t know the exact cause or when this damage occurred, but we hired a glazier to do repairs.  

　１学期に続き今回もJoyceが、雨期の赤土の泥流、泥濘に手を焼き足を取られながらもBodaBodaや乗り合いタクシー(Mini Bus)で、UG全国土の半分ほどの広い地域を東奔西走し、Ktg県内の4地域に加え、他の9県に、四散してしまった子供たちを訪ね、校納金支払いを済ませ、写真を撮ってきてくれました。
　Following on her travels during the first term, Joyce once again traveled over a wide area by boda boda and minibus. This time she covered nearly half of Uganda, slipping and sliding through rivers of red mud in the rainy season. In addition to four parts of the Kitgum District, she visited nine other districts to see children who are now scattered over a wide area. She paid their school expenses and took photos. 

      今学期から通学を再開できた2名(Anywar Joel, Aryemo Sunday）を加え、計20名を支援中です!! しかしながら、手掛かりがなくたどり着けない子が2名(Aketowanga Beatrice,  Aweko Babra), さらに、祖母や年少の子供たちのため、日雇いなどして、食費などを稼がなければならない2名(Ajok Scovia, Opoka Brian)もいます。日本などなら、夜間学校とかもあるのですが、何か手が無いものかと思案するばかり…もしお知恵があれば、お知らせください。
              Including two children, Anywar Joel and Aryemo Sunday, who resumed attending school this term, the library is supporting a total of 20 children. We have no information on Aketowanga Beatrice and Aweko Babra, so they could not be found. Ajok Scovia and Opoka Brian are working by day to support their grandmothers or younger children. In Japan or many other countries, they would be able to attend night or correspondence school. We are trying to think of a way for them to return to school. If anyone has a suggestion, please let us know.

　中でも一番心が痛むのは、『Amoi Robinaが結婚した！』という話。彼女が初めて図書館に来たのは、2019年の3学期頃、既に12，3歳でした。実父が亡くなった後、彼女や妹たちを連れて再婚した母に連れられて、Lira県からKtgに来て、図書館のことを知り、『勉強がしたい』と通ってくるようになり、学校にはほとんど行ったことがないので、1，2年生位の小さい子たちに交じって図書館寺子屋のメンバーに。通常なら、1年位、最短でも6か月位は様子を見て、就学支援をするかどうか判断するのですが、まじめでひたむきな態度に、『彼女には時間が無い、待たせるのはかわいそう…』と、2020年2月1学期から2年生として就学支援を始めました。2年生用の椅子に大きな身体を小さくして、恥ずかし気に座り、でも、変わらぬ真摯な通学、学習ぶりでした。  
――なのに、1カ月もたたないうちに、コロナで学校閉鎖。KTGにいる理由がないからと、彼女たち姉妹は、Lira県の亡父の親類に戻され、そして、結婚…。コロナがなければ、あのままずっとKtgで実の母と暮らし学校も続けていられただろうに…とかわいそうでなりません。ただ、彼女が望んだのでないかも、強いられたのかも知れないけど、相手がよい人で、彼女が幸せであればと祈るばかりです。　ＵＧに戻ったら、一度はLira に尋ねてみたいと思っています。  
   The story that saddened us the most was that of Amoi Robina, who has married. She first came to the library around the third term in 2019 when she was 12 or 13. After her father died, her mother remarried and brought her and her sisters from the Lira District to Kitgum. After she learned of the library, Amoi Robina began coming, saying she wanted to learn. She had very little education, so she studied with the small children at first- or second-grade level. Ordinarily, children are observed for six months to a year before a decision is made as to whether the library would support them go to school. But Amoi Robina was a serious student and devoted to her studies. Because of her age, we felt that she had little time and it was a shame to make her wait. So in February 2020 she entered school as a second grader with the library’s support. She squeezed her much larger body into a small second-grader’s chair. Though she was embarrassed, she attended regularly and studied diligently.
  But within one month or so the school was closed on account of the coronavirus. As there was then no reason to stay in Kitgum, she and her sisters were sent back to the Lira District to live with relatives of her deceased father. …Then she was married. If not for the pandemic, she would likely have stayed in Kitgum with her mother and continued to study. It’s very unfortunate. It may not have been what she wanted, and she may have been married against her will. We just hope her husband is a good person and she is happy. When we get back to Uganda, we’d like to visit her in Lira.  

　1回目（2/27付）に続き、さらに多くの支援孤児たちの近況、近影が送られてきました。
今回は、Ktg県内のもっと奥まった地域、また別のいくつかの県の僻地に散り散りになっている子供たちに、公共交通や、連絡通信手段もない中、土埃と汗にまみれて、Bodaboda（バイクや自転車の後部に客を乗せて運ぶ、クルマの無い一般庶民のアシ）で、辿り着き、1学期分の学費を納金してくれました。
   今の住居での暮らしは？、その場所で、2学期以降も、引き続き通学し続けられるのだろうか？  など不確実ですし、さらに、足跡が辿れなかった、連絡が取れなかった、直接会えなかった4人、さらに、家族のため生活費を稼がなくてはならない、病人や幼い子供たちの世話をしなければならない、等々で、通学が難しい状況の2名などに対して、どうしたらよいか思案に暮れています。
   とにかく、元気でいてくれることを祈るばかりです。
  　Since our report of Feb. 27, we have received more news and photographs from Kitgum of children supported by PR Africa.  
    This time Joyce and Astrid traveled to the deeper interior of the Kitgum District and to remote areas of other districts without public transportation or a means of communication, covered in dust and sweat, to locate children scattered over a wide area. They traveled by boda boda (bicycle and motorcycle taxis commonly used by those who don’t have a car) and paid the 19 children’s first-term school expenses. 
    We are not sure how the children are doing in their new locations or whether or not they will be able to continue going to school from the second term on. There are four children who about whom there has been no news, with whom contact has been lost, or who could not be seen in person. Two other children are unable to go to school because they must earn money for their family’s support or take care of ill family members or younger siblings and relatives. We are trying to figure out a way for them to return to school...  We just hope they will be well.

  4月2日はアンデルセンの誕生日で『国際子どもの本の日』とか。「家庭に良書があれば子どもは育つ」---とのこと。また、古代ギリシャ ラムゼス2世の図書館のドアに、『魂の癒し場所』との文字があったそうです。早くKitgumに戻り、この文字を我々の図書館に掲げ、本どころか、紙切れ、筆記具も手にするのが難しいthe poorest of the poor childrenが、本に触れられるほぼ唯一の場所=図書館を一日も早く再開できるように、と願っています。
   April 2nd, H.C.Andersen's birthday is International Children’s Book Day. It is said that children grow up well when there are good books in their home. Above the door of the library of Pharaoh Ramses II in ancient Greece was the inscription “the house of healing for the soul.” We hope to return to Kitgum as soon as possible, inscribe this motto on our library, and reopen the facility, the only place the poorest of the poor children, who have no access to pens, pencils or paper much less books, can contact with books. 

　およそ２年続いた学校閉鎖が解除され約１カ月が経ちました。今までのところPR Africaが支援する子供たちの内、12名（写真をご覧ください）が通学を始めています。UGでは、始業日に生徒たちが一斉に登校するということはなく、日々、徐々に通学し始め、ほぼ全員が揃うのは、1カ月後くらい、というのが常です。
　通学を希望する学校に、まず3000～5000ugx(ugシリング）位を払って登録しなければならないので、登録料が払えるまで、登校できないからです。
　JoyceとAstridが、乾季の炎天下、汗と土埃にまみれて、徒歩でプライマリー(小学校）4校と＋セカンダリー（中高校）1校を訪ね、子供たちの通学状況を報告してくれました。
　登校が確認できていない子供たち13人については、Drop out　とか、Not reported と区分され、そう書き込まれているだけで、その子供本人が、お金の支援が受けられても「もう学校に通う気はない。」と思っているのか、お金があれば、「できれば通いたい。」と思っているのか、保護者の意向は？など確かめてもらっています。
 After being closed for nearly two years, schools reopened about one month ago. So far, 12 of the children supported by PR Africa have returned to school.  
 In Uganda, children do not all return to school on the first day but instead return over a period of days. It takes about one month for all of them to start attending school. Because students must first pay between 3,000 and 5,000 shillings to enroll at the school they wish to attend, they cannot start school until this amount has been paid.
 Joyce and Astrid visited four primary and one secondary school and reported on the status of the children going there.  
  Thirteen students who have not returned to school are merely listed as “Dropped out” or “Not reported.” Does the child have no desire to go back to school even if financial support is available? Or does the child want to go to school if funds are available? What are the wishes of the parent or guardian? This is being investigated.

Aber Fortunate, Pikica Marvine, Agenorwot Mercy Oyella, Otema Brian,Lubanga nyeyo Emmanuel

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Rubanga kene Dauzi

　　　　　　　Can wat Brian,  Latabu Jackline,  Laker Sunday,  Anenocan Mirriam

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Omara James

 一年半ほど前、Kitgumでボランティアをさせていただきました。

 その時にEmmaと出会い、彼の人柄の良さ、 一生懸命さがとても印象に残っているので 突然の悲報に非常にショックを受けました。彼の周りはいつも笑顔で溢れていました。 子ども達へ愛情を持って関わり、勉強を熱心に教える姿は、 同じ子どもと関わる仕事をしている者として 刺激を受け、勉強になることも多くありました。 私自身も、Kitgumの町を案内してもらったり 生活面でもたくさん彼に助けてもらいました。
 20年という短い人生ながら、懸命に生きた 彼の存在は私も含めたくさんの人の心の中で 生き続けることと思います。
 私自身、体調を崩して数ヶ月の休職を得て先日復職を果たしたところでした。 宮本さんからお知らせをいただき、 いつ何が起きるかわからない人生の中で 今ある環境、命に感謝し、1日1日を大切に 頑張っていこうと思いました。
 ご冥福をお祈りいたします。
 A year and a half ago, when I was a volunteer in Kitgum, I met Emma. His good character and dedication left a deep impression on me, so I was shocked by the sudden news of his death.
 People were always smiling when they were around Emma. He treated the kids with affection. And, as a person working with those same kids, seeing him eagerly helping them with their studies was inspiring, and I learned a lot. Emma also showed me around Kitgum and helped me a great deal in my everyday life.
 Though his short life ended after only 20 years, Emma, who lived life to the fullest, will live on in my heart and the hearts of many others.

 I recently returned to work after taking several months off on account of illness. When I heard the news about Emma from Miyamoto-san, I thought to myself that  one never knows what will happen in life. So I want to be grateful for my situation and my life now, treasure every day, and work hard.
 May Emma rest in peace.

1月9日、既に2か月前になりますが、Emmaが20年そこそこの人生を終えた、との知らせがありました。10月21日、『テコンドーの緑帯を得た!』と、嬉しそうな写真付きで、「こちらは皆元気にしている。図書館も大丈夫、心配なく」とのSMを最後に、連絡がとれなくなりました。ウガンダは今年、5年に一度の大統領＋国会＋地方議員の選挙イヤー。毎度、投開票の1年近く前から開票の数か月後まで、大統領が統率する軍や警察など与党勢力と野党支持者の間に暴力沙汰が頻発し、多数の死傷者が出ます。電話、インターネット、SNSなど制限されるのは常ですが、首都カンパラの日本大使館からの情報とBBCニュースから、今回は、たぶんコロナ対策ということも加わり、一層統制が厳しくなり、治安が悪化、通信事情も厳戒下だろう…と推察し、事態が鎮静化するのを待つしかない…と思っていたところでした。

This is to inform those who had a direct connection with him and readers of our blog of the death of Kafa Emmanuel on January 9. He was about 20 years old. 

We last heard from “Emma” on October 21 in a text message in which he reported getting a green belt in tae kwon do. He attached a couple photos in which he was beaming with pride. He said that everyone there was well and that the library was fine, and urged us not to worry. After that we were unable to reach him. 

In Uganda, general elections of the president and legislators are held every five years, and an election was held earlier this year. From about one year prior to the election until several months after the vote-counting, there are always numerous incidents of violence between the ruling party forces, including the military and police, which are commanded by the president, and supporters of the opposition. People are often killed or injured in this violence. The use of phones, the Internet, and social networking services is usually limited. But, based on information from the Japanese embassy in Kampala and BBC News reports, we surmised that this year communication was difficult on account of the pandemic as well as deteriorating security under stricter than usual controls and limits on communication under full alert. All we could do was wait for things to calm down.  

   2012年                                  　                  2016年

（中）ユーザーだった小学生の頃           （後ろ右）子供たちの読書のヘルプ

10月21日から1月9日までの3か月足らずの間に一体何が？！？　　Emmaは小中学生の頃、血液の問題で、Kitgum, Gulu, Kampalaの大病院に何度も入退院し、検査/治療を受けてきましたが、ここ数年は、落ち着いているらしく、病院通いも不要になったように見えました。彼は、高校生になってから、学業の合間に図書館を手伝ってくれるようになりました。IQ, EQともに高く、責任感があり学校でも頼りになる人柄でHead Boy(男子生徒代表)を務め、手先が器用、折り紙などとても丁寧で日本人顔負け、音楽好きで教会のブラスバンドのリーダーをし、好成績で大学入学資格を得て、入学手続きの途中でした。”教師志望“というのも納得の、子供への温かな対応、子供たちからも大人気、また、知的好奇心旺盛で、日本/日本語などにも興味関心を持っていました。昨年2月からのロックダウンで、大学も閉鎖続き、手続きも中断のまま、ついにただの一日も、オンライン授業すら受けることもできませんでした。最後はGuluの病院で、2019年10月のAnywar Patrick(=Oyoオヨー)のように、血液不足のため輸血が間に合わず、亡くなったそうです。 
なぜ？、どうして？　問いかけても穏やかな優しい笑顔が浮かんでくるだけです。一日も早くKitgumに戻り、手を合わせたいと願っています。いまはただ安らかに、と祈るだけです。 合掌

 So, what happened from October 21 to January 9? When he was a primary and secondary school student Emma was often hospitalized in Kitgum, Gulu, and a large hospital in Kampala to undergo tests and treatments for a blood disorder. But for the past few years his condition had been stable, and he had not needed to see a doctor. Since entering high school, he had helped out at the library between his classes. He had a high IQ and EQ as well as a sense of responsibility. Because of his reliability, he was named “head boy,” the student representative at his school.
  Emma was good with his hands and could fold origami as well as any Japanese. He loved music and was a leader of the band at the churches. He got good grades and was in the process of being admitted to university. He hoped to become a teacher and would have been a good one as he was kind to children and well-liked by them. He was full of intellectual curiosity and was interested in Japan and the Japanese language. Under the lockdown, all schools were closed, and Emma was unable to enter university. He could not take online classes for even one day. In the end, like Oyo, Anywar Parrick who died in October 2019, Emma passed away at a hospital in Gulu, unable to get a transfusion on account of a shortage of blood.  
  When we ask ourselves how and why this happened, the only answer we receive is an image of Emma’s kind, gentle smile. We hope to return to Kitgum as soon as possible and offer prayers at Emma’s grave. May he rest in peace. 

2020年10月　生前最後のSM,「テコンドーの緑帯を得た!」と喜びの報告。
Oct. 2020　Joyful at getting a green belt in tae kwon do (his last SM)