micheal experience

EPIC MOMENT –

By Franziska Burkert ( Denmark / Germany )

This picture was taken on a beautiful Saturday evening in Jinja, southeastern Uganda. I was sitting on a cruise, sailing through the Victoria Lake, accompanied by a group of other lovely interns. Music, food, drinks and everybody’s good mood made the atmosphere amazing. We were talking, laughing and dancing to American songs featured by African rhythms whilst the sun slowly disappeared behind the mango and avocado trees. It was a moment full of pleasure, beauty and happiness. Witnessing the pretty sunset made me start thinking about this unique country called Uganda. I realized that it is a country full of contrasts, a country where the beauty and diversity of nature goes along with the cruel reality of people fighting for something to eat every day. However, it is also a country full of people who enjoy their lives, no matter how little they have, people who love to dance, laugh and sing. They are grateful for every single day, for every single moment.

As a girl from a country where people complain about a 5 minutes delay of the bus I have to say that I am honestly impressed and touched by the positive attitude of the Ugandan society. Wherever I went so far, I felt welcomed; people were smiling, waving and greeting in their extroverted manner. I could feel that they respect me without even knowing me, just

because I am white. Anyway, however more developed the western “white� world might be, I belief that there are a lot of values which got lost within our so-called advanced society. We, as people being concerned about whether to buy a Blackberry or an I phone 5, should look at the Ugandan society and learn again how to appreciate the small things in life, how to enjoy time with each other, how to be happy and grateful for the things we have, rather than striving for more and more property without even knowing what to use it for.

When I took this picture, I was in such a stage of pure happiness and therefore I wanted to share this moment with you. It demonstrates that, despite all the problems and challenges of the country, there is still hope because there are people who belief in it. There are people who fight for progress and for a better future of their beloved country Uganda. I was lucky enough to get to know some of them, the lovely members of the AIESEC Uganda team and I am proud to be a small part of the attempt to move Uganda forward.