Dollie Ambassador Laure Weber, good friend of dollie maker Anne Sacks, just returned from a heart felt trip to Uganda, where she did humanitarian work with an organization called NOT FOR SALE. Â This group “empowers marginalized communities to seek their own dignified employment and break the cycle of exploitation”. Â Their goal is “to end slavery in our lifetime”.
I asked Laure for her reflections upon returning from Uganda, and this is what she sent me:Â
“As a psychologist I work with trauma caused by sexual, physical, mental and emotional abuse. In many countries there is a majority of the population that has experienced trauma due to dictators, rebel insurgencies, poverty, interethnic strife and sexual and domestic human trafficking . Uganda is a country where there has been decades of terror and trauma inflicted by Idi Amin, and then Joseph Kony. Children were abducted by Kony and taught to be killers. Women and children were and are today abducted for sexual and domestic slavery and forced labor.Â
I went to Uganda to listen and bear witness to many of the people that had been trafficked as slaves. I also taught a seminar on trauma to social workers that repatriate children whom have been trafficked. However, I think I learned more than I taught. I learned about the resilience of the Ugandan people. I learned about the faith that carries those living in poverty and with trauma to experience joy in life. I learned about the generosity, spirit and forgiveness of the Ugandan people.Â
Several of the children in the pictures live in the Kampala slums. Many of them are orphans whose parents died of AIDS.  They were so excited to receive the dollies and teddies. The children have been rescued from the streets by women who themselves have AIDS and live in extreme poverty. These women support themselves and their children by making and selling jewelry.  They are truly an inspiration to me as are all of the people I met and worked with in Uganda.”
And here are some comments we received from the children in the Naguru slum:
Kaparake Silman is 6 years old boy, goes to school at Naguru Katale and is “middle class” says
“from her(Laure’s) big bag she got out a very nice doll and gave it to me when while we all seated down on a mat,i felt very happy! to get my first toy in my life.i carry my toy to school in my bag ,only to play with at play time! thank you for making this doll and bringing it to me!”
Habiba Nanono is 7 years old girl
“every Holiday,i ask my mum for a doll and she tells me to chose between food and getting a doll.that always made me sad! but when Laure came she gave me this sweet doll and she is my best friend friend cause i tell her all my secrets. we share the bed and blanket! and so happy!! when my friends asked where i got the doll from,i told them that untie Laure gave them to us.now they are all waiting for her to give when she comes back! thanks untie Laure for sharing with us! now i am happy!!
I think this photo says our motto loud & clear: Â TO GIVE IS TO RECEIVE !
