HEALS Dancers performing at the Grand Ceremony

Kope Cafe: day 2

I am elated. Sitting on a comfortable couch, listening to an old remix of Duran Duran in Kope Café brings about the most foreign feeling, while simultaneously, I feel closer to home than I ever have. I just got up off this comfortable couch, and after looking around at Ugandan Med School grads dining under reservation in a gleaming, lamp-lit room, I walk outside to ride my bike to the market. Riding away from the café, reality sets in outside of the picturesque “Disney-like” setting as it’s been described. Elderly women walk home with belongings on their heads, military men march past, toting AK-47s, smells of burning trash waft through sticky air. Kope Café which sits in the middle of downtown Gulu, is unlike any place around here. Cruising down the street, my sandals grazing the top of the pavement, I smile in gratitude at God’s blessing bestowed upon this café. My eyes well, close to crying by the beauty of this moment. A pinnacle peak of joy, and of awe. It has not been easy. It is amazing that on the second day of being open, I feel light-hearted enough to laugh at the last two and a half months. The challenges faced make this night even sweeter. Looking back on the restless nights in bed, when I could only pray to trust that this mess of a café, covered in cement, tree parts and dust would become a place to gather; Even this last week, hurried and chaotic, dipping into my personal finances to fund pots and pans, and stoves, I was a mess of excited and nervous energy. But if there’s one thing that naming a café Kope, (meaning “no worries”) in a town like Gulu, teaches me, it’s to slow down, and realize that operating in lightness is far more effective than running around in panic mode. As I pedal back towards the café, my thoughts dissipate upon seeing the café through the windows. In soft light, the glow of the café looks marvelous. A couple are snuggling on the couch. Another is eating face to face at a small table. Two people are sitting up in the tree house, amongst pillows they are laughing. And the recent graduates are enjoying liver- their request. The chef we hired has turned out to be fantastic. He makes exceptional dishes, fresh and innovative. I feel like he has been waiting his whole life for the opportunity to show off his true skills. And he loves the fact that we have given him full artistic freedom to make whatever he wants. So far, it has all had rave reviews. Steak salads, with his housemade Dijon vinagerette, vegetable curry with Thai noodles that I have not tasted since Thailand. I was in disbelief as I ran back to thank him, into the makeshift kitchen, with a gas stove top I bought for 50 bucks in Kampala, two “traditional” stoves made of car hubcaps, and a refrigerator we borrowed from Jolly’s sister. Amazing. I have no idea how he produces these dishes. I am seriously in disbelief anytime Linda brings something from the kitchen. I really don’t get it, but don’t want to get it. It adds to the mystique of how this place came to be. I feel like I should know best and yet, when my friends from Invisible Children how it came together, astonished that this dream of Jolly’s which has been planned for over a year, is finally realized, I have no clear concept of its development. I have God to thank and a number of incredible Acholi friends.
In two days, the place has transformed from being the bane of my lonely existence to a comfortable, relaxing and exciting place that brings together artists and great people to enjoy a space completely unique to Northern Uganda. Plus, I am lucky, so gratefully lucky to be working with my friends. Linda, who has become a great friend and who worked so hard, for free, painting and cleaning the café months before it opened, and Patrick, who donated over 35 hours painting the entire place with beautiful designs and murals. Plus Davis, who is going to start playing the keyboard on Saturday evenings. And we are in the process of booking a blind violinist for Sundays.
Sunday night is coming to a close. My friends from Invisible Children have just left. They had been in the café nearly all weekend. Confirming this place’s worth, they spent nearly the whole day here, some enjoying breakfast through dinner. We really had no place to hang out, beyond work and our home. So, we’ve kind of just transferred our usual conversations and atmosphere to the comfy living room style of the cafe. And our new hang out is far more beneficial for Gulu’s kids- with purchases going to fund the HEALS program for Acholi youth. I have already sung the Cheers theme song, which just enters my mind at this situation, where I no longer have to go and visit friends. They just appear through the double doors. My Mom last week sent money specifically instructed to spend on myself and something I would enjoy. Grateful, I used the money to buy speakers for the café. Not only does it make the place complete, but I am able to hook up my IPOD to the speakers and broadcast all of my favorite music beyond the confinement of my ears. Ugandans and Mzoongus alike have already brought in their favorite music by CD or MP3 player. It’s great to get a mix of music, as we’ll play anything- always announcing who’s music selection we are enjoying.
So, I am so grateful, in this completely honeymoon state- floating in the enjoyable and graceful pace of this café. I am in awe and complete gratitude for all those who helped bring this together. Jolly’s sister, Judith, who just returned from the UK, has played a big part in answering my prayers for help. She has taken over as manager/accountant and I could not be more grateful for this complete Godsend. Other than that, tomorrow is another day. We open at 8 am for coffee and tea. Then I start work at Invisible Children at 9am. I’ll plan to check up on the café around 11 am or so, through lunch and then back to the office until 5. I’ll try to do some exercise before making it over to help close the café by 8 pm or so. Busy but throughout this enormous process, I have been fueled by this inner drive to push on. And thankfully, now that our furniture has cushions, and my former paint storage room produces Thai vegetable curry, the job has become a lot more “Kope”.

Kope Cafe: Open for Business

Kope Cafe was officially open for business as of Saturday, 17 November, 2007. 11/17/07- has a good ring to it, I think. We opened with the usual fanfare- sparks flew from the waffle machine that lit on fire...we decided to go with fruit pancakes. Otherwise it was a surprisingly smooth day. People loved the food and atmosphere, including myself. We opened from 8 am until about 8 pm. Tonight we are serving a party of recently graduated doctors-the place is picking up steam and exciting. More to come...

KOPE CAFE: GRAND OPENING!

The day arrived...and it felt like last minute preparations for a wedding- or at least the weddings you see in movies. Jolly (the Country Director of Invisible Children and HEALS) summoned all of her family members and HEALS kids to help out. Walking around the rooms, kids were scrubbing tile, watering the indoor grass, moving around heavy bags of coffee, arranging and reearranging the wooden couches and log tables around the room. At one point, I led a parade of pillows, just made from the friendly market women through town, with 8 people each carrying a couple to the cafe. They were going up in the "tree balcony". Meanwhile, the carpenters turned electricians were up in the ceiling installing the lamps which I had just haggled for in the Kampala markets. As I would walk outside, barefoot so as not to ruin the floors, I would be showered with concrete being chiseled out of the front wall to install the sign- metal letters spelling out Kope Cafe, which the local tinsmith had cut out by hand from a computer print-out of the logo. Installing them was Okello who I have come to realize is not exactly a perfectionist. Occasionally friends passing would offer him suggestions for how to adjust the letters to make them look somewhat straight. Patrick, the artist was making final adjustments to the mural, and I was hammering bark onto a hand painted sign for the art exhibition. Meanwhile, the HEALS director was busy mounting the photographs, and the photo students were admiring their works being hung.

At one pm, Jolly hauled all the remaining trash away, the HEALS dancers changed into traditional Acholi dress, and we were ready for the grand opening of Kope Cafe. It was a beautiful afternoon, displaying the vitality of the HEALS Organization through the vibrant talents of its kids. The dancers, with plumes of ostrich feathers attached to their heads made the strong entrance, uniting the cafe with its purpose, and the two elements- the HEALS children, and the cafe, looked beautiful together. While I watched their dance performance, drums and calabashes beating the rhythm of the ancient songs, as the bells attached to the kids' feet hit in perfect unison, it became just that. The perfect union, coming finally full circle. A venue space echoing sounds of local music and art, of creative thought and limitless expression. And in a place that equally reflected art, beauty and a love for its beneficiaries. It was in that moment that it all came together for me. And it was a beautiful, striking moment.

The photography exhibit was equally impressive, with HEALS' photos students showcasing their best works- each unique and powerfully connected to one of the stanzas from Ecclesiastes 3, which was the theme of the exhibit-"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens". With each phrase, the student explained their perspective in writing, included in the program, and it became so real, as soon as the connection was made between the powerful photo, taken through the honesty of the child's perspective, and the reality of their lives which go beyond the simple glance. It was incredible to understand the creativity and ability to analyze and explain their lives-filled with many emotions I never understood or had to deal with as a kid. Through this means of expression, it became completely candid, raw and engaging. Each of the young photographers were there, proudly explaining their works, and a few Mothers and Fathers also came. One mother upon seeing a photo of herself, gasped in excitement, hugging her son, whose eyes said it all- he was so proud, and she of him. A girl from the Nationwide newspaper, The Monitor attended the exhibition and will speak to the kids today, attempting to give a few of the older ones a chance to get into photojournalism.

It was a day to remember. And now the real work begins, as we will officially open for business next weekend, after training the staff and finalizing our menu. Oh, and hiring the chef. Oh, and buying a stove. Oh, and fixing the front sign, Oh, and... Anyhow, thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. They are working through this project and continue to move it forward in beautiful and unexpected ways.

On a personal note- may God bless the Riley family during this time. Know that his energy and enthusiasm, contagious, has given me strength in my creativity here. I'm sure this can be said by so many. May he always be remembered for his incredible courage and love for others.

Grand Opening Kope Cafe

Kope Cafe #3

We have officially one week before Kope Cafe is scheduled to open. For the last two and a half months, I have been joking around that Kope Cafe will be ready for CHOGM. CHOGM, standing for Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting is a week-long meeting of all Country leaders belonging to the British Commonwealth. Kampala was given the honor of hosting this annual event, in which the Royal British family will be attending, justifying spending millions of dollars renovating the city, installing stop lights, and trying to decieve the World into thinking they (Ugandan gov't) have their act together. Unbeknownst to the 500 heads of State that will be staying in brand new hotels, driving in the 400 BMWs bought for shuttling them around for a week, in pleasant traffic, because most major streets will be blocked off to the public, the Country's people are silently suffering for it. This is most represented in the North, where people have been hearing stories of the millions of dollars spent on preparing for CHOGM- obvious in a trip to Kampala where nearly every billboard states: "For one week, the world's eyes will be on us...Will you be ready for CHOGM?" We thought it would be great to blow up a photo of thousands of starving people in the IDP camps in the North, holding up a sign saying, "We're ready for CHOGM". Definitely would magnify the complete ignorance and neglect of the government in helping the North- bet you can guess where the President/Dictator is from? In any case, telling people in Gulu that Kope Cafe will be ready for CHOGM gets huge laughs around town. Besides it being irrelevant, I really never thought we would be ready for CHOGM, which kicks off this next week. But, thanks to the carpenters and recently two fantastic artists, we will be READY FOR CHOGM! Let the Queen have her tea time in the tree house! I'll get the ladder in order, unless she requires an elevator. We may need to make a few certain adjustments, at the expense of the HEALS program to facilitate her stay, but rest assured, if she needs a helicopter landing pad, I am willing to raze the neighbors apartments behind me. Whatever it takes.

Now, back to reality...A friend of mine who works at the t-shirt design and screenprinting shop stopped by Kope last week. As he walked in, he just looked around, silently, with this huge grin on his face. He finally said that it was the place he had been waiting for in Gulu. A place for artists to come together. I was stunned that he felt that way- that was my complete intention with the place, and already he could tell, without the walls covered in local artwork. On the spot, he offered to contribute 10 hours of free work. His commitment shown through this week, as his friend, both art grads from the best University in the country, have spent over 20 hours painting this incredible mural across the rooms. Sticking with the theme of trees, their work has been incredible, and has continued to excite me for the promise of this place.

We are opening with a Photography Exhibition which will feature photos taken by the young students at HEALS. The photos will follow the theme from Ecclesiastes, and will be entitled, "A Time for Peace". Tiffany, a fellow co-worker at Invisible Children, is helping host it. She conducts the weekly photography program, called "Listen To My Pictures: Gulu". The photos will be matted, each taking a different phrase of the passage. The child who took the photo corresponding to the phrase also wrote about what the phrase means in relation to the photo. The pictures taken are compelling, and tell really personal stories in the perspective of these kids' lives. Photos that no visitor could take here. I am excited about this grand opening, which will be complete with a performance by the HEALS Cultural All-Star Dancers! Now all we have to do, short list- is construct a sign, buy plants, finish painting the mural, buy fans, procure the coffee from our suppliers, get an oven and hire for all positions. What a week ahead! But at this point, I am riding on the momentum supplied by the Acholi artists and carpenters around me, who are enthusiastic for the big day. CHOGM 2007!