Princess Marie as Patron of DanChurchAid 2011 - 2024


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Princess Marie has started her visit to Uganda today:

 
Good news, BT is going to provide a running coverage of our Marie's visit to Uganda.
The coverage today is pretty good. Enjoy the pics and video:
https://www.bt.dk/royale/prinsesse-...erne-kom-i-brug-og-prinsessen-fik-en-ny-taske

Today Marie learned to produce charcoal-blocks. These blocks are put together from various left-over materials like coal, molasses and clay and mixed together and formed into blocks.
These are used as a supplement to the locals private energy consumption, saving trees, gas, oil and coal. And making it themselves means it's also a cheap alternative.
On top of that they pollute less.

Marie also saw how local women cooked rice in "baking-baskets". These are lined baskets made from wicker that also saves energy.

Shortly after arriving the local branch of DanChurchAid proviced Marie with a back-pack containing various useful items, like mosquito balsam, hand-sanitizer and so on. Her backpack was labelled HRH Princess Marie.
Marie said that Marie would have sufficed.
- Perhaps she was thinking about using the backpack privately? ;) A more discreet backpack being more useful when private.
 
Yesterday, Princess Marie visited the project "Fresh fruit nexus", a collaboration between DanChurchAid and the companies Nordic Fruit and Biofresh, whose vision is to lift local production. Food storage, reducing food waste and establishing local jobs are also among the project's goals.

Later Marie met refugee families "who have been involved in a project on sustainable climate solutions for refugees in the districts of Aura, Yumbe and Kampala".


** kongehuset gallery ** kongehuset video **


** ritzau article with photos & video: 21-årig kvinde til Prinsesse Marie: ”Det her projekt har reddet min søns liv” **

 
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Thanks, Iceflower. :flowers:

And today's BB report from Uganda.

I'm delighted to see that it's Trine Larsen who is covering our Marie in Uganda. Then we can rest assured the coverage will be good.

https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/prinsesse-marie-maatte-undvaere-stroem-og-vand

As you know from Iceflower's post Marie is today in north-western Uganda, not that far from the border to Congo - and close enough to the border to Southern Sudan...!
But things started out as you may expect in rural Africa. There was no electricity nor warm water at the hotel where Marie stayed (and presumably the press as well) so no warm shower this morning for Marie and no charging the phone either. But Marie soldiered on anyway.

That however are luxury-problems in comparison to the problems some of the people Marie met today are facing. Mainly female refugees from Southern Sudan, where you are pretty exposed if you are a woman and in particular if you are a woman on your own. Rape and other forms of abuse - not to mention blackmail and robbery are a very real risk for any woman or girl who is fleeing across the border to Uganda.
The situation in Congo right now, that is in the regions close to Uganda, is pretty tolerable but sometimes unrest flare up, or a decease break out. Outbreaks of Ebola are not uncommon in Congo and it's difficult to contain, simply because of local ignorance, misinformation, tribal predjudice and especially superstition. Often medical staff at what hospitals and clinics there are, are attacked by locals, because someone told them that the treatment is lethal, that vaccinations are dangerous (you don't have to live in Congo to believe that one, though! Sadly enough.) and so on. I once read a thought-provoking account of a serious outbreak of Ebola in Congo, some years back. (You may remember the world-wide Ebola-scare.) The decease was scary enough for the locals, but what really freaked them out was when the white relief-workers started to die as well.
Ironically the best protection people in Congo have against epidemics, is that everything, not least the infrastructure, is so primitive.
So it was not just to demonstrate the decease-control system in Uganda for a visiting VIP, when Marie was checked for signs of fever yesterday. It's deadly serious for the Ugandans!

-----------------

And an update from BT: https://www.bt.dk/royale/prinsesse-marie-paa-vild-tur-i-uganda-det-her-er-et-ingefaerblad

Nice photos.

It was a very bumpy drive Marie went on today! Well at least for the journalists who was part of the cortege. :D
The suspension in their car, combined with the road made it feel like the bottom and the windows were on the verge of falling out.

But Marie was shown around in the fields the female refugees from Southern Sudan cultivate.
Now, what about the menfolks, you ask? The teenage boys too?
Why don't they go with the women?
Very simple: While women are in serious risk of being raped and robbed while on the run - also being killed - men caught by the warring factions in Southern Sudan will more likely than not be killed on the spot.
In many cases the men of a tribe or village in Southern Sudan will send the women and children ahead, escort them a part of the way, but otherwise send them on on their own, because the men stay back to fight. But just as much the men stay back to protect their cattle and fields - the whole basis of not only their personal economy but also their status in society. They can't vanish into the bush with both their cattle and their families.

And there is one more reason for men not joining their women: Uganda.
Men won't be welcomed with open arms in Uganda, because if there is one thing Uganda is not interested in, it's the conflicts spilling over their borders, or Uganda becoming the base for hit and run raids in Congo and Southern Sudan across the border.

It's not only a political conflict in Southern Sudan. It's also a tribal, ethnic and religious conflict. - The "Sahara-tribes" to the north against the "central-African" tribes in the south. In fact that's pretty much the whole reason for Sudan splitting up in a northern and southern part.

----------------

Additional update from BT, this time including a video og Marie dancing.
https://www.bt.dk/royale/se-prinsesse-marie-danse-stammedans-der-har-vaeret-mange-store-oplevelser

But the visit is of course serious enough.
DanChurchAid is teaching the local Ugandans in how to grow new types of crops in this pretty poor part of Uganda.
Because the current climate-changes are of course also, and very much so, affecting Africa. And traditional crops and traditional methods don't work anymore. (*)
So now they are being advised and supported in growing new crops that can better cope with the increasingly arid climate. And this is mainly directed at women who take care of the "kitchen-garden" while the men take care of the fields and larger livestock. (**) That is if there is a husband around. Because many men work far away, perhaps in the cities or even in another country or they have simply vanished - for all sorts of reasons. So it left to the women to grow and support the family inbetween their husbands coming back with money (if they ever come back).
For many families the change to new crops have meant the difference between eating once a day to, eating several meals a day.

(*) Not least cattle. Even though African cattle are tough breeds, the drier climate and more arid landscape means it's ever more difficult to maintain cattle. They need space and something to eat, and that takes up place, which again leads to territorial disputes because the population is growing. There have previously been attempts to introduce camels into east and central Africa, because they can cope and they provide milk. But cattle is deeply ingrained in the local cultures. A man's whole status is based on how much cattle he owns. Not how many sheep or chicken or pigs he owns, cattle. There is even a local greeting that roughly translates to: "How is your cattle?"
But the realities are harsh and there seems to be less reluctance in switching into more adaptable livestock like camels. I guess money outranks cattle.

(**) Nothing special about that. Also here in DK it's far from uncommon that it's only the wife and children who look after the kitchen garden and poultry on family farms.
 
 
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Before leaving for France Marie gave a short interview to BT.
https://www.bt.dk/royale/prinsesse-marie-om-prins-joachim-jeg-synes-at-han-skal-goere-det-noget-mere

After seven months now, the family has settled in well in France, but:
"It's really fine, thank you. There has been a bit, where you must... Where the children thought a lot that they were missing Denmark. But now it's well."

Q: Do You have plans about returning to Denmark? Do You have an answer to that?
Marie's answer is friendly but brief: "No, I haven't."

How is Joachim these days then?
M: "He's working really hard, but it's very exciting what he is doing. He likes to be challenged that way."

Joachim was praised for a recent documentary about Danish history, to that Marie comments:
"I'm very proud and I think it's totally him, so I think he has found something, with which he thrives and which is a really, really good idea. He loved making that documentary.
He has a fantastic narrator-voice. He just has such a good voice, so I said: You must do something with your voice.
If you don't try, you don't know (if you will succeed). So I'm glad he dared do it."

Marie has been praised for being good at Danish, not least spoken Danish.
"Thanks, but I don't think so. I think it's difficult. But I love to speak Danish."

Q: What's the secret behind learning it so well?
M: "There are no secrets. No, no, no. But I love speaking languages and I love speaking Danish and it's also my language now. But it has been difficult."

--------------------------------

Our Marie is wrapping up her visit to Uganda. And had this to say to our reporter:
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/prinsesse-marie-fik-soed-sms-fra-prins-henrik

She is looking very much forward to seeing her children again!
"But I've actually just got a sweet little text message from my son. It made so glad. Henrik wrote: I hope you are well, mor (mum).
That warms your heart (*) and make you miss them even more.
I have only spoken with them twice, so I'm looking forward to seeing them... of course! But I'm also a little worried about returning home to the reports of Corona-virus in both Denmark and France. I've heard that schools in France are closed, and then it's serious I guess/suppose."

(*) She is speaking Copenhagener dialect here. They say "It warms around the heart."
A Jutlander like myself, where the dialects in a number of ways are closer to English grammar, will inevitably say "it warms the heart."
 
nice to hear marie's news. the visit seemed low key but marie appears truly genuine when meeting people. it is nice to see her interacting!

great to know she is in touch with her kids despite the time difference. one thinks she probably speaks to them more than just twice during the whole trip but between their schedules, hers and the time difference, it is probably hard.
 
Thank you all for the photos and video coverage. A big thank you as well to Muhler for translating the interviews and reports.

I really enjoyed seeing the Princess in action. Well done Marie!

I am curious to know where does the Princess stay during visits to impoverished parts of the world like this. IIRC in one part there was no electricity or running water so how does the princess get by?
 
Alisa said:
Thank you all for the photos and video coverage. A big thank you as well to Muhler for translating the interviews and reports.

I really enjoyed seeing the Princess in action. Well done Marie!

I am curious to know where does the Princess stay during visits to impoverished parts of the world like this. IIRC in one part there was no electricity or running water so how does the princess get by?
Click to expand...

You are welcome. ?

She and the delegation who went with her stayed at local hotels.
When there isn't warm water to be had, I guess she does like we did in the old days: Either heated water to wash with over a stove or she washed herself with a cloth in cold water and a bar of soap.
 
Summary of article in Billed Bladet #10, 2020.
Written by Trine Larsen.

The visit was divided into three parts.
Projects in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
Visit to refugees at the north-western border.
Ugandan women in the eastern part of Uganda.

Uganda has some 43 million inhabitants of which a little more than half live beneath the UN-defined poverty limit. The current climate changes which results in more rain in some places and more drought in other places, increase that number.

In the Arua region to the north west, drought is the problem. That there are also more than 200.000 refugees from Sudan and Congo, doesn't help things. But there are no refugee camps as such. The refugees mingle with the locals and live and work where they can, so they interact a lot. - (Many of the refugees and the local Ugandans belongs to the same ethnic group.)
In the village of Katakwi our Marie saw one of the more successful projects initiated by DanChurchAid (DCA from now on.) A family led by the mother, Janet Akil, showed Marie around. Janet Akil had attended a course by DCA in how to grow new crops that are better suited for the more dry climate. The result is that the family can have a full meal twice a day, create a storage of surplus food and sell some of the crops enabling the children to go to school.
It also meant that had been to partly build their hut of bricks, better enabling the family home to withstand the elements.

It was while she was in Arua that Marie experienced a cut in the power and water at the hotel where she lived.
"That's what happens and which you will have to accept, when you are here. I just made sure not to get too close to people. - On that particular day I don't think those we visited had had the opportunity to have a bath."

Here Marie also talked, privately, with some of the female refugees who told about their way too often horrific stories.

Visiting these rural parts of Uganda is best done by plane, and twice Marie flew in Cessna. But Marie is actually not at all keen on flying, regardless of how big or small the plane is. But in this case she sat in the co-pilot's seat and that helped:
"But because I was allowed to be co-pilot and could follow everything, it actually help me to feel less apprehensive."
BTW, the pilot said a little prayer before taking off...

Marie also went east and to be very clear: Women are not counted for much in Uganda. And as such oppression of women is commonplace. - That despite promises by the government to correct that, but...
But there are women standing up for the rights of women, locally and politically. One such woman was Helen, who after suffering from Polio is now bound to a homemade wheelchair made from old bicycles.

The climate is also a big issue in Africa, not least since deforestation is rampant in large parts of Africa. The tree mainly being used as fuel. But DCA has helped set up low-scale businesses where the locals can make and sell their own fuel-bricks made from waste-material. That is cheap, and more environmentally friendly and you don't need to cut down trees.

As mentioned before there are women actively campaigning for the rights of women and holding the government up to their promises. And that can be something as simply as opening a health and maternity clinic for women. As it is now women have to walk a long distance to get to the nearest (and presumably pretty run-down) clinic. But campaigning for women's rights is not without risk!

Climate activists have their problems as well. Marie met Vanessa Nakate, who was "accidentally" cut out from a group photo from the climate summit in Davis in January. Marie met her and said: "You are here today and we have heard your voice. We have heard about you and you have a very powerful voice."
Vanessa and Marie had a selfie.

See for yourselves here: https://app.box.com/s/be4ndvr8b2vfzyge02dnj52upinyk9qz
 
Summary of pressmeeting in Billed Bladet #11, 2020.
Written by Trine Larsen.

Towards the end of the visit in Uganda our Marie met the press to talk about the trip.
Marie: "I can only say that the help makes a difference. Even the slightest help makes a huge difference!
I can well understand if people ask questions and ask whether aid matters. That's a natural reaction with many. That's why it's so important for me a patron to com down here and see how the money is used. You never know... (*) but when we travel it's to put focus on how you specifically can help.
We can show how a family now can get food and eat enough. They couldn't before they became a part of the project. Now they have food, they have a water-pump, they have knowledge about new crops, that can better cope with the drought and which they can harvest all year round, even though there are obviously big changes in the climate.
But I can well understand why people feel that way. I just hope we can also show how honest, hardworking and dedicated the associates around the projects are, because they are deeply serious about it, and they work to the bone to help and make a difference. We just don't hear about them, but they are there. And donations help a lot! They genuinely make a huge difference.
I can of course only speak on behalf of DanChurchAid."

Marie has gained more insight into the climate changes.
"I did know it was bad, but perhaps not that it was that terrible!
If yo haven't been to a country like Uganda it's almost impossible to imagine under what condition people live. Under what condition they must survive. It's impossible to describe and totally impossible to imagine. But that's why such a trip is important a well, so that we can show and tell about the conditions of life here. But also show that the resources are so important. That the slightest resource can make a difference between life and death.
Life down here is such a big contrast to our way of life, and what we can do is to behave with respect for food, respect for... Everything involving recycling is also important. Recycling and recycling-production is important, because recycling is an advantage for people but also for the environment. Small changes can really do a huge difference."

Marie's children live a privileged life, being royals, is it difficult to explain to them that there are children who in no way have what they have?

Marie explains that her children are very much aware of that, because she explains carefully where she is going and why and show them pictures. That makes a big impression on them and they would like to help. Marie hopes to inspire her children to be good and kind and caring.

Has she been in contact with her children during this trip?
"Yes, a couple of times. I have just got a sweet little message from Henrik who writes: Are you alright, mor?
Then you get all soft in the heart and miss them.
It's the first time Henrik writes, because normally they don't have a telephone. But Henrik has been given a telephone, because we live in Paris, so that he can call me and my husband. We would like to be able to come in contact with him and Paris things are different than back home in Denmark. So that's why they haven't had a phone previously."

She spoke to her children twice. Partly because there was not always electricity for recharging her phone.

Q: How was it not being able to shower?
M: "Ooohh, as long as you didn't get too close to me. No it wasn't that bad. Actually I didn't think that much about it, because that's a part of traveling in this part of Africa in this fashion. We are in Africa and things like that happens here. Never mind, and many of those we were with hadn't had a bath either... because they simply don't have access to that."
Many don't have access to water, so that has to carried for kilometers. So one day without a bath was nothing to Marie.

The impression she had on the tour was to meet people. See them in the eyes and thereby tell if the projects makes a difference.
"I met this woman, Janet... She was so proud, but she was also a smart woman. She had understood everything after having taken part in one of DCA's projects. She had managed to build a more solid and weather-resistent house for storage and foodstuff and she now had so much that she could sell some of her crops and earn enough money for the children to go to school. That's unique.
Her task is now to show others in the village that they can do it as well. She is obliged to, but I'm sure that she inspire other women. Because they can see it helps. That's what's so fantastic here, they also co-operate."
Marie herself was very inspired and impressed by Janet.

How is Uganda different from other countries she has visited?
"I have not previously visited a country that in this fashion receive so many refugees. They don't have refugee camps, but instead give them a little piece of land, which they can farm and in that way get food. That's a valuable way to receive people, I think. It was unique to experience. But the poverty is obvious. Also because there a lot of people... I believe it's around 45 million... And the majority are really poor and challenged. I have seen for myself how much the climate changes affect the population here."
Everything is unstable and no one knows when the rain comes or when they can harvest. And sometimes everything drowns in rain and mud and floods. Which also prevents the children from going to school.

(Taking a break. Will finish this summary later.)

(*) Indeed. A very significant amount of the money sent to Africa are lost in corruption or vanish otherwise. Which is why DK is putting so much emphasis on helping local, low scale projects.
 
Today, September 28, Princess Marie attended a reception in Copenhagen on the occasion of the Princess' 10th anniversary as a patron of DanChurchAid.

During her speech at the reception Marie said:

"Travel and countries, people and meetings, gripping experiences and strong impressions have left a deep impression. It has given me new insights and new perspectives on the world. It has meant - and means - an incredible amount to me":


** kongehuset: 10 år som protektor for Folkekirkens Nødhjælp ** kongehuset gallery **


** BB article with video: Marie i følelsesladet tale: Sådan er jeg blevet et bedre menneske **
 
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This event has direct relevance to Mary's recent visit to Burkina Faso.

The Children's Developing-country Christmas Calendar is a calendar that has been sold up to Christmas since my childhood. - Many years!!
The proceeds go a project in a developing country, mostly in Africa. Projects in Burkina Faso has been the recipient of such proceeds at the very least once from my memory.

- Christmas calendars. I'm not sure how familiar you are with them, so please skip if you know the concept.
Christmas calendars are countdowns to Christmas with 24 lids to be opened each day until the 24th. Behind each lid is usually depicted a scene of some sort. In the case of this type of calendar it may be something special for that country or people from that country or animals.
It's very common for children to have a number of Christmas calendars, since many weeklies, companies and what not issue a calendar each year.
Many of them contain something, usually sweets or chocolate - and they are very popular. I know of a wife who will be most miffed if her husband doesn't but her one for Christmas.
Here are a number of examples of Christmas calendars:
https://content.gucca.dk/covers/big/r/a/rasmus-klumps-pixi-julekalender_531073.jpg
https://www.fleggaard.dk/Services/ImageHandler.ashx?imgId=2042036&sizeId=0&RevisionNo=5_0
https://cache1.static.noru.dk/9493-thickbox_default/richie-julekalender.jpg
https://www.fakta.eu/SL/PI/887/272/48de64a3-a208-4ccf-a005-85a09908fbc8.png
And mainly for the gentlemen:
https://www.dvin.dk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Portvins-Julekalender-2021.png
 
She also talked to cameras after leaving the church and boiled down she said that the war in Ukraine did affect her and her family and that they talked about it within the family, explaining to the children that there are also organizations that try to help, like DanChurchAid.
Without wanting to go into details she confirmed that Joachim has been more busy lately in his function as military attache.

I haven't yet found a direct video link to post here.
 
That's the one. Thanks. :flowers:

Our Marie talked quite a bit, without saying too much. And she tried to direct focus back on DanChurchAid.
That's good PR-work IMO.
 
Day 1 of the visit to Cambodia today, April 3 and Princess Marie went to the Killing Fields outside Phnom Penh to lay a wreath in honor of the victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide. Afterwards she visited the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh:


** kongehuset gallery ** kongehuset video **


** kongehuset: Besøg i Cambodja - dag 1 **


** BB article: Dybt berørt prinsesse Marie viser ofrene sin respekt **


** BB article: Vigtige dage venter: Nu er prinsesse Marie landet i Cambodja **


** BB article: Det er da løgn: Prinsesse Marie fik en kæmpe overraskelse **
 
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Day 2 today, April 4, included a visit to DanChurchAid's office and a visit to the organization Mith Samlanh, one of DanChurchAid's partners that helps vulnerable children, young people and their families. Princess Marie visited the Chhbar Ampeu district in Phnom Penh and the human rights organization LICADHO and attended a reception on the occasion of DanChurchAid's 100th anniversary:


** kongehuset gallery ** kongehuset: Besøg i Cambodja - dag 2 **


** BB article: Den sødeste modtagelse: Prinsesse Marie kunne ikke stå for små skolebørn **


** BB article: Prinsesse Marie ramt lige i hjertet af gensyn med god ven **


** BB article: Hvad skete der lige dér?: Prinsesse Marie får alle til at spærre øjnene op **


** BB video: Prinsesse Marie til BILLED-BLADET om speciel oplevelse: Det er en god følelse **


** BB video: Fornem fejring: Prinsesse Marie til flot jubilæumsfest med Cambodjas prins **


** BB article: Prinsesse Marie fortæller om stor glæde i ny dagbog **
 
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