Stone Cold

Helen, Jennifer, and Grace at Alliance Francaise for the premiere of Stone Cold.

Last week the Women of Kireka went Hollywood! Well, sort of. At the kind invitation of Irene Kulabako - film director, health communications specialist, and all around lovely woman - WoK was invited to attend the premier of Stone Cold, a new film by TriVision Uganda.

Shot here in Kampala and in parts of North Eastern Uganda, Stone Cold tells the tale of Kosai, a poor man from the countryside who earns his living crushing stones. Desperate to make ends meet, Kosai takes his four children out of school and forces them to work alongside him in the quarry. The film not only sheds light on the dangers of child labor, but on the specific risks involved with quarry labor.

For Helen, Jennifer, and Grace who accompanied me to the premier, the film resonated with their personal experiences. Fleeing the decades long conflict in Northern Uganda, the women moved south in search of a better life for themselves and their families. Upon arriving in Kireka the only work they could find was at the quarry. When asked if the film was an accurate portrayal of the backbreaking and tireless work they have done for years Jennifer said simply, “That’s the real quarry movie.”

While the film was an amazing opportunity to explore issues close to home, the business minded Women of Kireka took full advantage of the unique opportunity to sell many pieces and get the word out about our jewelry. This eye towards the future was also apparent on Sunday when I had the chance to sit down with Helen, Jennifer, and Grace, and ask them about the experience.

Q. What were your thoughts after watching the movie?

Grace. It is very bad indeed. The (movie) pained me, but I don’t have any effort to do another thing. I don’t have a garden. I don’t have any capital to do another business, so that is my work.

Jennifer. I feel like changing. I think about changing my life to another work, but I’m forced to go back because I have nothing (else) to do.

Q. What is your reaction to how the children were forced to work alongside their father in the movie?

Helen. It is really very bad but because of the situation we are forced to do that.

Grace. The way the father acted is what happens in our working place. Even me I am like that man, I force the children to work. Because... I don’t have fees and I don’t have food. (The children) don’t want to go but you are supposed to force them to go. We say “This is your life, if you don’t want to work, you don’t get food, you don’t get fees, so you have to work.” I just request you to get (more of a) market for us so we can stop working that way, because it is very dangerous.

To find out more about what life is like working in a stone quarry, read a review of the film or watch the trailer.

Jennifer getting some beads ready for sale.

Our finished display.