Uganda Update (3rd Week)

Hello from Uganda! 

Apologies for the overdue update which you have probably been anticipating since my departure on 1st July. 

I suppose a suitable excuse would be that we have embraced the digital detox even when Wifi has been made available. I can speak on behalf of the other twenty volunteers of our four week project group that we have enjoyed dissociating from our phones and avoided the compulsive scrolling through countless emails and social media feeds as we would do naturally at home.

Since our group began the four week project north of Jinja at Nambale School, there have been other groups that have come and go who are involved with projects of different lengths: either two weeks or four weeks. Typically those on the two week projects are allocated smaller schools to renovate whereas those on the 4 week project are designated larger schools to construct a playground from scratch alongside local builders who are enrolled by Play Action International. In this way we have established strong relationships with our building supervisors as well as forging friendships with one another as volunteers with the idea we might meet up and travel together again in the future. Us boys share  a temporary dormitory that has been converted from a former classroom with a couple of the builders who remain on site during the weekdays. 

About our daily routine at Namable School

Our week-day routine has been consistent over the past two weeks which has provided a structure that has been found to be particularly helpful and motivational when the tiredness from travelling has felt on occasion overwhelming. 

Here’s an insight into our typical routine:

6am: Wake up to the sound of cockerels or boarders going about their morning activities before the school day 

6-7am: An invigorating bucket shower overlooking dense and dwarfing maize fields with a stunning view of an East African sunrise 

7am: Breakfast. We have different meals such as pancakes, french toast, bananas, bread and jam courtesy of Monica, our on-site cook. 

8am: Commence construction. The specific tasks vary depending on the rate of progress. 

10am: We pause for a refreshing fruit break including watermelon, mangoes and pineapple. 

11am: Resume work for another couple of hours. 

1pm: Lunch time. So far we have had various meals such as tomato and aubergine pasta sauce, pasta, spaghetti, roast potatoes, matoke (which is similar to a plantain), mashed banana, mashed maize, rice, avocados etc. Lunch is arguably the tastiest meal of the day.

3-5pm: Educational and practical activities with the school children. For example, arts and crafts, football matches, tug of war, treasure hunts, water fights and challenges. 

5-7pm: Free Time. Most people spend this time revitalising by taking power naps or catching up with journal writing.

7pm: Dinner. The food served at dinner is similar to lunch but we are often hungrier at this point. We eat all meals as a group.

8pm: Each volunteer of the group is allocated a “chore group” with responsibilities changing each day including: washing up, taking out the bins, sweeping the dusty floors, preparing the food with Monica, putting out tables and chairs and filling up Jerry cans with water from the pump over the course of the day, to name a few. At this time, we usually play a game that the evening activity group has planned. 

We are free to head to bed anytime during our socialising time in the evening but this is usually around 10pm to ensure we have ample sleep for another busy working day the day after. 

About the Weekends

As we are on a four week programme, we have two shorter weekends and two longer weekends. The first weekend was a longer weekend where a few of the group, including myself, went white water kayaking north of Jinja adjacent to the the river Nile. Whereas the others opted for a more relaxing break at the hub hostel, Adrift. 

We did tandem white water kayaking on the Friday with a qualified instructor and guide and faced up to Grade 5 rapids where we faced waves of up to 8ft in height. As part of this “High Adrenaline” excursion package, Saturday involved tackling the rapids alone in single kayaks with some thorough pre-rapid tuition in the calmer parts of the Nile. We took a course down the river that would not include rapids exceeding Grade 3 however, it was still very challenging to keep afloat and to avoid capsizing. Miraculously only Morgan and I managed to avoid flipping which I reckon came down to technique and predominately good fortune in terms of when the waves crested. Good preparation and knowledge of how to safely perform a capsize was paramount. A few were very shaken after being pulled under by the eddies and spun around by whirl pools. It was such an exhilarating experience. 

Last weekend, the first of the shorter weekends, was spent at Adrfit. The hostel organised a trip into Jinja where we explored the town and interacted with the locals around the high street markets and boutiques. The next day was spent, for most of us, recovering from a night of celebrating the half way mark of the project as well as making the most of the hostels facilities such as the bungee jump, swimming pool and massage huts! 

About the Playground

Construction of the playground of the first week involved digging around forty holes ranging from approximately 1-3 ft in depth in which variable sized tyres would be placed as the main playground equipment. It was fun to take a primitive approach to construction by using hoes, pick-axes and spades and although it obviously took more time to complete digging than using power tools, it was a lot more satisfying. Last week involved cementing and compacting soils of the holes whilst the builders welded the metal platforms and apparatus together. It was at this point that the playground first began to take shape.

Currently we are in the process of decorating which would be completed by the end of this week. At this rate it is likely we will finish ahead of schedule and be transferred to another playground for renovation works although this is yet to be determined. 

Open day will mark the official opening of the playground just before we leave Uganda. I’ve gathered from past volunteers that this is a very rewarding and emotional experience. 

It is clear to see when building that the children overlooking our construction are so excited to finally use the playground they have seen take shape since our arrival. 

Tomorrow the majority of our group will embark on a safari excursion and ahead 7 hours north to and around Murchison Falls National Park for a 3 day safari excursion. We anticipate to see the big five in the wild. 

Personal reflections 

Morgan: 

“It’s been an eye-opening experience thus far. The daytime work being gruelling at times perfectly juxtaposing the relaxed nature of the afternoon play. Both equally rewarding in their own distinct ways. 

The interactions with the school children has been my favourite aspect of the project. I can’t help but feel butterflies when I’m walking back to my room at the end of the day and hear a group of kids calling my name and saying goodnight to me. Although, the weekends and time away from work are also very rewarding.

The best individual moment would likely be the feeling of elation playing football against the older children, both in, and out of the rain. It was a pleasure to share such a surreal moment of cross-cultural unification during a game of footy!”

Rory:

“I came into this trip pretty positive that it’d be a meaningful experience but so far it’s wildly exceeded my expectations.

The poverty the people of Uganda live in, especially in the rural town of Namwenda which we are based in, is extreme to our western eyes. But what has stood out to me is the gratitude, honesty and kindness of the people.

One of the first stand out moments of the trip for me was during the welcoming ceremony the school held for us where the teachers and students began by thanking God for a new day. Whether you’re religious or not, to see their gratitude for life even with the conditions they face is a beautiful and a humbling experience.

I think it will be difficult when we go home to not judge those of us who moan and grumble about our western lifestyle more harshly.

Here in the school we each have in our wallets what would be a fortune to most Ugandans, but we leave our possessions unlocked and unwatched. The only time so far I’ve been warned to lock away my valuables was at a hostel catering to westerners.

We all came here as volunteers hoping to make a difference in the lives of these children and their community, however I think we’ve found the reverse is just as true.”

Expect pictures and captions to follow shortly depending on Wifi connection!

I like to believe I have experienced this incredible journey on your behalf so hopefully these pictures should give you a decent visual perspective. 

We hope you enjoyed reading this brief insight into our time in Uganda thus far. 

Harry