Rachel in Africa

Can you imagine that as I am typing this we are having one week remaining in Butagaya?! Because I definitely can't! Its a little scary and sad all rolled into one because I can't think where the time has gone and I am most certainly going to miss all the friends I've made. Looking back on our time here however, not only can I see the physical changes in the landscape as a result of the rainy season (ie a lot more green and maize is growing everywhere!) I know that we have made a positive change in the community. Evidence of this is perhaps seen through two things this week. First thing - we formally registered a new youth group, specifically for disabled young people, with the local sub-county chief which will enable them to access government funds more easily and other practical support for their work in their particular village. We were very excited to have helped those guys acheive that, especially as we have seen them right from their formation. Now they have even rece...

Hi everyone! Greetings from Jinja town! This is just a quick update to all my lovely friends about life here in Uganda - which I might add is feeling increasingly like home! After a fab break with Mum and Dad, I met up with all my fellow volunteers for a weeks worth of top up training before heading back on placement. It was great to see everyone again and find out how they were doing in their respective villages, and also somehow a comfort that the challenges we were facing were also being faced by others - so we really weren't alone and we are doing a good job!!!! So since we've back in Butagaya we have been working closely with our youth groups to try and draw alongside them and support them in not only issues of sexual and reproductive health but also with their income generating activities. One of our groups wants to build their poultry keeping - of which they have 20 chicks! We have also recently set up a drop in centre for the young people of our area in the village tra...

So I can hardly believe that I am writing this post to mark the half way point in my placement! Time really is flying by! Currently, I am on a mid-placement holiday break and mummy and daddy Vickers have come to visit! It is amazing, if not a little strange, to have them here and to show them this country and its people that I love so much. So far we have spent Easter in Kumi, the community which I worked in last year and tomorrow will be heading to the banks of the Nile in Jinja for some much anticipated R and R! Although I'm hoping to squeeze in a small day trip to Butagaya so they can see my stomping ground. But what can I tell you about our programme since the last time I wrote?! So much as happened as usual and we are keeping busy but there are two things that I want to share which will hopefully keep you entertained! The first is a story about a boy called Eric. He lives in a village in our parish and for the last two months I had been teaching him in my P7 class at primary ...

Mwasuze Mutya basebo ne banyabo! Or for those of you who are clearly not as fluent in Lusoga (the local language) as I am 'Good Morning Everyone!' So hopefully that gives you a slight hint into the fact that I really am now settling well into the village and fully embracing my status as the only 'muzungu' or white person around! Our daily tasks like teaching in schools and working with the out of school youth groups are continuing to go well and I am particularly enjoying having sessions with our secondary school kids. With fewer students in a class and a better level of english I feel like I can really draw alongside them and offer them support as well as knowledge; as a mentor and peer rather than a teacher.  Now that our baseline survey is over for February, our work is getting a lot busier with more events and activities that are intended to reach out to the whole community. Just this week we have had community outreach talks about HIV and condom demonstrations in p...

10 days into life in Butagaya and it is already beginning to feel like our Ugandan home. I have had so many wonderful experiences of village life already, and of course a few challenges along the way too but I will try and just give you a snapshot of life and work in Jinja District. For the most part of this month, our work is focused around conducting a 'baseline survey' with meetings and introductions and us gathering information that can inform our work over the next 6 months. From meeting flamboyant political leaders like the local council chief and other councillors, to meeting Primary and Secondary School teachers and health centre staff, we are slowly by slowly getting to know the community - and especially their attitudes towards young people and what we can do to help them. For me, a highlight has definitely been meeting with some out of school youth groups who are so eager to start up some income generation projects but are just desperate for the skills and knowledge ...

Yes, one more thing, I just remembered that I promised to leave my postal address for some people. It is Rachel Vickers Restless Development Uganda PO Box 1208 Jinja, Uganda And for those who want to know - I also have a Ugandan cell phone number - +256 771 469 831. Any contact is (as Ugandans would say) 'most welcome'!!!!!

So I am now three weeks in! And the fact that this has been my first real chance to get into town to update you all is probably evidence enough to how busy we have been! Nevertheless it has most certainly been a fantastic three weeks; there is so much to say but I will try and keep it brief! From arriving in the heat of Entebbe and driving through Kampala to our training centre which is located just near a town called Mukono, I felt like I was back in familiar surroundings! It is simply great to be back, eating Ugandan food, enjoying Ugandan weather and spending time with lots of Ugandan people!!     We are staying at the centre from which we are training and sleeping in dormitories of about 12 people, a mix of ‘internationals’ and Ugandans. It has been pretty intense so far with both core sessions about Restless Development and the work of the NGO sector in Uganda as well as specialist training about, what will soon be, my area of expertis...