Rachel in Africa

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...