Week 12 - 21/04/14

Professional

Final 'goodbyes'

Goodbye Teacher Jovita

The time to say goodbye to Africa and to the wonderful people who live in Uganda has come. On Wednesday morning we received a phone call asking us to come back to City Parents’ School to allow the children to say their goodbyes. There was a special assembly with all the children from the lower primary. They sang, danced and we had so much fun playing games – teachers against teachers and pupils against pupils. The senior members of staff thanked us and wished us all the best in our futures. It was then our turn to speak. As I looked out to the hundreds of children gathered I realised these kids had so much potential and I was glad to have been part of the shaping of 73 individuals in my care. Next it was time for the presentation of gifts and cards. My 73 children danced towards me bearing cards and gifts, arms opened ready to hug goodbye. Each child had something, from a box of tic tacs, handkerchiefs, a shell, to chocolates and a rose. It was one of the most humbling experiences to see the generosity of the boys and girls and to experience their thankful hearts.

Smiles and waves goodbye

Kind gifts from pupils and staff

The children who attend City Parents’ are from relatively wealthy families. The children at Street school have nothing – literally, except what they are wearing. But I have had the privilege of teaching both groups of children. Thanks to the generosity of friends from home I was able to buy some amazing phonics resources for Street school and after teaching using the resources and helping train the volunteers in street school, I believe they have the potential to help advance education for the children who attend. Education is key and as Nelson Mandela said ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ (cited in Ennis – Smith, 2005, p.104)

Akim loves phonics!

 

Hard at work

Break time!

Phonics resources 

Cultural

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home. James Michener (cited in Drew, 2006, p.69)

The past week we have indulged in cultural experiences in Kampala. The Ndere Centre in Kampala holds performances each week of dances from across Africa. Each young person involved is sponsored to attend school through the money raised by holding the performances. It was an entertaining night and the talent of each person involved was amazing. My favourite dance involved ladies dancing with five or six jars balanced on their head!

Drummer dance

Balancing jars whilst dancing

Having spent 3 months in Kampala it would seem that we would have seen it all, but there were still a few gems to be explored. Walter’s Bodaboda Tours took us to discover the Hindu temple, Mosque, Bhai’ temple and Idi Amin’s torture chambers. Speaking with locals and tour guides helped us to find out more about Uganda and helped me gain fresh perspective on life for people in Kampala in the past and present.

Hindu temple

Organised chaos - Kampala

Bhai' temple

Dressing up

Nicola outside the Mosque

Group photo

New mode of  transport - Bodaboda

Personal

The danger with spending so much time with someone or a group of people is that saying goodbye is hard. The street kids have had a special place in my heart over the past three months. They have taught me to appreciate what I have and who I have, they have taught me to love regardless of background and to smile and be full of joy at all times. You can’t come to Africa and return home unchanged and unchallenged and I am excited to see how this experience will impact the rest of my life.

Street School

Cheeky Akim

Edith one of the volunteers

The boys with Anne the social worker

Movie time

Joey and me

Sunday programme with the boys

Suzanne Evans beautifully describes her feelings after spending time in Africa, 'I hope you have an experience that alters the course of your life because after Africa, nothing ever has been the same.'  (Salle, 2012)  I can’t wait to see the place this experience will have in shaping the rest of my life.

References

Drew, L. (2006) Pack a Peanut Butter Sandwich: Chronicles of Linda Drew, USA: iUniverse

Ennis – Smith, R. (2005) The Last Call to Witness, USA: Llumina.

Salle (2012) Live in the Magic of Africa available at http://www.hillsofafrica.com/blog/our-top-secrets-for-planning-the-most-life-changing-trips-to-africa [accessed 29/04/24]

Week 11 – 14/04/14

Professional

Unbelievably Easter break has been and gone, meaning a few days off University. Prior to Easter we were given a few assignments so it was great to have some time to complete the work. Surprisingly the format and content of the assignments were similar to what could have been given at Stranmillis, for example I wrote an essay about the benefits of iPads in the classroom.

Cultural

‘Someone somewhere is happy with less than you have.’ (Backus and Chapian, 2011,p.43)

Our lovely friend Emma invited us to go and see the village where she has built and orphanage which holds eighteen boys and girls. So we hired a car and Cara drove two hours to the village where we were greeted by smiling faces. The orphanage is in a remote village with basic resources. Mama Jaja, the grandmother who lives with the children has such a love for the kids. Some of the orphans are HIV positive and Emma supports each child paying for school fees and for treatments for HIV.

Cara, Spencer and I

Spencer getting a piggy back

Emma and Trisha

About a fifteen minute walk from the house there is a water pump that those from the village use as their source of water. We gave the children a helping hand by taking their cans and pumping water for them. After filling three cans I was tired and I looked around at the fifteen kids from the village that had come to the pump also and wondered how they pumped and carried this water every day! 

Pumping water

Outside the orphanage

Smiling Sylvia

Personal

"Everything in Africa bites, but the safari bug is worst of all.”

Brian Jackman (cited in Mancini,2004,p.375)

One of the highlights of my time in Uganda so far has been going on Safari. On Tuesday morning we made the 6 hour journey to Murchison Falls. Standing at the top of the falls and hearing the water crash below was breath taking and the spray from the water was much needed refreshment.

Murchusion Falls

 It was dinner time when we arrived at Red Chilli Rest camp and after some food we made ourselves at home in our tent. Sleeping that night in the tent wasn't a problem but the warthogs and huge hippo munching grass outside the tent did cause some concern!

Sunrise before safari

The next day was another early start but it was most definitely worth it so that we could see as many animals on Safari as possible. It was amazing to watch the movements and interactions of the animals in their natural environment. The water Safari that afternoon was a high point, though I was glad to be inside the safety of the boat when near the crocodiles. Going on safari was an amazing opportunity and I would go again tomorrow!

Hippos

Elephant

Giraffe 

At the Karuma Falls

Time for a pineapple break

The Ugandan postal service is not too reliable and so receiving letters or gifts from home has been impossible, but on  Monday I received a package from home full of Easter treats and a few surprises. Betty and Alan from Markethill kindly brought the packages and treated us to a lovely lunch! It is scary to think that in just over a week we will return home with a little bit of Africa in our suitcases and a big bit of Africa in our hearts!

Betty, Alan and their grandchildren

References

Backus,W. and Chapian,M. (2011) Freedom From the Lies You Tell Yourself, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers.

Mancini, M. (2004) Selling destinations, Delmar: Cengage Learning.

Week 10 – 07/04/14

Professional

Wet start to the day!

With placement finished we have only had a few classes to attend this week. It has been interesting to note that lecture start times are dependent on the weather so despite our trek to University for an 8am start in the rain our classmates and lecturer didn't arrive until the rain stopped at 9am. Our class representative has been very helpful during our time in university and he will send us a text message if he knows a class will be cancelled.

Cultural

We have tasted some delicious African food during our time in Uganda, but Wednesday’s lunch was by far the best we have had yet! It was not cooked by a top Ugandan chef, but by 10 year old Shaban! In the Tomorrow’s heroes home all the boys are expected to do chores and cook a meal each week. This is not something that is unfamiliar to the boys as from a young age most of them are expected to participate in domestic tasks around the home. Clearly prior to Shaban’s life on the streets he was taught to and expected to cook for his family.

Shaban and his delicious meal

Eating with our hands

Research has shown that in Africa ‘young people do more domestic work and have greater responsibility for tasks like cooking, fetching water and wood than other young people.’ (Evans and Becker, 2009, p.25)

Shaban serving up

Joseph preparing some vegetables

Kitchen in the Tomorrow's Heroes home

Personal

‘Time is precious – use it wisely’ (Kimmel , 2008, p.11)

With only three weeks left we are were hit with the overwhelming feeling that we had to make the most of our time left with the Tomorrow's Heroes boys.  It has been a blessing getting to know the boys and during the past week we have taken every opportunity to visit and spend time with them all. It is amazing how much fun a packet of balloons, paper and markers can be. We had paper aeroplane contests, craft competitions and dodge ball with balloons – just what they needed after a morning of tutoring. Some of the boys in the home have not yet received sponsorships and so are receiving tutoring at home for the next term.

Shaban is in there somewhere?!

A very excited boy

Balloon art

Jonathan showing off his craft 

Tennis with the street kids

On Saturday morning we took the street boys for some tennis coaching. Most of them had never heard of tennis, never mind knowing how to play it! Not surprisingly it didn't take long for them to learn and they proved real competition for me. I was exhausted but there was no time to stop.

Tennis coaches

Time for a break

Burnt and tired but no time to stop!

We were back on the road and headed for an afternoon with the boys from the Tomorrow’s Heroes home. Dodge ball, football and swimming were on the agenda. My personal highlight of the day was swimming. I taught Shaban and Joseph the ‘doggy paddle’, holding them up in the water with an arm each. Tom and Swibe took great pleasure in dunking me under water – thankfully I’m not afraid to dunk them back! I left the boys that evening with a smile on my face and I know memories that have been created will be hard to forget.

Shaban and Joseph

"Auntie, auntie, a photo with you!'

Jonathan, Shaban and Joseph

Getting my own back!

References

Evans, R and Becker, S (2009) Children Caring for Parents with HIV and AIDS, Bristol: The Policy Press.

Kimmel, J (2008) How Do We Spend Our Time?, USA: Library of Congress.