Now I’m back in to the work routine I thought I would write a small piece about my experience of Uganda and in particular Wobulenzi Town Academy.

Leaving a cold and wet England is never a tough thing to do but as I travelled to Heathrow a mind of mixed emotions were present as I was unsure what I would find, unsure what to expect and all with a bunch of people I had only met once the week before.

Uganda is a real mix of extreme wealth and extreme poverty with not a lot else in the middle but such a beautiful country and a lot greener than I had expected. Driving around Kampala was an experience in its self as the Highway Code has certainly not been heard of here but if biggest gets priority then that’s fine by me.

The two weeks had been planned out for us and I was particularly looking forward to getting stuck in to some building work. We were given the project to construct and landscape the area at the entrance of the school to include two flagpoles as required by law. Working with local materials is a challenge and you soon have to learn to adapt techniques to suit these items, especially bricks.

On the day that we were leaving the school Jerry thought that it was appropriate to have an official flag raising ceremony and invited the local builders working on the health clinic to sing the national anthem which they willingly lined up and sang their hearts out. Working in the heat was the real challenge and you soon appreciate why the locals do everything at the pace they do, I was even happy when it rained!

The thought of teaching to a class of children was not my idea of fun and I avoided the subject every time Elspeth mentioned it although she insisted it was up to me but deep down I knew I wasn’t going to get off the hook. So eventually on the last school day I was convinced that it would be good for the students if I talked to them about what I did as a job back at home. Expecting a small class, Elspeth ushered me into the main hall where I found around a 100 students waiting for me. I have no idea if they had a clue what i was on about but they paid attention and thanked me afterwards.

After a week at school we returned to Kampala for a fund raising evening where a hot shower and more importantly BURGERS were a welcome sight. I must congratulate our host on a superb night and a great brunch the next day.

Sunday back at school for the end of term ceremonies was an incredible experience with the students organising an entertaining day for us. I am not sure our nativity production was any where as good as the performances they put on for us and i am still concerned why I was cast as the grumpy inn keeper!

The school was deserted the second week with the students gone for their summer holidays and I have to say I missed them immensely. So it was head down and start with some of the maintenance work on the school ready for next term.

Talking to the children and in particular reading a number of their personnel life experiences certainly opens your eyes and even shed an occasional tear. What is most impressive is the big smiles that greet you every time and without fail. You do have some real low moments due to what you see and experience but I have to say that with the support from the team they soon pass and I was lucky to be with a great bunch of people. Having no water, no electric and living on stewed goat isn’t that bad – we only had 2 weeks of it they have it all the time.

The common questions I am asked are:

• Why did you do it? - something I have always wanted to do but still not sure why.
• Would I recommend it? - Absolutely it is the only real way to understand and experience something so alien to our way of life.
• Would I do it again? - without hesitation it has been one of my life best experiences.
• What was the best bit? - going to school every day, never thought I would say that.
• What do I miss? - 80p a pint !
• Do I think I made a difference? - Tough one, I’d like to think I have in some small way, but I do know it made a difference to me.

I am sure I have already bored people endlessly whilst talking about the whole experience... but then they asked, didn’t they?

Finally I must thank Nick Allen for supporting me on the preparations which left nothing uncovered and the Dugdales and Balls for making me feel welcome and ensuring the whole experience was one that will never be forgotten.

Geoff Rapley’s October 2010 testimonial

It’s not easy to explain what happened to me in Uganda, but the word I always use to describe my visit is “wonderful”.  It’s amongst the best things I’ve ever done and I would recommend a ServeDirect trip to anyone who was even vaguely interested.

Since Dick Ord first told me about the Uganda trips I had wanted to go out myself. I’d read almost every word on the website, I’d had sensible conversations about what to do and what to expect, on long evenings I had pawed over maps of Uganda (often without finding Wobulenzi), and repeatedly tried to understand how hot Africa really was.

I was so excited to be able to visit WTA. I had just resigned from my full time job and at last had a window to go to Uganda.

From the start I noticed how all the pupils were so content and happy to be in a secure environment. The site is very crowded and dusty with no real amenities yet the children want to learn. I was constantly being asked "Well madame, I just want to know...". The best question being "Tell me madame, what is the point of butterflies"!

Dave ran into his old school friend, Em, and changed his gap-year plans to visit Wobulenzi Town Academy for two months in mid-2009. Em had to fatten him up after his time in Tanzania before he was ready to do some some teaching and painting at the school, before finally being joined by the Team of 2009 in July.

Read his account here.

Petra Allen went to Wobulenzi in July 2009 following her husband Nick's working trip in November 2008. Her experiences meant a lot to her and it took quite some time before she was ready to articulate them. This is her moving account.

International School Uganda (ISU) students worked at Wobulenzi Town Academy for their community service in January 2009.

 The mural was painted by Matt Hyde, and Sam Hodges painted the dormitory with us one weekend. 

Amanda was excited about what she would be able to offer on a trip she had wanted to do after her husband worked on the previous trip

This is what she thought of it...

Looking forward to meeting friends and familiar places again, Elspeth returned to Wobulenzi after only 8 months to see enormous changes at the school.

Here she gives her impressions and all the rapid changes she observed.

Phil heard about the Uganda trips and then filled a gap in his year by jumping right in full of energy

Here he tells how his experiences changed his life...

Sara is a clinical scientist who went to Wobulenzi equipped to screen the students for hearing problems and provide treatment where necessary. She also rolled her sleeves up and joined in with painting, teaching and sports.

This is her report of her time there...

Roger joined the team with his old friend Dick, and found himself in a remarkable band of friends. Then he discovered how to help vulnerable children in a sustainable way.

Roger tells of his experiences in this report...

In mid-July, Rob Fielder, Head of Civil/Structural Engineering & Architecture, and Roger McKenning, Head of Engineering Management for Small Projects Group, returned from a working holiday to Uganda with the charitable organisation, Serve Uganda. Roger writes about the visit and the impact it made upon him.

Helena is a teacher in Hampshire who went to Wobulenzi Town Academy in July 2009 shortly after it doubled in size and when Serve Uganda was beginning to form a lasting relationship with the school. She went to experience a little of life teaching in a Ugandan high school. She also visited a local primary school with gifts of support from England.

Helena writes about here experiences in this report.

Following in his wife Sarah's footsteps, David joined the July 2009 team to lend a hand with building and renovation work at WTA. Although experienced in team dynamics and leadership from his life in England, he found there was more to learn from the Serve Uganda way of doing things.

Here are some of his experiences

Nick began his work with Serve Uganda by visiting Busu in the Iganga district in 2007 with a large group of Serve Uganda volunteers. Nick was struck by the different values he encountered in Uganda, and returned questioning the excesses of life in the West.

Here is his testimonial, giving his impressions and memories 

Simon was part of the team in June 2006 when Serve Uganda joined forces with Habitat for Humanity to build houses in the Wobulenzi area of central Uganda.

Here are his reflections on what he saw and did there..