Primary School in Uganda

Placement number: 0224
Location:   Uganda
Preferred Languages:    English
Minimum Period: 
Minimum Age:  18

This primary school in Jinja has been built in a clearing in the forest, about 6 miles from Jinja town.  Volunteers who go here will experience something that will last a life-time - African culture.  And they will leave knowing that they have made a valuable contribution to these children's lives.  Moses the senior teacher is really enthusiastic and is keen to have volunteers to help him look after the children and to build new facilities.  He is the person at the school who looks after the volunteers, but the Headmistress, Robinah, and all the teachers are very welcoming and caring.

To learn more about this project a recent volunteer has returned to the UK and written a blog.  It is full of information and tells you what to expect at Jinja.  Members can find the link in the members area above.  Ann is in constant touch with Moses and the school and she is returning in January 2009.   Amenities are simple, but clean and hygienic. Volunteers mustn’t expect luxury.

If volunteers don’t mind losing some of the ‘True Africa Experience’ and want to live in more luxurious circumstances, there are options available at Bujagali Falls which may be researched via the internet. Volunteers would still take their lunch (and dinner) at Moses’  home and a small reduction in the placement fee may be negotiated.

When emailing Moses please remember that he can only get to a computer about once a week and also to make sure that your volunteer time falls during a term time. Term dates will be researched and added to this site soon.

 

Role of Volunteer

Volunteers don't need to be trained teachers. They need to be 18+ with no upper limit. Ann doesn’t mind us saying that she is 61. You can see her on her blog with Vicent the boy she adopted and on this website.
One of the most valuable things volunteers can do is help the children express themselves on paper in English and use that as a platform for English language development and understanding English with a non African accent – working with groups of up to 10 using shared writing as a medium as it's less threatening than doing it alone. That can come later. Products of writing sessions to be made into reading books for use with younger children in the school for learning to read English - products become resources, then.
Other valuable things volunteers can do with the children are reading stories, hearing children read, art work, football, netball, hockey, music. In fact task creativity/innovation from the volunteers is welcomed. Just relating to and playing with the children is valuable. Teachers don’t have time to teach more peripheral subjects due to curriculum pressures. Music and singing with the children would be a wonderful, life enhancing treat for them as would teaching them new games to play.

There is repair work and possibly construction work at the school which badly needs a secure store so anyone with building experience would be valued. The school doesn’t have any goalposts – another potential volunteer task. Carpentry, glazing……  the possibilities are endless and you will soon discover them when you’re there. Staff are very open to ideas.

Cost

Accommodation is included in the volunteer fee and will be with Moses and his lovely family at their home in a truly magical forest setting. It’s 5 minutes walk away from the school and 15 minutes to Bujagali Falls.  He has converted his house to provide rooms for 10 volunteers. Breakfast and lunch will be provided leaving volunteers free to go out to the local village or town for an evening meal where there is some night-life.  On evenings when volunteers choose to stay with the family, they will receive dinner. Cost is $350 a month for the first month and $250 thereafter.

Travel

Travel is to Entebbe airport, from where collection can be arranged for a small fee. An internet search will get you the best air fare. Airlines that fly to Uganda are Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airways, KLM, BA, Emirates

Volunteer Comments

From Ann Chawner:

I have to say that the thought of travelling to sub Saharan Africa was a bit daunting for me, but it was something I wanted to do so, with heart in mouth, I went ahead. It is definitely the best thing I have ever done and I have had quite a full life! Uganda is so easy. Wandering around the local villages and Jinja town is safe, even after dark. I never once felt scared. You need to be little more careful in Kampala, but sensible precautions are all that’s necessary so that you don’t get pick pocketed - normal stuff for any international city anywhere, really.

The staff and children of the school are wonderful. They are shy at first but quickly form a relationship with you and you can have a lot of fun together. The best gift you give them is the experience that someone from that wealthy world that they know exists out there, cares about them.

Moses looks very serious in that photo on the website and he is because he takes his job very seriously, but he is also great fun, warm and caring. You should see his smile and feel the warmth of his welcome. He really looks after people who come to the school. His family from Moses’ mother who is nearly 100 right down to his son Dan who is only 3 are absolutely lovely. Since coming home, I have felt really homesick for everyone and the place, there’s something magical about it.

In nearby Bujagali Falls and Jinja town there are cheap restaurants and nightlife with lots of other volunteers from gap year students to wrinklies like me! So you would meet people and have plenty of fun. There are also inexpensive experiences such as white water rafting, kayaking, bungie jumping, swimming and safaris, bookable locally. Many of the local businesses, such as All Terrain Adventures, are run by westerners who are always willing to help new volunteers find their way about.

It would be great if you did some fund raising before you went so that you could buy stuff for the school, but it isn’t expected. It would just be a lovely surprise for them. They don’t have things like football kit, balls, art materials, musical instruments like drums, recorders, supplies for teachers, etc. Once there, you would soon spot what’s needed.

So, if you come, i'll see you in February. I can’t wait!