'Just pray and get on with it' - A day 2 account

It was great to get to NVI today and to begin work. 

We were greeted by Edison (the school's Director) and some of the leadership team. Edison shared NVI's philosophy and their passion for empowering young people from the most challenging backgrounds to learn skills which will enable them to gain employment, bringing themselves and their families out of poverty. He also spoke about their commitment to educating the students to be effective members of society through devevoping characteristics which will enable them to relate well to others, be the best they can be as employees or employers and gave back to socitiety in anyway they can.

Edison and his team truly believe that through changing the lives of the young people they work with they can create a better future for them and their country. 

Work started in the textiles department and what was originally going to be a project in one large room has turned into two! It was all hands on deck to wash the walls of years of red dust, fill the many holes and begin to apply undercoat round the edges. Everyone worked tirelessly but there was lots of laughter too and the team used the time to get to know each other better. There were lots of spiders and at one point an experienced member of the team said to another, 'I'm not going under that sink there are lots of spiders', the response was ' oh just pray and get on with it!'..... more laughter ensued.

NVI are always incredibly hospitable and it was lovely to be given delicious food, prepared by the students in the fantastic food tech facilities renovated by team UgandAid 2023 and served in the Oasis Cafe, the hospitality training base renovated by the 2023 team too. 

A long but very satisfying day. We will all sleep well tonight ready for full a day of painting tomorrow!