Monday Funday

We returned to admire our handiwork at the Medical Centre and the Ugandan sun had worked its magic. All paintwork was dry and we were ready to start all over again on the second half of the building. It felt like deja vue as we donned our gloves to clean, undercoat and paint the day away. Once again the wonderful NVI catering team prepared a delicious roast chicken and cabbage salad for us to enjoy as we broke for lunch.

There was a great atmosphere with many more students arriving on the campus, most of whom came to say hello and watch us at work.

Linda worked tirelessly glossing the shelves - she really did display the patience of a saint! Val and Gill also worked hard to clean the Medical Centre plaque using toothpaste - they did a fantastic job. The only thing we have left to do are the floors and then we will have completed our work!

New UriNile Block (see what we did there?)

The new toilet system has caused much excitement for both the students and the staff at NVI. A while ago Steve received a desperate call from Eddison (the Director) explaining that the student latrine was full and there was no money to build a new one. Steve and the UgandAid team agreed that this was a much needed facility and work started to fund the project. The new pit latrine block (male and female) is now emptiable and will have a lifespan of more than 50 years. This will make a huge difference to the upkeep, hygiene and sanitation of the institute facilities for the students. On our tour of NVI we were proudly shown the new facility that is nearing completion Director Eddison thanked Steve and Ugandaid at the NVI Sunday service and declared this to be an important moment in the life of NVI and Ugandaid showing that anything is possible.

Our Super Sunday Services

On Sunday a group of us went to the morning service held in a packed school hall at NVI. It was a lively celebration with worship led by the students. Different choirs took part sharing songs and dances they had prepared with the rest of the students joining in. It was very different to the experience of most of us in the UK!

The main teaching session was led by Ruth, the institute’s Executive Assistant, who shared her testimony of how her faith had led her way from the life choices her 10 older siblings had made and given her hope for the future. She talked to the students about how their place at NVI was their chance for a better future and that they should embrace it and not succumb to temptations that could jeopardise their time at the institute. It was very powerful and earned rapturous applause from all present.

After another song the UgandAid team were invited on to the platform to introduce ourselves. Director Eddison talked to the students about the love that the UK team show by supporting the school and individuals. He challenged the students to show that same love to one another to make NVI a better place. Steve spoke on our behalf and reflected that NVI is a great institute, with a great leader and how fortunate they were to be there. The celebratory atmosphere continued at the end of the service with students and staff all smiles as they greeted each other and us. It really did feel like one big family together.

The majority of the team went to the morning service at Victoria Baptist Church which is well known to the UgandAid team. Those who went to NVI joined later and we were all made to feel very welcome. The service was a more familiar format although we were interrupted when a passing herd of cows decided to try and join us. Those who had been before were able to reconnect with familiar faces and we all enjoyed the cake shared after the service!

UgandAid Gift Bag Preparation Station

In preparation to our visit to NVI to welcome our 45 new UgandAid students Julie put a lot of work in behind to ensure that each student receives a welcome gift bag. Each bag contains a notepad, some pens, toothbrush and toothpaste, flannel, soap and sewing kit. We would like to thank everyone for their kind donations and to Val’s Girl Guiding group for making and providing the bags. When the new students first arrive many will bring nothing with them, the likelihood being that they will not have any of their own possessions. All students have to provide everything they need for themselves and this will help them at the start of their NVI journey.

It was a real team effort putting the bags together and ensuring that each had a name tag and no-one was missed. We can’t wait to meet all the new students this week and to give out the bags.

Kayaking the Nile on a sunny afternoon!

Today was our day off with the opportunity to choose how we wanted to use the time. 12 of us decided to go on a kayaking expedition on the Nile! We were driven to our starting point along the worst roads most of us had ever experienced, and arrived at the beautiful setting for our adventure. We were given buoyancy aids, paddles and paired up before clambering into double kayaks and setting of upstream. We saw loads of different birds, including egrets, grey kites, pied kingfishers, black ibis and cormorants but we were reliably informed that the nearest crocodiles were about 100km away! Our guides were excellent and it was lovely to be able to chat to them as we went along and learn about their lives, ambitions and hopes for the future, as well as the wildlife. It was quite hard going at times and the current was relatively strong in some points, a number of the team needed a helping hand or paddle to get them back in course (some more than once but then they were rather taken with one particular guide!). We were able to pause and relax on the kayaks in a number of coves with refreshments provided. What a feeling it was to be gliding along the Nile.... never to be forgotten. The journey back to base was much quicker as it was down stream. Our 2hr trip had turned into 3 1/2hrs but that's Uganda time. It was an amazing experience, many of the group overcame real anxieties about being on the water but every single participant had a wonderful time. We have created special memories that will last a lifetime.

The rest of the team went into Jinja Town for shopping or to meet up with friends made during previous visits and ex students from NVI. The leadership team spent time sorting out mobile phones, which seems incredibly beurocratic, and planning for the next few days of our visit. It was great to gather together in the garden after dinner to hear of everyone's exploits. This wonderful, vibrant part of the world has so much to offer, we are so privileged to be here.

Bubbles, balloons and books!

A few of us were privileged enough to go and visit the nursery at NVI. We were met with smiles, from staff and children alike. The nursery has children from 3-6 years old. It is one room with an outdoor space that the children can play in.

During our short visit, we were able to play and interact with the children. We came laden with bubbles which caused much amusement for the kids as they tried to catch each one! Balloons were blown up and offered out for the children to play with. They were also given some knitted dolls and teddies which they held onto very tightly.

We did lots of singing games, including teaching them the Hokey Cokey which they found very funny. It was then their turn to teach us! We learnt a little partner routine which consisted of lots of jumping, twisting and bouncing, which in the Ugandan sun left some of us more red-faced than others!

Paint no rest for the wicked!

Over the last 2 days we grabbed our rollers and paintbrushes and started work on freshening up the Medical Centre. We started with two layers of an undercoat and finished with a final coat of cream paint. There was a lot of standing on tables, shuffling around each other and wiping paint from our faces while singing along to tunes.

The Medical Centre is run by one nurse called Edith.  She is responsible for the medical needs of over a thousand students!  The centre is split into a girls room and boys room, drop toilet with a sink, storeroom and office.

We can’t wait to see the rooms finished but must patiently wait until Monday as there is no fun in watching paint dry!

Team One have arrived!

We are really pleased to say that Team One have safely arrived after a long but enjoyable journey with so much to see along the way. We are now getting into the swing of things at the aptly named Hotel Paradise in Jinja. It’s been lovely getting to know each other - we are twenty strong with a nice mix of ages with some repeat returners and some having their first Ugandaid experience.

We are on Day Three and we were given a wonderful tour of all of the student facilities and each department at Nile Vocational Institute (NVI) where we will be doing the majority of our work. It was fantastic to meet staff and students and we were given a really warm welcome by everyone. After our tour and a delicious lunch made by the catering students just as we were beginning to feel like we were on holiday enjoying the sunshine and beautiful surroundings our hard work began…

Wifi has been a little bit temperamental so please bear with us for any delays in updates and photos!