The Start of Life in Uganda

I was going to start this by saying how tired I was after the long journey, but after everything I’ve seen and experienced in just a few days, it would feel wrong to complain - about anything.

I’ve officially arrived in Uganda, the pearl of Africa!

At the airport, I was warmly welcomed by Barbra, CEO of Ziingo, who I’ll be working alongside throughout my time here and Meddy, a Ziingo volunteer. Meeting her in person felt so special after all our planning via zoom! In my excitement, I forgot to put on mosquito spray, and stepping outside, I immediately felt like I was being chewed alive (though I think it was mostly in my head).

Meeting Barbra at Entebbe airport

We drove through the night to a hotel in Kampala, where I stayed for two nights, before travelling into the community. On the way, I saw so many things that gave me a first glimpse of the vibrant culture here. One moment that stood out was witnessing the late evening food culture - stalls and sellers lining the roads, people eating, chatting, living. But then, a stark contrast: two street children approached the car. Just tiny, around 3 and 5 years old, trained to go to car windows asking for money, particularly from white visitors. It was heartbreaking. These young children, darting fearlessly through traffic, already knew how to survive in a world that’s given them so little.

The next day was full of firsts. I had my hair braided which took four hours, and then we headed into town using a taxi van packed with about 18 people. After that, we hopped on boda bodas (motorbike taxis), and it was absolutely wild! I honestly don’t know how I still have all my toes. We were searching for fabric and materials for our period pad-making project. The streets were buzzing with energy, however incredibly chaotic!

My first ride on a Boda Boda

On Saturday, we travelled to a rural town and from there into smaller, deeply deprived villages. The poor living conditions were more extreme than I had imagined however the surroundings are so beautiful. People here have so little, yet their faith and strength is inspiring.

A typical kitchen in a rural village

A typical bathroom in a rural village

The stunning scenery

We spent two days in the beautiful village of Kifafa - Barbra’s hometown. It’s where she started Ziingo, with a deep desire to support her own community first. After visiting, I can see why. The challenges are immense, but so is the warmth. I visited homes of the most vulnerable, and they were genuinely happy to see me. The village is building their own church, using skills from stone quarrying and bricklaying which is their main sources of income and economic activity in the area. With no roof yet, they’re saving up for iron sheets. Families bring to the offering what they can like fruit, veg, even chickens - to sell and raise money. I was humbled to make a small contribution, and I truly hope that next time I visit, there will be a roof over their heads.

The church offering

After we gave out sweets!

I met Eva, a woman living with HIV. She has a daughter who was born with HIV, twin boys who are sponsored by Ziingo to attend school, and a grandchild she now raises after her eldest daughter abandoned her. The child is severely malnourished. Though Eva receives medication, she often can’t eat enough for it to be effective. Their living conditions shocked me. The children sleep on a hard floor, and they all survive on next to nothing. We were pleased to bless her with food purchased from the offering auction at the morning service.

Eva and her family

Some of the teenage girls helped me prepare materials for our women’s empowerment project. For some, it was their first time using scissors, and they were thrilled. With leftover scraps of towel, we made headbands for the little ones, and the joy on their faces was unforgettable.

The girls helping me prepare the material for the women’s empowerment project

Learning how to use scissors

The children wearing the headbands we made from left over towel!

Barbra’s parents generously fed me. In the village, meals are cooked over open fires, using whatever they can grow. Food is kept warm with banana leaves - a beautiful tradition. This village will forever have a special place in my heart.

Barbra’s beautiful mum teaching me how to peel the local fruits

On Monday, we visited Buyobo Parents Nursery & Primary School in Sironko, supported by Ziingo. They welcomed us with a performance of dances, poems and speeches which was truly wonderful. We provided a special meal for all the children on their last day of term and donated a ball for them to play with. I was shocked at the conditions of the classrooms, they are made from logs and iron sheets and there are many gaps meaning when it rains it destroys any posters or paper they have up and the children’s books get ruined. Despite minimal resources, the children’s joy in learning is incredible. Sadly, most can’t eat during school because their families can’t afford the extra cost, and if a child shows up without a pen or pad, they’re sent home due to lack of supplies. Most children didn’t have shoes on, and if they did, they were either far too small or too big. I’m really looking forward to returning at the end of May to bring them more materials for next term.

School performance

Serving the food we bought for the children to eat

A typical classroom

The school toilets

Ziingo is currently supporting 57 children through their educational journey, from primary school all the way to university. They cover school fees, including tuition, and provide essential supplies such as books, pens, school bags, and shoes. If you’d like to help support a child’s education, you can contribute through the official UK GoFundMe https://gofund.me/53304678

Raising funds in Uganda comes with many challenges. Until Ziingo secures full NGO status, they are unable to open a local bank account or set up fundraising platforms like GoFundMe themselves. As a result, they rely on supporters in other countries to help collect and transfer donations.

Unfortunately, the journey caught up with me. While on the way to another school visit, I became very unwell. After trying to push through, I ended up in hospital with a bacterial and viral infection. I’m being treated with antibiotics and should be out in a few days.

As hard as it is, I’m choosing to see this as a blessing - a forced moment of rest. I’ve been on the go nonstop since I arrived, adjusting to the climate and new routine. I’d be grateful for your prayers for a full recovery, so I can get back on my feet and continue the work here.

Thank you for reading.

Love and blessings,

Alice

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