The 2017 trip to Uganda was, hands down, the most remarkable, humbling and eye-opening experience I’ve had, or will ever have in my lifetime. Run by Dolen Ffermio, a charity connecting rural communities in mid Wales, to those across rural Uganda, our small group of eight was able to catch a glimpse at some of the trials and tribulations of the country’s agricultural and educational practices over a 14-day period. And, of course, view the country’s unavoidable and consistent beauty.
Led by Dolen trustee, Barbara Maycock, we were able to travel the expanse of the country, beginning in Jinja, on the banks of Lake Victoria all the way to Murchison Falls National Park, with our local driver, guide and all round lifesaver, Frank, at the wheel. No matter how deep into the largely rural country we travelled we never ceased to be amazed by the warmth and kindness shown, a testament to the famous welcoming nature of the Ugandan people.
We discovered just before our arrival that Uganda had been experiencing one of their worst droughts of recent years that had led to bad harvests and a mass food shortage across the country. With this in mind, we met Moses Kitimbo in Kamuli, a project partner of Dolen Ffermio, and his son, Daniel, who were both using land purchased by Dolen to devise creative irrigation solutions to the recurring droughts. They showed us how they were trying to use a water pump provided by Dolen Ffermio to source water from the Nile, or any surrounding swamps, to provide a constant water source in the long dry seasons, with the aim of producing sustainable crops.
We visited both primary and secondary schools, meeting the children and learning from the teachers about the many issues they face trying to provide a basic education with very limited resources. Despite the difficult circumstances that the overcrowded classes were in, we were nevertheless enthusiastically welcomed with beautiful songs and beaming smiles. Through Dolen Ffermio, many of these schools are now partnered with Welsh schools.
Pushing deeper into the country we travelled north to Kumi District where we linked up with Moses Ekoi, another Dolen partner, who showed us the amazing work done through the Ngora Orphan and Vulnerable children (NOVC) project. In just a short space of time this project has helped over 200 children from by providing school rfesources along with farm animals – primarily goats – to provide for some financial security in the future. Upon meeting the children, an amazing welcoming party with singing and dancing from both parents and children was held. Over 400 local people involved in the programme were in attendance. We were then shown all the skills that the children had been taught: weaving, sewing, instrument making, shoe repairing and woodwork among many others. Moses Ekoi also runs a variety of other projects including a solar panel project, agro forestry and goat projects, again with the aid of Dolen Ffermio. While in the area, we were given the opportunity to view other charitable efforts such as the WHOVC project which is run independently by Cordelia Weedon, another trustee of Dolen Ffermio, along similar lines to the NOVC project.
Reluctantly, we left the incredible projects in Kumi behind, travelling to our final destination of the vast Murchison falls National Park where we spent our last few days observing some of the diverse Ugandan wildlife, a further testament to the universal natural beauty offered by the jewel of east Africa. Here, we enjoyed tours of the Nile and drives through the open plains, encountering hippos, lions, giraffes and crocodiles to name just a few. Overall, this journey completely changed the way I see the world, while at the same time being a lot of fun! We thank everyone for making our experience such a special and unforgettable one.
Molly Prichard
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