Stories of previous Volunteers
Hitomi Ishida
I had been stayed at another hope for one year.
First of all, it was fantastic experience.
My daily jobs were playing and working with kids like as one of them.
For example, look after babies, laundry, cooking, cleaning, fetch
water and playing.
These are all what kids are doing daily.
They helped me a lot whatever I did.
So kind and warm kids were always around me.
Fortunately, I could have special project that making movie with them.
It was not easy but we had so much fun!
I will never ever forget it.
Even when I did not have something special, i could get good time with
them by staying and trying to be together their feeling.
Of course it made me difficult to leave there.
Now all what I can say is thank you for everything and still love all a lot!!
Geraline Buijs' Experience at Another Hope
Hi everybody, I’m Geraline, 23 years old and I want to tell you something about my experiences volunteering in a project of Kidsworldwide.
Last year, I’ve been to Uganda for three months to volunteer in Another Hope Childrens Ministry (AHCM) and I had a great time with the kids and Ruth. I still miss them and hope I’m able to go back some day and spent more time there. I really hope more people from all over the world go to AHCM to take care of the kids, play with them, sing with them, cuddle them and just gives them their time. It would be great if you can bring them any materials or extra money but the most important thing they need is LOVE and ATTENTION and someone who doesn’t just feel pity for them and spoils them.
Founder and director of AHCM is Ruth Nambowa, an Ugandese woman of 31 years old. She decided to care for the vulnerable children of Uganda because of her past. She started to take care of her niece and nephews, but after a year the amount of children was raised explosively! On this moment there are about 50 children living in the orphanage or in the village by their parents. These families are supported by AHCM to provide medical care, food and schoolfees. AHCM is supposed to become self supportive so they won’t be depending on gifts alone. There are really nice plans for the future to build a new house on the piece of land in Wakiso. With money from international volunteers and friends they started a chickenhouse with layers last year, to provide money and they started farming on the land as well.
You pay directly to Ruth, and it’s very clear where she uses it for. In my case she paid school fees, bought food, flip-flops and suitcases for the kids and materials for the chicken coop. I really like the fact that your money is being used directly for the benefit of the kids in stead of paying for administration cost or employees of a big organization.
During my stay, I slept in the staffroom with two other female volunteers and we shared a ‘bathroom’ with bucket showerJ with Ruth. I had a lot of fun with the other volunteers as well, it’s nice to get to know people from all around the world. During the day, especially in the morning there is plenty of time to do your laundry, wash your hair, read a book, play with the little children and so on, because most of the kids are in school. The kids love to draw, or make other things with colored paper and glue or just playing football or other games.
We get up early in the morning to help the kids who are in babyclass to make themselves ready for school. We help them bath, brush teeth, take their porridge and vitamins and get them dressed in their school uniforms and shoes. They only go to school in the morning from 7.15-12.45, we took them to school every day and also picked them up. The older children take care for themselves, except for taking their vitamins. A volunteer makes sure they take vitamins everyday and makes a note in their medical file.
After school the little kids have lunch and are going to have a nap. The older children who are already at home are going to do arts and crafts or go to the well. Afterwards the volunteers help the kids with their homework and come with them to get water at the well. Sometimes we helped auntie washing and ironing the uniforms, but the most important job of the volunteer is to take care of the children, playing with them, talking English with them and help them with their homework.
During my stay I made AHCM- houserules (you can ask for them to Ruth). It will make the day structure more clear to you. The kids didn’t like them so much at first, because they suddenly had to go to bed in time and so on, but now they like it. They are more happy and less tired so they have more attention in class. Also the little kids are more happy cause they know now what is expected of them. They sleep in their own bed, on normal times, don’t throw tantrums and go to the potty instead of just anywhere in the garden. Everybody brushes teeth and takes a shower in time, and the bed sheets and blankets are washed regularly now. I now it’s still Africa, but the kids like it to be more structured and most things are for us, Western people, just nothing special or hard. Also the hygiene is better now, and the fungus spreading stopped. Ruth is very happy to get volunteers because she cannot handle all this by herself. She needs volunteers to come and take care of the kids and teach them the rules. Recently she hired a Ugandan women to help her to raise the kids, so it’s less hard for her now. Still she needs you for the extra attention for all those children.
In the weekends (and sometimes normal days) there is time enough to see some of the country as well. I visit the Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria, Jinja, went to Kampala many times and visited two National Parks. It’s easy and safe to travel around during the day, even on your own although it’s preferred to go in couples. Because of your white skin, you will have a lot of attention. Especially children will call you with the word “mzungu” (which means white man/woman) to get your attention. It’s easy to travel around by taxibus if you want to go to Kampala or some place else. All around the street are little shops where you can buy bottled water, candy, cookies and so on. You can also go with Ruth to visit the chicken project, go to church and see more of the country by car when she’s making her visits.
There’s a lot more I can tell you about AHCM, Ruth, the children, my stay there, stuff you should bring and so on, but I don’t want to make this too long. I just hope you get some image of your job over there. Please feel free to contact me for any further questions at geraline.in.uganda@gmail.com.
I had a great time, and I’m sure you will have that too if you like children, Africa and if you are flexibleJ The kids and Ruth will love it if you can come for some time, even if it’s just a week. Most important to remember is that you don’t have to be somebody extraordinary or really talented, just bring your loving heart!
