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Ellie Messham: volunteered with Students Partnership
Worldwide in Uganda, 2003
"I wanted to work with an organisation that
didn't just teach English or build wells. I wanted
to work with people and really get to know a country
and its culture. I was looking for an organisation
that was really going to make a difference, work
with local people and that what I did would be
sustained after I left the project. I chose to
volunteer with SPW.
After
a month of training in Uganda, I spent eight months
living in a rural village, Bulopa, raising awareness
of HIV/AIDS amongst young people. Julius, my Ugandan
counterpart, and I worked mainly in the primary
school, another pair, Fay and Tonnie worked in
the local secondary school.
The
highlight of my placement was organising a Health
Festival. It involved dramas, dances and songs
all based on HIV prevention or living positively
with AIDS performed by our students, Non Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) and the much loved Ugandan
tradition of speeches. The best part was that
the AIDS Information Centre (AIC) came to our
village and offered free HIV tests. I remember
vividly how excited the deputy head of my school
was when he found out he was HIV negative.
My
time in Uganda has stayed with me in the UK. It
has given me a new, more global perspective on
life. Volunteering allowed me to test myself,
to see what I could do. I would recommend volunteering
overseas to everyone; you will get more out of
it than you put in without question!"
Further
Information
SPW is a non-profit organisation working in Africa
and Asia. We are looking for volunteers (aged
18-28) to work at grassroots level. Living and
working in partnership with young African and
Asian volunteers, you will share knowledge, experience
& ideas to support rural communities in their
response to health and environmental issues affecting
their lives. It isn't about teaching overseas
in your GAP year. It IS about making a difference;
empowering youth in developing countries to take
control of their own lives and destiny.
Students
Partnership Worldwide
17 Dean's Yard
London SW1P 3PB
0207 222 0138
spwuk@gn.apc.org
www.spw.org |
