“Miss Mary” Shares her Firsthand Account from Volunteering in July
I’ve been fortunate in life and wanted to give back. I grew up in a family of twelve children and we struggled then and sometimes were on food stamps. But we all went to college thanks to government programs which helped us. We all “made it”. And I thought, it’s time for me to give back.
I know there’s a lot of poverty in the world and maybe I knew 10% of what it was like in Africa. I knew it’s a very different situation and people there are so much poorer in Africa and more needy than here.
So I met Carol, Outreach Uganda’s (OU’s) founder at a business dinner and did not really know her then but became interested from hearing what she was doing. The more I learned about their programs I was impressed with how they seemed to get a lot done and were very efficient with the small amount of money they had. And it appealed to me they were not just handing out money but getting commitment, buy-in and effort from the women and children they were helping.
My Fears and Overcoming My Fears
So I decided to go. I was a little bit nervous about safety and what kind of food would I be eating. And I wondered would I really be able to help without being a burden while I was there? I wanted to see myself what it’s all about and learn more about their culture and why people there struggled so much and to just live it.
I was committed to going to Uganda, and wanted to do as much as I could with what I know. I had been in graphic design most of my career and on several occasions as my children were growing up and once I left corporate America, I taught in local pre-schools. I like teaching.
Upon arriving in Uganda in mid-July, I definitely felt safe and realized how their project staff in Uganda were very capable and experienced. And I saw all the ways they helped our trip go smoothly. No worries about eating either as there was plenty to eat! I even felt comfortable going into shops on my own while in Jinja and walking in the downtown.
Experiencing Another Culture
And most all I learned that the women there have the same needs that people here have. They want to be validated, to know you are interested in them, and they are proud of what they are doing, and the products they make, their children and their community school. Just like people here, they are working to make their lives and their families’ lives better.
I really appreciate how they appreciate life and what little they have. They have nothing and yet they are so happy. I learned not to take things for granted. I don’t need the best of everything here. I could see they need so much—they have nothing. And amazingly one of the ladies I was helping with sewing, she wrapped a gift and gave it to me. It was a skirt she had made for me!
Observations and Advice for Potential Volunteers
I especially enjoyed my time with the pre-school teachers at the Agwata school. I helped them with ideas and more songs because they love singing. And I showed them how to incorporate a book or a craft into what they are teaching. They showed me that one teacher can really teach 35 to 50 preschoolers and work with them all at once. I was “Miss Mary” to over 150 preschoolers!
I highly recommend volunteering in Uganda. My advice for a potential volunteer is if you are going over there, be ready to give a lot and don’t expect anything in return. Go with an open mind. What you will get is a lot and you’ll be really surprised. It’ll give you back a million times over!