Jambo!

Twenty three years ago today I embarked on a fantastic trip, with over fifty others, to Uganda. This was a trip organised by Northamptonshire Scouts who had set up a link with a school in Bwaise near Kampala. A few of the senior leadership team had travelled out several times to establish and strengthen the link with the school and prepare for this trip of a lifetime. I was lucky enough to be selected to lead one of the teams of young people.

For many of the young people on the trip this was the first time outside of Europe. This was a three week trip which would see us helping out at the school and travelling around various locations within Uganda. A wonderful opportunity for us all. We took our own tents and camped by the Nile, with other Scouts and took our mosquito nets to sleep out under the stars on a Scout campsite on the banks of Lake Victoria.

What an eye-opener this was for many on the trip. Bartering in the local markets, impromptu singing and dancing with Ugandan Scouts, helping in the school class-rooms, playground games with the village kids, being photographed in the local press, having clothes made at a local tailor, watching our Scout shirts on the line at the local dhobi. Fond memories of a great three weeks.

And twenty three years on many of these young people are now parents themselves. Opportunities like these are great for young people to widen their experiences and broaden their horizons. I look back at this trip with many fond memories. It is great that those young people are the ones who are posting on social media about how much the trip had an impact on them, which is great!