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Published: January 21st 2010
I am working for an association set up in 1998 which provides support for education for less fortunate children. It was set up by a group of guys who grew up as orphans in Uganda and who decided that they had to come back home after everything that happened in 1994. The organisation has grown and now has day and boarding students who can learn construction, tailoring or mechanics. All students will have completed primary school at the very least and many secondary school as well.
Interestingly there doesn't seem to be any thought as to what skills Rwanda needs because it seems to me that there are thousands or tailors already. That is not specific to this organisation though.
Alongside the college for older students there is also a pre-school. The term only starts at the beginning of February this year and so i have not been to the site but no doubt wil do soon. There are not yet any kids enrolled in either the pre-school or the college, but this, unlike the UK, does not seem to be a problem!
Work started well on Monday, my first day, when both the managing director and the
dorms!!
deputy head and fin dir (dorms behind - not quite like ch!)finance director turned up to work. Tues/Wed and now today things have been very different! We have done an hour or so's work each day and then called it a day.
Today we went through the budget and the whole approach is just very different to with us. There is no reflection on how much things are going to cost when pricing courses etc but mainly calculated on what they should be charging - who knows if the costs involved will be covered. I too am learning a lot, going right back to the basics and being able to see the big picture of an organisation.
It's going to be hard coming back to the UK and having a full day's work.... i know i never was any good at it at the best of times but now i'm going to be even worse!
There is the possibility of going into another organisation so will occupy my time a bit more like that!
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Gemma
non-member comment
Muraho!
Wow Jess, sounds very exciting!! Good news about the porridge, and also about the plastic bags - wish they did that in the UK! Out of interest, what is your water supply like - is the tap connected to the local lake or an underground spring (currently doing a piece of coursework on water resources in Uganda for my Environmental Science degree!) What is the food like out there? xxx