Kaitlin Gilliland – Play Action International, Volunteer in Uganda

Volunteer in Uganda, 2024

“The month I spent in Uganda was definitely the most amazing experience of my life so far, and I would do it again 100 times over as it was for such an incredible cause!”

Memorable moments

The most memorable part of my entire month in Uganda has to be the children! Nearly every afternoon during the week, we held creative play sessions with the children, where we would make things to play with, such as skipping ropes and balls out of banana leaves. Every time, I was left speechless by the intelligence and resourcefulness of the local children. These sessions were the perfect opportunity to speak to the children and get to know them better.

The real magic happened after the creative sessions, as every day would turn into a massive party full of playing, laughing, and a lot of dancing! On numerous occasions, we had football matches of 11 volunteers versus 90+ children, all of whom would run for the ball, and that is something I will never forget. This dancing and playing lasted for hours until it was time to go home, when neither we nor the children wanted it to end. On the very few occasions that we didn't get to play with the children due to the weather, we truly felt like we were missing out.

New culture

It didn't take long to notice that Ugandan culture is centred around community! Everybody we met in East Africa, from the airport staff to the teachers and children of the school community, were the kindest, most charming, and welcoming people I have ever been blessed enough to meet.

Everyone is so friendly and full of gratitude, always eager to help out. If you were going to fill your shower bucket at the well and it was in use, you could guarantee that one of the children would take your bucket and fill it for you without saying a word. On one occasion, the most precious group of girls even helped me do my washing!

Ugandan culture is also very much about music and dancing, so be prepared for lots of great dancing.

Challenges while abroad

We were so well looked after by the GoGlobal team that our time abroad was smooth sailing from start to finish! After speaking to other students from different universities while on the project, we soon realised we were very lucky to have almost everything taken care of for us.

Thankfully, nobody on our project experienced any major issues, but we knew where to go and who to speak to if we did, both before departure and while in Africa.

At first, I thought the basic living conditions were going to be challenging, but by the start of the second week, you get used to the loo, and bucket showers become something you look forward to in the evening. Our group discussed that by the end of our four weeks, despite our initial hesitations, we all felt we could definitely stay for longer. So, if the drop toilets or bucket showers are putting you off, don't let them!

Making friends

When meeting our team in Uganda, the students from other universities all said that the Ulster group had already gelled so well that they were under the impression we all knew each other before this programme, which shows how quickly we all got along just from the pre-departure meeting and travelling together.

After just four weeks of living with 27 other students, it felt like we had known each other for years, and our team felt like one big family. I never once felt lonely, and the new friends I made helped me forget how much I missed everyone at home.

Friendships born from digging holes in the Ugandan soil at 8 a.m. have proven long-lasting, and we have seen each other since, with even some English students booking flights for a reunion in our very own Derry/Londonderry.

Advice

If there is even the tiniest thought in your head saying you want to do this, sign up! Get your application in and go for it because it is the experience of a lifetime.

I have not been able to stop talking about my time in Uganda volunteering with Play Action International, and I think it helped me grow as a person. I am much more grateful for everything I have at home now.