Girls at the office, Myende Drama Competition and Ben hanging out
Ugandan Volunteers 2009
The Ugandan expedition started on Monday 21 July and ends on Monday 17 August.
The education team comprises of Ben Gething, Nicola Merrett and Nicola Skilling. Both Ben and Nicola Merrett are return volunteers to the ‘handshake’, but it is their first time on the education team.
Continue reading to hear their thoughts and feelings about the handshake and the work they have been doing.
Ben Gething
Ben filming at Kennedy Secondary School
I decided to come back to Africa as a handshake volunteer after being a member of the 2008 team that worked in South Africa. I chose the Handshake again because it still appeals to me as a worthwhile project that allows me to indulge my passion for travel, my desire for moral fulfilment, and utilise my knowledge of digital media. Being a ‘returner’ and having that experience already under my belt, I found acclimatising to the situations and the environment much easier. I remember how nerve racking it was last year desperately trying to absorb everything we saw and did, getting stressed and feeling like I wasn’t finishing enough work. Now I understand that there is no need. The work gets done and there is no reason to worry, being anxious only makes you ill.
I saw the Ugandan expedition as an opportunity to visit a country that, chances are, I wouldn’t visit on a holiday. Despite being such a wonderful place, in my list of countries to see before I die, it would be way down the list. Yet I have never been to a country where everyone is so well dressed, courteous and friendly, nor have I ever felt so safe. There is yet to be a time this month when I felt physically threatened or paranoid about my stuff, even when wandering around on my own in Kampala.
I work in a classroom and I plan on becoming a teacher, thus I wanted to be on the education team so that I could be exposed to new experiences within that field and hopefully pick up things that I could use. Subsequently, I found that for my skill base, this was the best team to be on, as it incorporated a lot of aspects of my degree. I get to work on short films, flash animations, web site stuff, and even crowbar in some photography. I feel that I can contribute more on this team to the project as a whole, than I could as a member of one of the other teams.
Uganda is a clean, green, pleasant land, with some rare wildlife that might not be around so much in the future, and being here whilst doing something worthwhile makes it all the sweeter.
Nicola Merrett
Nicola at work
I am currently a volunteer on the Great Primate Handshake Uganda expedition, ‘09. Although I am a member of the education team, my experience actually lies in film production, having just completed a degree in Film and Theatre at Reading University.
I worked as part of the video team on last year’s South Africa expedition and really enjoyed producing content for the various projects encountered whilst travelling around the beautiful country. My decision to work as part of the education team on this expedition was primarily catalysed by a visit to a local school in Tzaneen, South Africa.
During expeditions the video team is subdivided, so that pairs or small groups may be focused on specific projects. At the time of the school visit I was working with one other member of the video team to produce a short promotional video for a new scheme aiming to develop skills within emotionally and socially disadvantaged children through drama therapy, active conservation and art. It was visiting the school and time spent constructing the video that heightened my interest in and awareness of conservation through education, leaving me with a desire to further develop my knowledge in this area.
During my time in Uganda, thus far, I have been able to utilise my skills in video production; making several short educational videos about mantraps. However my skills were not solely utilised, they were in fact enhanced as I was given a tutorial in rotoscoping and photoshop, enabling me to give my videos an animated quality. I have additionally worked on other educational projects (including designing software to develop literacy skills in users of the XO laptop) and I also participated in a flash lesson, learning an entirely new skill. Such varied work has maintained my enthusiasm and, while I feel the odd pang of jealousy as I watch the video team running around with cameras and tripods, I believe that I have had the opportunity to participate in many activities and projects in a different manner when not behind a camera. For example, a few days ago we went to Kasiisi School to observe some lessons and participate in a session with the XO laptops, which the school recently acquired. During the day we were able to talk with various teachers and the XO session proved to be an invaluable experience, learning from the pupils and similarly assisting and sharing knowledge where necessary (and possible!).
As I have recently graduated I am currently in a bit of a flexible situation. I do hope to do some travelling during the coming year and so, if possible, I would definitely love to combine this with more handshaking. I would liken the feeling of volunteering my skills for such a worthwhile project to that of drinking a hot chocolate by a roaring fire, while it rains outside, it warms the soul.
Nicola Skilling
Nicola working at the Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
Nicola’s Blog
