In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle…

So, I hate to be the bearer of bad news….but Uganda is not just like “The Lion King.” Lions are not around every corner and you are not going to see any giraffes or elephants unless you go to a specific area of Uganda that has these animals. But what Uganda does have is even better. Uganda has amazing people. These are people who are genuinely happy and smile just because they feel like it.

I was only in the country of Uganda for two weeks, but I came back as a different person. It’s funny how you can live a certain way for such a long time and, within two weeks, learn more about yourself and the world than you have in most of your life. Going to Uganda showed me just how much I do not need possessions. Family and friends are so much more important than things. You can replace physical items but you can never replace the love or friendship you receive from other people.

I had such an amazing opportunity to improve lives during my trip. We worked with an organization called the WaterSchool, which is an organization that visits schools and implements plans for safe water in the school systems. This way, the children will learn healthy habits and will bring them home to the villages.

While over there, the other students and I helped to teach students and teachers the WASH program. The WASH program is designed to teach about clean water, as well and hygiene and sanitation. While there, I was able to build mud latrines, tippy-taps, rubbish pits, and sodis racks. This was an incredible experience. When we think of mud huts, it doesn’t seem like a complicated process but rest assured, it is not a simple task.

From carrying heavy water buckets to stomping mud to slapping it on the wood and rock structure, I gained a new appreciation for physical labor. These people work so hard from sun-up to sun-down without a complaint. It was truly amazing to start a structure and actually see where our hard work had led when the day was over.

While in Uganda, I had many experiences that I would not have had elsewhere. I ate warthog, I went on a boat ride down the NileRiver, and I got attacked by flying white ants (not a fun experience). But I would do it all again. In fact, I plan on it. I plan on going back in a few years to visit my new-found Ugandan family and volunteer again. We have so much to give so it seems so silly that more people would not give up a week of their time to give others a whole new life. The information we taught the Ugandan people will be spread throughout the schools and villages. The affect of our work could spread to thousands of people. How amazing is it?

I highly recommend that you consider volunteering in the future. Whether it be in Uganda or in your backyard, it is our duty as people to care for each other and protect each other. There is so much good to be spread in the world, but it is up to us to start the positive change. Get inspired and go change some lives. We are the generation to make a difference! XOXO Frosties, it’s good to be back.