For initial information on the expedition, please look here.
There are many incredible places around the world that we could experience, explore and teach about. Why choose Uganda?
There are two key reasons:
1. The Warriner - Kigezi link.
2. The country itself.
Firstly, The Warriner has, for over ten years, been linked with Kigezi High School (KHS), Uganda. This link was set up in a very personal way: Barbara Oakley, the head of RMS who retired in the summer, once taught at KHS. On return to England, she maintained the relationships begun in Uganda and forged a partnership between the two schools. This link is focused around learning aims and has contributed to The Warriner’s ‘International School’ designation by the British Council. Recently, Warriner teachers Lesley Robinson and Ian Lee visited KHS for a week. Their experience was brilliant, both for themselves and for the energy it has given to the link. Their 2007 Visit Newsletter Article is well worth checking out.
So, part of the trip would involve actually going to visit KHS. How long we spend there will be decided by the team. What we do there is also up to them. We might choose to do a building project, or some sports coaching. We might choose to spend time teaching some of their classes. Hopefully we’ll spend lots of time learning from each other. Excitingly, in the whole history of the link, this will be the first time that students from The Warriner have been to Kigezi.
The second answer to the question ‘Why Uganda?’ is because of the country itself. Even if we were not linked to KHS, Uganda would be an amazing choice for an expedition. It is an incredibly varied country with an interesting past. It was only made into a country a couple of hundred years ago (once a part of the British Empire) Before this, there were 30 very different tribes and languages in this area now known as Uganda.
Winston Churchill – who was later to become British Prime Minister, published a book in 1908 called ‘My African Journey’. Very creative name. He travelled throughout Africa and wrote up his journey – like a blog – in this book. There are three things that he loved about Uganda: 1. The landscape. 2. The Wildlife. 3. The people. To him, the beauty of it could only be described as a pearl.
Incredible wildlife, landscapes, mountains and people; Uganda has everything to offer. In the 3 weeks we will get a good feel of Uganda – and be able to provide, on return to the UK, a range of teaching resources and experiences to share.
