Our 2023 Ugandan Trip
In June 2023, three of the UK team travelled out to Uganda to visit for the first time since Covid. During our trip, we spent 5 days in Bududa and 2 days in Kampala.
We were delighted to return to Bududa and spend some quality time with our students. With Brenda, our Head of Pastoral Care, and Justine, our Head of Education, we set about assessing our challenges and successes so far, and making further plans and improvements in our programme for the future.
This was a first-time trip for team members Lauren and Rachael, who joined the charity in 2020. We were excited to finally see Bududa, to meet the team on the ground, and to dive into the culture. However, for founder Tom, this was an especially meaningful trip, as it centred around the celebration of Joel’s graduation. And through the charity, Tom had been one of the key supporters of Joel’s progress since he was a child. With the opportunity to travel finally open again post-covid, the team were thrilled to get on the road to Bududa.
June is a hot and humid time in East Africa, but we donned our hiking boots and sun hats, and braved the mud-slicked roads. After an 8 hour drive from Kampala airport, we finally arrived at base camp, and trundled up the path by torch light. As weary as we were, Justine’s smiling face and warm welcome was all we needed. Immediately conversation started about all the amazing work we would do together that week.
The following morning, we took the hour-long scenic walk to the school. Surrounded by lush greenery, birdsong, fresh fruits and blue skies, the beauty of Bududa could not be understated. For Tom, it was a welcome return to familiar ground. For Lauren and Rachael, it was a whole new landscape to explore. Along the walk, we passed small homes and shops, schools and churches. Makeshift and ramshackle buildings. Small yards and farms. Long stretches of what felt like wilderness, followed by long stretches of motorbikes and grills and shopkeepers. But what stood out the most was the people. No matter their circumstances or during what part of their day we met them, we were consistently greeted with smiles, waves, laughter, and great warm welcomes.
At the school, it’s no surprise that we found more of the same. In spite of the undeniable hardship of living in poverty, and the inescapable challenges of community life surrounded by terrain subject to flooding and landslides, the people of Bududa are overflowing with generosity and joy. At BLC, we found teachers and students alike who spoke of their adversity with optimism, and who strived towards greater education and prosperity with hope, grit, and perseverance.
The following days were spent with the course leaders and students at BLC. We wanted to witness our student experiences first-hand, to speak with their teachers, and to understand a real day in the life of a Path To Prosper student. We shared lunch together, took tours of their classrooms and dorms, and spent long afternoons talking about their future. We made sure to have in-depth conversations with each of our students to make sure we were truly understanding the nuances of each of their experiences, and to let them know that they are listened to; that their voice matters and their opinions are heard.
One question we asked all of our students was how they would define success; what it means for them both now and in the future. The answer we got from each and every student was the very same: “To be happy.”
Our conversations with Brenda and Justine were equally aspirational, but also more firmly grounded in what needs to be done, and how we can best work together to make that happen. Of course, those conversations had to be accompanied by hugely generous meals, and the women of Bududa are some of the most generous hosts. At Justine’s home, which she shares with her husband who is a pastor, and with other relatives, we were treated to some of their finest cooking in her beautifully decorated living room, full of photographs of her family across the years. At Brenda’s, we cooed over her small baby while a small television buzzed in the corner, and chicks pecked in the doorway. These women are the glue that holds Path To Prosper together, and getting to experience how they open their homes and their hearts has been one of our greatest joys in this work.
On our last day at the school, we were confident that we had a full view of the life of a Path To Prosper student. From tailoring to hairdressing, bricklaying to carpentry, mechanics to computers, the facilities at BLC were impressive and assuring. Their administration runs as smoothly as we could have expected, and it was clear that the students are very well taken care of. As ever, there is always more that can be done - but with a strong foundation, and Brenda and Justine at the helm, we knew that we were on the right path.
The last stop of our trip was to see Joel graduate with a pharmacy diploma from Kampala University. So with Joel, his foster mother Joyce, Justine, Brenda (and her tiny baby) we once again took the 8 hour drive back to Kampala. This is certainly one of the most special and strange and unique ways to get to see this part of Africa. A single road from Point A to B, with every kind of transport (automotive and animal), food and drink vendors, and entire communities along the way. It’s an exhausting but unforgettable experience!
On Graduation Day, it rained - heavy East Africa rain - but we put on our finest dress and made our way to the University. It was absolutely packed. Hundreds of students, thousands of family and friends. A sea of caps and gowns spread across the vast campus, gathered under tents and doorways taking shelter from the rain. The Vice President spoke, as well as many other esteemed guests, and it was clear that there is great value placed on education.
We were so proud to see Joel accept his diploma among his friends, and surrounded by people who have loved and supported him since he was a child. Joel was first found by the charity as an orphan, living in a market shed with some other young boys. He excelled in primary and secondary school, always demonstrating skills in sciences, and having had aspirations to take that further. Through a dedicated sponsor, he began studying pharmacy. And when Path To Prosper refocused entirely to professional training in 2020, Joel was and remains a huge source of inspiration. We are thrilled to see him now working in Mbale, a nearby village to Bududa, and to welcome him as a Path To Prosper Trustee.
After the graduation, we said our farewells, and made our way back to the UK. It’s always hard to say goodbye, but especially to Brenda and Justine. They kept us laughing and smiling the entire time. They keep us grounded in reality, and fill us with hope. They are a true embodiment of resilience and joy, and we are so proud of their work for Path To Prosper.
Safe to say the team is looking forward to our next visit, and to furthering the work that we can do for this incredible community.
A huge thank you to all of our donors who make this work possible, and who bring joy and prosperity to the people of Bududa.
