Eye Opening Experience in Uganda

Breanna ‘23
Going to Africa was such an amazing experience for me, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to go. We got to do so many crazy things like going on game drives to see lions and elephants, boat rides to see the hippos, hikes around various parts of Uganda, and so many other things. I will remember this trip as the most influential and eye-opening experience I have ever had.

I think the biggest highlight for me personally was the day that we went to visit the ladies who benefit from the 22 Stars Foundation. This foundation supports families so that they can send their kids to school. It also lends money to women in the community so that they can start their own businesses and make money for themselves. The foundation is centered in one of the largest slums in Kampala, which is the capital city of Uganda. This foundation is truly making a difference in so many people’s lives and I was so grateful to learn about this foundation and hear about their mission to continue sending more kids to school. We also got to tour around the slums and see the conditions that people live in there. It looks like a hard life, but the people are always so joyful and hopeful. This really opened my eyes to how hard life can be on people and the conditions that some people are faced with. The foundation also recently built a public bathroom so people can have access to a sanitary place to use the restroom, which is very important to protect the people of the community from disease. The foundation has done so much, and I was so grateful to be able to learn about how they help their community.

After visiting the slums, we got to go with Youth Sport Uganda and play soccer with some of the kids who participate in their program there. It was so much fun, and we got to see what kinds of games they play. The clever thing that the coaches do there is to use something fun and incorporate their learning into it. For example, the coaches used a tag game to explain how germs can spread and how important it is to have doctors. They are teaching their kids how to stay safe and healthy in their environment in a fun and interactive way, which I think is genius.

This trip taught me so much about human kindness, compassion, resiliency, and strength. I learned so much about how Ugandan people live and the challenges they face in their everyday lives that we don’t even have to consider as North American citizens. It really humbled me, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. I had such an amazing time, and I can’t overstate how beautiful the country is. I really hope that future students get the same opportunity that I had because I really believe that it changed my outlook and perspective in an important way.
Back
Neuchâtel Junior College offers the unique opportunity to study Canadian curriculum abroad. While living in Switzerland in a French community, students enjoy an international education through travel and experiential learning in Europe. Gap year and Grade 12  high school students gain international experience and develop independence and life skills that prepare them for university and the global workplace.

A Canadian high school in Switzerland | Grade 12 & Gap