Dutch youth get the feel of Ugandan life
Nov 12, 2008
UGANDA is a beautiful country, says Jolanda Vian Schie, a citizen of the Netherlands. And to show how much she appreciates the country Jolanda who has been in and out of Uganda for the last six years married a Ugandan.
By Joseph Kariuki
UGANDA is a beautiful country, says Jolanda Vian Schie, a citizen of the Netherlands. And to show how much she appreciates the country Jolanda who has been in and out of Uganda for the last six years married a Ugandan.
So strong is Jolanda’s attraction that she brought youth from Netherlands to see Uganda’s beauty. Through the Netherlands Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Jolanda initiated a partnership with YMCA Uganda. The associations started a Ugandan-Dutch exchange programme for young people to visit and learn about each other’s way of life.
So far 14 Dutch youth have visited Uganda for a three-week tour and were joined by 14 Ugandan youth on the trip.
The team hit the road on October 11, led by Jolanda, Esther Langen, Roslyne Birungi, Prince Paul Walugembe and Kenneth Byamukama.
The team was involved in different activities that ranged from making bricks and visiting homes of the elderly.
“Young people face the same issues and that is why we brought our members here to learn how Ugandans live,†said Jolanda.
When the group hit the road, the youngsters from Netherlands learnt how to make bricks, a job they say was difficult. “We use bricks at home but they are factory-made. It was an eye opening experience for us to make bricks,†says Jolanda.
In Buwambo, the team planted cassava, potatoes and trees as well as visiting the homes of the aged and people living with HIV/AIDS.
The group donated items like sugar, salt, paraffin, soap, maize flour to Dembe Primary School, an orphanage.
In Kampala, the team visited Sanyu Babies’ Home and Bakateeyamba Home Of The Aged and Needy in Nalukolongo, all YMCA projects.
The journey led them to Mukono where they visited Kakinzi YMCA Primary School and also donated items such as T-shirts and balls with a promise to assist the school in constructing toilets, which are in a sorry state.
After two weeks of toiling, it was time to relax and what better place to do it than at Queen Elizabeth National Park? “Uganda is a beautiful country,†noted Mercedes, one of the Dutch youth. “It is a green country and is full of good people.â€
She could not have put it more aptly. Jolanda was breathless when, for the first time, she saw a leopard. Her excitement and that of others grew when their bus got stuck inside the park while lions roamed around. “We don’t have wild animals in their natural habitat as you have here,†said Jolanda.
As they toured the park the youngsters, aged between 20 and 30 years, composed a song of their journey with Mercedes, Laurine and Brian Kirumira being the song writers.
It was not only the Netherlands team that had lessons to learn, but the Ugandan team too learnt crucial survival skills. “The Dutch are disciplined with their money, I was shocked when one borrowed sh100 from me and returned it,†said Walugembe one of the team leaders.
The team also learnt decision making. Walugembe says when the Dutch make up their mind there is no turning back.
The Uganda team hopes to get the Dutch experience when they go there.
UGANDA is a beautiful country, says Jolanda Vian Schie, a citizen of the Netherlands. And to show how much she appreciates the country Jolanda who has been in and out of Uganda for the last six years married a Ugandan.
So strong is Jolanda’s attraction that she brought youth from Netherlands to see Uganda’s beauty. Through the Netherlands Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Jolanda initiated a partnership with YMCA Uganda. The associations started a Ugandan-Dutch exchange programme for young people to visit and learn about each other’s way of life.
So far 14 Dutch youth have visited Uganda for a three-week tour and were joined by 14 Ugandan youth on the trip.
The team hit the road on October 11, led by Jolanda, Esther Langen, Roslyne Birungi, Prince Paul Walugembe and Kenneth Byamukama.
The team was involved in different activities that ranged from making bricks and visiting homes of the elderly.
“Young people face the same issues and that is why we brought our members here to learn how Ugandans live,†said Jolanda.
When the group hit the road, the youngsters from Netherlands learnt how to make bricks, a job they say was difficult. “We use bricks at home but they are factory-made. It was an eye opening experience for us to make bricks,†says Jolanda.
In Buwambo, the team planted cassava, potatoes and trees as well as visiting the homes of the aged and people living with HIV/AIDS.
The group donated items like sugar, salt, paraffin, soap, maize flour to Dembe Primary School, an orphanage.
In Kampala, the team visited Sanyu Babies’ Home and Bakateeyamba Home Of The Aged and Needy in Nalukolongo, all YMCA projects.
The journey led them to Mukono where they visited Kakinzi YMCA Primary School and also donated items such as T-shirts and balls with a promise to assist the school in constructing toilets, which are in a sorry state.
After two weeks of toiling, it was time to relax and what better place to do it than at Queen Elizabeth National Park? “Uganda is a beautiful country,†noted Mercedes, one of the Dutch youth. “It is a green country and is full of good people.â€
She could not have put it more aptly. Jolanda was breathless when, for the first time, she saw a leopard. Her excitement and that of others grew when their bus got stuck inside the park while lions roamed around. “We don’t have wild animals in their natural habitat as you have here,†said Jolanda.
As they toured the park the youngsters, aged between 20 and 30 years, composed a song of their journey with Mercedes, Laurine and Brian Kirumira being the song writers.
It was not only the Netherlands team that had lessons to learn, but the Ugandan team too learnt crucial survival skills. “The Dutch are disciplined with their money, I was shocked when one borrowed sh100 from me and returned it,†said Walugembe one of the team leaders.
The team also learnt decision making. Walugembe says when the Dutch make up their mind there is no turning back.
The Uganda team hopes to get the Dutch experience when they go there.