Before I begin this final blog post I would like to add that the staff beat the students 20 - 8 in a Tag Rugby game during this morning. This was a very professional and decisive victory which was thoroughly enjoyed by the child spectators from the Kids of Africa (KOA) orphanage.
Today has been generally relaxing, allowing the Welling team to spend a last few hours with the children and staff from the orphanage. This has been the most amazing place! We have been thoroughly looked after and spoilt by our hosts and our students have been referring to their wonderful housekeepers as their African 'Mothers'.
After the emotional farewells, the team were treated to another day by the pool at a hotel near Entebbe Airport followed by a 'climatisation' meal of Pizza at a nearby restaurant.
How do I begin summarising this experience? When we landed in Uganda on day 1 in the middle of the night, there was a real air of apprehension as many of the team wondered what lay ahead for them.
The first week in the town of Jinja, the source of the Nile, was a baptism of fire for the team. The coaching began almost immediately and it was the end of the first day's session that everyone had realised how special this time in Uganda would be. Day after day, the team coached Tag Rugby to schools of up to 120 smiling and enthusiastic students who began to form an emotional bond with the Welling students.
The Jinja Backpackers lodge, which provided our accommodation during that first week, was a perfect environment to really appreciate life in the country. Power cuts and lack of water were frequent, but the positiveness of the students never wavered.
The Jinja tournament, at the end of week 1, highlighted to all our students just how far they had brought on their children through the coaching sessions. The ability level was impressive and the Welling students were all completely focused on winning the competiton with their own team. The winning team was managed by James, Jasemine L and Kayleigh. Their team had beaten the 'hot' favourites which were managed by Christian, Jasemine S and Amy. It was an experience that we all thought could never be bettered. We were all to be proven wrong!
The following day, the team went on a rafting adventure down the ancient river Nile. Split between two rafts, the team made it through Rapids that were classed as Grade 5 as well as noting the beautiful natural scenery that the great river had to offer. An amazing experience.
Week 2 began with an excruciating transfer to Entebbe , which consisted of being in solid traffic for just over 4 hours. The driving skills of many of the local people kept the team highly amped throughout!!!!
Arriving at the Kids of Africa orphanage , the team were faced with a completely new experience to the previous week. Gone was the Backpackers Lodge, with our most helpful host 'Suz', which allowed time to let of steam and relax during the evenings. At KOA, the Welling students shared the accommodation with the orphaned children and their housekeepers or 'Mothers'. Before long, our students were part of each family and loved spending time with their adopted brothers an sisters. The compound was the most beautiful environment, hugging the shores of Lake Victoria. This was a far cry from the obvious poverty that was encountered in the surrounding villages.
Once again, the students went out at early each morning to meet with their school and coach Tag Rugby. Tag Rugby in Entebbe was at a developmental stage compared to what the team had experienced in Jinja. There was, therefore, a huge responsibility on the part of the Welling School students to continue to motivate the local community to take up this new type of sport. By the end of the week, the whole community were taken in by the commitment and enthusiasm of our students. The way they had adapted their leadership skills from what they developed during the Jinja phase was impressive to even the most experience of teachers.
Then came the Entebbe tournament at the end of week 2. Far more slick and effecient thanks to our local coach , Fortunate, who spent hours of preparation to ensure that the tournament ran smoothly. With the PA system blaring out music from 8.30 am, the tournament began with a huge wave of energy from the Welling students, the players and the supporters. The atmosphere intensified as the day went on. All over the ground, people sang and danced as well as cheering their teams with wild affection. Brandon and Molly's team came out as eventual winners and lifted the trophy for the Welling/Entebbe Tag Rugby Tournament.
The celebrations then exploded as the spectators ran onto the pitch and joined the coaches and players in a wild hour of dancing and singing. It would be difficult to explain the experience but we all agreed that it was something that would stay with us all forever.
An amazing and life changing 2 weeks. We are all ready to go home to be with our families and friends , who have been sorely missed. But the times we have spent here in this most amazing of countries will affect us all in many ways for the rest of our lives. To experience the friendliness of the local people who struggled with life in poverty stricken areas was truly humbling. Their constant smiles and laughter has taught us all a valuable lesson in life. The natural beauty of the country, the challenge of rafting the Nile and living within local communities were experiences that will make these weeks so memorable.
But above all else, the real memories from this trip, for us as staff, was to see our young Welling students, grow up in front of our eyes over a very short time. The expectations and demands that was put upon them, the long days and hot sun, the constant dust which coloured all their clothing tested them to limits that they had never reached before. They truly rose to the challenge and are leaving here as better human beings with an adjusted outlook on life.
Before we complete this blog, there are a number of people we would like to thank:-
The staff and pupils at Welling school
The Tag Rugby Trust and our Tour Leader, Michael Breen,
The families of our Welling team who have been a pillar of support
The individuals and organisations who have helped us to reach our fundraising total
The wonderful people of Uganda.
Thank you for following our blog.
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