Halfway Through the Journey: Deep Connections, Wild Wonders, and the Magic of Uganda

 Hello everyone! It feels almost unreal to sit down and write these words, but I have officially reached the halfway mark of my time here in Uganda. Looking back at the day I touched down in Kampala, my heart was full of nervous excitement. Today, that excitement has transformed into a profound, grounding happiness and a deep love for this incredible country and its people. My stay here has been nothing short of transformative, and honestly, the thought of this journey eventually coming to an end only fuels my desire to stay longer and seek out even more opportunities to make a difference.

The past few months have been a beautiful whirlwind of learning, exploring, and truly immersing myself in the local culture. To connect more deeply with the community, I have been taking lessons in Luganda. Learning the language has been such a joyful challenge; every greeting exchanged and every small conversation shared with locals opens up a whole new layer of warmth and mutual respect. It has allowed me to listen to these communities not just as an outsider, but with an open heart that is slowly learning to speak their language.

Beyond the city, Uganda’s natural beauty has completely stolen my breath. I recently took an unforgettable trip to Murchison Falls, where the sheer power of nature leaves you utterly speechless. The landscapes are majestic, but the true magic was seeing the wildlife—animals of every imaginable species and color thriving in their natural habitat. From the breathtaking strength of the falls to the quiet grace of the animals roaming free, it was a vivid reminder of how wondrous this world is

One of the absolute highlights of my journey so far was being invited to participate in a traditional Ugandese wedding. It was a spectacular, vibrant celebration of love and community, and I had the immense honor of wearing a Gomesi—the stunning, traditional dress of the Buganda Kingdom. Wrapping myself in the rich fabrics and bright colors of the Gomesi was incredibly emotional and beautiful. Dancing and celebrating alongside everyone, I didn't just feel like a guest; I felt a genuine sense of belonging.

Amidst these beautiful cultural celebrations and adventures, the core of my purpose here remains rooted in the community impact. I recently visited the school in the village of KIKOBA, a project that my organization actively supports. Walking into that village and seeing the children reminded me exactly why I fell in love with humanitarian work. Technology and education here aren't just subjects in a classroom; they are keys to unlocking dreams and building sustainable futures. Seeing the tangible impact of our work filled me with an overwhelming sense of pride and reinforced my commitment to ensure no one is left behind.

As I look ahead to the remaining half of my time here, my enthusiasm is brighter than ever. Uganda has truly become a second home, and the spontaneous kindness I experience every single day makes it harder to imagine leaving. I am filled with an undeniable energy to keep exploring, keep teaching, and look for new ways to extend my journey on this beautiful continent.

Thank you for following along on this adventure—the best is surely yet to come!

YASMIN :)

Half of it is gone. How time flies!

It's been three months since I arrived in Uganda. There are still so many things to discover, but so many new experiences.

I've found my place at school; all the teachers, therapists, and other workers are incredibly kind and helpful. Of course, it hasn't been all plain sailing, overcoming the language and cultural barriers wasn't easy at first, but after three months, everything is settling in and now I'm learning a few phrases in the local language to better communicate with the children with low cognitive skills, such as "tula" which means "sit" or "jjangu" which means "come", but my favorite word is "okoze bulungi" which I use a lot during therapy to say "well done!" and seeing the happiness in their eyes when I speak to them in the local language is priceless.

In the past few weeks I have completed the first microfinancing project on "health safety and hygiene" in therapy spaces; thanks to Möndo we purchased 20 litres of sanitiser and disposable gloves for the school and I have held a training course on the correct methods of sanitizing of the space, the shared objects and the risk of cross-contamination.

Luckily, I also had some free time to explore Uganda. Going to the source of the Nile in Jinja was amazing, I had no idea that one of the most famous rivers in the world originated right here; getting to know a less gentrified part of the country than Kampala was refreshing and discovering the villages in the area was a precious gift. 

I also visited the Sipi Falls in eastern Uganda, the hometown of a dear friend I met here in Kampala, and spent time in the village where his family lives. Peeling cassava with his grandmother was a hilarious experience, we communicated through gestures because they don't speak English or Luganda there, but another local dialect, but that didn't prevent us from communicating. 

What about the waterfalls? A spectacular landscape; to reach the highest waterfall, there's a 1.5-hour trek, but it's absolutely worth it. Connecting with the communities is always wonderful, you can discover different ways of adapting to the land and respecting it.

 

I'm already sad at the thought of having the other three months to live here and at the same time I can't wait to live them and discover what this wonderful country has to offer me.