vso.ie - Quick Q&A with volunteers Lisa and Patrick Here's what Lisa, a primary school teacher from Sligo, and Patrick, a community development expert from Belfast, had to say about their time in Karamoja, Uganda so far...

Quick Q&A with volunteers Lisa and Patrick | VSO

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Quick Q&A with volunteers Lisa and Patrick | VSO Skip to main content Fighting poverty through volunteering Search form Search Donate Other ways to support us Menu Search You are hereHomeBlog Quick Q&A with volunteers Lisa and Patrick 20 Apr 2018 By Annette O'Sullivan This month, I travelled to Karamoja, Uganda to visit our health and education programmes and speak with volunteers on the ground well-nigh their experiences. Here's what Lisa, a primary school teacher from Sligo, and Patrick, a polity minutiae expert from Belfast, had to say well-nigh their time in Karamoja so far...   Lisa and Patrick has been sharing their skills with school leaders, teachers and communities in Karamoja, Uganda. What’s your favourite thing well-nigh volunteering in Uganda? Lisa: For me, it’s definitely going out to visit the schools and seeing the situation on the ground in Karamoja. It’s so completely variegated to schools in Ireland and it’s an wondrous experience. Patrick: Yeah, and moreover the people of the region. There’s a lot of very interesting people to meet. The work that goes on here is moreover really enjoyable, particularly in this region which is one of the poorest, not only in the country but on the continent. What surprised you well-nigh Karamoja ? Kasimeri Primary School is just one of the schools that has benefited from the support of VSO volunteers like Lisa and Patrick. Lisa: I think the remoteness and the loftiness from Kampala – it’s well-nigh an eight hours’ drive. When you get used to it, it’s lovely but I didn’t quite expect that at first. It just ways that it’s not really possible to go far, plane at weekends, considering you usually have to go to Kampala and travel from there. Patrick: I’d never been to the African continent surpassing so, obviously, at the start it was very variegated culturally and plane landscape-wise. That’s been a very rewarding wits in itself though. Have you learned anything since you came here? Lisa: Good question. Maybe patience. The Ugandan people are so warm and welcoming. You learn to have increasingly time to just take things easily, and to have patience with people and new surroundings. Patrick: I’ve definitely learned to relax a bit more. In Ireland, things can be very stressful for no real reason other than a stress that’s created by a work environment and people. Here, people go with the spritz a lot increasingly which I really, really like. What would you say to anyone who is thinking well-nigh volunteering? Lisa helped to introduce health and debating clubs to Kakingol Primary School, Moroto. Lisa: Do it! It’s a totally variegated experience. Being in Karamoja right now is platonic considering it’s very unscratched in comparison to how things were in the past and it’s going to develop a lot increasingly in the future. You have to expect challenges, like electricity wearing out and missing the supplies that you’re used to, but overall it’s worth it. Patrick: I would definitely recommend volunteering to other people. The wits is very unique, particularly in this zone in comparison to other places in the country. VSO looks without you very well and assists you with as much as possible in the work that you do. The work is extremely rewarding as well. Interested in joining Lisa and Patrick in Karamoja? Then please get in touch! We have plenty of opportunities for health, education and polity minutiae specialists over the next three years. Here are our current vacancies in Karamoja:  Nurse/Midwife Mentors Nurse/Midwife (Sexual and Reproductive Health) Neonatal Nurse Teacher EducatorPolityDevelopment Specialist Sign up to our newsletter First name * Last name * Email write * County * - Select -AntrimArmaghCarlowCavanClareCorkDerryDonegalDownDublinFermanaghGalwayKerryKildareKilkennyLaoisLeitrimLimerickLongfordLouthMayoMeathMonaghanOffalyRoscommonSligoTipperaryTyroneWaterfordWestmeathWexfordWicklow Profession * - Select -EducationHealthBusinessOther If other, please specify I would like to receive monthly updates from VSO Ireland * I would like to receive monthly updates from VSO Ireland Leave this field zippo Latest posts The family that lost everything in Sierra Leone’s mudslide 22 Aug 2018 Never again: Sierra Leone’s devastating mudslide 14 Aug 2018 VSO Ireland's Plastic Free July 8 Aug 2018 Fighting povertyImproving education Improving health Improving livelihoods Where we fight poverty Partner with usIrish AidCommunityMinutiaeSpecialists Neonatal Nurses Nurse/Midwife Tutors Nurses/Midwives (Sexual and Reproductive Health) Our Uganda education programme Our Uganda health programme Teacher Educators Our research Influencing and advocacySustainableMinutiaeGoalsWhat are the SustainableMinutiaeGoals? 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