Willow Wheelers Uganda Trip – February 2024
Article written by: Tricia Roe – Receptionist Willow Park School
I was very lucky to get the opportunity to accompany The Willow Wheelers on the Trip to Uganda this year.
This piece is to just give a glimpse of what I experienced and to share with you some details of Willow Wheelers Trip to Uganda, I cannot change the world but I hope in some small way, I can make a difference. I am not a Willow Wheeler and went on this journey as a member of the Willow Park Staff/Community, a Willow Mum and an Irish Mammy, my skills would be of a practical nature. Unfortunately, I can’t build water tanks, equip schools, supply/advise health clinics or feed the children, these big projects the Willow Wheeler’s fund raising from the 100 mile cycle in May will aspire to do.
The Willow Wheelers are absolutely extraordinary people who really care and have experience in these trips to source and find the right projects to support. Their priority is supporting projects that will provide
- Water
- Food
- Health and
- Education
Without these essentials, no life, no future.
All I can tell you is what I saw and how it affected me – 23 of us travelled to Uganda, it was a planes, trains and bus experience, for long trips over dry bumpy roads! A true adventure…
For our safety we could not use our mobile phones on the bus at night, the windows were blacked out and the light can attract unwanted attention.
Very long journeys and very long days.
On visiting Namasumbi, Central Uganda – we received the warmest welcome, kids singing and dancing. In some schools there was no water available (the school has to get it pumped in & paid for).
Many children come into school with no food, their families are fed once a day, other children often share their lunches or in this school they can receive food (this is not the case in every school). Many children have no shoes, they even play football in bare feet, if they do have shoes they are not allowed to wear them for every day, to be kept for good wear. When we speak about teaching being a vocation, it truly is, the teachers are absolutely inspiring, and they are really working hard to provide these kids with a good education so they can make a better future for themselves.
There were no Windows in this school.
We travelled by bus over the Equator, watched the water spin in opposite directions depending on what side of the Equator you are on….
We travelled west to the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Rwanda border, it is the remotest area to have a mission.
The Libermann Academy is in its infancy (a model school – the hope would be that all school could be like this) had lovely chairs and tables, mattresses for the little ones to sleep on, better teacher ratio to pupils etc. teaching Abacus Maths
The Libermann School has started laying a football pitch, they have cleared the area and cut the trees back. Fr Damasius very kindly spent the week guiding us and introducing us to all the parishes. He is building this football pitch and hopefully can complete it. This Spiritan School is the beacon school.
We meet two lovely nuns from Roscrea, Sr Mona & Sr Eileen Maher, they are blood sisters, attended The Sacred Heath Convent and are serve with The Daughters of Mary and Joseph, they both have been in Uganda for 50 & 53 years. Their school is a benchmark for where all schools would love to be, they have solar panels, Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Toilet System, they rear animals and grow their own food, everyone who works in the school, lives on the campus. They are self-sufficient and a true role model. Sr Mona is teaching the girls to knit, a very practical skill.
These college students travelled with us, they brought such a positive attitude, enthusiastic and can do approach. The boys are all Blackrock College past pupils and Holly, travelled with her mum, dad and her brother Ross (Ross, Holly, Conor & Tom – in the picture below)
I would encourage Willow students and parents to participate in the Willow Wheelers cycling club, this trip was by far the most exciting and scary thing I have ever taken on, totally out of my comfort zone.
My wish list is slightly different from the Willow Wheelers, I understand mine is not priority and what the Willow Wheelers are doing is life changing.
What I would like to do as an ordinary person who is not a fund raiser is to –
- Have playgrounds in every school not only the private schools, every child has the right to play.
- When I was a child we has great fun playing hopscotch, skittles, jacks, long skipping ropes etc.
- For football and basketball (for boys and girls), boots, bibs, balls, cones, whistles etc. Goals, nets, hoops
Sport is good for mental health, team building & fun, you learn respect for others and self-control. These skills can help you even when you’re not competing. They can also help you in your friendships and at school.
It is an extraordinary experience that I hope more people can explore this opportunity.
Thank you to all involved
A huge thank you to James Docherty, the teaching and admin staff, members of the BOM, Christy McDaid, the Willow Parents & boys for all the support given to me.
Lastly I would like to thank Áine O’Donoghue, she was just fantastic, she really looked after us so well, she was organised, fair and compassionate.
Not All Angels Have Wings
Not all angels have wings. But they’re angels….all the same. You can tell who they are by the way they make everyone around them feel more hopeful and happy and more at peace—
Congo boarder behind us
I felt this was a once off trip and said I could never do it again but since I have been home, I am not so sure!! Watch this space.
P.S. Don’t forget to support the Willow Wheelers 100 mile cycle!!
