Students follow in lecturers footsteps to Uganda
Donna Travis, Jeanette Gilmartin and Amy Roberts with the children from Wells of Hope Ministries
Wed, 22 Oct 2014 15:44:00 BST
International research project into the plight of children with imprisoned parents inspires students to undertake their own expedition to the Wells of Hope Ministries in Uganda
HUDDERSFIELD social work students were so inspired by their lecturers’ trip to Uganda last year, visiting families where the fathers of the household was imprisoned, they self-funded their own visit to experience the country for themselves.
As part of an annual study week, students Donna Travis, Amy Roberts and Jeanette Gilmartin (pictured left to right) were welcomed by Francis Ssuubi, who is director of Ugandan organisation Wells of Hope and operates a school for the children of prisoners.
Links began with the organisation after the University of Huddersfield took the lead on a recently-concluded EU-funded project named COPING, which investigated the problems faced by children of prisoners in four European countries. Funded by the EU’s Framework 7 Programme, the COPING project visited the United Nations in Geneva and made a number of recommendations, in particular calling for more priority to be given to the needs of the child throughout the criminal justice system. This was hailed a huge success by the UN and all participants involved.
The children’s laughter and smiles were infectious
During the students’ own trip to Uganda, mature student and mother of three Donna wrote a day by day blog of the trip which talked about her entire experience from going through Ugandan customs, almost losing their precious supplies for the children, to saying goodbye on their final day.
“The first week was about learning about the charity. We were shown around the Wells of Hope Academy and met with the children, who put on a huge show to welcome us,” says Donna, from Royton in Oldham.
“Jeanette and I were pulled up to join in a dance, which usually would have me cringing at making an idiot of myself, but the children’s laughter and smiles were infectious and I felt honoured to be asked to participate with them.”
Getting into the heart of the Wells of Hope and its activities was the next part of the trip with the three students experiencing an activity called ‘tracing’.
The charity carries out visits to trace families of prisoners that are out of contact and in need of education and support, but have not yet learnt of the existence of the school or that their missing family member is even alive.
“After an eight-hour journey, almost nearing Kenya, we finally reached the vicinity of the families we were tracing,” explained Donna. “The more rural areas we reached, the more the deprivation of the people became apparent. People were not wearing shoes and children had fewer clothes.”
“Once we found the family, after walking through the jungle for a further twenty five minutes, we told them their husband and father was alive, to which there was immense relief. The children were assessed as being eligible for a place at Wells of Hope once a sponsor could be procured. By the time we got back to our hotel, it was 1.30am! Scary, but completely satisfying!”
In total the trip lasted two weeks with the remainder of the time spent visiting men’s and women’s prisons and celebrating children’s birthdays. “Many didn’t even know their age or actual date of birth.”
Donna and her fellow students were delighted with the trip: “We taught some of the classes for the younger children and one of the most memorable activities was playing with the parachute we had brought with us as the children had so much fun. I also know from seeing photos on the charity’s website that they are still enjoying the face-paints we gave them. When they run out I will try to send some more.”
Next generation pen-pals
As well as the many items that the students bought and took themselves, Donna and Jeanette also found an enthusiastic response from children in the local schools. Donna’s children attend Fir Bank Primary School in Royton, Oldham, and the school donated (pictured right):
- 480 exercise books
- 300 assorted crayons
- 288 colouring pens
- 50 pairs of scissors
- 288 pencils
- a box of paper
- 22 tubes of toothpaste
- 77 toothbrushes
- and a couple of bags of clothing
In addition, the children of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Ramsbottom, Bury, which is attended by Jeanette’s children, raised £400 through various fund-raising events, including a non-uniform day.
Further links have since been made between the Wells of Hope Academy, the Ministries’ school, and the two primary schools, with the children writing to each other and becoming pen-pals.
Donna was so inspired by her trip that she has already signed-up to volunteer with another friend in Ecuador next year, helping a hard-to-reach indigenous community. She is now fund-raising to finance the trip.
You can view the whole of the trip by going to Donna's photo gallery.
