Journals of the Volunteers with Little BIG Africa

It's time to meet Anna.

I had my first experience of Uganda and Little Big Africa in the summer of 2007. I was a member of one of the Bristol University Projects based at Nemba Primary School and I can honestly say it was one of the best times of my life. The people were fantastically welcoming and were always telling us how pleased they were to be working alongside LBA and what amazing work they were doing. Having completed university, I am now back in Uganda, volunteering with LBA for over a year, to support all 19 of LBA's project schools in developing their own Water & Sanitation activities and curriculum. I am also fundraising for the project (but not for my own expenses) and have currently raised:

£370

In 2007, while we were in Nemba we built a water tank at the primary school and also protected a water source in the surrounding community. I know that both of these physical structures have improved the lives of the villagers greatly. Girls no longer have to take time out from lessons to fetch water and the villagers can now collect their water from a clean source instead of a muddy pool. However I found one of the most rewarding parts of the project were the Water and Sanitation education lessons we did within the school. I really felt that we had got the message across through the games we played and the songs we sang and while the lessons were great fun the message that was being put across was so important and could really make a difference to the health of the children and their families. That is why I decided to go back to Uganda to help continue that education and support the schools in building on that education themselves.

When I entered my final year of university and all my friends started looking for jobs I knew there was only one thing I wanted to do and that was to go back to Uganda and continue helping LBA with the amazing projects they do out there. So that’s why I am moving to Mbale for a year to help create a water and sanitation education resource pack. I will be working alongside the teachers from more than 19 schools that LBA has worked with to create a resource for them to be able to continue year round the education that the LBA volunteers provide over the summer. This education is so important as it ranges from the simple message of ‘wash your hands’ to discussing ways of purifying water and keeping it clean once it has been collected. These education sessions ensure the sustainability of the water tank and water source and that they are being used to their full capability, they also increase a sense of ownership within the community, making it much more likely that they will be properly maintained. By creating a resource pack it means that the schools are not reliant on LBA volunteers and can lead the teaching themselves, leading to community led learning based around their specific needs.

I really believe in this project and that it will make a real difference to people’s lives. If you would like to help out the project with a donation then I would be very grateful, the money is all going to LBA for the project and I am paying for all of my own flights and living costs.

How to donate: To make a donation please click on the button below, then email Debs to let her know the details of your donation – who it is from, that it is for my project, and your contact details so that I can get in touch personally to say thank you.

Many thanks
Anna Sharratt

The best way to donate is through Ufund as we are then able to claim Gift Aid and increase your donation by 13%. This can be done by Cheque or Direct Debit. All the forms and necessary details can be downloaded through the links below. Alternatively, donations can be made through the donation button found on each page of the website. All donations will go directly to the schools' WASH project which Anna is working on.

Donation Form to assist Anna's project
Gift Aid Form
UFund -How it Works
UFund - Standing Order & Direct Debit Form

Alternatively, to make an immediate credit or debit card donation please click on the donate button below then email Debs to advise the details and earmark the donation for Anna's project.

A Big THANK YOU to all the following who have donated so far...

Michael Eland

BVDA