In Uganda, I saw the essential nature of humanity. My curiosity about Africa led me to join this service-learning programme. At that time, my impression of Africa was limited to endless grasslands, animal migrations, circumcision, and its status as the birthplace of humanity.
During the briefing, I learned that Africa has 54 countries, and Uganda alone has over 60 tribes. I was worried about language barriers since my teammates, and I would run games in schools. However, once we arrived, I found that many locals spoke fluent English and enjoyed joking, which made me feel more at ease. Each tribe has its own dialect, culture, and traditions, but English has been commonly used since the British colonized Uganda.
We visited various primary and secondary schools, where classes were mainly taught in English. The walls had biology posters covering topics like the heart’s structure and the digestive system, which were at a high school level but taught in middle school. This shows that education is highly valued in Uganda, regardless of the school’s resources.
Unfortunately, some students come from low-income families. While Uganda offers twelve years of free education, many schools require uniforms and textbooks, making it difficult for some students to attend. I was impressed by how self-reliant the children are; they carry heavy items, walk long distances to school, and help care for younger siblings without prompting. They are very observant, like when we visited a single mother in a slum, and her young children helped her make milk powder.
Unlike in Hong Kong, where basic needs are easily met, and people often pursue luxury and dreams, the locals focus on earning money to support their families. Pursuing dreams can feel like a luxury everywhere, but developed areas offer more opportunities to achieve them. Thankfully, Watoto allows local children to study and travel abroad to broaden their horizons. I hope they can find their dreams in the future.
