The Team
Colin Knox – HHT
Chris Steele – HHT
Mark Ferris– HHT
Tom Bond– HHT
Ste Bounds– HHT
Phil Speed– CDHT
Darren Lavender – CDHT

Day 1 – Leaving Liverpool
An early start at Liverpool airport – all the team tired, excited and a slight feeling of trepidation for those setting off for the first time. Nick, Sue & John where there to see us off and wished us all the best – John extremely jealous of the team and failed in his attempt to stow away in the hand luggage. There was also a group from Liverpool Hope who would be joining us to Fort Portal – although they would be working on a separate project It was a beautiful clear morning as the plane left Liverpool – a place we won’t see for another 28 days. All the flights where great – apart from we had an unscheduled stop in Kagali (Rhwanda) which put our trip travelling time back two hours. A highlight of the flight was the Ivory Coast national team joined us – complete with all the Premiership stars – but we soon tired of their attempts to get photos and autographs off us!

We landed in Entebe and were met by the Ugandan based team – we loaded the van – in its typical chaotically organised way – and headed to Kampala and the Mill Hill Mission – or as Darren thought it was called The Mill Hill Millionaires! The journey was great especially for me – seeing the first timers faces as they took in Uganda. As we got in late it was a quick briefing of the next couple of days events.

This time around I will, when the work gets underway, share the blog with the team – getting their impressions and thoughts of the project – as I’m sure you don’t want another 28 days of my thoughts and ramblings!

A great first day though, a real sense of excitement and anticipation  I think I may need to sedate Chris he’s that “up for it”) already building up in the team.

Day 2 – The Journey to Fort Portal
On a lovely hot sunny morning we loaded up the van and said our goodbyes to the Mill Hill Mission. It was for many of the team their first chance to see Uganda and Kampala in the day. Needless to say the hustle and bustle of the city took their breathe away. Once out of the city the towns and lush vegetation flew by. I felt exhilarated to be back and I took as much pleasure from watching the scenery as I did from watching the happy faces of the team marvelling at the scenery for the first time.

We reached Fort Portaland more importantly the guest house (our base) in good time. A quick unload of the van and allocation of our rooms was followed by a debrief from Cairon, Lynsey & Rob. That done we had our first of the many great meals to be supplied by Ineka (our host). A quiet night followed with the team and the group from Hope chatting and planning the next couple of weeks work.

Tomorrow is a trip to last years project a poignant moment for myself, then on to this years project. We all can’t wait to get going.

Day 3
Apologies if I self indulge a bit first. Today’s schedule included several visits to local areas of interest and a visit to this years project – but first was a trip see last years project – the project I worked on. As we drove up to St Peter & Paul’s lots of old memories came flooding back.

We got to the gates and I was literally lost for words (a first time for everything!!!) The transformation of the school I left 12 months ago was miraculous. The school looks fantastic – I was overcome with emotion, seeing the work the last two groups had achieved – the sense of pride was immense – it then really dawned on me why we do this, we can and have changed lives out here.

After that we went to view the Rift Valley, the heavens opened at this point and driving conditions became treacherous – to the point the van got stuck and was literally seconds from tipping over, but several of us jumping out of  the van and stopped this happening – the phrase squeaky bum time came to mind. We then decided to walk the rest of the journey, from there we went to see our next project – but before that we had a team building exercise.

We parked the van then walked the 5k to the school – the task was to fill our 20 litre jerry cans and carry the water that distance (1 can between 2). This is a task all most Ugandans do on a daily basis  - and believe me it brought home to me how the simplest thing back home which we take for granted is such a hardship out here.

Tired we got to the project but immediately something inside of us all as we saw the task that lay ahead of us for the month. A very different task from last year – in fact this is a secondary school and the buildings are in much better condition – but the end product is a much higher end finish. So a real challenge lies in store. The night was spent throwing ideas around on how we can achieve this. The team are focused and straining at the leash to get going.

Day 4
A quiet Sunday morning was had – a last chance to really relax before the real work gets started. After lunch we had an inventory of all the tools we had brought over – really impressive and big thanks to HHT and CDHT for all the donations.

After that we had a trip to site to walk through and what was ahead of us so we could hit the ground running. We did a little bit of work that day –it is Sunday for goodness sake – building a Tippy Tap (look it up on Google!!) We then went back to the guest house for our meal and the final run through of our tasks.
Tomorrow it begins – bring it on.

Day 5
First day at work!! The team where up and at ‘em nice and early – there was a real buzz around the kitchen table. We went to site with a quick stop at our favourite Ugandan version equivalent of B&Q. We picked up a few items and got to site to be greeted by the Ugandan trainees we would be working with for the upcoming month – a lot of them where there from last year and came racing over to my self and Phil Speed (CDHT) like long lost family – which was a real treat.

We then split into our teams who we would be working with for the next couple of days and assigned our tasks. But before we got started we divided all the kit out for the trainees. They all got boots, tools and PPE – it was a great sight to see them all in the kit provided by our generous sponsors. The teams looked very smart in their EuroGold Hi-Viz and baseball caps – they all stood out and looked very professional.

Chris Steele (HHT) had the task of sanding down the rafters – preparation for putting wood preserve on them  - his team consisted of, Patrick, John, Vincent & Simon – over to Chris......
“I felt a real connection and understanding right from the off. Explaining what the task was ahead – I then asked for their input and if they had any ideas to make the task easier – it was a great half an hour or so bouncing ideas around. The task itself was difficult and draining due to the heat and the precarious nature (full Health & Saftey was observed at all times!!!) The time flew as we got on with the task with great banter and enthusiasm – and lots of laughs. A hard days work – but I thoroughly enjoyed it – bonding with team – can’t wait for tomorrow.”
A quiet evening at the guest house – roll on tomorrow.

Day 6
An early start  - with a quick stop at the local timber merchant – and that’s a phrase I use very lightly. We had a hard time find straight wood  - 99% being warped twisted and bent. The real fun of the morning cam in bartering the price – Mark Ferris (HHT) haggling with the owner – and what a result from 48,000 Ugandan Schilling to 40,000 – we were all well chuffed with this until it dawned on us it was a saving of about £1.50 – but every little helps!!!

Work was great all the teams gelling together for a very productive second day – progress was impressive. Mark Ferris of HHT had, among many, the task of preparing the outer walls – this meant knocking off all the existing render, and sealing the brick work underneath – his team consisted of Charles, Kenneth and Moses. Over to Mark.......

“A good day – we all felt more relaxed after the first days initial nervousness and excitement. All the trainees turned up in their new kit – which was great to see. Again great progress was made – with lots of great banter – especially poor Charles whose rendering skills weren’t that great much to the amusement of all, but Moses showed him how to do it and he was made up to get it right at the end. At the end of the day there were lots of thanks all round for the help we had provided to each other."
we returned back to the guest house for a BBQ – but you will all be glad to hear the heavens opened and forced us to cook it indoors – just like home!! The team and trainees in two short days have become a cohesive unit – fantastic start.

Day 7
We were all up and raring to go – another beautiful Ugandan morning, promising a lovely day ahead. We got to site and teamed up with our Ugandan colleagues. The work is going along at pace. The pillars at the front are flying and Darren Lavender (CDHT) is playing a prominent role in this. He was teamed up with a new group today. Over to Darren….
“ It’s brilliant today, building the pillars – leading the team and teaching them how to use a spirit level, working with their teacher – eventually taking their advice and using traditional Ugandan method. I oversaw the work – but we were constantly swapping ideas all day. A real positive day’s work with the Ugandan trainees eager to get on with the work – the work was all nice, tidy and straight. We had good banter and laughs getting to know them all. A great day can’t wait for tomorrow.”
Again a really positive day with the project gaining real momentum.

Day 8
Today was extremely hot and humid. We had a quick stop on the way to work to pick up some wood – we had to cross the road which is no mean feat in Fort Portal with Chris Steele likening it to the old Atari video game “Frogger”.
The brick work is flying up – Steve Bounds (HHT) was working on the retaining wall with his team, Emmanuelle, Amos and Godfrey. Over to Steve…….
“ Today was awesome, all the team worked amazingly hard. I was extremely pleased with the progress as we finished the wall a day ahead of schedule. Looking forward to the rest of the project and the weekend ahead for a bit of R&R as we have all worked so hard this week.”
Tomorrow is all planned and prepped to go – with the added advantage of a game of football against the trainees.

Day 9
A hot morning but all in high spirits. Today Nick, Scott, Laura, Lynne, Megan and Jane from Hope University were going to join us and lend a hand. After a quick stop for wood we got to site and there was a real buzz about the place – and we really hit the ground running. A fantastic morning’s work in extreme heat.
At lunch we played football against the trainees, with the school coming out to watch, which was brilliant and they found it highly amusing. We won 3-2 much to the trainee’s disgust – and we didn’t rub it in at all in the afternoon. Nick, a lecturer from Hope University was working with myself and was really out of his comfort zone. Over to Nick……
“I was working with Colin and the trainees digging out the apron around the building, removing the earth then filling in with hardcore – a real change from the norm for me. The trainees where brilliant, really nice guys, all willing to work hard, inquisitive and good fun. The rest of the Hope team all worked really hard in the heat, with the girls receiving several marriage proposals!!
I finished the day happy and with a real sense of pride that me and the team have helped make a difference. We all want to do more – it was that good.”
We all got back to the guest house in high spirits. Tomorrow is Saturday so half day only – then a trip to the monkey Sanctuary – hopefully they will let Chris back out!!

Day 10
Slightly overcast and drizzling today but didn’t dampen our teams spirits. Again we where joined by a few people from Hope who wanted to do more - Nick, Megan and Laura.
As we were only working half day the pace of work was furious with the project moving a long very nicely. It was back to the guest house for a quick turn around. We took a quick lunch which was livened up with Ineka bringing out a Birthday cake for Darren who celebrated his 20th birthday today.
We set off to the monkey sanctuary all very happy and excited. It was a perfect afternoon setting up and having a BBQ whilst all around us the monkeys got on with their daily business.
The evening was spent at the Indali lodge, a location that provided a stunning panoramic vista of the Ugandan mountains – which in the distance were lit up by forked lightening which was dancing across the summits. After the meal we all sat outside taking a quiet breath taking in the sunset – awesome. It was back to the sanctuary to sit around the camp fire chatting into the night. A perfect day and a birthday Darren won’t forget in a long time.

Day 11
A late start with breakfast on the veranda in the sanctuary. The morning was spent with half the group going for a walk in the hills while the others stayed behind to relax – accompanied by a myriad of colourful butterflies – a real peaceful oasis.
The journey back took us through the Kiko Tea Estate - it literally stretched for as far as the eye could see. The day was spent planning for the week ahead and recharging our batteries for the challenge of next week – one for which we are all totally committed and looking forward to.