Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tusangaire Uganda! (Welcome to Uganda)!

PLACT has hit the ground running in Uganda, wrapping up the group’s third day in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city!

Reports from the group are that they have been having an amazing whirlwind of a trip. From trying new foods, to adjusting to the newness of the place, to dealing with jet lag, the group is a bit worn out, but the Notre Dame students and PLACT staff love what they are doing in East Africa.  

The group has already had the pleasure of meeting with Penninah “Penny” Kabenge, an official in the Ugandan Olympic Committee, to discuss the role of women in sports in the developing world. Penny was the recipient of the International Olympics Committee’s prestigious Women & Sport Award for Africa earlier this year. In addition to providing insight into the role that women have to play in human development, she also provided advice on how best to teach the PLACT model in a Ugandan setting.

Students were also treated to a traditional Ugandan dance performance, and had the opportunity to volunteer at an orphanage for infants, bathing and playing with some of Uganda’s most vulnerable citizens.

And that was the first day!

Since then, the group has been hard at work, teaching for two day’s at St. Peter’s Primary school in the Nsambya neighborhood of Kampala. The students and PLACT staffers have taught our adapted curriculum, using the Ugandan PLACT CHAMPION HANDBOOK, and have held sports competitions at the school. PLACT staffers are also surveying students and staff to gauge the reception of the material.

Really exciting stuff, and we look forward to letting you know more about what’s happening in Uganda!

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