Category: Life of a Volunteer
Our Stories:
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Omushomesa’s Inspiration
There’s Polona from Slovenia who likely doesn’t even know she has a namesake in Uganda! This volunteer stayed with us at Lake Bunyonyi from December 2007 to March 2008 … and in addition to all the good work she did, she also happened to inspire an omushomesa! Omushomesa? A literal translation is “teacher”, but in…
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Partnership with Batwa “Pygmies”: Not the Easiest but Highly Impactful
Volunteering with Batwa “Pygmies”? Not the easiest thing in the world, yet potentially highly impactful! Londoner Edd had selected it from our long list of projects that had been waiting for the right person — and that’s how he found himself in a dugout with two Batwa delegates. The destination: BirdNest Resort, Lake Bunyonyi. There,…
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Shattered Expectations
Anjni and Kalpa’s expectations were shattered within 24 hours. Rwanda greeted them with a neat airport, helpful and friendly officials, smooth roads, cleanliness, and no hassle whatsoever. Even people’s traditional attire wasn’t far from their own Indian heritage! The sisters live in Australia and America but they were born in Kenya, and they thought Rwanda would resemble their motherland much more…
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Crazy: Burundi, Rwanda & Uganda’s Gorillas in Three Days
The collapsing swimming platform at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi has been rebuilt from scratch, courtesy of Wheeling2help! This volunteer organisation brings groups of Greeks and Cypriots to several countries, eager to make positive community impact. After several contributions to Bufuka Primary School — a new kitchen with school meals tops the list — they added…
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Shiv’s Colourful Week in Rwanda & Uganda
Londoner Shiv loves music. He straight away sat in front of our tour minibus and took full advantage of the Bluetooth connection, playing mostly American hip hop and some R&B. That was the soundtrack of his one week in Rwanda and Uganda. His trip’s first upcountry destination was Musanze where he was to teach GHE…
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Into the Snow and Ice of Africa
Looking for something very cool as a special add-on to your trip in the Gorilla Highlands region? A week-long trip to the magnificent Rwenzori mountains in western Uganda, bordering DR Congo, can be it! If you seek a physical challenge and thick slice of adventure, go conquer Mount Margherita at 5,109 m/16,795 ft — the…
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In Photos: Pioneering Volunteer Adventure in Rwanda & Uganda
Today’s story will be the last for some weeks. Our home country Rwanda begins the annual commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi tomorrow. With GHE Youth Spaces — the core of the adventure presented in 10 images — we try to play our part in building a nation and a transboundary region where…
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Where Differences Can Still Be Made
We were visited by Laura and Hannah from Austria last week … as they came to Uganda attempting to better understand their late friend Carla Weinzierl. “Cala” was our remarkable veteran volunteer and frequent returnee. She took her own life in Vienna in 2020. Before we get into anything else, there is one important message…
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What Should I Expect in Terms of Cultural Shock?
Culture shock is expected, and even welcome, when you exchange a life in the West for a dive into African life. But your culture shock will inevitably be quite personal. Considering that I’m a fresh Gorilla Highlands Experts intern that will stay in Uganda for six months, my very recent arrival puts me in a prime position to share my…
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