[updated 23 June 2010]

Registrations of interest (important notice)

We are pleased to report interest in travelling to Uganda in 2011 to take part in delivering community projects has been very high indeed. The majority of the registrations of interest have in fact converted to confirmed applications (approximately 100). We have now reached our maximum numbers for Uganda 2011 and regretfully have removed the facility for further registrations of interest.

We will consider a few more applications from those that have already registered interest. However, this facility is only available until the end of June 2010 due to the need to book flights.

There are still some opportunities for Leaders to join the Leader Team.

. . . please continue to read this page to see the different ways in which you can support this special project and benefit from the global awareness programme (GAP).

Next key dates

Flights to Entebbe (return)



British Airways will soon be posting their summer 2011 flight schedules to Entebbe. It is important that all participants declare their 3-week or 6-week preference so appropriate flights can be booked.

Recce to Uganda (July 2010)

The Recce Team of 8 Leaders depart for Uganda on 3 July. The team will be visiting the project sites at Mityana and Mbale as well as the activity sites in Jinja and Mount Elgon National Park.

Next stage deposit

The second stage deposit (£200) is due on 31 July 2010. Cheques payable to Berkshire County Scout Council and should be sent to the County Administrator (details in Information Sheet 1 – see downloads below).

Next training weekend

The next training weekend will take place during the weekend 11–12 September 2010. Details for downloading will be available soon. In the meantime, please be sure to keep the weekend available.

Downloads

Project Africa Information Sheet 2 (June 2010):

PA Information Sheet 2.pdf

Project Africa Information Sheet 1 (March 2010):

PA Information Sheet 1.pdf

Uganda Application Form (for Leaders and those that have already registered interest):

Uganda Application Form.pdf

Sponsor form for community projects (only):

PA Sponsor Projects Form.pdf

Sponsor form for personal support (only):

PA Sponsor Individual Form.pdf

Project Africa leaflet:

Project Africa leaflet.pdf

Supplies of the Project Africa leaflet are available from the Project Africa team:

Click here to contact us

For further information please see below or use the contact form here.

Links

Global Awareness Programme (GAP)





New (African gardening) GAP resources were uploaded to the web page on Sunday 20 June. Simply click on the 'new resources' button to download these great resources! 

Fundraising information

See under 'downloads' (above) for sponsor forms.

Pictures

Visit the web Gallery to see pictures of training sessions. Click here for the web gallery

Briefings & Training activities

Briefings

1   Saturday 12 June 2010 (with parents) – completed

2   Tuesday 16 November 2010 at 19.30 hours

3   Thursday 17 March 2011 at 19.30 hours

4   Sunday 26 June 2011 at 14.00 hours (with parents)

Training activities

1   Weekend: April Open Camp – completed

2   Day: Saturday 12 June 2010 – completed

3   Weekend: 11–12 September 2010

4   Weekend: 29–30 January 2011

5   Long weekend: 29 April – 2 May 2011 

Project Africa (2010–11)

Project Africa is a Berkshire Scouts community project to support two schools in Uganda – young people supporting young people.

The project will see Berkshire Scouts traveling to Uganda in 2011 to work at two special schools. The Scouts going to Uganda will be supported by other Berkshire Scouts of all ages (6-years plus) through a global awareness programme (GAP) – see link panel top left.

The global awareness programme will help Berkshire Scouts understand the lives of children in Uganda and also provide the opportunity to support the building of a chicken house; sponsor chickens to provide eggs for the school children; support the building of a new school kitchen; provide library books for the schools; and also provide camping equipment for the local Scouts in Uganda.

Scout projects in Uganda

Berkshire Scouts are grateful to Berkshire Scout Enterprises Ltd (BSEL) for supporting Project Africa. BSEL has been supporting projects and communities in Uganda since 1988. Projects with the Uganda Scout Association led to the formation of the UK–Uganda Network from which many other Scouting-based community projects in Uganda have followed – including Building Brighter Futures.

Building Brighter Futures is a registered independent charity (formed by Scouts from the UK working in Uganda) and supports two special schools in Uganda: the Kavule School for the Deaf which is situated just outside Mbale in Eastern Uganda; and the Bukeka Childrens Centre which is a short drive from Mityana in central Uganda. Berkshire Scouts will be supporting the ongoing work at these two schools and are pleased to be associated with the objectives of the charity:

The charity’s objectives are to provide practical support and sponsorship which will fund and provide educational support for deaf, disabled, disadvantaged and deprived children in Uganda, in order these children can integrate constructively, educationally, and socially within their local communities.

(above) school classroom

Berkshire Scouts are proud to be involved with this very worthwhile challenge.

http://www.buildingbrighterfutures.co.uk/meetus.html

Berkshire Scouts in Uganda (2011)

Scouts aged over 14 years at the time of the project, together with adult Leaders, will have the opportunity to work on the two main community projects in Uganda.

It is intended this work will be carried out alongside local Uganda Scouts and local craftsmen. Both projects are special schools (see above) supported by the Building Brighter Futures charity that started its work through a national Scouts project known as Unite.

On the route between the two schools in Uganda is a camp site developed by Avon County Scouts which will be the main base for activities because of its location by the source of the River Nile with white water rafting, etc.

See the camp site at: http://www.avonscouts.org.uk/jinja

(above) activity camp site by the source of the River Nile

There is also the possibility of using Mount Elgon National Park which is close to one of the schools (Mbale) for hillwalking, climbing and caving. We will also be costing Safari trips and other tours.

When and how much?

The main project will take place in the summer of 2011, from mid July to the end of August. Participants can opt for the first or second 3-week period or stay for the full 6 weeks.

Costings are likely to be in the region of £1,600–£1,700 for a 3-week period. The full 6-week period is likely to cost an additional £350.

A project for everyone (2010–11)

The community work at the two schools in Uganda (2011) will be supported by a Berkshire-wide global awareness programme (GAP) for the many thousands of young people enjoying Scouting across Berkshire – see link panel top left.

There will be the opportunity for all Groups/Sections to support the building of a chicken house; sponsor chickens to provide eggs for the school children; support the building of a new school kitchen (see picture below); provide library books for the schools; and also provide camping equipment for the local Scouts in Uganda.

Supporting Project Africa

Berkshire Scouts are looking for sponsors to support the project. If you or your company would like to help we will be delighted to meet and discuss the project and how you could become involved. All external sponsorship will be spent only on the community projects at the two schools (eg: one of the schools is in desperate need to rebuild its school kitchen).

(above) the school kitchen that Berkshire Scouts hope to rebuild (with your support)

Please let us know if you or your company or organisation would like to meet with us to learn more about Project Africa - click here to contact us.

Want to support Project Africa?

Please click here to contact us and a member of the Project Africa Planning Team will get back to you.