#UgandaTrip14

#UgandaTrip14

Sunday 9 November 2014

Akipi

"For many of us, clean water is so plentiful and readily available that we rarely, if ever, pause to consider what life would be like without it."

With under a week to go until I travel to Uganda with WaterAid and thirteen colleagues from the Water Industry, I have been overly conscious about water (Akipi in Ateso) in everything I do. What would it be like if I didn't have easy access to clean water? What  if I couldn't go to the toilet in a safe environment?

So what have I done? Not a lot really, baked, gone to the football, stayed in watching the remembrance service on TV. Regardless of what I have done one thing is for sure I certainly needed water and a toilet on more than one occasion over the weekend. 

I certainly took for granted while baking that in order to add the 200ml I needed for the sugar syrup in the Gulab Jamun I was baking,all I had to do was turn on the tap. When my parents came round, all I had to do to make them a tea was go to the kitchen and fill up the kettle. 

This time next week I will be learning how people in Uganda prepare food, gather water and look after their families. I will be seeing the problems they have and the work WaterAid is doing to try and address this. 

Everywhere we go we expect to have access to a clean toilet. As I walked towards the Amex Stadium to watch Brighton play, desperate for a wee I began to ponder: What would it be like to not know there was somewhere safe and clean (well, cleaner than I imagine the Bwaise slums to be!) to go to te toilet. But we take these facilities for granted, we even moan when we find them in a poor condition. Its these sorts of things that I think about as I prepare for this trip.

Please don't misunderstand, I am not saying that our expectation for a clean toilet and fresh running water at the turn of a tap are an unnecessary luxury.All I am saying is that it is important to remember that in a world where smart phones and the internet are becoming a 'need,' there are still some people in the world that don't have access to water and sanitation. 



Well, that's all from me now until we travel next week. I must now go off and pack, I think I have everything sorted now, most importantly I have started taking Bimuno, hopefully a godsend. 

If you want to know any more about our trip head over to wateraid.org. You can also read my fellow travellers blogs here.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Adam,

    Great to read your thoughts as you prepare for our incredible trip.

    By the way, took on board your tip about Bimuno and have started taking it too - fingers crossed!

    See you Saturday,

    Caroline :)

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  2. Fingers crossed it works then!!! :-)

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  3. hI
    Dont worry about the length of your blogs as they make for fascinating and emotional reading. reminds me alot of the 3 years i spent in Papua New Guines as a volunteer. Love the pics.
    Take care and enjoy the experience.
    Cheers
    Alan - Morrisons

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