My name is Joshua Hughes, a 13-year-old Scout from Reading. I will be joining the Berkshire Scouts initiative “Project Africa“ in the summer of 2019. Along with other Scouts from the county, including 12 from 1st Purley & Pangbourne, I will be travelling to Uganda for three weeks to contribute to an ongoing community development programme. I am currently raising funds to contribute to the costs for this trip.

The aim of this trip is to help make a difference to the local community in Uganda, continuing the successful work of past expeditions. I have been inspired by previous participants in Project Africa, who have passed on their experiences. I look forward to following in their footsteps and continuing their hard work. Thank you for considering my fundraising efforts.

[Above: Pictures from previous Project Africa work in Uganda.]

The first visit to Uganda (2011) was to complete project work at the Bukeka Children’s Centre (Mityana) and the Kavule School for the Deaf
 (Mbale). New buildings (3 classrooms, kitchen/diner, and wash room) and general refurbishment took place at the schools.

The more recent visit to Uganda (2015) was for project work at two rural schools north of Jinja (Butagaya and Iwololo primary schools). The project work was undertaken through a partnership with Soft Power Education (SPE), a British charity working in central Uganda. Again, building work (3 new classrooms, 2 teacher houses, and refurbishment) was undertaken and completed at the school.

Project Africa continues to support its four project schools and this has included funding teacher wages, sponsoring deaf children, and funding additional work such as water harvesting schemes, providing electricity, and upgrading the project buildings.