Welcome to Alfred's Blog
All about Alfred
Ejoka (hello)! My name is Alfred Oboke and I'm volunteering with VSO as a teacher trainer on VSO's education project here in my home country of Uganda. I'm very happy to have the opportunity to keep you up to date with how the project is going, my work, and how your support is making a big difference to the lives of many young children.
I grew up in Karamoja, so I know from my own experiences how much education can shape a person's life. It means a lot to me that I now that the chance to work with teachers and communities here, helping children to learn, stay in school and feel safe and supported.
Children here can face big barriers to education. Many families live in poverty, and drought and poor harvests make life even harder. If parents are struggling to feed their families, their children may kept at home to help with work instead of going to school. For girls, the barriers can be even greater. At times, young girls can be married off in exchange for money or livestock, and they can be expected to stay at home to care for siblings or do household chores. Children with disabilities also face severe discrimination - many are kept at home, viewed as a curse or hidden away from the community. Children are getting left behind in education.
With your support, volunteers like me are working to change things for the better for the children of Karamoja.
Alfred Oboke's updates
Patrick's story in his own words
Last month, I met an inspiring young student - his name is Patrick* and he’s 14 years old. Patrick lives with a painful disability in his leg. He’s faced a lot of challenges but his dedication to learning is incredible. He believes education can change his future. It’s a pleasure to meet so many brave and resilient children like Patrick, who, no matter what obstacles they face, keep striving for a brighter future.
You can read more about Patrick's story below.
Meet Emily, an inspiring student and mother
In this update, I’d like to tell you more about my life growing up here in Uganda and the challenges my sisters faced with their education. I’ll also give you an idea of what a day in my life as a VSO volunteer looks like and tell you the story of an inspiring student called Emily*.
I met Emily when she was 15 years old, soon after she’d been forced into an early marriage. She was being kept away from school and never thought she’d ever get an education. But, thanks to people like you, Emily is now back at school and working towards an independent future.
Ejoka (hello) from Uganda
This is my first update to you and I'm very excited to share my work, so you can see first-hand the impact you're making by sponsoring a volunteer, like me. In this update, I'll share a little of my own story and tell you more about the challenges children face here - particularly girls and children and disabilities. I'll introduce you to a brave young woman called Juliet* too, whose story highlights the unimaginable difficulties that can be overcome with the right support - your support.
Want to ask a question?
VSO’s Sponsor a Volunteer team will share your message with the VSO volunteer and get back to you with a response. Your email address will not be used, disclosed or transferred to any VSO personnel, it will be stored securely in accordance with VSOs privacy policy. A sample of messages including display names will be published to the Sponsor a Volunteer homepage each month.
Your latest questions answered
Thank you so much for your lovely message. It’s wonderful to hear that reading about my work in Karamoja brought back such happy memories of your own time volunteering.
Thank you again for your encouragement and continued interest in the work. Please keep in touch. I hope you're enjoying your updates all the way from Karamoja, Uganda.
With very best wishes,
Alfred
Thank you so much for your thoughtful message and for sharing your own experiences of volunteering with VSO in Nigeria. It’s particularly meaningful to hear your reflections on inclusion in education, having seen first-hand how difficult it was for children with disabilities to access schools during your time there.
Thank you for your continued support of VSO and for your kind words. Your own VSO journey, and your continued interest in the work all these years later, is a wonderful reminder of the lasting connection that volunteering can create.
With very best wishes,
Alfred
Thank you so much for your lovely message and for your continued support of VSO. It’s wonderful to hear that you have been supporting VSO for so many years.
It means a great deal to know that you value the work we volunteers are doing and that you enjoy hearing about the difference we are making. Your support helps make that work possible.
Thank you again for taking the time to write and for being part of the VSO community.
With very best wishes,
Alfred
We bring about lasting change not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers to empower communities in some of the world’s poorest regions. You can read more about VSO’s areas of work and discover more about our projects here.
Hear from our volunteers
Our volunteers are working right now around the world to help with education, food and health. Click on someone below to learn more about their work.
Diane Uwamahirwe
Muraho (hello)! My name is Diane Uwamahirwe. I’m volunteering as a Special Educational Needs coordinator on VSO’s early education project in Rwanda. I’m looking forward to keeping you up to date with how we’re getting on and how your support is making a lasting difference to the lives of young children here.
Theonas Kalumika
Moni onse! I’m Theonas Kalumika, an education specialist volunteer in Malawi. Before I started volunteering for VSO, I was a primary school teacher for 13 years and spent 18 years as a primary education advisor. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to update you more on how your support is changing the lives of many children.