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
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
It is wonderful to learn that you dedicated 35 years to teaching and were also involved in teacher training. Your lifelong contribution to education has touched many lives, and I deeply respect that commitment.
Your words give me extra motivation to continue serving these communities with dedication. It is also interesting to hear your reflections about education in the UK. Around the world, education systems face different challenges, but committed teachers and supporters like you remain very important in shaping positive change.
Thank you again for your kindness and encouragement. I look forward to sharing more updates with you as the work continues to develop in Karamoja.
With warm regards, Alfred
Thank you very much for your warm and interesting message. It was wonderful to learn about your life.
Thank you as well for taking the time to read about my work through VSO. Working with schools, teachers, and learners here in Uganda is both challenging and rewarding, especially as we continue supporting inclusive and quality education for children in rural communities.
I truly appreciate hearing from you and learning about your experiences. I look forward to keeping in touch and sharing more updates with you in the future.
Kind regards,
Alfred
I look forward to staying in touch and sharing more updates with you in the future.
With 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.