Travel to Uganda and Orientation

We begin our semester traveling as a group to Kampala, Uganda, where we settle into our group, getting to know one another and our instructors. Together we map out our itinerary and set individual and group goals for the program. We introduce our curriculum and brainstorm ideas for our individual Capstone Passion Projects while coming together as a traveling community.

Led by our local host, Peter, we receive an orientation to Ugandan culture and customs. We explore Kampala, all the while learning about the rich cultural history and the complicated political and economic framework of East Africa, as well as the cultural norms and social etiquette of the region.

Rhino Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation

Traveling north from Kampala, we head to a rhino sanctuary where we will spend the next week. Due to poaching and fierce competition over natural resources for the last three decades, rhino have been extinct in the country of Uganda since 1982. We join biologists and rangers to help in the efforts to reintroduce and build a sustainable rhino population through their breeding program. We learn to track and monitor the animals day and night, help with animal rehabilitation efforts, and take part in community outreach educating local youth about conservation efforts. This opportunity not only provides us with an intimate look at the real environmental issues facing East Africa, but also allows us to be a part of viable solutions.

Rural Community Farming, Microfinance and Homestays

Our journey continues to the rural farming community of Luminyere, a stone’s-throw from picturesque Lake Victoria. Known for its fertile soil, this part of Uganda is an agricultural haven. With a growing number of the rural communities relying on subsistence agricultural, our partner Peter, the founder of a local farming cooperative, encourages traditional farming methods and techniques with regard to planting, harvesting and distribution of important seeds. By supporting local farmers through training and vocational studies, families are able to sustainably provide food for their families through farming initiatives. Through our partner we go behind-the-scenes to help out and experience the strategic learning taking place. Partnering with farmers we may plant fruit orchards, build bee boxes, construct water catchment systems, or participate in any assortment of agricultural practices. Living with host families who graciously welcome us into their homes and lives, we get an in-depth look at life in this region of Uganda.

Nile River Rafting

Our Uganda adventure comes to a close on a high note as we travel to Jinja for an exhilarating whitewater raft on the mighty Nile River. After an exciting day on the river, we cross into Kenya and travel into the picturesque Great Rift Valley, where we stay in the quiet farming community of Kembu for the night.

Female Education Project

Set in the Shadow of Mt. Kenya, our host school, East Africa’s first free all-female secondary school in Kenya, provides a stimulating and challenging educational experience aimed at readying its students for occupational interests. Only 55% of students who finish primary school in Kenya move on to secondary school, and women make up only a fraction of that small percentage. According to International Food Policy Research Institute, women’s education is the single most contributing factor to decreasing levels of hunger and malnutrition, and according to the International Aid Organization UNICEF, every year of schooling raises a woman’s income by 10%. For a week we call this campus home as we get to know and befriend the girls who come from varying areas throughout the country. Throughout the week, we pair up to shadow one of the students in her day to day studies and activities. In our down time we hear the girl’s life stories and what brought them to the school, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future.

Safari in Maasai Mara National Park

One cannot visit East Africa without a true safari. After traveling to the starting point, we wake up and are beckoned to the famed plains of the ‘Mara.’ We trade our overland vehicles for smaller, more manageable 4×4 land cruisers and depart for an adventure of a lifetime. For the next two days we venture through Masai Mara National Park, one of the most documented game parks in the world. In search of the coveted “Big Five” – rhino, lion, elephant, water buffalo and leopard – we are sure to see our fair share of animals in this geographic masterpiece.

Solar Energy Project

Leaving the plains of the Maasai Mara behind we make our way to the site of our next project which addresses the Environment and Conservation theme. The project is the brain-child of our local partners. An impactful initiative established to bring solar power to the homes of households in Kajiado County who do not yet have access to electricity, we spend the next ten days learning about solar power systems and other renewable energy sources, building and installing solar power systems into homes, and undertaking an evaluation of the project. During our stay here we will learn about the impact of conventional fuels on the environment, as well calculate our energy usage at home and what it would take to go solar in our personal lives. Working alongside community members, we form close connections with those of Kajiado and get to witness the magic of someone turning the lights on in their home for the first time.

Tanzania and Student Planned Module

Leaving Kaijado behind, we cross over into Tanzania, the last country in our East African journey. Our odyssey continues as we make our way to Arusha, the small city base for our Student Planned Module. This long weekend is totally planned by the students, with basic parameters put in place and a budget with which to work. We can’t wait to hear what the group will do!

Maasai Public Health Project and Adult Education Project

Our cultural exchange with the Maasai continues as we travel to the town of Meserani, a small indigenous Maasai community in the rural lands of Northern Tanzania. In cooperation with community leaders we learn about the struggle for health care in the region due to the lack of government support. In a country where one doctor cares for up to 25,000 people in any given rural area, Meserani is an exception to the rule. Funded by eco-tourism and donations, the Meserani clinic provides up-to-date health care to individuals who would normally not have access to such care. During our stay in Meserani, we are provided with an up-close view of the efforts being made to protect the local people from disease and sickness.

Our next project in Tanzania has us partnering with Tanzanian young adults our age. We spend a week in buddy pairs learning the stories of these resilient people who have had to overcome great challenges before finding respite in this community. The center provides access to education and child-care, as well as opportunities for these locals to give back within their own communities. During our time here we assist in child-care, vocational classes, and general tasks around the center. We also have ample time to get to know our hosts outside of class hours and continue immersing ourselves in the unique culture of the Maasai.

Zanzibar

Traveling to the coast of Tanzania, we catch a dhow boat to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. After an engaging semester of learning, we relish the opportunity for a well-deserved celebration on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar. We have the opportunity to snorkel, while also relaxing in paradise.

With our semester coming to a close, we present our Capstone Passion Projects to our traveling community. Sharing our new perspectives with the group, there is no question our learning and living during these months will prepare us for the rest of our lives. As we savor our last week together, we are excited to head home to share our newly gained knowledge and insights from our firsthand look at the global issues facing Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

*Please note that the order of the countries and of the projects is subject to change depending on your group assignment.

Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Gap Year with ARCC: