We have a departure date

We were just informed that we are flying to Uganda on September 30th. Yikes! This is really happening.

No stress here. We arrive back from our holiday on the 12th. Plenty of time to do a million things!

More courses

Next week Danny is attending a 3-day course entitled 'Organisational Development'. The course is for 'volunteers who will be working with or supporting an organisation with emphasis on facilitating change and developing organisational capacity'.


The day after this course ends he will be participating in the motorcycle training course since a motorcycle will be his means of transport between the various schools.

A few days after he returns home we will depart for a 3-week holiday to visit with my family, attend my nephew's wedding and also to kayak, bike, and hike around Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan. When we return we'll be doing the chaotic final prep for our departure.

Departure date?

We've been informed that our flights are booked for 21 Sept. However, we cannot be ready by that date due to a holiday which has been booked for many months. Danny also needs a 4-day motorbike course and will not be able to attend one before that departure date.

So we will leave later, possibly by the 1st of October. Our friends who will be renting our house while we are away are anxious to move in by then as well.

I am having trouble arranging for a TB test and BCG vaccination as I can't have any other type of vaccination within 3 weeks of a BCG. The test and vaccination are not given locally so I will have to travel to get them, and will have to take place in the last two weeks of September.

SKWID Course

Over 4 days Danny attended the Skills for Working in Development Course as well as the Health and Security Workshop. As is usual, the courses were held in Harborne Hall in Birmingham.

The H & S Workshop which lasts for 4 hours covers:
Daily Routines
Water Use & Treatment
Personal Security, Safety
Psychological Adaptation
HIV/Sexual Health
Medical Plenary

SKWID covers topics such as:

VSO’s Approach to Development
Diversity and Disadvantage
Effective Communication and Building Relationships
Issues and Strategies
Communication
Overcoming Language Barriers
Volunteer Roles
Exploring Participatory Approaches
Building Bridges
Preparing and Practising Facilitation
Networking and Mobilising Resources
Guidelines on deciding negotiation strategies
Corruption and Conflict
Conflict Management
Dealing with differences and managing conflict

Danny found the course to be long and tiring, but overall he enjoyed it. The group work and role-playing was enjoyable and thought-provoking. Of course, the group enjoyed socializing in the bar at the end of each evening.