Preparing for Uganda

Last week saw us introduce S.A.L.V.E.'s two new interns, Emma Vickers and Imogen Bancroft. At the beginning of September we will be waving them off as they head for sunnier climes and the welcoming smiles of the S.A.L.V.E. Uganda team. With their departure just around the corner, we wanted to find out how they were feeling as they work their way through their enormous to-do lists as they prepare for their big trip. Are they nervous? Excited? And what are they most looking forward to getting their teeth stuck into?

Imogen (left) and Emma (right)

Read on to find out, as we hear from Emma and Imogen in their own words...


Emma Vickers

I graduated from Nottingham University in 2008 and since then have been working towards a career in developmetn. I have spent time working in research at a city council and recently spent a year in France to learn the language, however, my main ambition is to work in Africa.

Since first visiting in 2007, I have been unable to forget the colour, chaos and vibrancy of the region, and this internship gives me the perfect opportunity to return in a more helpful capacity than your average backpacker. I can't rememember when I decided that I wanted to work towards alleviating poverty. I think the disparities in opportunity and personal freedom between the wealthy and the poverty-stricken is something I have always been aware of, but perhaps was particularly hammered home during my time working and traveling in East Africa and Africa.

Emma

But then of course, the big question is what to do about it and where to focus my skills? The scale of the problem is enormous, but I do know that I have always enjoyed working with children and young people and I also have enormous faith in the power of education to raise aspirations, broaden horizons and provide opportunities for progress.

I am hugely excited about meeting the team, the kids, and putting into place all the projects Imogen and I have started to plan. I hope we can move S.A.L.V.E. forward to help more children and develop the community so that children are not driven to the street in the first place. My one worry is the huge amount of preparation it seems we have to do before we get on that plane - but i'm sure we'll manage!

Imogen Bancroft

The more I have learnt about the improtant work of S.A.L.V.E. International since being accepted for the internship, the more my excitement has grown. I have recently completed a Masters at SOAS (School of African Studies) in Development Studies in which I focused my studies on Africa, youth and children's rights, and I feel that this role is an amazing opportunity for me to rbing my knowledge and understanding to the charity, and to learn and develop my own skills.

Imogen

I spent a year in Africa in 2003, spending four months setting up a project at a school in Kenya, and traveling around Southern Africa. This humbling experience transformed my life and I have since dedicated my time to learning about the African continent, its troubles and context within the world, and to exploring wyas that I may be able to help those less fortunate than myself. I feel that children are key to the positive development and wellbeing of any society, as they are representative of the future and have a unique way of acting as connectors. But what also attracted me to this role was the comprehensive grassroots nature of S.A.L.V.E. in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable by providing a safe and meaningful grounding in education.

Imogen and Emma modelling their new S.A.L.V.E. t-shirts!

I can't wait to get out there, to meet the children and the team, and to get stuck into doig what I can to help the children on a personal level, as well as aiding the development of the charity as a whole.

Introducing Some New Faces!

You may ask why it's been a little quiet on the blog front recently. Well, here at S.A.L.V.E. we have very good reason, as it's been a whirlwind of activity as we recruit for our two new interns, who are due to head out to Uganda in early September!

So, without further ado, let us introduce the two lucky girls who will be joining the S.A.L.V.E. team... Huge congratulations to Emma Vickers and Imogen Bancroft who fought off some incredibly tough competition to take up their places as the new S.A.L.V.E. interns. As the UK team sifted through all of the applications we received for the position, we were struck by two things: how the number of applicants has increased enormously, and the incredibly high standard of all those applying to us. In the light of this, we can safely say that both Emma and Imogen should feel justly proud of being selected as the lucky two, after what was a very tricky selection day!

Esther and Cailtin: S.A.L.V.E.'s first two interns

Alice, one of our second interns, with baby Caren

After being given the exciting news that they are off to spend four months in Uganda, there are lots of things for them to do before jetting off. Not only do they need to sort out their visas, jabs and flights, but they need to fundraise for their time away as the money they take with them will go directly to the projects they work on whilst they are out in Uganda.

Esther holds a community education workshop

But then, what projects will they choose to work on?! There are a whole host of different things that they can put their efforts towards whilst working with our Ugandan team - previous interns have set up jewellery-making projects and drama groups, or have concentrated on establishing our street clinics or carrying out research into why children come to live on the streets in the first place. As a small charity, our interns are invaluable to the work that we do, and as we grow, the ways in which they can help us are ever increasing. We are incredibly excited to see what Emma and Imogen will make of their time with us in Uganda, but one thing's for certain - we know they both have the energy, passion and enthusiasm to make it a huge success!

The S.A.L.V.E. jewellery-making project in full flow

From all of us at S.A.L.V.E....good luck girls!