Helen and Adrian Brown first ventured to Uganda in July 2007 on a life changing six week volunteer program with the UK aid organization Soft Power Education, who are primarily involved in the rebuilding and refurbishment of primary schools. Their days were spent surrounded by hundreds of Ugandan children while they worked at the Amagezi Education Centre and Kyabirwa Pre School.

As well as working with Soft Power Education, Helen and Adrian had fantastic opportunities to interact with a huge number of Ugandan people. These people eagerly shared their stories, families, smiles and food (even if they had very little.)

Through these interactions and ensuing friendships, Helen and Adrian learnt that, although Uganda is certainly a poor nation, the people of this amazing country refuse to give up hope or allow the hardships of their lives to weigh them down. One of the heartwarming realizations was that Ugandans, in general, were tremendously happy and cheerful people, who have learnt to deal with life's challenges whilst wearing a smile on their face.

To the majority of Ugandans, nothing is more important than family. The Brown's witnessed first hand the struggles that many families had to endure. These ranged from the day to day worry of having enough food for everyone, through to dealing with life threatening diseases such as HIV, malaria, cholera and typhoid. As well as these serious health issues, there were issues with what appeared to be ridiculously trivial things. Mothers commented, "our family can not afford a uniform." This meant that because uniforms are compulsory for student in Uganda their child was unable to attend school. The cost the equivalent of approximately $5AU to purchase!

During their 2007 trip, Helen and Adrian also spent time with a wonderful Ugandan man by the name of Ssemwogerere David. Along with other like minded Ugandans, he had established an in country NGO; Development Plus. The primary goal of this organisation was to support community groups and schools. David was working very hard to establish organic gardens at schools so that students could be educated in permaculture practices, that could in turn be taught to their families. Food produced in the school gardens would then provide lunches to children who would otherwise have nothing to eat or drink during their day at school. Excess production was sold to surrounding communities to raise funds for needy students to be able to acquire school materials. Water tanks installed at these projects created a safe and sustainable water supply for students to access clean drinking water, while also providing water for the garden.

Upon returning to Kyabram in August 2007, Helen and Adrian did not waste any time in formulating a plan to practically assist some of the extremely important issues in Uganda. They found it impossible to do nothing after witnessing Uganda first hand, particularly when so little, by our western standards, can have such a huge impact.

HUG was born!

HUG's 2008 trip to Uganda was filled with adventure, fun and friendship.

In March 0f 2008, just six months after returning from her first adventure to beautiful Uganda, Helen Brown was back at Melbourne airport about to depart for Africa again. This time however, rather than saying goodbye to her kids and boarding the plane with her husband, she was bidding farewell to her husband and boarding the plane with her kids. Well two of them at least. Helen and Browny's second eldest, Chad and youngest of 4 sons, Brenton were about to embark on an experience together that will stay with the three of them for the rest of their lives.

After 40 hours of travel, the Browns arrived in the heart of Bujagali, the same small village in which Helen and Browny had stayed during 2007.

For the first two weeks of their trip Helen, Chad and Brenton were charmed by this beautiful community and it's wonderful people. Their time was spent volunteering with Soft Power Education where they had the chance to catch up with many friends from Helen's previous trip, as well as meeting some amazing new people. From painting classroom at Kyabirwa Primary school to building classrooms at Sudique Primary School. From getting to know the amazing men of Amagezi Education Centre (Silagi, O4no, Fred and Aloysious) to swimming everyday in the mighty River Nile with wonderful new friends, Chad and Brenton quickly came to understand why their parents had fallen in love with this incredible country and it's inspiring people, during their initial visit the previous year.

After the first two weeks in Bujagali, the Browns hitched a ride with Soft Power's self proclaimed 'King of Dirkistan' Dirk Leyson, and his two Belgian buddies to explore and experience some of Western Uganda and all it's beauty. They traveled through stunning countryside of contrasting green fields and dry,red, dirt tracks. Then onto the vast openness of the African plains that are home to some of the continents most famous creatures; hippos, elephants, giraffes and the mighty lion. The sobering power of the River Nile's most forceful opening - Murchison Falls  also thrilled them. The Browns saw it all and soaked it all up, as they bumped along the potholed roads that connect villages and towns across the country. During this week long expedition however, Helen, Chad and Brenton were never separated for long, from their first love of the Ugandan culture, it's gorgeous families and smiling kids. An eye opening stop over at an orphanage at Fort Portal, fantastic visits to several primary schools inside the boundaries of Murchison Falls National Park, and everyday encounters with local men, women and children going about their lives. The constant smiles and infectious laughter, all a reminder that happiness is a journey, it's not a destination. It does not depend on the things you have, but the people you love. Another inspiring week in beautiful Uganda.

Week four of the amazing trip, and things were starting to get serious for Helen and the boys. After three weeks of (sometimes) warm showers and (usually) proper toilets, they travelled with the most incredible of men, Mr David Ssemwogerere, to the Masaka district of Southern Uganda, where they spent a week staying with David's family in in a local village, eating as the family ate, and sleeping where the family slept. Days were spent working with the communities of St Joseph's Primary School and Bright Light Primary School to install water tanks and organic gardens, and evenings were spent at home with the wonderful family who so generously allowed the Browns to share their lives. With no electricity or running water in sight, showers at the house were of a gerry-can-and-bucket variety, while trips to the toilet involved a 40 foot hole in a small brick structure at the back of the house. At the front of the house, Helen taught the famous "Chicken Ladies" to bead necklaces and bracelets, while Chad and Brenton spent hours playing with the kids and falling even more in love with a culture, so different to their own. The unbelievable insight into the lifestyles of real Ugandan families and their everyday existence, is something that Helen, Chad and Brenton feel exceptionally lucky and privileged to have experienced, and they are forever thankful to David and his family for giving them the amazing opportunity to share their home. During their week in Masaka, the projects at the primary schools that Helen, Chad and Brenton were working on, got off to a fantastic start, and with just a few days work, hundreds and hundreds of students and staff will now have food to eat throughout their school day, and fresh water to drink without having to walk for several kilometers to collect it.

After an emotional goodbye to their close friend in Maskaka, the Browns travelled back north, over the equator and in the heart of the nations capital, Kampala. After an unforgettable 4 weeks in Uganda, Chad reluctantly boarded his return flight to Australia, while Helen, Brenton and David Ssemwogerere made their way back to Bajagali to resume their work with Soft Power Education. David spent two days in Jinja district, visiting a number of agriculture projects and studying modern farming techniques, which he has now taken back and implemented in the school gardens in Masaka. After David left, Helen and Brenton went back into full swing with Soft Power Projects. Brenton spent the next two weeks laying bricks on the new Soft Power office building site, while Helen travelled all over the village, some days laying bricks, some days working with the kids at the pre school, and other days distributing letters from Australian school children to their Ugandan counterparts.

As you can imagine, the Browns had made some incredible friends  during their time in Uganda and saying 'see you next time' was a very emotional affair. After all friends were visited, and photos were taken Helen and Brenton sadly waved goodbye to Bujagali village for the last time during this trip. Once back in Kampala they met up with David and his brother Frank for one last time so they could escort them to Entebbe International Airport for their flight home to Australia.

So after six weeks spent in amazing Uganda the Browns had not only had an awesome family holiday, they had learnt much from the beautiful Ugandan people. Although there are indeed certain elements of western culture that could dramatically improve the lives of African people, there are also many, many things that can be learnt from them. If we could incorporate some of their way of life and their positive attitudes into the lives of us who are fortunate enough to be living our comfortable western life styles, the world would be a happier place!