NAGGALAMA – Inter Campus' recent trip to Uganda encompassed a stop-off in Aber in the north of the country before a memorable trip to a sports day at a school in Naggalama.
Upon arrival in Aber, we found out that Inter Campus activities had fallen into neglect after all the teachers at the local school were changed. Proof if ever it were needed that you simply cannot rest on your laurels in our work.
The situation was completely the opposite in Naggalama, however, where we were greeted by an explosion of children, colours and sounds. We were invited as guests of honour to the school sports day, which involves all the pupils and their families in various sporting and light-hearted tournaments.
Alongside the traditional relay, sprint and football tournament, there were some other more imaginative events on the menu. We witnessed shopping competitions where six-year-olds were given a list of items to buy in a pretend shop in order to teach them how to save, and fashion competitions where girls put on catwalks with clothes they made from recycled materials like jute bags or banana-tree leaves. There was even a matoke-peeling contest, with wise elderly women judging the finest specimens.
Elsewhere we saw races with bottles balanced on the contestants' head, wheel-barrow races and hula-hoop competitions. The whole day was jam-packed with activities that brought amusement to the watching public, who often got actively involved themselves.
We rounded our stay off in Naggalama with a tour around the classrooms and, continuing the spirit of fun that pervaded the day, we got everyone to sing the Nerazzurri anthem and promise to carry on being good girls and boys.
Comforted by 800 prayers of good health and safe travels from the kids, we said our farewells and headed for the car to take us to the airport.
