Ragy Morkos Class of 2017 Ashinaga Uganda in Nansana, Wakiso

My Responsibilities One of Ashinaga Uganda’s main programs is the support of 3-4 Ugandan candidates each year to enable them to study at university either in Japan or the U.S. My responsibilities mainly revolved around the three Ugandan candidates that I was teaching for that summer. I was responsible for coaching the Writing portion of the SAT exam. Other responsibilities included managing a book club with other interns that was made for the candidates as well as participating in the Rainbow House’s different activities.

Me with Aine

Work Rewards Ashinaga Uganda is one of the best places I’ve come to experience. The scene of Japanese and Ugandan staff and students working side by side when you step inside just puts a smile to your face every time.

Me with my housemate Koki

My impacts on Ashinaga Uganda A great thing about being an intern teacher at Ashinaga Uganda is that all teaching materials are saved and used by each successive year. This means that I was able to access interns’ work from the previous years as well as do my own guides for specific parts of the SAT relevant to the students I had. Moreover, participating and managing other Rainbow House activities greatly fueled my interest in education as well as contributed to the activities as a whole.

Group photo during Leaders’ Camp

Effects on future career plans My internship at Ashinaga Uganda fueled my interest in education. I am now much more confident about pursuing Princeton’s Teacher Preparation Program as well as pursue my goals in the education field in general. Moreover, having experienced life in East Africa, and being from the Middle East myself, I believe that most of these countries need a serious reform in education, and I hope to contribute to an organization like Ashinaga Uganda and others as I continue to pursue this goal.

Leaders’ Camp in Tororo

Final remarks Ashinaga Uganda is definitely a place where someone who loves teaching would love being in. I’ve made lifelong friends, experienced a strange yet delightful amalgam of Africa and Asia, and definitely had an unforgettable experience!