my story at the moment... So they wanted me to make a movie. But I didn’t have much time, and my phone still looks more like this Here goes... So I made you this powerpoint presentation instead.... So I don’t really have the right equipment for making movies.

I’ve been in Uganda for (almost) 2 years now. I’m still working with and We support networks of: churches And others working with children Children’s homes schools Because we believe that whole cities can be transformed when people work together Instead of trying to do it all on their own.

I actually don’t just work in Uganda. works in 5 countries in Africa... And I work with all of them. Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya Zimbabwe South Africa Here are some of the things I do.

research Now you might think research is not an exciting thing to be doing in Africa. And it doesn’t sound much like working with children. But, I love it. I get to search for information that can help our networks to do more for children, and share it with them. And I get to travel and talk to a lot of people to find out about how children are doing, and help make new plans on what our networks should focus on because of that.

I went to Mwanza Mwanza is the city where we have a network in Tanzania. I went there for 2 weeks in March. This is me helping a group of children draw a map of their community, so that they could tell us what problems they face there. In Mwanza there are big problems with poverty and with families breaking down. I’m writing a report about everything we found that will give us new ideas of what to do in Mwanza. Hopefully I’m going to Kenya in June to do the same thing.

developing programmes Maybe this doesn’t sound that exciting either. But it actually is! One of the programmes I’ve been helping to develop is Child Ambassadors, where children learn about their rights and find ways to make their communities safer. I’m writing materials to help children learn and take action. Also I’m working with Viva in the UK To develop some of the things we do in the Africa networks So we can share them with Viva in the rest of the world!

disability working group Networks have working groups, when projects in the network which focus on the same thing can get together, help each other, and work together. In CRANE (the Kampala network Viva works with) I organise the group for children with disabilities. We’re planning a big sports gala this summer.

friends I feel really grateful to God right now because I really like everyone I am working with and some people are getting to be really good friends. This is Immy. We work together on the Child Ambassadors Programme. She came over to learn how to bake. My friend Florence has an amazing vision for children with special needs in Uganda which inspires me a lot. Also we have a lot of fun together and she lives really near me.

life I’m mostly pretty happy at the moment. I still miss you all... (I have a nice church, but I have to go there on Sunday mornings, which still feels wrong!) I still miss And I sometimes feel lonely living on my own. But where else will you see stuff like this?

What next? I’m excited about seeing my dad in a week or 2, and going on a safari around western Uganda for a week. I’m going to be planning how to do research for CRANE’s new programme that will set up creative learning centres for girls who’ve dropped out of school, and I’ll get ready to go to Kenya in June. In August I am coming home to see all of you! Viva might start a new network in Africa this year. I would love if it’s somewhere like Rwanda. Lots of love from me! xxx