Sarah in Uganda: ‘she’s finally made it!’
For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of travelling abroad to take part in charity work. This year, that dream finally became a reality.
On November 8th, I joined 15 strangers at Heathrow Airport, and together we boarded a flight to Uganda. Despite not knowing each other beforehand, we all shared a common goal: to support the incredible work being done at One Love Project Uganda—a school dedicated to providing education and care for orphaned, vulnerable, and disabled children.
I experienced a mix of anxiety and restless nights leading up to the trip, but the moment I arrived, all my worries vanished. It didn’t take long for me to realise just how breathtakingly beautiful Uganda is, with its vibrant landscapes and the most kind-hearted, welcoming people. Adam, our guide, being one of them. He was by our side from start to finish and if any of you ever want to experience Uganda, please get in touch with me and I will give you Adam's details.
After a nine-hour flight, three eight-hour journeys, and countless incredible sights along the way, we finally arrived in Kabale at the One Love Project.
As we approached the gates of the school, the sound of 220 children singing filled the air, and at that moment, my emotions completely overwhelmed me. Driving through those gates was an experience I’ll never forget.
There they were—220 children, singing, dancing, smiling, and radiating pure joy. Despite their challenging backgrounds, whether orphaned, abused, or disabled, they exuded a happiness that was truly humbling and unforgettable.
I could easily fill 100 pages with everything I experienced, but I'll do my best to keep it brief.
As you know, I raised £1,470 through a raffle at SKINLAB, and during my time in Uganda, I saw firsthand the incredible impact this money has. Whilst on this subject, I do just want to clarify that I funded the cost of the trip myself, and every single penny raised in the raffle came out to Uganda with me.
At the school, every child receives two nutritious meals a day and has access to medicine and hospital care when needed. Many of the children return home each night to their families—families who are among the poorest and cannot afford education or even basic food for their children. Attending this school is a lifeline for them.
Some children, however, board at the school because they are orphaned. Then there are the disabled children. In Uganda, disabilities are often heavily stigmatised, and many children with disabilities are shunned by society. Parents are frequently forced to lock their disabled children in a room, hiding them from the outside world while they work to provide for the family.
The disabled children at this school are incredibly fortunate to have a safe and supportive environment where they are cared for, included, and given opportunities to thrive. The progress these children make is nothing short of remarkable.
Below are a couple of pictures of 'Our Little Tribe' the disabled section of One Love Project.
It hit me hard walking into this room. The thought of these children being strapped down and locked up all day at home whilst their parents worked was just the worst thought in the world.
Last year they took in a 7 year old boy called Melvin. He has cerebral palsy and was non verbal. This year I witnessed him walking, talking, and showing off with his numbers and alphabet 😍
We were introduced to each classroom, with students ranging from 4 to 16 years old.
Their spoken and written English was exemplary, as was their behaviour. In fact, when I asked one of the children if there were any naughty kids in the school, she looked at me confused! They are truly grateful for their education.
Whilst we were there, we realised that a lot of the children's shoes were pretty much wrecked, with toes poking out left, right and centre!
This is where I put some of the money I raised to good use. A trip to the local town and a painful 3 hours of shopping later (nothing is easy in Africa) I returned to the school with 40 pairs of new school shoes. This is where things got challenging. Giving one child a new pair of shoes quickly led to the entire school lining up, hoping for their turn. I had to avoid eye contact and focus on the children with the most damaged shoes to decide who would receive a new pair. It was an incredibly emotional experience that really pulled at my heartstrings.
I did sneak a few boys into the donation room to give them a football kit. It was like they had won the lottery.
Whilst at the school, I connected with a young girl called Bridget. She was 14 and boarded at the school because she didn't have any parents.
It was her birthday whilst I was there and for the 1st time in 14 years; she received a birthday gift. I had to sneak her into her dormitory to give it to her, and then she had to hide it in her little metal box under her bed. It is dog eat dog in Uganda, and the other children would likely steal the gifts if they weren't hidden away.
Meet Bridget ❤️ She wants to be a Dr 🤩
Some DIY work was needed at the school, particularly with the paintwork, so part of our group got to work with their paintbrushes. Meanwhile, my roommates and I ventured out into the surrounding community.
What struck me the most was the stark contrast on either side of the school gate.
Inside, there were singing, dancing, happy, and educated children. Just outside, we saw extreme poverty—children without clothes, looking malnourished, and families struggling to survive. The difference was heart-wrenching, and I felt drawn to the community to help.
The reality in Uganda is that poverty isn’t the exception—it’s the norm. Nearly everyone is poor and hungry, with very little in the way of clothing. Most people sleep on hard mud or concrete floors without a mattress or covers, which is especially tough during the chilly wet season. It didn’t take long to realise that helping everyone wasn’t possible. Instead, I embraced the motto: You can’t change the world, but you can change someone’s world. We focused on two of the most vulnerable families, providing a mattress, bed sheets, blankets, and pillows.
The first lady we assisted with the funds raised was an elderly woman in her 80s, nearing the end of her life. We found her living in what could only be described as a shack, enduring extreme poverty. She was lying on a thin sheet on the floor, unable to move, and surrounded by unsanitary conditions. Her situation was truly heartbreaking. Providing her with something so simple restored a sense of dignity in her final days, and she expressed profound gratitude. Out of respect for her and her family, no photos were taken, even though permission was granted—it simply didn’t feel right. The image of her as we first entered will remain etched in my memory forever.
The second family we visited was a mother and her four-year-old triplets. Abandoned by her husband, they were left with absolutely nothing. Homeless and living in a small concrete outhouse with barely any shelter, they all slept on the floor without even a blanket. We were able to provide them with a mattress, bedsheets, a blanket, and a pillow. A quick glance revealed no signs of food—or even a place where she could prepare meals. Through Adam, who helped translate, I asked her where her food was. Her heartbreaking response: “We don’t have any.” They hadn’t eaten in three days.
As the day was coming to an end, I knew I couldn’t leave her in this state. Adam drove us into town, and with contributions from my two roommates, we purchased a month’s supply of essentials: rice, maize, dried peas, beans, and nuts. To protect her safety, we had to deliver the food discreetly, as survival in Uganda is often a fight for resources.
I feel like I was meant to meet this lady, and where possible, we are going to try and help her rebuild her life. It costs approximately £9000 to buy land, build a house and furnish it in Uganda, and that would be a dream come true if we could achieve this. Like I said before though, nothing is easy in Africa! I'm not one to back down from challenges, and raising just £3000 each doesn't feel impossible. We are in talks with some contacts we made, so watch this space for updates. For now, we have enrolled her three sons into One Love School, where they will be educated and fed twice a day. Hopefully, this will be a huge weight off mum's shoulders.
The Bra Saga!
Here’s a little update on the bras you so generously donated. Upon arriving at Entebbe Airport, my suitcase filled with bras immediately caught the attention of security. Unaware of the rules, I explained they were bras I planned to donate to local women. That’s when I learned that used bras are considered contraband, and only new bras are allowed. Thinking quickly, I claimed that some of them were, in fact, new (even though most weren’t).
What followed was a painstaking process of sorting through the bras to separate the “new” ones, with the rest being confiscated. After nearly an hour under scrutiny, I managed to keep about 50% of the bras—thanks to a little creative storytelling! Finally, they handed me a form (not in English), which I hesitantly signed, and they let me go on my way. Crisis averted and lesson learnt for next time!
The images below show just a few of the women from one of the poorest communities selecting their bras. The gratitude was overwhelming—one woman even fell at my feet in thanks. It’s a powerful reminder of how much these small gestures mean to those in need.
There’s so much more I could share, but it would take me a year to put it all into words!
We’ve all seen poverty on TV—likely donated, turned it off, and carried on with our lives. But until it’s staring you in the face, you can’t truly grasp how real and devastating it is. It’s a cliché, but we genuinely don’t realise how lucky we are. We take so much for granted. Yet, there are incredible lessons we can learn from the amazing people of Uganda. Despite their hardships, they smile, sing, and dance. They find joy in the smallest things, and for many, having shelter, education, and food would feel like winning the lottery.
If you’re looking for life-changing experiences, I urge you to put Uganda on your bucket list.
You won’t be disappointed—it’s a place that will stay with you forever. My days there are definitely not over, I've just got to break it to the husband!!!
The remaining money I raised will go towards the running costs of the school over the next few months.
Thank you to all of you who purchased raffle tickets and/or donated items/bras for me to take, it really does make a difference 💗
Sarah xxx