News
24/01/2008
African adventure for young Cub Scout Leader
Gap year teaching stint for Scout leader Richard
A young Cub Scout Leader from Northumberland is busy preparing for his life-changing, year-long trip to Uganda.
Richard Cave, 18, will travel to the African nation this summer to begin a 12-month teaching stint during his gap year. He will be living in the local community in basic conditions and will spend his time teaching English and Maths to primary school children.
Richard’s trip has been organised through the gap year volunteer charity Project Trust, which sends around 200 volunteers a year to work in 25 non-European countries around the world.
He became interested in the scheme after visiting his sister during a similar gap year in Malawi.
‘My big sister did a gap year similar to the one I'm going to be doing. She went to Malawi and I went out to visit her and saw what she was doing there and I really liked the idea of it,’ he said.
In order to get a place Richard had to prove he had what it takes, by attending a gruelling five-day selection course on the Hebridean Isle of Coll. Applicants were tested with team-building tasks, essay writing, manual work and a presentation. They were also tested on their teaching skills by letting leading a ten-minute lesson each.
But thanks to Richard's Scouting expertise, he was able to breeze through all tasks to gain one of the coveted places.
Now he is looking forward to travelling to Uganda with about a dozen other volunteers. Once there, the group will be split into pairs to work in various communities.
‘I'm a bit nervous, but it will be fine. I hope to gain experience of working abroad, a better understanding and to learn about another culture,' he said.
One of Richard's main aims is to establish an Internet link back to the UK, allowing young people from his home town the chance to interact with youngsters in Uganda.
He added: ‘I would like to set up a link between some of the schools and childminders in Morpeth and people in Uganda.
'I want to give some of the younger kids in Uganda and the kids in Morpeth a way of writing to each other and learning about different cultures.'
However, before he is able to make his volunteering trip, he must raise £4,500 to send him on his way.
He has already written to several charitable trusts and grant organisations and has planned a number of fundraising activities, including coffee mornings and performances with his ceilidh band. His local council recently awarded him £250 towards the expedition.
For more information on gap year volunteering, visit the Project Trust website.
