COMMUNITY
Discovery Centre
– Jinja …..the place to be !.....
By Richard Johnson
E
ast of Jinja, overlooking Lake Victoria, experienced. Local community leaders and 7. Be loved
in Uganda, lies Discovery Centre in a teachers are very much involved in all aspects
8. Develop as an individual
beautiful location where the sense of of the planning and arrangements of the visits
9. Have an identity
peace and tranquillity abound. This is a far cry to maximise their effect. Evaluations are
10. Shelter
from the situation that some guests that visit conducted after visits so that any modifi cations
Children’s responsibilities:
the centre normally fi nd themselves. to improve the activities and arrangements
1. Value their own lives and have self-discipline
can be implemented. Feedback from the
2. Not endanger self and/or others
Established in 1994, it was the result of two young people and their leaders has been very
3. Listen to others and respect them
organisations coming together, Youth With positive.
4. Not abuse own health
a Mission and the UK charity, Adventure
5. Learn/take part and put in effort
Projects Trust. The initial aim was to provide Football is immensely popular in Uganda and
6. Look after toys and possessions
HIV and AIDS prevention education to there is keen interest in the English Premier
7. Love, obey and trust your parents
young people through a range of educational, division, with strong loyalties to particular
8. Respect and accept others’ opinions
9. Recognise their own worth and respect that
recreational and sporting activities. sides. Football is also popular at Discovery
of others
Centre, and for a number of years, teams have
10. Appreciate and respect their home
Activities of the Centre have broadened, but been involved in playing local matches and
the main focus is on providing young people further afi eld. Currently, the senior Hope Lads
This session was particularly interesting, as
with an environment in which they can fi nd the Team trains at Discovery Centre most evenings
in spite of the cultural and other differences
opportunity to release their potential as whole of the week and plays competitively in a local
among the delegates, there was wide agreement
people, in respect of their physical, emotional, league and occasional tournaments. There is a
and satisfaction with the Children’s Charter as
social and spiritual well being, giving them a very active U16 Squad. They currently train
refl ecting the right balance within families and
future and a hope. at the centre on Saturdays and take part in
society.
local friendly matches. It is great to see young
This environment contrasts most markedly people grow in their individual skills, but also
Through discussions and sharing of ideas and
with that of the Internally Displaced Peoples grow in character through team situations.
experiences, there was a greater understanding
Camps (IDPCs), which were set up in response
of different viewpoints. If this process could
to the unrest in northern Uganda. For the last A recent exciting development was an
be encouraged more, I am sure that there
three years, children and young people from the International Conference, the ‘Jinja
would far less violence and more harmony in
camps have been visiting Discovery Centre. International Youth Meeting 2007’, held at
the world.
Typically, a group of about forty young people
with their leaders or teachers come to visit for
To enhance this process there are some
about a week at a time. As well as having fun
in a secure caring environment, an educational
“Mobilise Africa by giving and
very exciting plans in the pipeline to build
an Education Centre at Discovery. It will
element is included in the program such as
sharing knowledge and expertise” be a 2-storey structure, enabling groups
teaching about life skills, and organising visits
Khalid Sheikh of up to 40 to be taught at any one time.
to places of interest like the source of the
(Speaker at Commonwealth Business Forum 2007 Kampala) In the secure upper storey, there will be a
Nile.
suite of computers linked to the internet
and an observation balcony which will give
Whilst staying at Discovery Centre the children
extensive views over the whole of the site and
often wish to share some of the horrifi c Discovery Centre. It was set up in a small
of nearby Lake Victoria. Included in the centre
experiences they suffered whilst living in a way to mirror the recently held CHOGM
will be display areas and a small offi ce for
war zone. This has proved to be therapeutic, (Commonwealth Heads of Government
administrative purposes. This education centre
bringing healing to the hurts and traumas they Meeting) in Kampala. Student and teacher
will become a resource for local schools,
delegates from schools in the UK and
many of which have no electricity, let alone
Uganda met to discuss issues such as the
computing facilities, and also to provide
Commonwealth, global warming, HIV and
training opportunities for Ugandan Health
AIDS, fair trade and economic development.
Workers as they visit Discovery Centre for a
There were lively debates on the rights of
period of respite from their work in the IDP
children and women. At the end of the session
camps. It will also be a hub to link schools in
on Children’s Rights, a charter was drawn
Uganda and the UK, and an innovator of good
up by the delegates on what they thought the
educational practices.
rights and corresponding responsibilities of
children should be:
If you wish to invest into the lives and future
of young Ugandans, whilst enhancing the
Children’s rights:
understanding between people of different
1. Life
cultures, why not join with us in the
2. Security
3. Expression/be listened to
establishment of this Education Centre to
4. Be healthy
bring hope and future to the next generation?
5. Education
For more details, visit www.discoverycentres.
6. Social Interaction/play
org.uk
P
36 | THEPROMOTA
www.thepromota.co.uk
ppromotamagazine_issue12.indd isabelle corrected.indd 36romotamagazine_issue12.indd isabelle corrected.indd 36 330/11/2007 21:50:050/11/2007 21:50:05
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