Uganda 2025: A Life-Changing Visit to Radnor Junior School
Sixth Form students were immensely proud to spend time over the October half term break at our sister school, Radnor Junior School in Semuto, a thriving primary school we have supported since it first opened in 2022.
Students spent an incredible week volunteering - supporting education leaders in classrooms, reading with pupils, building wonderful friends and deepen their understanding of the world around them. Immersed in school life, they gained real insight into the power of community, connection and compassion - all while experiencing the extraordinary culture and wildlife of Uganda.
In their own words, Ava and Issac in Year 12 and 13, share what this journey meant to them:
Our twelve-day adventure began with an afternoon at Heathrow, enjoying all that duty-free has to offer and indulging in dinner at Wetherspoons before boarding our nine-hour flight to Kigali. From there, we took a final one-hour flight to Kampala Airport. We were greeted by Patrick, Chris and our bus driver, Godfrey, who took us to our hotel and joined us for a welcome lunch, where we also met one of the school directors, Isaac.
The following morning began with an early start so we could arrive in time for school assembly. We endured a very bumpy two-hour journey along a mud-track road before reaching the school. After a whistle-stop tour, we paired up and headed to help in the classrooms. Over the four days we spent at the school, we supported lessons in P.E., Maths, English, Religion, Geography and Science, as well as joining in countless games, handshakes and races. During the games afternoon, the boys took part in football while Ava represented us in netball. On our final day, the whole school gave us a wonderful send-off. Everyone spoke - including our brave team leader for the day, Oscar - before we said our goodbyes on the lawn and departed for the last time.
Our next stop was the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, a unique conservation area home to nearly fifty white rhinos — the only place they can be found in Uganda. We were incredibly lucky to walk alongside them (at a safe distance!) and even take a few selfies. As the afternoon turned to evening, we took a dip in the pool and enjoyed a delicious steak-and-chips dinner. Our accommodation was very comfortable, and we had great fun listening to music on Ava’s speaker before bed.
Travelling further north, we arrived at Murchison Falls National Park, where we stayed for the next two days. We visited both the main waterfall and Freedom Falls, formed in 1963. Later, we continued to Red Chilli Camp. At 4pm, we met our incredible and charismatic safari guide, Joseph. The safari was spectacular - we were fortunate enough to see elephants, buffalo, Ugandan kob, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and a wide variety of birds. On our final morning in the park, we went chimpanzee trekking and were thrilled to spot some high up in the treetops.
Our final evening in Uganda was spent at the lovely Cassia Lodge. We unwound in the pool and celebrated with a superb supper, overlooking the vibrant nightlife of Kampala, before heading to bed to recharge for the long journey ahead.
After a short flight from Uganda to Rwanda, we spent some time exploring the city of Kigali. We visited genocide memorials and braved the bustling market. Armed with fresh mango and strawberry smoothies, we made our way onward to the airport and boarded our overnight flight home.
This trip was an incredibly eye-opening experience. We created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. What stood out the most was how kind and welcoming everyone was throughout our stay. We would encourage younger pupils to take this unique opportunity in the future, as we feel we learned so much - not only about Uganda, but about ourselves as well.
