Haileybury Youth Trust: HYT - Three Years Later

‘Katie, Alex, you have been lost for a long time’. This was the typical greeting from all the people we saw on our return to Jinja after our last visit three long years ago as the HYT Gap Year Students. In itself, it was particularly heart-warming. Three years had passed, yet many of the people we worked with, from Philip Yiga to Freddo were still working exceptionally hard for HYT. We were greeted with the broadest smiles and genuine feelings that they were thrilled we came back after such a long interlude.

What is most satisfying about the return trip is just how far HYT has come. The One Village at a Time projects have worked brilliantly, with the quality of the buildings and diligence of the workers noticeable from a mile off.

Equally encouraging are the private projects that HYT are involved in. The number of projects in the pipeline reflects the strength of demand for ISSB buildings as well as the skilled work and training that HYT provides. That HYT has plans to build a 230,000 litre water tank is a testament to how far things have come on!

It is worth mentioning what, for me at least, is a prime example of the advantages of HYT’s presence in Uganda. One of the Ugandan Gap Year Students, who we worked with, Kassim, has been utilizing his skills. He recently hired a press, and with the help of some colleagues, who he had trained in ISSB, managed to make 1200 bricks and profited as a result. This for us is a great sign. The skills are lasting, and can be used to make a living in the future.

With the success from the Agricultural Show evident, the biggest change from our time here is that people are now asking HYT about ISSB technology. There is not such a need to spread the technical aspects of the technology, as we often took trips around the areas of Mukono and Iganga to do so. Now, people come to HYT because the quality of ISSB, its comparative affordability in construction and the scale of the projects completed proves the benefits of ISSB, environmentally but also economically. This is a pleasing sign of the progress that has occurred.

Jinja itself is still the relaxed, bizarre, breathtakingly beautiful place. It is quite surreal how little has changed, yet that is part of the charm of the place. Many of the restaurants and watering holes are still standing! Fortunately the new dam has not destroyed many of the rapids, which makes white water rafting still incredible fun. It has been enjoyable to easily slot back into the Ugandan lifestyle and to relax before the world of work ensues.

Katie has been out here conducting research for her dissertation into the viability of ISSB, socially, environmentally and economically. All the participants, often from HYT’s previous projects and current staff have been exceptionally helpful. The research suggests positive signs for the future of ISSB and by default HYT’s work. The continued need for the dissemination of training points to the fact that HYT has plenty of work left ahead, but the desire to receive the training is extremely promising.

It has left us with a sense of pride returning to Jinja, to see that the projects that we were a part of are still (thankfully!) standing. More importantly, the people we have seen again have been as entertaining, and welcoming as ever. The new people and staff of HYT have been equally friendly. The new country manager WHD seems to have settled in well to his new role and looks set to carry on the excellent work of his predecessor SE. The future of HYT looks extremely promising. There certainly are challenges but ultimately, the work is having a lasting impact on the development of Uganda’s construction sector.

With the sad thought of that ‘Monday morning’ feeling now awaiting back in the UK, it has been beneficial to reflect on my own experiences in Uganda three years ago and on this trip. One thing Katie and I can say for certain is that we will not be ‘lost’ for as long a period again. Uganda in general – and Jinja in particular – is a special place that we can’t wait to visit again as soon as possible.