This day fully packed with three different, workshops: the assertiveness training, the job training and the creative training. We started with the assertiveness training, which was done via some interactive cases. After a short explanation and some examples, the group was split into smaller groups. These groups were focussing on solving the cases. These cases were for example asking help by passing an obstacle or the stop a taxi and get into the front seat of the taxi. All the cases were based upon real life situations. Remarkably was the different ways of solving the cases. Uncertainty and anxiety played an important role in this. The students indicated during the evaluation that they has learned a lot from this workshop. We hope they can use these skills also in practice.
The job training started with the some sentences which were whispered into the ear of the first student and passing through the entire group. The last student should say he things the original sentence was. As you understand the input was not equal to the output! Important topics which were discussed are: use of your voice, body language and can (and dare) to present yourself with a clear story. This was done via games like, recognize emotions on different photo's and students telling something about themselves. This kind of training was big eye-opener for some of the students. They were not aware of the importance of body language. As we has experienced, most of the Ugandan people speaking with a low voice and always facing down, avoiding eye contact.
After having some rest and some food (or precisely: running overheated to the lunch place, as it was very hot today), we did our creative workshop. Upfront we were not entirely sure how many children would participate at the work shop, but we didn't worried about this. 'We will see what happens'. The participants were split into three groups. One groep were folding figures with paper and sticking 'Holland' tattoo's on their bodies, the other group were painted with make up on their faces and painting the plaster masks, which were made in the third group. During the preparations of the work shop we were not sure whether the children would accept the plaster bandages on their faces. It might scare them. The fear wasn't necessary, the children loved it. There were a lot of children waiting for making a mask of their own face. Despite this big success we really had to stop the workshop, as we were running out of time.
After this long day, we went back to the ICU guesthouse. There a nice dinner was waiting for us. And there was water and electricity (yeaaah), so we could take a warm (or non-cold) shower. After almost 2 weeks in Uganda, you are even exited when there is water and electricity. What a difference compared with Holland!! The rest of the evening we relaxed a bit and did some preparations for the day of tomorrow.