stories

Teddy

Teddy is a play centre volunteer in Bukaya village, Uganda. Teddy is a single mother of 6 chilldren. In July 2008 she attended a community meeting at which Alison Naftalin, Lively Minds attended to ask for youth volunteers to run the play centre. Teddy along with the other women of Samika Counselling centre agreed that they would run the play centre.

Prior to training as a volunteer, Teddy was isolated in the community. She had no family in the village. She was shy and reluctant to talk to other families. After she started to train as a volunteer, she began to find a role in her community. She befriended the other volunteers and began to build a support network of peers. Now she teaches at the play centre once a week and has been appointed the leader of her sub-group. Teddy says that she is proud that she has now learnt to teach the young children. She feels valued in her community. The children and other parents respect her. Most importantly she has now become self-confident. Teddy says

“I can now teach the young children. I know how to teach. The young ones are our future leaders. I have learnt to play with children in my house. God bless lively minds so that they can continue supporting our children. Thanks to Alison we love you. My life has been transformed kindly support us, Help us where you to support our centre.”