It is difficult to know where to start after such an incredible, emotional, fun-filled journey that I went on this June. So that I can give you as much of a flavour of what the country is like and what the needs are, I will be writing a few blogs looking at some of the projects that we were involved with in Uganda.

From the Chilli Children’s Life Skills Clinic to brick-laying at Kitazigurukwa Primary School in rural, south-western Uganda my journey has taught me an awful lot about the difference we can make and how easy it is to completely transform an individual’s life.

I will try to bring to life the culture, the issues the people face, the projects that are in place now and talk about individual stories of hope and sometimes desperate need.

I was part of a small team organised by Christian charity Mission Direct, who support projects all over the world.

Let me start by telling you a little about our initial journey and what we found when we arrived. We flew 8.5hrs from Heathrow to Entebbe, landing at 3792ft above sea level before driving through bustling towns and villages and weather ranging from beautiful hot and clear days to torrential flooding waters racing through the streets. Uganda is a lush, green country with endless stunning views. I was expecting to see a lot of dry landscape but it just isn’t there. We travelled west; if you travel east the climate is much hotter and dryer but heading west in the direction of Rwanda and the Congo just offers mile after mile of staggering beauty.

The people we met were all hugely friendly and I noted that many people told us how thankful they are that we were there. While the scenery is wonderful, the circumstances in which the people of Uganda often find themselves are hard.

I’m back home now and sometimes, when I turn on a tap I think of all the people I saw carrying 20kg ‘jerry-cans’ full or water from a bore-hole or well to their homes. Sometimes they were carrying 2 or more. Sometimes they walked 4 or 5 miles. I get emails all the time about sales at my favourite shops and I remember all the children with holes in their clothes. I remember the care that our family has had from the NHS when we have needed it and I think about how difficult it is for families in Uganda to get medical treatment.

The hardship very much hit home one particular day. We set off back to our hotel early from an afternoon working at the building site one day because it was raining very hard. In the rain accidents are very common. We stopped suddenly when one of the team spotted a little girl lying in a ditch. She was walking home from school and had been hit by a boda-boda (motorcycle). She was clearly in a bad way; bruising to her side, a huge lump and a large gash to her head. Her brother stood watching as we tried to speak to a neighbour to tell them we would take her to hospital before bundling her limp body into the minibus.

She had a collapsed lung but her head injuries weren’t as serious as we first thought. Her mum found out quickly what had happened and arrived at the hospital within a short space of time. She spent a week in hospital before being discharged. Her name is Susan. Her mum had to keep taking a boda-boda back home to fetch food, clothes and other supplies because the hospitals in Uganda provide medical treatment and nothing else.

All this time the family are amounting an enormous bill and having to pay for rides to and from home. Imagine this; the bill for the family, just for the medical treatment was the equivalent of over 6 months wages. For us, if we came up with about £120 we were able to cover all their expenses, including travel and food. Of course we all chipped in and made sure that family was provided for. But it struck me how often this must happen and how families are left having to sell everything they own to pay a medical bill, and then there is no way out.

There are lots of stories to tell so I will try not to go on too much! In a few days I will tell you about the main project we worked with, the building work at Kitazigurukwa and time with the disabled children at the school.

I would be very happy to chat with you about the trip, do ask if you have any questions by emailing info@schudio.com or tweeting us @schudio.

Many thanks to the following organisations who have supported the trip and the many, many individuals who have contributed via prayers, aid or financially directly to the work on the ground.