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Uganda/Rwanda May 2012
Study and Leadership Internship Program

Rationale
The motivation for this program was derived from the personal and professional experiences of its authors in conjunction with the vision prescribed by Adventure Learning Experiences for all of its programs. This vision involves Learning, Leadership and Service within the context of safe Adventure.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore and enhance their leadership through combining meaningful service learning and teaching opportunities. Participants will spend the vast majority of their time volunteering at local schools, interacting with local youth of similar ages, and helping in concrete ways to improve the local community. Moreover, hands on learning about development, world issues, leadership, environmental conservation and biodiversity through interactive seminars will engage individuals to consider the importance and challenges of much needed development, while ensuring the protection of the world's most wondrous flora, fauna, habitat, and landscape. Students will also learn about the history of slavery.

Service Learning
A unique and distinguishing component of this program is the concept of “service learning”.  Service learning can be identified as experiential education when the learner adopts a life role that provides meaningful service to a community in order to learn about oneself and others.  The pedagogical value of the service increases when the following are added to the learning:  an academic component designed to prepare the learner in terms of content and competencies relevant to the service; an opportunity to reflect upon and think critically about the experience; an element of adventure and challenge; an international and cross-cultural context; and an alignment of individual, placement, and system goals. 

Internship
The focus of this experience for teacher-candidates will be the opportunity to teach in local schools in the Kayunga region, which is approximately 100 kms north of Kampala. There are a variety of schools in the area, and candidates will be placed with at least one other candidate in a particular school for approximately 3 weeks. Near the end of the program, the candidates will be given an opportunity to visit a gamepark,, Bwindi Rainforest, and small communities in the western region of the country.

Depending upon the number and interests of the teacher-candidates, an opportunity will be made available to visit Rwanda. Such a visit would include visiting the Genocide Museum in Kigali, memorial sites in the country, and Volcanoes National Park. The Rwanda Visit may require an additional fee, but this is an optional component.

Participants

Students
Approximately 10 teacher-candidates will be selected for admission to this program.  Participants will be selected according to the following criteria:
 
            1.        Trustworthiness and reliability
            2.        Respectfulness of other people and cultures
            3.        Adaptability to new experiences
            4.        Fitness
            5.        Pleasant disposition
           
Interested parties will be invited to submit an application and two letters of reference attesting to their suitability according to the criteria cited above.

Code of Conduct
Each student will be expected to pledge commitment to a Code of Conduct,  which will be designed to ensure that respect for each participant, his/her property, and well-being is safeguarded.  This code will preclude harassment and abusiveness and will prohibit the use of alcohol and drugs.  Above all, the rights and responsibilities of all participants will be clearly defined so that the objectives of this program may be achieved within a healthy and safe environment. 

Interviews
Each applicant will be invited to a private interview with the Leaders to assess his/her suitability for the program. This will also give the applicant the opportunity to determine if the program serves their needs and interests. Each applicant will be asked to bring two character reference letters to this meeting as well as their most recent report card. All deposits will be refundable in the event that the applicant is refused.

Program Design
The program will consist of a learning program, conducted before departure, followed by the trip to Uganda/Rwanda. The pre-trip program is meant to sensitize participants to issues involving this part of the world, develop rapport between participants, and deal with health and safety concerns. Participants will be asked to select and explore a topic of personal interest related to an African theme (history, politics, geography, habitat, wildlife, spirituality,etc) that is associated with this area and share it with the group.  This is not meant to be burdensome but rather is intended to give participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of Uganda/Rwanda and thereby maximize their experience. There will be 5 meetings arranged according to the following schedule:

Reading List:

Lewis, S. (2005). Race Against Time. Toronto: House of Anansi Press. (232 pages)

Meredith, M. (2006). The Fate of Africa: Hopes of Freedom and Hearts of Despair.

Wise, M. (2002). The Travel Doctor. Toronto: Firefly Books.

Journaling:
Daily journal writing will be an essential component of the program. A composite journal with volunteer submissions from all participants will be compiled and offered to all participants at the end of the experience as a memory of our shared experience.

ACTIVITIES

Travel Arrangements

Travel Dates:  April 30 to May 31, 2012


Itinerary:

Transportation
Local transportation will be organized and provided by local professionals as recommended by our hosts. International air travel will be provided by reputable international carriers.

                                              
Accommodation
In Uganda/Rwanda, the accomodations will be in hotels as recommended by the local hosts. Such hotels will always be safe and clean, and in close proximity to the attending schools.

Finances
The cost of this program is $3695 Cnd. This will cover return airfare from Toronto to Uganda/Rwanda, all travel expenses within the country, meals and accommodations.

Payment will be made by regular installments according to the following schedule:

            $   395            Deposit accompanying application
            $   1,100         December 6, 2011
            $   1,100         February 13, 2012
            $   1,100         April 23, 2012

Note: Participants are asked to submit a series of postdated cheques according to this schedule. Cheques should be made payable to Adventure Learning Experiences Inc.

Fundraising
Fundraising activities will be supported by the authors.  In particular, the principal endeavour will be a sponsorship booklet which will describe the features and participants of the program.  The sale of advertisements in the booklet will be directly subtracted from the fee charged to individual participants, with a nominal charge for the cost of printing the booklets.

Refund Policy

For withdrawal before January 1st, a refund of $300 from the original deposit will be provided.

For withdrawal between January 1st and February 1st, a full refund minus the deposit will be provided.

For withdrawal after February 1st, no refund can be provided due to the advance purchase of airline tickets and prepayment of trip costs.

Other Costs

The only other costs that are not included in the above price are the following :

            Passport (this must not expire within 6 months of departure)
            Visa
            Out-of-country health insurance                     
            Inoculations (depending upon one’s private insurance coverage)
            Private Expenses

Health and Safety
Careful attention to sound health and safety practices will be an important part in the preparation of the program.  This will involve mandatory immunizations, learning  healthy eating and drinking habits, and understanding effective illness prevention practices. For maximum benefit it is recommended that participants, in general, be in good health and achieve a sufficient level of fitness prior to the trip.  Physical and dental check-ups are highly recommended prior to the departure date. 

Immunization

a)           The following are ordinarily administered through one’s family doctor in the course of               normal Ontario health care.  All participants are asked to ensure their protection               with inoculations against the following diseases:

               Tetanus – Diphtheria - Polio
               Measles-Mumps-Rubella

b)            Protection against malaria is by tablet and is taken on a regular basis prior, during, and                following the trip.  The exact regimen will be prescribed by a travel clinic. 
               

c)            Inoculations against the following may be required: 

                        Typhoid
                        Meningococcal meningitis
                        Hepatitis A
                        Hepatitis B
                        Yellow fever (mandatory to apply for Visa to Uganda)

The cost of these inoculations are not covered by OHIP but may be included in private health plans. Each participant will be expected to visit a travel health clinic for professional medical information and inoculations and prescriptions.

Precautions

As indicated above, careful preparation prior to departure about safe eating and drinking habits and illness prevention practices will be undertaken.  Participants will be expected to purchase “The Travel Doctor” by Dr. Mark Wise (Firefly Books, 2002) as part of this preparation.  A close working relationship has been developed by the authors with Dr. Mark Wise.  Dr. Wise is a family physician in Willowdale, whose medical practice includes a travel clinic. He  is considered a leading authority in tropical and parasitic diseases.  Dr. Wise will conduct a 90 minute training workshop about preventative health practices for our students prior to departure and will make recommendations about appropriate inoculations.

Our groups will greatly benefit from the local contacts which the authors have established in Uganda with local priests and schools in the event that medical care is required. Each participant will be expected to purchase out-of-country health insurance.

It is most strongly recommended that each participant seek proper medical advice for all potential health concerns at a Canadian travel health clinic prior to departure. 

Each participant will be expected to complete the Consent to Medical Treatment Form in the event that urgent and emergency care is required.

• A one credit High School course
• Offer tutoring and free labour to students and locals
• Experience an African Safari
• Develop Your Leadership Skills Through Service