Hi everyone, I�m just taking five minutes out of my frantic last minute packing to begin what I�m sure will be a beautiful relationship between me and my keyboard, as I send the first of what will become my monthly updates on my year in a rural African village. Little did I know that volunteering on a workcamp in France with UNA Exchange would lead me to this!  Five years ago I was looking for a way to spend some time in France during the summer as part of my University degree requirement.  I stumbled across UNA Exchange, got hooked on international volunteering and never looked back!

Since then, with the support and faith of UNA Exchange, I�ve become an active volunteer within the organistaion and have been given loads of opportunities to get involved with lots of cool stuff. I�ve lead projects in Wales and also been involved with preparing volunteers embarking on projects in the South, and training leaders of projects in Wales in how to engage communities in global education activities.  I would never have had the skills, confidence and experience to embark on what I�m about to do had it not been for all these things that I have done with UNA.

Basically I'm off to the Far North province of Cameroon with VSO on the 2nd of September for a year. I'll be working in a small village in a secondary school where I'll be teaching English and coordinating HIV/AIDS activities with the kids and the wider community and doing other things like helping to run the English club etc etc, all with an emphasis on girls participation.

Not really sure what to expect as yet but the information I do have is that there are about 1000 people in my village of Moutourwa, there is electricity but no running water and temperatures reach around 50C. Suffice to say the panic is slowly beginning to set in as the countdown to departure begins but the excitement is building just as much so I guess that's alright!
I�ll be sending a monthly update which will no doubt act as vent for all the mishaps, lonely moments and adventures to come.....

One month in � First Impressions

Settling In and the Real Work Begins.....

A busy December and a visit from home!

Bilingualism and some UNA Lovin!

A Health Club Outing

International Youth Day

International Women's Day

The Arrival of the Easter Bunny

Sharing Skills...