In this interview, we hear from Kyle Sergeant. Kyle is working as a Peace Corps Education volunteer in Uganda. What Kyle shares gives us a better understanding of the work volunteers do. We learn about the challenges, rewards, and personal growth that happens from volunteering in a new place. Kyle talks about living in a different country, working with local people, and dealing with surprise situations. Join us as we learn about Kyle’s journey and see how volunteering with Peace Corps can change lives.
Table of Contents
- Volunteer Experience and Motivation
- Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
- Surprises and Challenges
- Advice and Support
- Practical Tips and Language Learning
- Social Identity during Service
- Final Thoughts
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. Tell us more about serving as an Education volunteer in Uganda.
Like most Education Volunteers, I teach. In Uganda in particular, Education Volunteers work at primary schools (equivalent to elementary/middle school) to promote English Literacy. In a Ugandan primary school, there are 7-grade levels (with the first grade being Primary 1, the next grade being Primary 2, etc). I teach English in the Primary 3 class with this being my second year teaching this grade level. I teach one class a day, but the amount of classes a volunteer takes on depends on the volunteer and the school. I also have been helping to make renovations to a structure that was converted into the library with me being the designated librarian.
2. What motivated you to join the Peace Corps and choose Uganda?
I, like many people who decide to become a volunteer, had an interest in helping people. I did not know what I could offer, but I was willing to do whatever I can to help as many people as I can.
I also had a desire to see the world. Before coming to Uganda, I had not left the United States. Now that I am 19 months into my service, I can confidently say that I feel more like a citizen of the world than I did before coming here. The fundamental similarities between people who are literally across the world from each other are something you have to experience yourself.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. Tell us more about your home situation
Many volunteers globally live with a host family during their service. Nearly all volunteers in Uganda live independently. I have a house on the school compound that I work at. It is definitely considered rural. I don’t have running water (there is a rainwater tank on the school campus that I can occasionally fetch water from) and a borehole not too far from the school. No running water also means that I have to use a pit latrine rather than a “western toilet’’ as they are called here.
The power is on intermittently, with storms being a common reason for not having power. There is a trading post about 20 minutes by bike where I buy my food (things like rice, eggs, butter, powdered milk, bread, etc) and a bigger town where I can get different (often more western) foods that are about an hour taxi ride from my site.
4. Any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had?
One of my favorite memories was when I offhandedly told the kids at my site that it was my birthday. In about 3 hours flat, they asked our head teacher for money to buy a cake, went to the trading post to buy it, and decorated a table to give me a surprise birthday celebration. It was one of the first birthday parties I’ve had since I don’t know when.
A memorable experience on a sadder note would be not having power for 6 weeks straight because someone stole a power line. It wasn’t a terrible experience, but it is for sure not one I want to do again. I’m hoping I’ll win the prize for “longest time without power” in my cohort.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about challenges in Uganda?
How children are viewed is somewhat different than back home. I believe Uganda is one of the countries with the highest amount of people under 15 years old and it’s pretty evident. Because there are so many children, it is common to send a child out to do something for you.
An example would be when I first arrived at my site, one of the teachers sent a kid all the way to the trading post (about a 20-minute bike ride) to buy some eggs for me to eat. Children are used to clean the compound, to clean classrooms, and often fetch water for the school. It can take a little bit of getting used to seeing a child randomly being called to do something when they’re just walking around.
6. What challenges did you face while working on Education projects?
I was fortunate that my site already had an idea of how they wanted to renovate the library. It definitely helped save time.
When it comes to projects that I try to start, there can be a bit of a disconnect when it comes to time. Many Americans are very punctual while it seems many Ugandans are not as punctual. You can set a time to do something and people not come until an hour after it is supposed to start. Something that worked for me was to tell people can an event happens an hour before the event actually starts so that they are closer to time.
7. Could you share some of the secondary projects you have been involved?
I have been developing the library since a little after I arrived to site. I am the first volunteer here so I am making everything from scratch. The lending system, the organizational system of the books, and the schedule of which class comes when even working with an organization to get more books for the school have been a few things I’ve done for the library. In the coming months, I will have to train individuals at the school to take my place as the librarian once my service is over.
I’ve also started a Cultural Learning Club. I chose 30 pupils who would be my “ambassadors”. These ambassadors will attend a meeting where I talk about a detailed aspect of American culture, which they will share with their classmates, friends, and family. This is a relatively new club because the school year just started recently so I am still working out any issues.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to someone considering serving as an Education volunteer in Uganda?
I brought a map of the world to put in the library and teachers and pupils thought it was so interesting. I also have a map of the United States that the pupils love me showing them. It can be difficult relaying where you’re from so a map can help them see the distance between places, locate places they have heard of, and just see how big the world really is.
I would say just be open to seeing how people do things. This isn’t just an Education Volunteer’s particular piece of advice. Most people are very proud of who they are and where they are from. You learn so much more when you’re willing to listen and understand people.
9. How has the Peace Corps training helped you during your service?
PST (Pre-Service Training) was obviously the training with the most amount of essential information. They taught us so many really important things like how to get around the country and how to speak one of the local languages as well as things you might not think about until you arrive here, like how to hand wash clothes or how to use a pit latrine. It’s a pretty compacted few months, but it is good to listen to what they are saying.
IST (In-Service Training) and MST (Mid-Service Training) are also good training but are more focused on what you can do rather than teaching you about things you need to know. You’ve been at site and in the country for a few months at this point so you mostly don’t need to be told how to do this and that. My IST was mostly about actually starting your volunteer (the time before IST, you’re not supposed to teach – you’re supposed to observe and collaborate with the people at your site). A lot of learning about VRG (Volunteer Reporting and Grants) opportunities, and project ideas.
MST was like a more refined version of this. You’ve been at site for nearly a year so you most likely have started or will start a big project. This is also where you are told you might want to start thinking about what you will do when your service is over. We were lucky to have former volunteers who live in Uganda talk about what they are doing now.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
10. Anything that you packed or didn’t pack that you’d like to tell future Uganda volunteers?
The two things I am really glad I packed were my solar panel with a power bank and a cast iron skillet. I already said how my power was out for a month and a half so the solar panel and power bank was a lifesaver. Especially given how much sun we often get in Uganda.
The cast iron skillet is just because it is easy to manage (oil is easy to buy) and you can use it to bake with if you have some aluminum foil (because there are no ovens in the villages). It’s pretty heavy so don’t think it’s a necessity. I just like having the ability to make cookies if I want to. Honorable mentions: a 2T hard drive, a rechargeable small fan, a brimmed hat, a self-sharpening knife, and solar-powered lanterns.
I wouldn’t bring any white clothes. It’s either really dusty here or really muddy, neither that is good for white clothes. I have heard a lot of people say they brought too many clothes in general. A lot of people buy kitenge (what’s the local fabric) clothes during their service so it’s not going to be hard to find clothes. Also, there’s a pretty good chance you might gain or lose weight while you’re here so you might not be able to fit the clothes you brought with you.
11. How has learning the language been?
In my cohort, there were 4 language groups. The cohort after mine had two new language groups and two that no one learned this time. You won’t know where you will be placed until you arrive in the country. I tried to learn a little Swahili because I thought it would help. It didn’t really. The language I learned is Luganda and that does not have a lot of crossover with Swahili.
My advice would be, when you come to the country, just try to learn the language as much as you can. People really like it when you can greet them in the local language.
Social Identity during Service
12. Service Experience:
In what ways do you think your African-American identity has shaped your approach to community engagement and service during your Peace Corps assignment?
I am African-American so there was a good amount of confusion when people saw me. They can immediately tell that I am not from here, but they can not tell where I am from. People have guessed Indian (like from India), Nigerian, South African, and I was even called White (because I am American and Americans are white).
Compared to other volunteers, I definitely don’t asked for money as often or immediately clocked as an American, but I do still get stared at (especially by people who do know I am American and I am sure that it is still less than other volunteers). I like to use this as an opportunity to demonstrate how diverse people in the United States can be. Most people here think that all Americans are white and I am here to show that anyone can be American.
13. Advice for Aspiring Volunteers:
What advice would you give to other African-Americans considering joining the Peace Corps?
If you want to join the Peace Corps, then do it. How people would see me was of little concern when I was applying and I am glad that I joined. I do want to say that there are social media groups you can join for Black Americans in Africa.
Final Thoughts
14. Any last comments you’d like to pass on to future Uganda volunteers?
While I have felt a lot of highs and lows during my service, I have not regretted joined Peace Corps Uganda. There would have been no other way that I would have met all of the people I have as intimately as I have if I was not in the Peace Corps. I am able to say that I was a genuine teacher in a rural Ugandan village for nearly two years. Life is about the memories you make and I have definitely made some memories here.
What are you waiting for? Opportunities like this don’t come often. If you have a passion for service and an adventurous spirit like Kyle’s, apply to the Peace Corps today. Expand your horizons, push your limits, and create positive impact as a volunteer. You never know how serving as a Peace Corps volunteer could change your life.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Uganda Government.
