We are rich

"We are rich because we have life" said Mavis who works at the volunteer centre, Uganda Lodge, which I have been staying at for the last two weeks. A simple truth, but an important one. This post is dedicated to some of the brilliant people, and wonderful experiences I have had over the last two weeks.

 Jennifer - woman's group

"Before we were in darkness. Now we make a profit."

Jennifer, who is 34, invited me to her home in the Ruhanga village in South West Uganda. She is one of the leaders of a group of nine women who run a business together. They have a small stall by a busy road where they sell hand crafts, rugs, fruit and vegetables.

Jennifer received training from the Ruhanga Community Development Network in financial planning which allowed the group to understand how to record and analyse their financial performance to ensure they remain in profit. They currently generate a decent profit each week which is distributed between each member.

When I met Jennifer I was struck with her huge sense of pride in what she and her group had achieved. In this picture, she proudly shows off her certificate which she gained by completing her training. My work with Let Them Help Themselves has centred on fundraising for a new vocational training centre which will hopefully deliver similar skills to hundreds of entrepreneurs in the Rahunga community.

Wild gorillas

Uganda is home to approximately half of the world's wild gorilla population. Last week I visited Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where I had the privilege of sharing an hour with a family of seven or eight beautiful gorillas living in their natural habitat.

Two experiences jump out. First, we are briefed not to run if the gorillas charge us. "They are just playing" smiles our ranger to us as if they were puppies rather than animals with the strength to snap your neck with one hand. If you retreat, they will sense your fear and attack.

Sure enough, when I was standing at the front of the group just five meters from a young male he charged through the undergrowth, smashing trees as he ran towards us. A German tourist next to shrieked and ran behind me while I yelled at the top of my voice 'Stand still or we'll all be killed!". That said, I did stand firm and the gorilla came within about one or two meters of me before walking away.

Second, and less adrenalin inducing, I asked the ranger if maintaining eye contact was a sign of aggression. He reassured me that this was fine, and I was able to hold a friendly stare with another young male for about three or four minutes. This family had only recently been habituated, and I think he was as fascinated with me as I was with him.

When the time came to leave I waved him goodbye, and he immediately rolled over and dramatically covered his eyes with his forearm as if to say "Just go then". Maybe it was just coincidence, but I like think he was as sad to see me go as I was to leave him.

Justice - local businessman

Justice also received business training through the Ruhanga Community Development Network. He now runs a successful business which is a hair salon in the local town. He proudly talked me through how he had constructed the small shack with an iron roof. Inside the salon was decorated with political posters, and a radio stands tall over a bench where local men sit and discuss the events of the day.

Justice also runs a successful agricultural business, and is the chair of the community development network which will oversee the new centre. Energetic and intelligent, here is proof that the way forward for developing countries like Uganda comes from empowering people, rather than creating a culture where people are dependent on handouts and aid.

Isaac - pupil at Ruhanga Community Nursery and Primary School

Isaac is studying at the Ruhanga Development primary school. He lives close to the school and walks in every day which takes about half an hour each way. He lives at home with his mother, brother who is eight and his sister who is seven. When I met him, he is bright and happy, and I am struck by his huge grin which is making me smile even as I write this.

When asked about what his favourite thing about school is, he said that loves playing with his friends at break time. The school has a playing field, but it is full of potholes, stones and uneven ground making it impossible to play any organised sport on. I think we all remember something positive about playing sport as kids. For me it was always football in primary school which was as good as religion for us when we were 10.

Working with a volunteer with a background in teaching children sport,  I put together a fundraising email which raised over £1,500 to be used to level the playing field an install new equipment and a playground for the school.

They will now be able to introduce sport into their lessons, and I feel proud that something I did will benefit hundreds of children for years to come.

I think that what Mavis meant when she said that we are rich because we have life is that we have choices, that we are free. And that is precious above all else. We are free to better ourselves, show kindness or give ourselves to others. Free to love and also to lose love, but then free to grow and heal.

Satre said that 'We are condemned to be free'. The ultimate paradox, he meant that we are responsible in an absolute sense for everything that we do. The freedom that comes with being human is not something we choose, it is our humanness.

Freedom that we have gives rise to the choices that we make, and consequently the experiences that we have. Combined, these are life. And it's awesome.