Recently qualified ICAEW member Jane has written a wonderfully heartfelt and insightful blog about the start of her volunteer assignment at the Children's home in Kenya. She is even (bravely) planning to take the kids on Safari soon.

Places are available on the 2 March and 13 April dates.

On Wednesday morning the Sisters presented me with my new Madi name – I am now known as Sister Mokisa which means “Blessing”. “You are a blessing to us and the home” “You speak our language and you are now a true Madi”.

Now as I reflect on the past week, I have met some remarkable people who are selfless in their service to others and I feel truly blessed to be amongst the team that went to the Missionaries of Charity. A real eye opener!

It was dark when I arrived and so it was even better to wake up in the morning to the sound of singing and a cockerel in the garden and take in the stunning surrounds - jagged volcanoes and lush, rolling green hills.

Besides working on the financial side of things, I also went out to the school where Meakea’s work is based to meet the team and see what they did. Everyone was extremely friendly and pleased to have the chance to speak English with a native speaker. I just hope they could understand my flat Northern vowels!

The work is completely different to what I do in UK, but I am really enjoying working with everyone here and helping Tony to develop the skills he already has. I hope I manage to meet all the objectives that we set out at the beginning of my time here. We’ve already achieved more that I thought we would which is a real bonus. (see it’s not just a holiday!)

The adventures of Siva and Anisha, two British-born Asians from (greater) London with accountancy qualifications, a spirit for adventure and the feeling that they should be giving something back to this world. They have combined the above three on their quest into deepest Rwanda to spread the accounting love in a non-profit pilot independent school called Ahazaza.

 Whilst in India I have learnt 3 valuable new skills:1)  The art of yoga (and the ability to get myself into some quite uncomfortable positions); 2)  Enough Tamil to utter random words on occasion much to the delight of the locals; 3)  How to eat copious amounts of rich, stodgy, spicy food.

I think back to the people I’ve met and worked with, and I stand in awe of their heart for helping others, their motivation through difficult times, their persistence in doing what they feel is just, and their dedication to social causes. And as I think back, I realise that I truly have been blessed during my time here in Burundi.

Using buses in Malawi is the quintessential African experience – an unwritten rule seems to be that at least one passenger must be transporting chickens to market and the presence of a white face is a good ice-breaker.

What a contrast... one day I am working with uber-serious investment bankers in London and the next I am in Southeast Asia, sitting at a meeting being led by a happy monk dressed in a bright orange robe, smiling and laughing, cracking jokes and quoting Buddha.

As you can imagine in one of the poorest countries in the world the standard of living is very challenging. It’s hard to imagine living in these compounds and it quickly refocuses you on the help that is needed out here.

In Mohammed’s general attitude and dedication to his work I see something that I've seen among many people at Educaid and among the finest of the charities that I've been involved with: love for the organisation. I hope I can do them justice.

So how does an Invernessian end up in India?  In my case, I am a 27 year old Chartered Accountant who, until recently, worked in Ernst & Young's Newcastle office as an Assistant Manager in the audit department.  I was lucky enough to win a competition jointly organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and AfID to volunteer overseas in a developing country.

It was difficult and eye-opening there. Money is tight and funding comes in tranches, sometimes delayed by the sponsors. However, unlike here in the UK, the local people just carry on and keep smiling. I think there are some lessons to be learnt from them.

But I need not have worried; we solved the printing problems early on Monday morning, and then the team did a wonderful job in presenting the course, a fact that was highlighted by the good understanding the Health Centre Accountants showed when they completed the training exercises...

While westerners can teach people here about financial controls, Excel reporting and many other skills associated with 'development' and 'progress', a less often reported side of volunteering is how much the developing world has to teach us... 

I’m pleased to be able to say that honestly my initial panic/distress lasted about 2 hours and I had a really good sleep that night. I woke up feeling glad that I am here – after all the planning and thinking about it, I was glad because the sun was shining so brightly and the sky was seriously blue and it’s really hard to feel down in those circumstances...

It's been good. A radical change from what I'm used to. True front-to-back. Spent the first few days absorbing as much information as possible. Then sat down with the CFO to discuss my plans and agree objectives.

Going to volunteer at Sharana is one of the best things I have ever done...Plus, I had seen a fortune teller in Jaipur who had told me I am going to have two children and live until I’m 93 so I felt that I had nothing to fear!

We took a 30p bus ride from the slum to the Serena... I reflected how 30p could connect such contrasting worlds

During last Saturday evening’s power cut, the women of my family and I decided to play dress up – do not fear, all house chores were done with, we wouldn’t have dared distract ourselves otherwise! 

Lucky I have got more than 2 weeks on this assignment! 

I am writing this after two of the most eventful days of my life.

 Highlights of Cambodia: eating "cow goes to mountain" & starting to make sense of all the information.  Lowlights: 12 mosquito bites, a bruised knee and grit in my eye...

This is my first visit to Kenya, and my first volunteer assignment. In fact, this is my first attempt at a blog as well. So lots of new experiences for me, hence the lack of sleep.

I was invited by each house in the street to come to share their MagiSankrati celebrations. I was given food each time...Yummy yummy but I never thought my stomach could stretch that much! 

There are rules of etiquette when you're out and about. After not kissing strangers on the neck, the most important of these is to greet people enthusiastically, especially if they greet you.

"For such a small charity with limited resources, I was impressed by the record-keeping at All Ears Cambodia. I know it’s probably just ignorance, but I sort of assumed that I’d be confronted with a big box full of receipts, and the mission to get the year-end accounts done within a week. That couldn’t be further from the truth...."

We discussed budgets, auditors, Excel reporting and, at some length though without resolution, how to get to (and from) town.

"Almost as soon as I sat down I heard a cry of “Muzungu” go up and three dirty little boys came charging across the field towards me."

On my last evening in the village, the priests gave me a lovely last dinner by candlelight due to a power cut! 

I began working with the resident accountant. Pretty much the first thing he told me was “I have three names – you can call me any you please”. So most of the time I alternate..... keeps him guessing.

5.30pm – Go for a run resulting in a sweaty red faced Catherine which is very amusing for local people

My hopes: To be able to assist DIZA in their work and to come back in March with a jealousy inducing tan. 

The drive into Kampala was remarkably easy apart from the usual stopping and starting as people get on and off along the way: one with a mattress, others with massive great sacks! 

I never got excited about starting-up an accounting package back in the UK… must be something about Africa??! 

I seem to have very interesting conversations with the taxi driver including.. Why Prince Charles actually is not Welsh (Prince of Wales is a confusing title) !?

A very special thanks to all of our past and present volunteers listed below. Your contribution has made an enormous difference to the long term sustainability and development of our very deserving partners, who I know greatly appreciate your support.

It was a nice send off at the project yesterday. We had some barbecued pork (actually quite nice!) - then I gave a speech on how much I had enjoyed the experience and working with them all and how sad it was to be leaving.

So I had a fantastically productive last few days. About time to share with you my achievements over the last 7 weeks, approximately 6 of which have been spent working directly with YSA.

Well, I have to say that I already feel very much at home here! I have been made to feel very welcome and my first day of work has been more "fun" than work has been for a long time!

I finish the week very optimistic about what I can do to assist the accounting team who have made me feel very welcome. I have also developed a minor addiction to a local dish of roast pork, which may well require a sustained period of rehab when I leave Uganda.

If there is time I like to watch the worst soap I’ve ever seen called “Hidden Passion”. The acting and dubbing (I think it’s either a Brazilian or other South American soap) is so bad it is hilarious

PIH is also rolling out support for local health centers in several areas of Rwanda. These are local clinics that can serve populations of up to 20,000 people, and are the first point in the health system.

There is only one telephone that they all share for their work, and also there are fewer computers than staff. But despite this, they are able to achieve the purposes of NGO.

 I was prepared for most things (slats for windows, rock hard beds, mosquitoes galore) but even still, the freezing cold showers have taken some getting used to!

Just as I was warned, the minute I stepped off the plane in Kathmandu, it was sensory overload!  The constant traffic is controlled by the beeping of horns; whether you are in a wagon, bus, car, motorcycle, bicycle or on foot, getting from a to be is no mean feat.  

Today because it is Friday, the staff only work until 12-1pm

I feel excited, thrilled, challenged, some times frightened, but with great expectations.

 Sharing my bathroom with a bat and eating rural Ugandan food.

First impressions of Ghana - colourful and noisy!

Some tips for those heading off to the land of a thousand hills

Sometimes, in some places, this is the way it is. Its worth remembering this. In other words you may not be able to achieve everything you set out to do..

But, did I achieve anything? Looking back, I think that’s a fruitless question. To answer it I might be led to try to measure everything and some things aren’t that measurable. 

I departed the UK wondering what I would be doing and whether or not it would be something useful.

Now that France are out of the World Cup I support England !!

The organisation has managed to get by without Financial Reports or Budgets, but this is clearly inadequate for the growing organisation.

The work plan I had played out in my head beforehand was quickly ditched when the Finance Officer commented that the external audit was due to start in two days time...

I was too late to see England's first World Cup game against the USA. I later found out that this was actually a blessing.

Well the day of the gorilla trekking was an eventful and an unforgettable one for good and bad reasons.

I have now been in Cambodia for over three weeks, and every day brings new experiences and challenges...

 I was introduced to numerous family members – parents, in-laws, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and neighbours. They were all so delightfully friendly and welcoming. Old ladies who could barely walk came to greet me, and also to have a good stare. Some of them commented on my hairy arms!

When I first arrived I never thought I would have gotten Christopher the Accounting Clerk to systematically analyse every month for discrepancies and fix them.

So begins my most unusual stock take assessing the clothes we have for the street children whom we take over night care of at our shelter.

So as the first week draws to an end I am making good progress and I am pretty busy

Butterflies is an NGO that helps street children between the ages of six and fourteen to reintegrate themselves into mainstream Indian society by eventually getting an education and a decent job

As I expected, the people over here so far have been really friendly. I was greeted at Entebbe Airport with the banner “USDC welcome Mr. Mark”.

 I spent this evening with some of EduSport’s peer group leaders having an absolute ball!

Wednesday was St Patricks Day and because I was not at home in Dublin I brought an Irish scarf with me! Eric hung it proudly in the office.

I could happily listen to my Zambian friends all day – their stories are so inspiring. As much as I am supposed to be here to help them, I feel like they have a lot to teach me!

A field trip to a couple of farms was especially memorable. I was greeted by song and dance, and after speeches all round was given gifts of a carved stool and a 'leader's stick'.

DIZA’s primary aim is to support vulnerable and orphaned children and to find ‘god-parents’ to sponsor their education and sometimes their materials, clothes and food – depending on the child’s needs.

It was quite hard saying good bye to everyone and I really did feel quite sad, almost tearful. It has been quite an intense time at points for a variety of reasons, so saying farewell, for what might be the last time ever did seem quite sad.  

So the final meeting is over. I ran through what I had done my findings on existing systems and processes and the spreadsheets I had set up for control and reporting. It all was very well received and everyone seems pleased and enthusiastic to implement them.

In truth I am not sure I have achieved everything I wanted to but then I guess I was coming in blind so not sure what I actually expected to achieve. 

A lot of people say Hello, how are you as I am walking down the street, and they smile when I wave back and say hello, so generally the feeling is warm, and the Luganda I have learned has earned me respect.

Yesterday was quite a busy day as I got stuck in about all their invoices and payments. It really was back to basics for me with a pile of receipts, invoices, cheque requisition forms to name but a few..

The school is basically a disused outhouse building, which if it had been in this country, would long since have been knocked down and new flats built on it! 

Today Vivian, the Accounts Assistant, and I got down to the real work in hand, in front of an audience of little black ants running over the desk!

Kalki has recently undergone a change in management and I have been asked to review their current accounting system and their new financial policy. With two donors it is necessary to develop systems for recording the expenditure relating to these donors, information which can be reported to them monthly.

Within 30 minutes of my arrival, India began ticking all the boxes - near road-kill in the taxi from the airport (no mirrors but a very loud horn), cows wondering along the pavements, an elephant, two monkeys, 5 people looking very relaxed on one scooter and ladies dressed in amazing saris with flowers in their hair.

Work has been really great. I have almost finished with the basic bookkeeping course for the 3 girls who make up the clinical team.

We are seeking a number of volunteers to join a small interactive email forum to source and reconcile good practical advice for our small NGO partners. Click on the link above for more details.

Everything started moving very quickly when I began work at Uganda Coalition for Crisis Prevention (UCCP). On the first Monday morning, a progress update meeting was held with the management team.

My remit was to implement QuickBooks. This was going to be a tricky task in the timeframe however made even trickier having spent my first week in Dar without the package to commence work and never having had exposure to NGO accounting or QBs. 

Kilwa Masoko is located on a peninsula approx 7-8 hour drive south of Dar Es Salaam. Much of the journey is on tarmac roads, but approx 3 hours is spent rocking and rolling trying to get through a 180km stretch of mud which during the wet season can become impossible to get through.

The appreciation of everyone at CVD is the best way of knowing that I made a positive impact and that I was able to pass on my skills, experience and personality in the best possible way.

Saturday was my last day in Pader and much as I am happy to be leaving I will miss it in a strange way. I have got used to the place and people and grown to like it – if only for the short term.

The weekend gave me time to explore the local sights of Battambang, riding on a homemade bamboo train along Cambodia’s main railway line and cruising along the river where locals live off the land and have little, if any, material possessions, but bigger smiles than most!

As I hopped on the back of a tuk-tuk and zipped past the colorful sights and aromatic smells of the markets in central Battambang I didn’t know what the next couple of weeks had in store for me.

Apparently Gulu has a couple of nice coffee shops/cafes, an Indian and an Ethiopian restaurant, a few shops that sell Pringles and a large market where you can get fresh fruit. The vehicle was meant to be here this morning but it’s now 2.30pm and still no sign nor any idea what is happening. Africa time!

The guest house swimming pool disappeared overnight but alas wasn't replaced by running water in the rooms – Today even hotter than previous ones and apparently gets even hotter as we enter the dry season.

First full day of volunteer work. After further introductions and brief office induction, cleared work and personal emails and then had 3 hour meeting with Innocent to try to understand the programme strategy, the context of the programme, the role of the partners and the challenges.

Sunday. what an eye opener. I went to the 2^nd day of the Peer Leader Workshop that was being held at Chawala. This was being run by Alice, Bright and Lazarus, with Toxi taking a ‘guest speaker role.

I did cause a few curious glances, but most people who approached me simply wanted to say “Good Morning, How are you?” and shake your hand. One girl did ask for my £1.50 pair of flip flops, but was not prepared to trade in her trainers so that I had some thing to wear to go home!

I have a 20 minute walk along Kasungu’s dusty tracks before arriving at work at 7.40am. This gives me 22 minutes on the internet before the service provider closes it down.