Past Teams

This years mixed team was led by local volunteers Gwen Johnston and Dorothy McCready in August 2011.  The team have completed painting at Lweeza primary including some lovely mural artwork. Their second week was spent working with the boys at the New Life Homes & Street Reach projects.

Our Youth Team this year was led by Paul Totton and consisted of 19 volunteers from across the UK. The team has spent a week builiding the first phase of Ayila Primary School, a week running a kids' clubs at Matthew Cardwell alongside painting Lweeza Primary. Their final week was spent with the boys at the New Life Homes & the Street Reach project in Kampala. 

Strathearn School has sent yet another team of keen pupils to Uganda in July 2011 led by Mark Smith. Principal David Manning also accompanied the team who fundraised to build a nursery at Strathearn Primary, which they completed during their time in Uganda. They were also involved in running craft programmes at both Strathearn and New Foundations alongside working with street children in Kampala and at the New Life Homes.

First Larne Presbyterian sent a team of 10 volunteers to work at our Abaana projects in Uganda. They were able to run a bible club at Christ the King primary where they also raised money to furnish the new boarding section built just last year. They also worked with the street children in Kampala and at our New Life Homes.

Vice Principal Gavin Henry along with Beverley Forsythe brought 8 young people from Newtownbreda High School to Uganda for 2 weeks at the end of June. The team spent time at Buyobe Primary completing painting work and also got involved in Abaana's Street Reach project and spending time at the New Life Homes.

One of our volunteers Davy Allen led two groups again this year to work with the street children in Kampala and at some of our school projects in building work.

One of our volunteers Davy Allen led two groups again this year to work with the street children in Kampala and at some of our school projects in building work.

Hamilton Road Baptist Church in Bangor took a team of 11 volunteers to work at our Abaana projects with street children and in Gulu. Read their report for a breakdown on how they got on.

10/07/2010 - 25/07/2010 Ballyrashane Presbyterian sent out a team to Uganda for two weeks in July and helped build a boarding section at Christ the King Primary, painting work at the guest house and New Foundations Primary and spent time with the children at our street reach projects.

03/07/2010 - 23/07/2010 Bannside Presbyterian organised a team to carry out building work at one of our projects. They were able to assist in building Buyobi Primary School within Uganda. They also enjoyed spending time with the street children both at our outreach project and at the homes.

26/06/2010 - 11/07/2010 Carrick Elim Church sent a team to Uganda over the summer period. They were excited to have 17 volunteers who worked with the street children and at Abaana's New Life Homes.

19/12/2009 - 03/01/2010 A team of 12 volunteers travelled to Uganda over the Christmas and New Year period to help the boys who live on the streets of Kampala and in our New Life Homes to experience the true meaning of Christmas. They ran workshops, gave gifts and threw a party in their honour.

14/08/2009 - 29/08/2009 Bangor based volunteer Davy Allen was so impressed with his first experience of Uganda that he took a team of 22 people of mixed age and gender. They helped build the first section of Lweeza Primary and spent time working with street children and in the slum areas of Kampala.

13/07/2009 - 10/08/2009 This team spent time at our Abaana schools running clubs for children. They were involved in practical painting work and also gave out items such as blankets and grain. They were able to give gifts of goats, pigs and help with planting seeds in the Gulu area to bring rehabilitation and hope after recent civil strife.

03/07/2009 - 20/07/2009 A group of 12 people mostly from Antrim travelled to Uganda to help build the Nursery Section at Matthew Cardwell. They also ran a series of activities for the boys on the street such as obstacle courses and at the New Life Homes with team building activities.

26/06/2009 - 13/07/2009 and 10/07/2009 - 27/07/2009 Strathearn sent out two teams of girls from their Belfast based school this year after incredibly raising the funds to build a school in Uganda. They spent their time carrying out the building work and teaching the children crafts and games. The primary school originally named Katalemwa has now named itself Strathearn Primary in honour of the Belfast Grammar School.  

17/07/2008 - 15/08/2008 Drumbo Presbyterian Church again this year sent a team of 20 people strong who helped raise funds and build Katonte Junior School in the Jinja region of Uganda. They also spent time running a children's mission club and working with street kids in Kampala.

03/07/2008 - 01/08/2008 Spending four weeks in Uganda was a stretch for many on the team who had never spent that amount of time out of their comfort zone before. But for all it was a rewarding experience to help build the boarding section at New Foundations as well as run an outreach programme at Matthew Cardwell Primary. Building friendships with the boys attending Abaana's street reach programme was also a great blessing.

25/06/2008 - 10/07/2008 A team of 10 people travelled to Uganda to work with various Abaana projects from school's work to spending time with street children.

19/06/2009 - 05/07/2008 Under the Football4Africa initiative, a team of 16 travelled to Uganda this June to use the beautiful game to reach out to street kids and those in extreme poverty. For more info visit www.football4africa.org   

06/06/2008 - 23/06/2008 These two weeks saw our first fully international team travelling to Uganda to work with street children in Uganda and at our Abaana school projects.

10/05/2008 - 26/05/2008 This team of ladies who travelled to Uganda for two weeks in the middle of May were able to bring with them designs by volunteer Holly Pearce and brighten the New Life Homes using specialised art materials. They enjoyed spending time with the street boys living at the homes, building friendships and sharing hope.  

22/12/2007 - 01/02/2008 On 22nd December 12 young people gave up a luxury Christmas at home to work with Street Children in Uganda for 2 weeks. Their aim?  To give these kids a "real Christmas" like they've never experienced before!

20/07/2007 - 17/08/2007 Drumbo Presbyterian church brought a team out for their first experience of Uganda.

03/08/2007 - 17/08/2007 Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church took a team out to Uganda to work on Abaana projects and visit the on going work.

20/07/2007 - 06/08/2007 Throughout the year St Ninian's High school raised money to help rebuild Kiwumu Primary school. The team then travelled to Uganda to paint the school and get it ready for the children aswell as spending time running activities for them in the duration of their stay.

05/07/2007 - 04/08/2007 A team of young people from all across Northern Ireland and 3 from Finland were in Uganda for 1 month working in 4 different areas on Abaana projects.

30/06/2007 - 15/07/2007 Strathearn is a grammar school situated in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and is attended by about 750 girls aged 11-18. A team of 14 staff and pupils travelled to Uganda for two weeks, to help build homes for street children and to work with a school.

29/06/2007 - 15/07/2007 Bangor Grammar School sent out a team of 11 boys for two weeks to help build Christ the King School.

29/09/2006 - 15/10/2006 In October Abaana took a team of 12 ladies aged 19-63, to Uganda to get involved in projects. 

06/07/2006 - 05/08/2006 The Youth Teams take part in practical work (e.g. building or painting), children’s work at various schools and homes, which will include running a program of songs, games and Bible stories. They also work alongside local churches and leading church services. On the final week we have a barbecue (paid for by the team) in a local slum.

07/07/2005 - 05/08/2005 The Youth Teams take part in practical work (e.g. building or painting), children’s work at various schools and homes, which will include running a program of songs, games and Bible stories. They also work alongside local churches and leading church services. On the final week we have a barbecue (paid for by the team) in a local slum.

03/07/2005 - 15/07/2005 A team of 13 Ladies travelled to Uganda and were involved in practical work in the Banda slums. They saw how many African ladies worked in quarries breaking stones for concrete to earn a living. They were able to be involved in teaching craft to these ladies making beads from recycled paper to help give them another option of raising income for their families.

The Youth Teams take part in practical work (e.g. building or painting), children’s work at various schools and homes, which will include running a program of songs, games and Bible stories. They also work alongside local churches and leading church services. On the final week we have a barbecue (paid for by the team) in a local slum.

Abaana's Second team to Uganda

Abaana's First team to Uganda