Welcome

Interesting interaction

"I have wanted to come and work in Africa ever since I was a little girl. And to me the most interesting thing is the close interaction with people of other nationalities," says Dorthe Pedersen.

Since January 2004 she has worked with Needs Service Education Agency (NSEA) based in Koboko. For the next two years Dorthe will advise NSEA on how to further develop the four resource centers in Rubuke, Yei, Nimulue and Kajo Keji and their community activities. One of the activities is an out reach program in southern Sudan that focuses on encouraging especially girl students to utilize the resource centers.

Dorthe Pedersen, 30, is a qualified teacher who is obviously already enjoying working in Africa.

"I recieved a very nice welcome at the country office and from my counterparts in NSEA. I must also say that traveling to the different stations of my work is interesting – or you can also say romantic. Because I go sailing on the Nile and it is wonderful to see the various animals on my way to and from work. The only irritating issue is the security situation and the different check points one has to go through before entering south sudan," she says. (kj)

Broadened horizons and shared learning

She is Danish. She met her husband Blassius in Malaysia. Now they are here in Uganda with their one-year-old daughter Leah.

Christina Nilsson is her name. She is 31 years old and holds a Masters degree in international development. As the new short-term development worker with Community Development Resource Network (CDRN) she will share her experiences from working with community development in a like-minded organization in Malaysia.

“The job with CDRN seemed an obvious opportunity for me. I hope and think that my new colleagues can make use of my experiences, and I expect to broaden my horizon and learn a lot”, she says.

Even though Christina Nilsson and her family are in Africa for the first time, many things are familiar. People’s attitude to life and their living conditions are very much similar to those in Malaysia. And Christina looks forward to spend the next nine months working with straightforward Ugandans. (kp)

He might be here for good

Søren Jegindø may be new in the MS Uganda circle. But he already has more than 18 months of working experience in Uganda.

Since early April Søren Jegindø has been working with Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Association (DENIVA) as their information and communication technology (ICT) advisor. As such he will train DENIVA and her members in the use of ICT and developing strategies regarding advocacy etc.

Søren Jegindø, 33, holds a Master of Science. Until recently, he worked with the Danish ICT firm Metrocomia that sent him on missions in Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal and Uganda.

After arriving in Kampala he lost his heart – twice. First the spark of life and the openness characterizing the people took him. And then Ugandan Agnes Darcy Oboma took him. They are now married and plan to stay in her homeland for many years to come. (kp)