Bryan and Cathie Wilson volunteered to go to Uganda in July and August 2010. Bryan, BASc, MBA, will be teaching Management Accounting to students in ICMI’s Diploma programme. Bryan has recently retired from AbeBooks where he was Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
"My wife Cathie and I worked in East Africa as CUSO volunteers, shortly after we were married in 1968. I taught secondary school math and physics, and Cathie worked as an X-ray technician, in Tanga, Tanzania for two years. At many points during my 40-year career in engineering and government real estate, with the last 20 years in financial management in the technology industry, Cathie and I longed to return to East Africa to work as volunteers in fields related to our strengths and interests."
"Earlier this year, we were delighted to learn that I had been approved to travel to Uganda to teach at ICMI's facility at UCU, Mukono. The course I taught was Management Accounting, which was delivered to 48 adult students in the diploma program. Following course preparation in May and June, we left on July 26 for Uganda, and I spent the first three weeks of August teaching, followed by a few days marking the final exam."
"ICMI had provided a course outline and notes, and allowed me to adapt the course to bring in my own experience and style. Somewhat unsurprisingly, I found that management accounting can be a challenging course for many students, which led me to adapt somewhat the PowerPoint slides I had made, as well as my delivery style. The daily routine started with a 10-minute devotional service organized by the students, followed by a three-hour class session, then time at ICMI for preparation and individual sessions with students, during breaks from their other courses. The facility worked quite well, and the ICMI staff of six provided me with abundant support and encouragement throughout the course, and a terrific send-off when it was all completed."
"One key consideration in planning this trip had been that meaningful volunteer work should be found for Cathie. We were both very pleased when Dr. Edward Mukooza pointed to several opportunities to assist children in need, which was Cathie's main interest. The one she selected was work at a children's rehabilitation unit named ACHERU (Afaaya Child Health Education and Rehabilitation Unit), administered by Joyce Kayaga, a graduate of the ICMI program. The facility has achieved some amazing results. There, Cathie provided care and activities to children with disabilities, many recovering from orthopedic surgery. ICMI was gracious in making transportation to ACHERU available to Cathie, for the cost of petrol."
"The trip was satisfying and rewarding in countless ways. It was good being in Uganda, and visiting some rural areas, and the capital city of Kampala. It was even better to have the chance to talk to many Ugandans at all levels, and learn about their challenges and opportunities. From Uganda we went on to visit our World Vision sponsored child in near Singida, Tanzania, then took a trip back to Tanga to see how that city had changed over 40 years. We made an extensive stop in Europe on the way home. We are both so thankful to ICMI for this perfect opportunity to serve in Africa, in a Christian environment. The experience will remain with us for a long time."
Bryan Wilson