Travelling and visiting new places is my perfect concept of a holiday, however, last summer I explored a different way of spending my break, combining travelling with doing good for others.
Each year, M&G grants each employee two days of paid leave that can be dedicated to volunteering activities. When planning my summer break in 2024, I decided to use these two days, adding them to my annual leave holiday, and had a wonderful two-week volunteering experience at Ewe Mama’s ‘Village of Joy’ in Rwentobo, Southwestern Uganda.

The charity Ewe Mama – supported by M&G’s local community grants – founded in 2010 by an Italian couple, Giorgio Scarpioni and Marta Novati, aims to promote the economic and social development of East African communities, specifically supporting the education and well-being of young adults and is particularly active in Southern Uganda.
In 2017, Ewe Mama established the ‘Village of Joy’ in Rwentobo, which is the headquarters of the charity’s three main projects that support the local population. These projects, ‘Karidaari Seed’, ‘Father Wembabazi’, and ‘Peace and Good’, house and support the well-being of orphaned children and children with disabilities, as well as offering education to poor children in the local community.

A further crucial activity for Ewe Mama is the ‘Come and See’ project that is aimed at welcoming visiting volunteers. Through ‘Come and See’ volunteers can provide their support to the charity’s projects, live the community life with other volunteers, as well as experiencing the personal enrichment that comes from encountering different cultures. It's thanks to this initiative that I was able to fly to Uganda last summer.
Giving time and energy to be part of Ewe Mama's projects was invigorating and deeply impactful. I was able to provide tangible support to the charity’s mission and projects, while experiencing the everyday life in the Rwentobo community. During my two weeks at the Village of Joy, I met some amazing volunteers and children, and made memories that will always stay with me, in my heart and mind.
It was definitely the best holiday I've ever had in my life.
Marta