It feels very surreal to be sitting here in the scorching Nigerian heat, writing to you after packing up shop on my comfortable life in Rutland. I must admit I’ve got a cup of strong Yorkshire tea next to me to try and make myself feel ‘at home’.
I am living above VSO’s office, and share this with another volunteer from India called Amar, who I will be working with to improve income for farmers. Amar is an expert in agriculture, so will be doing lots of practical workshops for the farmers to improve their farming techniques.
Our accommodation has electricity for about 4-6 hours a day, but there have been days without any power at all. We are hoping to get pumped water into the house for showers in the next couple of months. For now it’s the good old bucket shower!
My new room, complete with essential mosquito net
I am living in the city of Minna, which seems to be around the size of Leicester. I have already been very warmly welcomed by my neighbours, and had plenty of conversations about Chelsea Football Club.
Hello and welcome to my first blog! I’d like to start with a heartfelt thank you for supporting VSO, and choosing to follow my placement helping farmers gain a better income for their crops in Nigeria.
This VSO adventure marks an exciting new chapter in my life, as I have just stepped down from my job managing a chilled food company. Retirement begins! My plan has always been to volunteer when I finished my career, and I decided to do this with VSO as I have a lot of respect for the ethos of sharing skills rather than sending aid overseas to help fight poverty.
I have been very busy recently getting ready for my placement in Nigeria. I’ve just come back from a big motorbike ride on a 28 year old Honda C90 from Lands’ End to John O`Groats to fundraise for VSO, and help send more volunteers overseas. It pretty much rained the whole three days, but although soggy I managed to raise more than £3,000, so it was all worth it!
My Honda moped at the finish of my fundraising trip in John O’Groats – the one moment of sunshine!
