In April 2002 The Quicken Trust visited Kabubbu with 4 volunteers from the UK.  The volunteers worked with local men and women to construct a fence around the new school in Kabubbu.  Vickie Vassie participated as a volunteer working on the fence and this is what happened next ....

Whilst mixing concrete for the fence posts, Vickie and the local men attempted faltering communications using broken English, gestures and demonstrations.  The men talked of their desire to improve their English and showed a real determination to learn and improve their skills.  Everyday the conversation would work around to this subject and Vickie began to realise how serious these people were. Vickie agreed to try to find them a language course to help them with their English.

The greatest impact of the visit in April 2002 was not physical achievements such as the fence around the school.  Vickie noticed that the 'forgotten people' of Kabubbu were experiencing a change in outlook.  They were so encouraged by the visit from the UK team to help them that they replaced hopelessness with a determination to be fully involved in creating a brighter future.

A few months after her return to the UK, one of the men wrote to Vickie saying 'I believe you have not forgotten about adult education'.  Vickie often wondered what would have become of her life if she had not had the opportunity to be educated and to continue to learn through her career and personal interests.  Vickie saw what a limitation the inadequate access to education and information was for the couragous people of Kabubbu.  Vickie concluded that without access to information they were trapped in the poverty cycle with no way to develop themselves.

Vickie was so inspired by the people of Kabubbu that she decided to help them make a success story of their own. Vickie knew they wanted to learn and she knew she had access to all the information and resources to help them achieve it.  She has embarked on a role as researcher and distributor of information needed for development at a grass roots level.