'Amazing', 'inspirational' and 'humbling' are just a few of the words used by Workaid chairman Sylvia Parrott and administrator Bill Duperouzel to describe their recent trip to Uganda.

The pair travelled over 1,100 miles in 12 days to visit 19 projects and returned with some wonderful stories and photographs to illustrate how the refurbished tools and equipment supplied by Workaid are really changing and improving lives.

They visited groups in three areas: in the eastern region of Mbale, up to the border with Kenya; in the western region of Kasese to within a few miles of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and in the district of Kampala, within 30 miles of the capital city. Our partners Fr Pontian Wasswa and Fr Tony Rweza of Interservice, Kampala took it in turns to accompany us to the projects. Fr Pontian always drove us Fr Tony came to the west and brought John to drive us. Their experience was essential in negotiating the chaotic traffic in Kampala and the bumpy dirt roads to many of the projects.

Everywhere they went they were welcomed by singing and dancing - and by the heartfelt thanks of people for whom a sewing machine or set of carpentry tools means the chance to earn self respect as well as an income.

At St Mary's Vocational Secondary School in Kakiri, 30 miles west of Kampala, members of the community have set up their own training centre for the many teenagers whose parents cannot afford further education fees. It offers courses in dressmaking and typing and a new classroom is currently being built to teach carpentry and construction with the Workaid tools they received at the end of 2007.

Bill said: "The school is run by a very dedicated headteacher, Lawrence Tamale, who understands that the youngsters need practical skills as well as an education to stop them falling back into petty crime and drug-taking. More and more students are now coming in off the streets and the school offers courses in the holidays to keep them out of trouble. They've also set up classes for housewives at the weekend who are determined to improve their families' fortunes by learning tailoring skills."

During their visit to St Mary's School, Bill and Sylvia were presented with a report on the school's progress and plans which concluded: "We are proud that you have visited us to get a first hand impression of how we are using the tools you donated to us…Without tools and with no resources to buy them, the teaching of vocational subjects remained a distant dream until we wrote to Workaid for help. Thanks to Workaid, we are now putting our ideas into practice."

A few days later, they received a further letter from Mr Tamale which read: "Allow me to pass on the heartfelt appreciation of our students for your inspiring words during the visit. Truly, there is now increased commitment amongst them towards acquiring skills. Please pass on our heartfelt appreciation to the entire staff of Workaid UK upon your return."

Sylvia said: "It was humbling to have Lawrence say that our words had inspired his students, because we came away feeling that their achievements had inspired us - seeing how much good could come from the tools and equipment we gave them and how many people it was helping."

Another inspiring project was Kavule Parents' School for the Deaf, about 16kms from Mbale. Set up in 1999, it is the only school for hearing impaired children in the whole eastern region. It is able to cater for 40 children with basic boarding facilities, but there are many more who need the specialised teaching the staff there can offer. Bill said: "The director there, Sam Kateu, is an amazing man. He's on crutches after losing part of his leg in a motorbike accident but he's a really dynamic person. When I asked him how many deaf children there were in the region, he said 'We have another 200 on our waiting list' - so there are many more children who could benefit if the school was larger. The school is run by the community and they get no funds from the government. What they are doing with very limited resources, and their dedication and perseverance, is truly impressive."

The school was built with the help of a scout group in Surrey, and equipped by Workaid in 2005 with a duplicator, typewriters, sewing machines, carpentry tools and cobbling materials. In a welcoming letter presented to Bill and Sylvia, Mr Kateu wrote: "I wish to convey to you the heartfelt thanks and appreciation from the parents and the children for providing tools for life skills, because most of them are too poor for further education and this is the only alternative for the children. Let me assure you that your presence here touches us a lot."

Of all the projects on Bill and Sylvia's itinary, there were only a few which were disappointing. Sylvia said: "There was one potential project that just wasn't there when we turned up at the address, and a couple which turned out not to be offering the courses they said they were running, or which couldn't justify the amount of equipment they had asked for. But that was the point of our trip - to verify that all the projects we've given equipment to and the new ones asking for help are genuine, and to weed out those that aren't.

"Overall, it was a very successful trip and we're grateful for the wonderful support of British Airways who provided us with free flights once again."