Sat in the Office of Hope for HIV/Aids Nigeria (Hope4Aids), I can see and hear the bustle of the streets below. Nigeria is very different to Gunjur in The Gambia but then this isn’t a small town. The cars drive faster and there is a constant background rhythm of car horns. You can also hear the steady hum of generators which power the buildings through intermittent public energy loses. Today feels like it should be a hot day but there’s no direct sunlight due to a haze over the city.

I landed last night at Lagos Airport, I was delayed for almost two hours but Rex from Hope4Aids was still waiting for me when I landed. I got a very warm greeting and was driven the short way to his home where I am staying with his family. Being a passenger in Nigeria isn’t for the faint hearted and I can already guarantee that every trip will be an adventure.  At one point during our drive to the house last night there was a heavy presence of police by the road side, they were trying to pull people over to get bribes. Rex handled this perfectly and just kept on driving advising the other drivers to do the same.

The accommodation is basic and welcoming, if you volunteer here you will stay with families (unless you chose otherwise). The house I’m staying in has electricity, via the generator, internet and a gas cooker. There’s no running water but there’s plenty of water to use for bucket showers, cooking and washing.

Today will be the start of my well planned itinerary and I definitely feel like the next three weeks will be eventful and fast paced. On first impressions this strikes me as a project for volunteers who like to get stuck in.