Community Development and Teaching in Uganda, Africa

  Uganda

Kampala

Dates: The program is available throughout the year

Description: Our partner in Uganda has projects based in Mukono Town and within nearby villages. All projects are aimed at providing primary and secondary education to needy children, community outreach and counseling, and adult literacy. Most projects have little or no resources, so foreign volunteers with different ideas and experiences are highly valued.   [Please note that all projects require volunteers who are self-starters and can conduct their daily activities with minimal supervision.]

Highlights: Village Projects:
Our partner networks with a number of small community based organizations that provide counseling, care, and education for rural people and orphaned and underprivileged children. Each of these placements is located in a village setting within Mukono and Jinja Districts.

Each village placement will provide a different experience for a volunteer, but main activities will involve working with local children and youth teaching nursery, primary, and vocational education. Volunteers work in the areas of sport, art, games and academics.

For volunteers with a medical background and education, placements can involve work in local clinics with small health-based community organizations.

Community outreach activities, such as youth mentoring, HIV prevention and AIDS care, women's rights education, and education respecting modern farming techniques are undertaken by each community based organization. Longer term volunteers are encouraged to get involved despite the language barrier, and see the development work done at the village level.

A village placement is particularly appropriate for those volunteers with great ideas and enthusiasm for grass roots development. There are ample opportunities for volunteers to learn and use Luganda, the language spoken predominantly within Mukono District, and Lusoga, the language spoken predominantly within Jinja District.

Accommodation and daily meals will be provided within the village of placement, and will range from private apartments to rooms in private homes. No homestay situations are available.

Mukono Town Council Projects:

Primary Schools:
There are many private primary schools in Uganda that cater exclusively to the education, housing and feeding of needy children and orphans. Volunteers can teach primary subjects and organize sport and art activities for the children. School terms vary from year to year but are approximately as follows: February 1 to April 30, and May 20 to August 30, September 15 to November 15.

Placements at local secondary schools can be arranged upon request.

Volunteers will require a university degree to be eligible to teach at the secondary level.

Mukono Youth Project:
This is a multi-faceted project promoting the voluntary spirit in Uganda. Foreign volunteers will work alongside Ugandan volunteers (youth aged 17 - 27) in a variety of programs directly benefiting local communities, which will include the following activities:

Community Outreach: Includes home visits (often to the remotest villages in the district) to elderly, disabled, and persons living with HIV/AIDS to assist with household tasks such as washing, preparing food, and keeping company. This is a good opportunity for volunteers to see the daily challenges faced by marginalized groups in Uganda.

Youth Mentoring: Public speaking and mentoring of youth and youth leaders respecting HIV/AIDS awareness, public health/hygiene, family planning, condom use and distribution, creativity workshops promoting the generation of small business, the importance of basic education, and women's rights and empowerment. This is the most important and most common activity undertaken by volunteers. Camping, hiking, hunting and/or fishing trips may also take place during these mentoring sessions. Volunteers are asked to bring camping gear.

Although it is a youth group it reaches every member of the community it serves, and reaches the remotest areas of the district where there is virtually no other aid. This project is not exclusive to young volunteers, as older people with business skills and experience are also needed, particularly with tasks like sorting out bookwork and applying for grants. Just as our partner organisation's members try to help all members of society in every way, it needs all types and ages of volunteers to help it function.

As none of the Mukono Youth projects are full-time, volunteers will take part in a flexible schedule, which includes some or all activities offered by the program. This project will be particularly appropriate for those volunteers with great ideas and enthusiasm for grass roots development. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and language is encouraged between Ugandan and foreign volunteers. This project requires physical labour and working in the sun. Volunteers are encouraged to bring protective clothing, gloves, and shoes.

All volunteers working in Mukono Town Council (up to 8 at one time) will be housed in shared accommodation in a large apartment in Mukono Town. There will be a housegirl who will cook, clean, and wash clothes. The building is within a locked compound. The shower is indoors, and the latrine is detached but fully enclosed. There is no running water, but there is a water tank in the compound, and there are jerry cans for water storage. There is a cooker in the kitchen, so you will be able to boil drinking water and do some cooking on your own if you wish. You will be provided with 3 meals per day. Meals will consist of local foods, such as matooke (mashed plantain), posho (corn bread), potatoes, and rice. They are generally served with beef, chicken, fish, beans, or groundnut sauce. Bread, eggs and fruits are also available for breakfast.

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: See Website

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteers are required to be at least 18 years of age and have no major health problems.

Age Range: At least 18 years of age

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European and Kiwi Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Uganda Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Global Volunteer Network's Mission Statement: The Global Volunteer Network (GVN) is a private, Non Government Organization (NGO) based in Wellington, New Zealand. Our incorporation number is WN/1194442. Our vision is to support the work of local community organizations in developing countries through the placement of international volunteers. We believe that local communities are in the best position to determine their needs, and we provide volunteers to help them achieve their goals.

Year Founded: 2000

Global Volunteer Network is a based organization. We do not require our participants to be of the same faith. Our volunteers will not be involved in religious proselytizing.