Volunteer at an Orphanage, School, or Community Project in Uganda

  Uganda

Jinja,  Kampala,  Kisoro

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 3-6 months

Description: KIDS Worldwide fields volunteer enquiries for several children's homes and school projects in Uganda. Each paragraph below describes a different project:

Kinship House is a children's home near Kampala. The home cares for needy orphans and less fortunate children who are living in difficult circumstances. Presently there are 25 children aged 5 to 16 in our care. Based on the value of human dignity and providing kin to the kinless, we work to assure the best possible future of each child. This means providing the basics such as shelter, food, clothing, medical care and schooling. However, we also work to provide further support such as indvidual care and attention which may be offered by the volunteers in our program.

St. Paul's / KAASO in Kyotera (4 hours from Kampala)- orphanage and primary school. St. Paul's provides support for: approximately 420 orphaned and needy children via a year-round primary/elementary level boarding school, local women's empowerment groups, (teaching English, and business and vocational skills to destitute women), as well as providing a forum for community members to share knowledge and experience via their grassroots community library. Located in a rural setting, volunteers will experience life the way the majority of Ugandans do, all while assisting with the care and teaching of the children and community members. This project offers many opportunities for those inclined to start their own programs and initiate their own ideas for community and school improvement.

Uganda Rural Community Support Foundation provides shelter, education, basic nutrition, medical care, and support to impoverished children and adults living in the rural districts of Uganda. We place special emphasis on children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in the rural region of Masakaalong what is known as the AIDS Highway. The children we serve have no parents and no homes. Without our help, they have little hope of receiving a proper education and proper nutrition. We provide them with human dignity and peace. By themselves, these children cannot break the cycle of poverty. URCSF operates various development and educational projects, including a community health center, library, orphan support, HIV/AIDS awareness/prevention, women empowerment, passion fruit gardening, as well as training and income generation initiatives. Volunteers help in a wide variety of ways you can choose teaching, farming, fundraising, housekeeping, grant writing, running workshops, etc. Volunteers stay with local families.

Another Hope Children's Ministry is located in the capital city of Uganda, Kampala, in the Nansana East District. Although we are a "Christian" home, we provide support to children from all backgrounds and religions. It is estimated at least 20% of the children in Uganda are orphaned and the Nansana area reflects this statistic. Currently the 30+ children we support, some who stay in other foster homes and some who live permanently on site, are all HIV/AIDs orphans.

St. Isaac's in Jinja District, Uganda, is a Community Based Organization (CBO) comprising the St. Isaac's Preparatory School for orphans and vulnerable children, and the St. Isaac's Training Center for community farmers. St. Isaac's promotes human dignity through education and development. Approximately 60 orphaned and needy children ages 3-8 years attend Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary 1 and Primary 2 at the on-site school. The farming program impacts the entire community by ensuring these families have food, a self-sustainable income, education, and the dignity of providing for themselves.

Qualifications: We are looking for male and female volunteers of any ages. Couples are welcome, as well as small groups.

General volunteers are welcome - only a love for children is the essential prerequisite. Please do inform us of the skills that you would like to share whilst you are volunteering with us, so that we can assist you in the preparations.

Cost in US$: month 1 $350, month 2 $150, subsequent months $80

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: We are looking for people who are willing to give their time and their hearts to the children at this orphanage. We encourage volunteers who love children, teaching, playing; who are creative, energetic, and enthusiastic.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Uganda Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

KIDS Worldwide's Mission Statement: Kids Worldwide seeks to improve the quality of life for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. We provide nurturing care and educational programmes based upon the universal concepts of Neo-Humanism, which are tailored to the needs of the children in our projects. We run orphanages as well as provide services to already established orphanages and childrens' projects (such as struggling primary schools and kindergartens) through our volunteer outreach programs. Our volunteer programs are notable in that we only request a small donation for food and accommodation that is paid directly to the project itself when the volunteer arrives.

Year Founded: 2003