Voluntary Work
Community Support
As a volunteer you will work alongside a well-established community based organisation dedicated to improving the welfare of disadvantaged children in Uganda.
We ask that all volunteers remain flexible during their time on this programme, primarily you will research families in need of help by making home visits. Your reports will be used to prioritise where help is needed. The project predominantly targets children orphaned and living on their own or children living with terminally ill parents, many affected by the AIDS/HIV epidemic.
The project’s priority is to offer assistance to these families, targeting children living on their own with terminally ill parents, or elderly people and marginalised youth and women.
Orphan Skills Training
The centre was established in January 2000 by a group of dedicated community volunteers. Its aim is to support the increasing number of local underprivileged youth, many if them AIDS orphans, by teaching them vocational skills that will give them a better start in life. Since its start the centre has supported approximately 800 children, today there are currently 200 children registered.
Depending on your interests and skills there are a number of teaching disciplines that need your help at the centre. Volunteers can get involved in carpentry, sewing, bricklaying, organic farming, construction, pottery and animal husbandry.
If you have skills in other areas such as electrics, plumbing or mechanics then the centre would be very interested in getting you involved in starting up courses and tuition in these fields.
Sport is also a very important part of the extra curricular activities offered at the centre. It is possible for volunteers to take part in afternoon sports teaching of football, netball and athletics.
Teaching
Volunteers are very much needed to help with both the development of the current vocational training on offer, in activities such as knitting, pottery, computer sciences, tailoring, and carpentry and joinery, and also the teaching of typical academic subjects.
Your mornings will be spent teaching at the schools - please be prepared to teach your own classes: this will be an exciting and hugely rewarding experience. African children are generally extremely polite and eager to learn! The subject areas where volunteers’ help is most required are Maths, English, the Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) and French.
Any vocational skills you may have can also be of huge value. You can initiate or develop vocational training for the children to improve their prospects of gaining future employment. You could teach skills such as carpentry and joinery, computer science, tailoring, office skills, knitting and pottery.
Sports
Sports play a significant role in school life and you can get involved in teaching and playing the various sports on offer most afternoons.
Extra-Curricular Activities
You will also have the opportunity to teach music, drama or art, contribute to debates, participate in HIV/AIDS awareness groups or become involved in other school clubs. The school encourages volunteers to use their experience and initiative to develop these programmes and inspire the children to take part and learn something new, influenced by your presence as a volunteer.
Building and Construction
For volunteers with a specific interest or skills in building or labour work, your expertise could be of great value to the school. Many of the dormitories remain incomplete and the current accommodation is insufficient for the number of students who require boarding at the school.
What’s Included
- Airport transfers to and from Entebbe Airport, Uganda
- Orientation on arrival
- Project transport, as required
- All accommodation during your stay at the shared volunteer house
- All Meals on the project
- Full support and assistance from your coordinator throughout your time in Uganda
- 24 hour support number and contact at Real Gap for emergencies.
What’s Not Included
- Personal travel insurance for the duration of your placement, which should include cover
for repatriation
- All flights
- Airport transfers if you arrive or depart outside of the set dates and times
- All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing (work and other)
- E-mail/Internet and telephone calls
- Soft drinks, beer, wines and spirits
- Visas
- Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in Uganda
Prices and Durations
Uganda Community Outreach - 4 weeks £879
Uganda Community Outreach - 8 weeks £1,259
Uganda Community Outreach - 12 weeks £1,799
