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Volunteer Rural Uganda Volunteering Abroad Opportunities Ugandan Missions Overseas

Volunteering Abroad in the Mukono District Uganda: This is an opportunity to work with a grass roots organizations in rural Uganda. The program site is located about 5 miles outside of Mukono Town (mid way between Kampala and Jinja)

This a rural community, with dirt roads that turn to sticky mud in the rainy season and dust in the dry season. Boda Boda taxi bikes share the road with bicycles and animals. As in most parts of Uganda, the community members struggle to meet their basic needs and strive to put their children in school. Main jobs include brick making, selling fruits and vegetables, small scale animal rearing and other manual labor jobs.
As a volunteer in this program, you will experience traditional Ugandan life and participate in daily activities such as visiting elderly villagers, collecting water from a well, teaching children in outside classrooms, assisting in the brick making programs, feeding animals as well as health outreach programs.

These programs serve the most vulnerable community members in Mukono District.
The main focus is providing education to hundreds of children in the surrounding villages. A village school provides English, Math, health lessons to children 3yrs-12yrs old. The school provides not only needed education but opportunities for sports activities, health talks, feeding center and meeting place for the community.

The community development projects including pig and poultry house construction and repairs, home repairs, health/HIV/AIDS workshops, youth education, animal rearing, water and sanitation (including well and waterway construction) and project planning and management or other skills that can help us transform this community

With our volunteer program we allow you to discover the wonders of East Africa, while doing meaningful and rewarding community work. This is a great opportunity to explore life in rural Africa, live and work amongst the locals and realize one person can make a difference.

* It is important for potential volunteers to understand that the culture in Uganda is quite different from what you are accustomed to. Volunteers should bring with them an easy-going, open-minded and relaxed attitude. Locals are curious, very friendly and social people. While ABV will endeavor to maintain a daily routine, volunteers should understand that things move slowly in Africa (and indeed in rural communities). Relax and enjoy the slow pace. Remember that life in Africa is not as organized and predictable as life in developed countries. Although volunteer work can be very busy and active, at other times work is determined by many number of factors including weather, availability of resources, whether a relevant contact has turned up, cultural activities etc.

We offer the following programs near Mukono:

Program Length: From 1 to 12 weeks
Program Date: Flexible Start & End Date
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hour per day
Accommodations: Local Host Family
Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day
Requirements: 17 years or older, an open mind to new adventures.

Children’s Education / Teaching Program

Volunteer in a rural school. Nursery and primary school level classes are provided (ages 3yrs-12yrs) teaching English and other subjects. *Teaching experience is not required. You can begin as a teaching assistant and then work in small groups with children in need of extra attention.

The objective of this program is to contribute to the academic development of the school in order to provide the best opportunity for the orphans to receive quality education. Volunteers support the local teachers; encourage students to learn and play and instill pride in their schooling.

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 early December. Volunteers can assist with the physical upkeep of the school; painting, decorating, mending desks etc. Most important volunteers should try to develop activities/programs that can be sustained in the future. Prior teaching experience is not required; volunteer simply need an open mind, caring spirit and a compassionate nature.

Community Development / Building Program

You will have the opportunity to try different roles and projects, dependent on your interests and skills. These volunteer opportunities do not require specialized skills (although these would be an advantage), and we accept volunteers for both short and long-term placements, all the year round. Volunteers certainly gain an amazing life experience from their participation in our placement program. On first arrival, most volunteers sample all the projects before selecting the tasks that suit them best.

The first few days of your placement will be orientation and adjusting to Ugandan life. After this initial period, your placement work will begin. The type of work you are involved with will be dependent on your interests, abilities, level of experience as well as your comfort levels.

One of the advantages of the Community project is that you are not limited to one job role and will have the opportunity to ‘sample’ other roles during your placement. To become involved in another projects simply inform a member of staff who will happily make any necessary arrangements.

Volunteer work side by side the locals on-going brick construction and water building projects in the community. Volunteers needed for manual labor jobs working along side skilled and unskilled local workers.

Some tasks include farming, pig rearing, construction of the volunteer center, expansion, water well building and renovation work. Volunteers do not need prior experience, but skilled workers are very welcome. This is a very hand on, hands dirty sort of program. Enthusiasm, a good sense of humor and helping spirit are required.

Program Includes:

Accommodation provided with a local host family. Family home has electricity. Volunteers have their own sleeping quarters with bed and bedding. With rural communities, there is no indoor plumbing. Outhouse facilities at the home, and fresh water available for boiling and bathing. All ABV programs are within walking distance from the host family. Three local meals per day are provided. Airport pick up and drop off at Entebbe airport. Our ABV local Project Coordinator will provide orientation tour on arrival, project briefing, an introduction to work placement and local host family.

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