Volunteer in Uganda: Public Health Improvement Project

Location

Programs are based in:

• Mukono District (20 km out of Kampala city). Volunteers are placed in
• Mukono Town and in surrounding villages.
• Wakiso District (5 km out of Kampala city). Volunteers are placed in Buloba and Bulenga.
• Jinja District (50 km out of Kampala city). Volunteers are placed in Jinja Town and Kainogoga.
• Masaka District (180 km out of Kampala city). Volunteers are placed in Kyazanga.

Public Health Improvement Project

This is a project promoting general public health improvement in Uganda. Volunteers travel with and work alongside Ugandan counsellors in a variety of programs, directly benefiting local communities, schools and health centres. Volunteers will be engaged in a combination of the following activities:

Village outreach: Public speaking and mentoring in various rural communities respecting HIV/AIDS, malaria, hygiene, family planning, reproductive health, nutrition, early childhood feeding, sanitation, women's rights and domestic violence. This is the most important and most common activity undertaken by volunteers. Volunteers travel to a variety of villages on a weekly basis. They design their own seminars based on that week’s subject matter. Basic training and educational materials are on site, but volunteers are encouraged to bring new materials as well.

Secondary School outreach: Public speaking and mentoring of youth about teen issues. These may include drug abuse, pregnancy, STDs, sexual education, and decision-making. Volunteers may visit 1 or 2 schools per day speaking directly to students about issues affecting them. Again, volunteers will design their own speeches, but will be given basic training and access to educational materials in order to prepare themselves. Volunteers will take part in a flexible schedule, which includes some or all activities offered by the program. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and culture is encouraged.

This project requires walking long distances in the sun. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag, and protective clothing and shoes.

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. Specific daily schedules and activities will be determined between volunteers and their coordinator upon arrival.

Accommodation

During the week, volunteers travel with the organization and are billeted in various village homes and schools. However, the main base is a large Mukono town apartment, shared with up to 8 other volunteers. Volunteers stay there on weekends or during their free time. There is electricity but no running water or western toilet. There is a house maid who provides meals and keeps the place clean. The accommodation is regarded as more than adequate considering the normal standard of living in Uganda. The reason for this is that the program staff would like to make the accommodation as close to what you may be used to as possible so you may find you have some luxury items or the household may be set up in a more western way to make you more comfortable in your surroundings.

You are advised to bring a flashlight since power cuts are frequent in Uganda. As windows in Uganda are typically without screens, you may wish to bring a mosquito net.

Meals and Food

Volunteers are provided with 3 meals each day. There are local shops where you can buy snacks (among other things). Meals will consist of local foods, such as matooke (mashed plantain), posho (corn meal), potatoes, and rice. Starchy foods are dietary staples so you'll have no shortage of carbs. They are generally served with beef, fish, beans, or groundnut sauce. Tea and bread are the usual breakfast. The country's tropical climate contributes to a healthy choice of fruits which include bananas, watermelon, papayas, mangos, jackfruit, and pineapples.

Vegetarians can eat well here, but the variety of dishes will be limited and you may get bored of the "same old, same old". Your main sources of protein would be the beans at lunch/dinner and the eggs at breakfast.

Free Time

Volunteers are free to do as they please on the weekends and after their daily volunteer duties are done for the day. We encourage volunteers to see as much of the country of Uganda as possible since there is a lot to see and do, but we also expect volunteers to take precautions when travelling alone, heed the advice of the locals for where it is safe to travel to, be mindful of personal health, and respect the rules and culture of the country in general. We highly recommend the Bradt Guide to Uganda, The Lonely Planet and Rough Guide as a source of historical and cultural information as well as a thorough travel guide to the country.

When you are not working on your specific volunteer project you can be using your time to prepare for the next day, or we strongly encourage you to participate in other aspects of the program. GVN encourages you to be proactive in your approach to the volunteer experience; ask your program director what you can do to setup a new idea or foster an ongoing side project.

Communication

Email is the best method of communication while you are in Uganda. It is inexpensive (US$1-2 per hour) and internet cafes are found in convenient locations like Mukono Town, Kampala and Jinja. The one drawback is that electricity in Uganda experiences frequent power outages so sometimes internet will not be available and the connections are often slower than what you would find at home.

Keep in mind that if you are in a village placement, you may have to travel to Mukono Town for many services.

Number of Volunteers

The Uganda program usually has between 5 and 15 volunteers per month, but the number of volunteers varies depending on the season.  Volunteers should expect to be placed individually, unless they request to be placed with another volunteer.

Costs

Application Fee – US $97

Your application fee is fully transferable and will secure your place on the program, (or any other GVN program of your choice), at a placement date that is suitable to you.*

*Your application fee provides you with access to any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years, as many times as you like without having to pay another application fee!

Children under 18 are not required to pay the application fee when volunteering together with a parent/guardian.  (Except for participants in our Youth Tour program who are required to pay a US$97 application fee.)

To return to the main Uganda program, click here.