Uganda

Voluntary work in development cooperation in Uganda

Urban everyday life
Varied activities
Diverse cuisine

In development cooperation, you will work within the framework of a non-profit organization that does educational work. The focus is on topics such as: HIV prevention, nutritional education and sustainable agriculture. Get involved with the people of Uganda and gain important professional and social skills.

Greater Kampala region

from 17 years

4 - 52 weeks / from €1.090

Wednesday, Sunday

As a volunteer in development aid in Uganda

less inequality

Reduce inequality within and between countries.

Project ID : FA-UG143

As a volunteer
Uganda

4 - 52 weeks / from €1.090
to the cost overview

Voluntary work in development aid in Uganda

What's the matter?

The changed climatic conditions also lead to poor harvests in Uganda. Poverty and rising food prices are making the situation on the ground more difficult. Women and children in particular are severely affected. Women have very early and many children, for whom they often cannot adequately care. Around 50% of child mortality in the country can be attributed to malnutrition.

Another consequence of poverty is that children, especially girls, are often unable to attend school or only attend it irregularly. School uniforms and materials are often unaffordable for families. AIDS orphans in particular are often denied access to education.

During your volunteer work in the development aid project and in the area of ecological education, you will work in the non-profit organization of our team in Uganda. You support them in educating them about healthy eating and organic farming. You actively help to improve the educational situation on site.

Your place of work is a non-profit organization (NPO) in Uganda. All NPO projects aim to promote sustainable local development, improve the economic opportunities of the village communities and thus help people to help themselves.

The aim is to enable the rural population to live a healthy and independent life through a targeted increase in the local standard of living. The members who are particularly disadvantaged - women, children, people with disabilities and people infected with HIV/AIDS - represent the main target group of the project work.

Your tasks as a volunteer

The scope of your volunteer work depends entirely on the work, your interests, previous knowledge and skills.

Organic farming and nutrition / agriculture: You support the project team in communicating modern agricultural practices. Enough food should be produced for everyone so that the surplus production can be sold. For example, you will help to educate people about a balanced diet in order to prevent deficiency symptoms and child deaths.

You will educate families in particular about the right nutrition for children and infants. You teach families – especially pregnant women – to grow healthy food for self-sufficiency. With the appropriate previous knowledge, you also have the opportunity to independently conduct seminars for the farmers.

Improving the educational offerings at the community school: As a volunteer, you are always welcome at the project’s community school. There is always a shortage of teachers. You can teach English or, depending on your interests and skills, help out in the areas of music, dance, theatre, art or handicrafts. There is also the opportunity to get involved in soccer training.
Awareness-raising work on hygiene and sanitary facilities: Do educational work and inform the villagers, for example, about the importance of washing hands with soap (e.g. after using the toilet, before feeding and after bathing an infant). Other educational topics include boiling drinking water, covering water containers, cooking food and the importance of personal hygiene.
Get involved in renovation and construction: drinking water pollution and poor sanitary facilities are partly to blame for the health problems of the local people. In the project you will therefore help with the construction of water tanks so that the rainwater can be used. You support the construction of suitable toilets and the renovation of wells. You will also help to clean springs and streams. If you are interested, you can also help with the construction of energy-saving ovens and machines.
Waste separation: In this area you will help to educate the Ugandan population about the advantages of waste separation. Compost heaps are created for the organic waste, which can later be used instead of a harmful fertilizer in organic farming.
Reforestation project: Here you will help teach the local population how they can independently reforest forest areas for the extraction of raw materials. Here you will support the employees in teaching and get involved in raising awareness of the importance of forests. You also help plant trees.
Education on malaria prevention: The fact that malaria is still one of the leading causes of death is partly due to local poverty, since the nearest hospital is often far away and the medicines are too expensive. Lack of knowledge about this disease is also a problem. You provide preventive education about malaria, the symptoms, transmission through mosquitoes, treatment of the disease and the correct use of mosquito nets. Children under the age of 5 and pregnant women are your main target group in this project.

As a volunteer, you will be on the road a lot with this volunteer work, depending on your focus. You usually work 5 days a week for a maximum of 8 hours a day.

Accommodation Catering

Host family in Uganda

In Kampala, the metropolis and capital of Uganda, you are right in the middle of the exciting events! There is everything you need in the vicinity of your host family: In the center you will find shopping malls, supermarkets and other small shops where you can run errands.

For most of our projects you will stay with Joseph, his wife and their children. Up to six volunteers can be accommodated in their home. There is a guest room at Joseph's in the house and two more in the annex. You can use the living room to spend time together. Both in the main house and in the annex there is a bathroom with a latrine. For showering or washing you use water from canisters. You can have your laundry washed on site for a small fee. You will be immersed in a typical Ugandan way of life with Joseph!

Joseph even built a great new guest cottage for his volunteers with two extra bedrooms and a living area where you can retreat - awesome right? In your free time, you can easily go to Kampala City by public transport! Enjoy your time in Kampala and visit fabulous weekly markets or try the traditional cuisine of the "Pearl of Africa".

Location

all fotos

Greater Kampala region

The metropolis and capital Kampala is located in southern Uganda. Here you will find small busy streets, modern skyscrapers, restaurants and a lively nightlife. So there is a lot to discover!

With a bit of luck you can even see marabou storks hatching their young in the middle of the city center, near the rugby court! Trees and hills adorn the cityscape around the center. The streets are full of so-called boda-bodas - these are bicycle taxis, which most people in Uganda use to get around.

But not only the capital has a lot to offer: the further you drive out of Kampala, the more adventure awaits you during your trip. Kampala is considered Uganda's transport hub, which is why all our projects are located in the greater Kampala area. The capital is also not far from Africa's most famous freshwater lake, "Lake Victoria".

So you've come to the right place if you want to experience Uganda intensively - both life in the metropolis and the landscapes in the surrounding area!

Your free time in the greater Kampala region

Welcome to the Greater Kampala Region! The capital of Uganda is the best place to learn about the country's rich history and culture. For example, you will find the "Uganda Museum" here, which is one of the best museums in Africa with its large collection of cultural and historical treasures. In addition, numerous churches, mosques and other places of worship bear witness to the great heterogeneity and diversity of the country.

Away from the culture you will find many markets, restaurants and bars in the lively city as well as a nightlife that can easily keep up with the European metropolises. Kampala is also a real institution when it comes to street food. “Luwombo”, an elaborate cooking dish that is prepared and served in a banana leaf, is particularly popular.

Do you need a short break from the chaotic city life? Then explore the outskirts of Kampala. Lake Victoria is only a few kilometers away. The coasts and numerous small islands that you will find on Africa's largest lake are definitely worth a visit. And the rest of Uganda is chock-full of must-see attractions if you find the time.

The waterfalls of the Murchison Falls National Park or the Ruwenzori Mountains with peaks over 5000 meters are definitely among them. You should also not miss a tour to see the rare mountain gorillas. Because: The last specimens live exclusively in Uganda and the neighboring countries.

For more (insider) tips, you can also get in touch with your local contact at any time.

On-site procedure

Arrival in Uganda

Arriving at Entebbe Airport, you will be picked up by one of our team members who will take you to Kampala. The transfer from the airport to Kampala is included in the services and takes about an hour, depending on traffic. Our team ensures that you arrive safely at the accommodation and is your contact person for the entire duration of your assignment in Uganda.

In the first one or two days you will be accommodated with our host family in Kampala. There you will also meet other volunteers with whom you can share your experiences in Uganda.

Orientation program in Kampala

During the first two days that you are accommodated in Kampala, our team will prepare you for your upcoming stay in Uganda. You will be offered activities and individual excursions that will help you to get to know the country and the people better. Our team will also show you what you need to consider so that you can find your way around the area and inform you about your activities and tasks in your project.

The program includes, among other things: sightseeing in Kampala, visiting a market, changing money and getting a SIM card, Ugandan cuisine, getting to know public transport, ...

After the orientation program, our staff will take you to your accommodation.

Your first day in the project

After the orientation program, the staff will take you to your accommodation. Which accommodation you end up in depends on your location and project. Your placement is always as close as possible to your accommodation. Each project position has different working hours, which will be discussed with you right at the beginning of your assignment. On the first day you will get to know the employees and the work processes and you will be briefed on your tasks.

Pricing

base fee

€ 1.090, -

4 weeks of participation
extension week

€ 130, - / week

up to 48 weeks

included
Services

Before departure

Individual advice and support from our trained RGV team in Munich
Organization including placement in the project and coordination of your stay on site
Assistance with preparation: visa, health care, travel insurance, etc.
Non-binding flight advice
Travel ABC with packing list for your travel preparation
RGV t-shirt

On site

Orientation program with the team on site
Support and guidance from the on-site team
RGV 24h emergency number
Project t-shirt to wear during on-site activities

Airport transfer on the agreed arrival and departure days
Accommodation in a host family

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

After return

Participation confirmation of your voluntary commitment
Reflection course on your experiences abroad
Evaluation sheet and optional feedback discussion

useful additional services

not included
Services

Round trip
Private expenses on site
Excursions with microlight flights
Travel and cancellation insurance
Visa and Vaccinations
All nights outside your agreed accommodation
Public transport and extra transfers

Daily drive to the project

Drinks

Individual Recommended additional offers
& must-haves

Would you prefer to stay in a single room? Are you vegan or do you have special requests for food? Or do you want to do some cool trips with other volunteers in your free time and explore the country?

With us, you benefit from a variety of optional additional services that you can add individually to your booking, depending on your preferences.

" Round Trip
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.

" Insurance
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.

"Volunteer Teaching Focused" online TEFL/TESOL course

245 €

Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course for volunteers
Intensive online TEFL/TESOL course (120h)

460 €

Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course
Luganda language course in Uganda

160 €

Language courses for volunteers and interns in Uganda
English language course in Uganda

160 €

English language course in Kampala
Personal development introductory course

Free of charge

Two tools to get you started on your personal development

Greater Kampala region Team
site

Joseph is the team leader of our Uganda team and is actively supported by his wife. Since we offer different project locations in Uganda, RGV team leader Joseph usually accompanies you during the transfer from the airport to the location and back.

If you have any questions or problems, you can always count on Joseph’s support. He is actively involved in his non-profit project work for the population in his country and would be happy to receive your support and ideas!

“Tusanyuse okukulaba!” - “You're welcome"

RGV FAQ
to the project

What are the project fees used for?

Although we are a non-profit organization, there are costs associated with volunteering abroad. Find out here, why volunteering requires money and what your project fee is used for.

What visa do I need for Uganda?

You need a tourist visa for Uganda. You can apply for this online in advance. You will then receive the visa upon arrival, where you will also pay the visa fees (about €50). The visa is valid for 90 days.

An extension is possible on site and costs about 100 €.

What language skills do I need for the project in Uganda?

A good knowledge of English is required, and a Luganda language course is also recommended.

What vaccinations/ health precautions do I need for Uganda?

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Uganda.

We generally recommend a consultation in a practice for travel and tropical medicine.

You can get general information about recommended health care and vaccinations online Center for Travel Medicine as well as on the side of Foreign Office.

What are the requirements for the project?

Independence, manual skills and good fitness are important. Otherwise there are no special requirements.

What do I have to bring?

Sturdy clothing that is easily washable. Female volunteers should wear clothing that at least covers their knees and arms.

What do I have to consider as an LGBTQ person?

Please be aware that homosexual acts are considered undesirable in many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and are even punishable by law in some places. In general, people who are identified as queer are often exposed to hostility.

For example, get information from Foreign Office about the exact regulations in your destination country.

General FAQ about volunteer work

Ready to volunteer in Uganda? Start your adventure abroad with Rainbow Garden Village!

Rainbow Garden Village has been offering volunteer work and internships abroad since 1999. What started as a small student initiative in Ghana has now grown into an organization with over 250 projects around the world.

You can be sure that your work as a volunteer will be an unforgettable experience. Bring your commitment and your knowledge to do good locally - and at the same time benefit from the unique experiences that will promote your personal development.

Become part of our RGV community!
We look forward to you.

RGV Your way
to the volunteer

1
Choose your volunteer project and register online.

2
We will review your application and confirm your participation.

3
Prepare for your assignment online or in our preparatory seminar in Munich.

4
Here we go! During your volunteer work, we will support you at any time with our on-site team.

Gallery Impressions &
Impressions

As a volunteer in development cooperation in Uganda

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