Volunteering Ecological Education in Uganda - NGO work
- Urban everyday life
- Varied activities
- Diverse cuisine
Your project focus is agriculture. As a volunteer, you are supporting a dedicated team in communicating knowledge about balanced nutrition to the public and explaining their related effective food crops. You can also specialize in education.
Greater Kampala region
from 18 years
4 - 52 weeks
/ from €1.090
Wednesday, Sunday
Ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
What's the matter?
Malnutrition and malnutrition are a huge problem in Uganda. The changing climatic conditions lead to bad harvests and poverty with simultaneously rising food prices. Women and children in particular are severely affected by the situation.
Uganda has the youngest population in the world; the women have very early and many children, for whom they are often not able to take sufficient care. Overall, around 50% of child mortality in the country can be attributed to inadequate nutrition.
Another problem of poverty is that the majority of children, especially girls, cannot go to school at all or only irregularly. School attendance is now free, but with an average wage of $1 a day, school uniforms and supplies are often unaffordable. In addition, the children often have to contribute to the family income and therefore have no time for lessons. Orphans in particular are often denied access to education.
In the voluntary work in ecological education in Uganda, our team supports Ugandan families both with a balanced diet and with improving the educational situation on site.
The volunteer site is a non-profit organization (NPO) that has been helping Ugandan orphans, children at risk and their village communities since 2007. Today she runs a community school, where more than 120 needy children and orphans are taught, as well as many other projects for the benefit of the community. This includes, above all, education for sustainable agriculture in Kibale itself, educational work for healthy nutrition and the associated teaching of sustainable methods for cultivating the region.
One focus of the projects is agriculture. Our team operates here primarily in the rural region of the highlands. The aim is to convey knowledge about a balanced diet and its importance to the local population, as well as to optimize food cultivation in order to achieve higher yields. The families learn how to grow vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants such as aloe vera in their gardens. Optimally used areas, organic fertilizers and suitable plants ensure food all year round while protecting the environment at the same time.
Another focus of activities is the improvement of educational opportunities for local students. Children from socially disadvantaged families and orphans in particular are to be given access to education through the NPO's own school.
Your tasks as a volunteer
As a volunteer in education for sustainable agriculture in Kibale, you can choose one of the two focus areas and either choose to work in der Community School or for support in the area of community work. Of course, you can also get involved in both areas.
Volunteers are always welcome at the project's community school, as there is a shortage of teachers. You can teach English or help out in music, dance, theatre, art or handicrafts depending on your interests and skills. We try to accommodate one or two volunteers per class in order to improve the quality of the teaching in the long term. There is also the opportunity to get involved in soccer training.
If, on the other hand, you decide to do community work, you will accompany the project managers to the villages and help to educate the local mothers about a balanced diet and to create small home gardens for the individual households. Your tasks are also very diverse in this area.
For example, you teach the locals how to use rainwater in a beneficial way in the area of awareness raising. You should bring a raincoat, hiking boots, first-aid kit and mosquito repellent spray with you for this area of application.
Your working day at school starts at 09:00, when the morning prayer takes place, and ends at 17:00. During the lunch break you help with the distribution of food. In community work, depending on the activity, after breakfast you walk or drive to the work site. You discuss your exact working hours on site with your contact person at the assignment site.
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
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
-
4 weeks of participationbase fee€ 1.090, -
-
up to 48 weeksextension week€ 125, - / week
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
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
- 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.
Cheap flights with our flight partner thanks to volunteer rates.
Would you like to receive a cheap flight offer for your stay abroad that is perfectly tailored to you? After you have successfully registered, you can have a non-binding offer created.
The excellent rates for volunteers, students and young people are a great advantage. Arrival times and flight time changes can also be sent directly to RGV upon request, so that our RGV teams in the destination countries are always informed about your arrival times.
These special tariffs give you special added value:
- maximum flexibility for rebookings and cancellations
- generous baggage allowance
- Additional discounts on one-way flights: The new volunteer tariffs include attractive discounts to reduce your financial burden on one-way flights (e.g. for stopovers, project or country combinations).
Benefit from the 4 in 1 ERGO travel insurance.
You can easily book the long-term travel protection of ERGO Reiseversicherung after you have registered. You will receive the links to this automatically after a successful registration.
The following building blocks are included:
- Health Insurance
- Comfort protection: accident, liability and interruption insurance
- Travel insurance
- Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course for volunteers
- Interactive online TEFL/TESOL course
- Language courses for volunteers and interns in Uganda
- English language course in Kampala
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Two tools to get you started on your personal developmentPersonal development introductory courseFree of charge
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"
Volunteers talk about their experiences Joint commitment - big impact!
Ecological project in Uganda
My experiences in Uganda were so different compared to what we know from Germany that it is actually impossible to describe everything. In any case, I had a lot of fun immersing myself in such a foreign culture.
01.08.2020
Nicodemus
Browse our magazine
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?
Previous knowledge of agriculture is advantageous, but not a requirement. Creativity, initiative and empathy are important.
What do I have to bring?
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.
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.
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