Volunteer

Life in Uganda

Uganda, also known as 'The Pearl of Africa', is a magical place full of incredible scenery, fantastic wildlife, a collection of tribes and an abundance of culture. For those who venture to Uganda, you'll be captivated by its beauty, peacefulness, serenity, and safety. The natural beauty of the countryside and landscapes are unforgettable, and the kind natured, gentle hearted and ever so friendly people are what make this country so special. It is one of the most appealing nations in Africa and a place that will easily captivate you in more ways than one. If you enjoy water and a good thrill, Uganda offers some of the best white-water rafting in the world on the world’s longest river. To top it off, it also has the highest concentration of primates in the world, including the largest numbers of mountain gorillas in the wild, one of the rarest apes on earth.

Issues Facing Uganda and Batwa in Particular

Poverty and disease are linked problems in Uganda that are created by poor sanitation, unclean water, and inadequate housing. Only 52% of the population has access to clean water but this percentage is way higher among the Batwa. Although food is easily grown in Uganda, sporadic droughts, unreliable rainfall, poor agronomic practises and hail storms cause severe famines. Uganda suffers from a very high infection rate of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), about 1.4m Ugandans are reported to have been infected with AIDS by the end of 2021. Due to an unfathomable cultural myth, some men in this area believe that HIV can be cured by sleeping with a Batwa woman, this leaves the Batwa women devastated, infested with HIV and often left with children they are unable to care for. The other most common ailments include prenatal and maternal conditions, malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. Poor sanitation related diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, and intestinal worms have occurred more frequently as a result of the Broken down health system.

What you Can do to Help

As a volunteer, you can provide one of the greatest gifts to the people in this country which is education. It is believed that education alone cannot eliminate poverty but plays a great role in developing countries. As a volunteer in Uganda, you will be given an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of others and in doing so, the people you will work with will also make a difference in yours. The programs we offer are designed to provide an ethical volunteering experience whereby volunteers will not only share their skills but will also learn about the local communities getting to know the people and their culture. We are actively looking for enthusiastic and empathetic volunteers who want to experience community life in Uganda while getting involved to make a difference with local projects, which are designed to help the most vulnerable people of Uganda. There are very few countries on earth that can offer a visitor as much to see and do as Uganda does.

Volunteer Fees

USD $10 per day

1 Week ..................................... $ 70

2 Weeks ................................... $ 140

3 Weeks ................................... $ 210

4 Weeks ...................................$ 280

5 Weeks ..................................... $ 350

6 Weeks ......................................$ 420

Additional Week(s) ................... $ 50 per week

OUR PROGRAM FEES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.

Program Fees– Project orientation, program supervision, accommodation and basic meals during volunteer program period, 24/7 volunteer support while on ground and in country administration costs. Airport pickup/transfer is NOT included in the program fee but private transport can be arranged for an additional cost of $ 700 return journey.

COSTS NOT INCLUDED IN VOLUNTEER FEES.

Visa, flights, travel insurance (highly recommended), immunizations/vaccinations, in-country trips or tours, transfer to other areas and spending money. Volunteers are asked to support the programs they will be participating in materially and financially at their will. Materials to use like teaching materials, building and construction materials, training kits.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Our enrollment and registration process begins by applying online. Once you have filled out and submitted the online application form, you will receive a confirmation email. To continue on in our enrollment process, once we receive both the program fee payment, we will send you a confirmation email with the program details and encourage you to book your flight at that time. Our team will be readily available to correspond with you and answer any questions you might have from the time you apply until you reach the project. If you have any further questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact us at: friendsofbatwa1@gmail.com.