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Volunteer Construction & Community Development Uganda
Volunteer Construction & Community Development Uganda

Mukono Region, Uganda

Volunteer Construction & Community Development Uganda

Trip Highlights

  • Volunteer for the Community Development Program in Uganda and make a difference to lives of the locals 
  • Work in consortium with the local villagers and get to interact with them closely
  • Work entails helping the local community with construction work, assisting local Self Help Groups, assisting local civil society organizations, carrying on awareness drives amongst others 
  • The project is a great way to work closely with the local community and find solutions to everyday problems in a bottom-up fashion

Overview

Overview

Gap year travelers who enroll for the Construction and Community Development Volunteer Program in Uganda enjoy a wide variety of work opportunities. This is a one-of-its-kind volunteer abroad program which involves a lot of field work as well as vocational training initiatives. Volunteers who would not shy away from working under the sun are surely going to enjoy every little work time spend in this project. The entire batch of volunteers teams up to give the infrastructures in the area a fresh and colorful look.  Trained volunteers can also take part in educational training workshops and be actively involved in project monitoring tasks as well. Volunteering for construction and community development is a well-rounded project for those interested in working for varying roles and interacting with locals for a great exposure that has a lasting impact.Volunteers in this project are also placed in rural areas in Uganda depending upon project and work requirements.


Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. You need to have an open mind and a flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. The volunteer should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference and should be willing to work outdoors and get their hands dirty. Participants must be fit and healthy at the time of joining the program. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.

 


Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

This program is best suited for volunteers interested in fieldwork and community development tasks. Depending on the time of the project, volunteers will be needed in;

  • Construction
  • Building
  • Site preparation (demolition, digging, clearing rubble, bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry and so on).
  • Beautification of the site that includes work like planting trees, landscaping, community cleanups, painting murals, and other related work.

The other area of work is community development where volunteers will assist the local teams in community development initiatives. These include;

  • Business training
  • Women microfinancing
  • Environmental conservation
  • Sanitation and other development projects.

Volunteer Work Schedule

Volunteer Work Schedule

The schedule for the volunteers remains as follows;

  • Sunday - Arrival at Entebbe Airport, Uganda
  • Monday - An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestion over things to do in Uganda.
  • Tuesday to Fri - Volunteer work
  • Breakfast - 07:30 am onwards
  • Leave for the project - 09:00 am
  • Working hours at the placement - 10:00 am to 04:00 pm
  • Lunch - 01:00 pm onwards
  • Dinner - 07:00 pm  onwards
  • Weekends - Free to explore the city

The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards 

Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.


Living

Living

As you arrive at the Entebbe International Airport near Kampala, we take care of everything starting right from the airport pick up to the accommodation, meals and local assistance. You will also get a comprehensive pre-departure information booklet and other assistance to prepare you for living in the city. Living options for various projects in Uganda range from host family accommodation, volunteer house, and guest house. All necessary facilities are provided in the accommodation for a comfortable stay of volunteers.

Airport Transfer

Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport , our coordinator will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. In case you are coming by road or are already in Kampala, you need to inform us beforehand and the pickup will be arranged accordingly.

Accommodation

Volunteers in the program are provided accommodation at a backpacker home/volunteer house run by our local partner team in Uganda.

Located in a humble neighborhood of just few meters away from Kalagi town, the accommodation is nestled away from all the noise of the big city, but close enough to ‘quickly’ get you back to downtown. It is just about 20-25 minutes’ drive from Mukono town on an all-weather tarmac road. 

The building also hosts offices of the local coordinators and they will be available in case of any problems.

All volunteers based in Mukono (up to 10 at one time) will live together in a warmly gated home. Delicious meals are provided each day, which consists of local foods, such as matooke (mashed plantain), posho (cornmeal), potatoes and rice or noodles. They are generally served with beef, fish, peas, beans or groundnut sauce. Bread, eggs, vegetables and fruits are available for breakfast, vegetarians are also accommodated.

Volunteers staying at the home are assigned a bed based on capacity, arrival time and length of stay. All beds have good mosquito nets and you don’t need to bring your own sheets etc. Accommodation at this home is in shared dorm styled bedrooms and shared twin bedrooms, accommodating up to 10 people when full.

For volunteers, it is a place to relax after the intense experiences of the day, and to discuss these with other volunteers. From the home coordinators can help in arranging trips and expeditions around the country including wildlife safaris, mountaineering, white water rafting and so many other activities.

Orientation

Our program coordinator will give you an orientation about the placement, local transport, facilities around the accommodation and necessities like ATMs, banks, restaurants, shops, pharmacy, local customs, and practices, Do’s and Don’ts, safety and so on. Please feel free to ask any questions to the coordinator if you need any more information.

Meals

3 meals a day, i.e. breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided from Monday to Friday. Breakfast and dinner will be given at the accommodation whereas lunch will be provided at the program location.

Breakfast includes tea/coffee, bread, jam, fruit and one dish (eggs, porridge, French toast, cereal etc.). Lunch is mostly prepared by local families or community members and typically includes meat (beef or chicken or fish), potatoes and rice.
Our program coordinator may take you occasionally to a local restaurant for lunch. Dinner includes vegetable, meat once or twice a week, rice, maize etc.

On weekends, only breakfast and dinner will be given. For lunch, you can go to the good local restaurants. The program coordinator will recommend the restaurants and other activities to do during the weekend. Weekend trips can also be taken up after consulting the coordinator and your fellow volunteers.

Always be wary of local street food as at most of the times it is contaminated or half cooked or made by unhealthy components. Do not drink tap water directly. Brushing your teeth with tap water is fine. You can purchase packaged water bottles from a supermarket for drinking.

Daily Transportation

Most of the program locations are within a walking distance from the program location and in cases where travel is required, volunteers are picked up and dropped back on either a boda-boda (motorcycle) or a jeep/car. Participants can budget $2-3 for local transportation.


Dates

Dates

2024

2025

January

07

14

21

28

February

04

11

18

25

March

03

10

17

24

31

April

07

14

21

28

May

05

12

19

26

June

02

09

16

23

30

July

07

14

21

28

August

04

11

18

25

September

01

08

15

22

29

October

06

13

20

27

November

03

10

17

24

December

01

08

15

January

05

12

19

26

February

02

09

16

23

March

02

09

16

23

30

April

06

13

20

27

May

04

11

18

25

June

01

08

15

22

29

July

06

13

20

27

August

03

10

17

24

31

September

07

14

21

28

October

05

12

19

26

November

02

09

16

23

30

December

07

14

Past Date

Available

Unavailable

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Costs

Costs

2 Weeks $420
3 Weeks $560
4 Weeks $700
5 Weeks $840
6 Weeks $980
7 Weeks $1120
8 Weeks $1260
Extra Week $200

Please Note: -An application fee of $229 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 5% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)

What are you Paying for?

  • Comprehensive pre-departure information
  • Airport pickup from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda
  • Round the clock assistance of our in-country coordinator and local staff
  • Program orientation by our in-country program coordinator
  • Meals
  • Accommodation in a Volunteer hostel or guesthouse
    • Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)

What's NOT included?

  • International/Domestic airfare
  • Visa fees
  • Insurance (can be purchased from us at a nominal cost)
  • Cost of vaccinations
  • Local transport and personal expenses
  • Airport transfer while departing
  • Local tours and weekend tours (can be booked through our Travel Desk)

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Reviews

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Frequently asked questions

FAQ's Application and Program Details

Flights and Visa

Health and Safety

Accommodation and Living

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