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
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)
Reviews
Reviews
Frequently asked questions
FAQ's Application and Program Details
Flights and Visa
Health and Safety
Accommodation and Living
Connect with Past Volunteers
More projects in Uganda
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