Help at our non-profit social projects in Mbale, Uganda

Details

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  Description

  We are Jeremiah and Kate. We live with our seven kids in the rural area of Mutoto near Mbale. In 2014 Jeremiah completed his Masters in Public Health at university in Kampala. He researched the on Utilization of Maternal Health Care Services among women of reproductive age in the rural area of Mutoto near Mbale. His studies found very high levels of illiteracy, poverty and high maternal and infant mortality. Furthermore, the roads and steep terrain were isolating the community. Once he qualified as a Public Health Advocate and as a social worker he and Kate decided to move to Mutoto to find a way to help the community. And so we founded the community organization.
  
  We held community meetings to discuss our findings and established that access to a health facility and school was a priority in this remote area. We decided to open a non-profit private school, charging very small fees to cover basic costs. Most importantly, it is situated right in the heart of the community.
  We opened the school in May 2017 with financial help of a Workawayer who organized a fundraising in Holland and currently have more than 300 pupils from the surrounding area.
  
  We started with a school of four classrooms and together with groups of Workawayers we build more classrooms.
  We have a team of 13 teachers and 4 support staff members, the children love to come to school. We have managed to build a permanent school out of bricks, with tables and chairs. We now have a complete primary school.
  
  We also, with fundraising done by another Workwayer, made a schoolyard and realized a water project so that we have access to water at the school and in the community.
  
  To address the infant and maternal mortality rates in Mutoto community we also bought land and we are building a small health center very close to the school. In the future the health center will provide antenatal care and safe deliveries services for the women in the Mutoto and the surrounding area.
  
  This is partly financed with a donation organized by a Workawayer but this is not enough to finish the health center.
  
  Currently we are looking for volunteers who are good at fundraising money such that we are able to finish our hospital.
  
  We are also seeking Volunteers who can help us mobilize Hospital Equipments and Tools for our Hospital once it’s finished.
  
  We are also looking for medical professionals who can work in our Hospital in a rural community.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Elderly Companionship

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

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  What's this?
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We will welcome you into our community and we will teach you all about life in Uganda.
  
  Our home is situated on the top of the hill in the middle of a beautiful green environment.
  
  We can teach you the language and teach you how to cook our delicious local food.
  
  You will also get the opportunity to see ceremonial rituals that originated from this village.
  
  Please seriously consider your stay with us as we are a hard working team and prefer people who are independent with good common sense.
  
  
  Please respect some of our cultural differences. There are a few things you should be aware of.
  
  Women in Uganda are not allowed to wear clothing that is too revealing.
  So female volunteers must avoid wearing shorts and also dresses and skirts above the knee.
  Although in the big cities like Kampala and Jinja you see many female tourists or even local citizens walking in shorts and mini-skirts, in the small rural community where we are located it is very inappropriate to wear shorts or mini-skirts.
  
  At the school there are of course many children present and for the teenagers in particular it is very uncomfortable to see girls and women in inappropriate clothing.
  
  We are not comfortable with drinking alcohol, smoking and drugs. Cigarette smoking in public is even prohibited in Uganda.
  
  Public displays of affection, especially in same-sex couples, should also be avoided.
  
  
  Whenever you have free time we can arrange trips to Mount Elgon, the Source of the Nile, Sipi Falls, Sisiyi Falls, Wanale Falls, Grapevin Falls, the rock paintings, Murchison Falls, community tours and more. There are so many beautiful and cultural sites to explore, and I worked previously as a tour guide so I have plenty of experience in all Uganda.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Volunteers can help in many different ways, but we try to focus on the strengths you are bringing with you.
  
  We have listed a few ideas below, however we are open to new ideas.
  
  You can help the teachers and the children in school. If you enjoy teaching you can bring your skills and any examples from home for lessons in reading, mathematics, writing or any other topic you would like to teach. You can help in small groups on a particular subject to give them special attention. All children learn English, so you can help them to practice, even by talking and engaging with them, this can be a big help. Any resources are welcome, for example, if you can bring some small whiteboards with you, they can be used to help practice their handwriting.
  
  Children also need to learn about the digital world, very few children in Mbale have access to and know how to use computers. Bring your laptop, bring an extra, and let them explore the wonders of computers. Simply learning the keys and how to type would be great.
  
  Teach them about hygiene, why it is important to wash your hands, why it is important to use a latrine. We encourage good hygiene and nutrition at school but it takes time for children to learn good practice.
  
  Ugandans love music, singing and dancing. If you play an instrument, bring it with you and teach them new songs and sing together.
  
  Do you like to play football or any other sport? If you can bring some balls or sport equipment we can arrange time to play games with the children.
  
  You can help to develop relationships with the women groups and empower them to start a small business so they can earn a sustainable income. If you are creative you can share this with us and the community. For example if you know how to crochet or knit, teach them to make baby hats, scarves or a small blanket. We do not have the resources so please remember to bring your crochet hooks and needles with you.
  
  Help with construction of the new school we are building, help with making bricks. Help to fetch water. If you are keen to support the building tasks but do not have the skills or knowledge, we can teach you.
  
  Do you love photography and videos? Make a report of your stay or make a movie about your time with us in Mutoto.
  
  Do you have experience of fundraising? Although we are trying hard to earn money through hard work and school fees to continue the community projects, funds are always needed. Unfortunately only a handful of parents can afford to contribute towards their children's school fees which goes towards paying for a small basic salary for each teacher. If you have an interest in or experience with fundraising or if you know organizations, people or businesses which could help support our non-profit community organization, you would be making a huge impact on the whole community.
  
  As you can see there are plenty of ways to help! Any help that you can offer either at the school teaching and helping with the children, empowering the women’s groups or helping with community groups to promote community health and safe motherhood related projects, would be very much appreciated.
  
  If you have family and friends who would like to help with your trip you could ask them to donate whatever they can towards sustaining the project. It's a huge help and a boost to our daily life when our volunteers can fundraise for the basic needs of the school, like books, pens, papers, whiteboards, porridge, soap and toilet paper which otherwise the children will go without.
  
  There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in this friendly community. It is always positive to have visitors for members of the community to meet and get to know. We enjoy volunteers staying with us in our home and are very welcoming, you can read some of the volunteer reviews to gain a better understanding.
  If this is your first time to Uganda the different culture and basic living circumstances can be a a culture shock. Take your time to adjust staying with us and learn about the beauty of living the rural life of a small community.
  
  We hope to hear from you soon! Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Luganda, Ganda: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  We will welcome you into our community and especially into our home. My wife Kate and I, as well as our seven children will teach you all about life in Uganda. We can teach you the local language of Lugisu and teach you how to cook our delicious local food.
  
  You will have a private room in another house and 3 meals per day in the beautiful green surroundings of rural Uganda! However, if you prefer a guest house/lodge we are ready to organise for you depending on your preference.

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  What else ...

  To get here you can take a taxi from Entebbe airport to Kampala. From Kampala you can use YY coaches which is a bus company, to come straight to Mbale where I will pick you up. I can also arrange private transport if you prefer.
  
  We are situated in the Eastern part of Uganda near Mbale. On the back of a boda boda (motorbike) it is about 15 minutes to Bungokho Mutoto. With Mbale so near it is easy to go there for shopping, visiting restaurants or go to a Internet cafe.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We have ample packing and camping site on the Golden Hill where we stay so feel free to come along with your Campervan

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  This host charges a fee

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  Why does workaway.info allow listings of hosts who charge money?

  In developing countries (Where most hosts are involved in charity work or community development) some of our hosts may ask for a small donation to help the host family or charity (often less then 5 dollars per day) Workaway will allow this listing when the donation goes directly to the family or charity and is just to cover the cost of the volunteer‘s stay.  (This will be clearly marked on the host listing).
  We will strictly not allow listings posted by agents, “middle men” or projects who we feel are looking to profit from a volunteers stay.
   

   

   

  5$ per day for food

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