Teach at-risk children and experience local culture in Kasese, Uganda

Details

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  Description

  WELCOME!
  
  You can find our organization in Kasese, the largest town in the Rwenzori region (Western Uganda). The town is neibourinng the copper mine at Kilembe, but the economy later turned to cobalt mining. The town of Kasese offers you all you need, from fruit and veggie markets to small restaurants and even possibilities to enjoy nightlife. Besides that, Kasese functions as a gateway to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale park and the stunning Rwenzori mountains.
  
  Our foundation was started by Masereka, who works as a Teacher at the local community School and dedicates all his free time to organizational projects. About ten years ago, Masereka became aware of the harsh life faced by young children who fled the wars in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. He plans to build a place where these children can live safely, where basic needs such as nutrition and education are provided, and where they can grow into productive adults with a promising future.
  
  Realizing the importance of education and development of young children, especially girls, Masereka plans to extend the services of the organization to the entire community of Kasese. This does not come without challenges: families are facing many obstacles along the road to education for their children, among which diseases, poor health, poverty and absence of transport.
  
  With time, hard work and sacrifices, the nursery and primary school will become a reality with a help of volunteers.. At the moment, we plan to have a 7 classroom block, then after to become a 10 classroom block, which will house a nursery and primary school (up to P7).
  The school plans to provide education to more than 1000 pupils, from 3 to 15 years old.
  The future plan is to enlarge the infrastructures of the school, in order to provide better education in a safer environment. Through the projects organized by our volunteers we are planning to build a canteen, a playground, a library and a perimeter security system. Moreover the foundation is planning to apply for development grants that could assure the implementation of a top-notch education system that can allow our students to achieve their dreams.
  
  The school is not the only project that characterized our involvement in the safeguard of our community. We are actively involved in other community projects..
  The Hospital project:
  The foundation plans to start up a hospital as a result of increasing health concern in the community. Maternal mortality ratio remains high in Uganda .Many pregnant women lose their lives in hope of child delivery and this is a major problem. The Foundation is in the pipeline of constructing a maternity and paediatric hospital to eliminate maternal deaths and ensure safe deliveries of babies.
  Education for orphans and vulnerable children:
  We plan to provide direct sponsorships to orphans and vulnerable children by giving them school fees and scholastic materials, school uniforms and medical care. Our program caters for both school going children and those that have dropped out of school whom we plan to put into our vocational training support.
  FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION.
  The food security program empowers farmers of Uganda by empowering them with seeds ,farm inputs ,training on modern farming techniques and provides a market for the sale of their farm produce. This gives the farmers the capacity to farm more acres and by extension leads to increased food production and security in Uganda.
  CLEAN WATER FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
  To enhance access to safe water supply and hygienic sanitation across the vulnerable areas of Kasese district, the foundation Uganda through the clean water program plans to invest in the construction of community boreholes, spring wells, hand washing stands ,rain water harvesting tanks, household and school latrines.
  HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL OUTREACHES.
  Here at the Foundation Uganda, we aim at reaching rural communities with health care program and strategies that will help them in family planning and child spacing,malria prevention ,dental services plus HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. Many people can not access medical services due to remoteness of some villages and can not afford to pay for treatment.
  COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE.
  We plan to start up a social centre in Kasese district in favour of its inhabitants and the surrounding villages to supply and support them for an independent life step by step .The plan is to construct 5 buildings with different functions: a guest house, health care clinic, enterprising unit, child care, a library and several other community development initiatives. We are working on livelihoods by training local women and sell handcrafts and helping farers grow crops ,develop new skills and take products to market.
  
  We focus on the following groups in society:
  
  Children.
  Health care, nutrition and basic education are basic requirements for the development of a generation capable of change and growth.
  
  Youth.
  Talent enhancement and skill development is needed make this generation a self-reliant one. The future needs independent, strong and creative individuals who will invent the tools and the Ugandan-made solutions to the challenges this country is facing.
  
  Women and girls.
  Education and development of current mothers and future mothers is key to change. Time and energy lost in water fetching, poor health and the combination of single crop farming and climate change are among the obstacles on the way to unlock the potential of the women that are going to raise the next generation.
  
  Victims of Sexual and Gender Based Abuse (SGBA).
  To avoid a lost generation which could potentially make a change, psychological and economic empowerment of SGBA victims is a requirement. This includes engagement, understanding and support to lighten strength and motivation in those who might have given up on the future.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  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

  Our volunteers will live in a typical Ugandan family home. They will experience African culture firsthand through living style, food, and daily activities. There are plenty of opportunities to learn Lukonzo from locals. We can also arrange classes for volunteers if there is interest.
  
  On days off, we are happy to arrange trips for our volunteers, including safaris, museums, parks, and other expeditions. There are many sights to see in and around Kasese, where our organization is located.

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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

  We are looking for innovative, creative, hands on and autonomous workawayers in the following fields:
  
  Sustainable architecture and construction.
  
  If you have experience in ecological architecture and recycling projects, we want you. For the extension of the school, we are in need of architects. Experience with construction of schools is a plus, but interest in ecological architecture is a must. Keep in mind that you will be working with limited economical resources and local materials.
  
  Permaculture and environmental conservation.
  
  For farming and gardening projects, we are looking for innovative engineers in the fields of permaculture and environmental conservation. We need to live up to our responsibilities, even with limited economical resources available in this part of the world, and create a sustainable present for an everlasting future. We are looking to combine environmental conservation and crop variety to fight the disastrous consequences that climate change has on food supply in this region of the world.
  If you have experience in permaculture projects and ecological design or are familiar to irrigation using solar water pumps, please come and join us, we need your knowledge!
  
  Grant and proposal writing.
  
  As we are an NGO, it needs funding. Instead of personal fundraising, we want to focus on funding for projects that will eventually become sustainable. Therefore, we are in search of creative but professional grant and proposal writers, able to find the niches in our projects qualified for one-time big funding.
  
  Education.
  
  Initially, we will need teachers for several subjects who will educate the students, help them unfold their potential to prosper and flourish. Subjects will include the regular ones (math, geography, English, sports, etc.) but also new fields such as theater, French, Spanish and Chinese. Think out of the box and create ideas of how to provide the students (nursery and primary) with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive and change the future of Uganda and possibly Africa.
  
  It is important to know, in case your reason for coming here is linked to your willingness to teach to our students, that the school season goes from February to December. But you can always contact us, so we can give you the most updated holidays or vacations.
  
  Social work.
  
  Always in need of social workers, preferably with experience in developing countries. We are trying to map the challenges faced by (single) mothers and families in rural areas to categorize the main obstacles to a promising and prosperous future. This is not a simply task, since there are many obstacles that can be initially underestimated or even overlooked. Prejudices or a Western-biased attitude create solutions that in the end won't work in Uganda. Therefore, it is crucial to possess cultural empathy, to be very open minded and capable of carefully listening and registering details as if your brain were a tabula rasa.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate
  Swahili (Kiswahili): Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  I would be happy to learn each others languages
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  Accommodation

  We provide accommodation and basic meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) free of charge. We can accommodate vegetarian diets.
  
  Volunteers will share rooms. We are unfortunately unable to provide private rooms for couples.
  
  We happily provide this service and accommodation free of charge to our beloved volunteers for the time during which they are a part of our organization's family.

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  What else ...

  Market.
  
  You can find fresh fruits and veggies for your breakfast right next to the accommodation.
  You will understand that it is best to ask first for the price and compare it to our table, because it might happen that you can be charged a tourist price. (Mzungu price)
  
  Pineapple: between 2000/3000 UGX (0,70 EUR; 0,80 USD)
  Avocado: 1 CAD 500 UGX (0,12 EUR; 0,13 USD)
  4 Tomatoes: 1000 UGX (0,25 EUR; 0,26 USD)
  Bananas: 2000 / 5000 UGX (depending on the quantity) (0,50/1,25 EUR; 0,53/1,3 USD)
  
  
  Supermarket.
  
  There are several small supermarkets in Kasese, where you can find everything you need: soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, food, water, soda, toilet paper, sunblock (!), etc. Prices are generally low except for Western products.
  
  
  Restaurants.
  
  There are good restaurants to be found in Kasese, serving traditional food or Western food. You will find a plate of pasta bolognaise for 12000 UGX (3,26 USD; 2,88 EUR), a club sandwich with chips for 15000 UGX (4 USD, 3,60 EUR), a big milkshake for 11000 UXG (2,99 USD; 2,64 EUR) and a refreshing fruit juice or a cold 0.66 Nile beer for 3000 UXG (0,82 USD; 0,72 EUR).
  
  Transport.
  
  There are different ways of traveling from one place to another in Uganda.
  In Kampala you most likely use Uber and Bodaboda. A bodaboda is a motorcycle that functions as a taxi, carrying up to 3 people. It is often a pleasant ride with the possibility of observing the environment with a cooling breeze in your hair. When in Kampala, we suggest downloading the application “SafeBoda”, you can book your Boda and travel around the city safely. When you are in smaller towns like Kasese, we advise you to establish the price before hopping on the bike so as to avoid ugly discussions. With time you will understand the pricing system and how to deal with bodaboda drivers.
  
  Volunteers are entitled to their own transportation. Don’t worry, going around is affordable.
  
  Here you can find some useful prices:
  
  Buses:
  
  Kampala → Kasese : 45000 UXG (11,27 EUR; 11,94 USD)
  Kasese → Fort Portal : 10000 UXG
  
  Bodboda:
  
  
  Home → School/Youth center : 2 people, 4000 UXG (1 EUR; 1,06 USD)
  School/Youth center→ Home : 2 people, 3000 UXG ( 0,75 EUR; 0,80USD)
  Home → Farm : 2 people, 7000 UXG (1,75 EUR; 1,86 USD)
  Farm → Home : 2 people, 5000 UXG (1,25 EUR; 1,33 USD)
  
  As you can see, driving back to town is always cheaper, so be mindful of this whenever you hustle with your Bodaboda driver.
  
  Moving around Kasese with Bodaboda is most likely 1000 UXG (0,25 EUR; 0,27 USD)
  
  
  
  Leisure.
  
  A quick Google (maps) search will show you that Kasese is located in an area with many tourist attractions. Examples of the activities that you can fill your free time with are visiting the several national parks, hiking and trekking in the Rwenzori mountains, relaxing in the natural hot springs or visiting the crater lakes.
  Kasese is next to the Queen Elizabeth National Park, we can help you to organize your safari, where you can stay astonished by the beauty of several animals (from elephants to lions).
  Kalinzu forest is just a two-hours drive away from Kasese, there you can enjoy a beautiful hike along the company of many primates. Chimpanzees are often seen!!
  
  You can truly find different activities to fulfill your free-time and we will be happy to help you to spend an unforgettable time in the Pearl of Africa.
  
  
  
  Visa.
  
  Volunteers are recommended to apply and pay online for the visa they want to obtain. On the website of the government of Uganda you can find information about the different visas, requirements and costs. For a three-month single-entry visa, you'll have to attach a copy of your passport, a recent passport size photograph and a copy of the yellow fever page of your vaccination booklet. The three-month tourist visa costs 50 USD. Other visa possibilities include among others, a multiple entry visa and an East Africa visa (Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya). At the airport in Entebbe they will ask you for proof of yellow fever vaccination, sometimes a cholera non-indicated stamp, and for your printed approval of visa application.
  
  Feel free to ask us for any further information/help.
  
  Diseases/ Health.
  
  The malaria mosquito is alive and buzzing around from sunset to sunrise, so Volunteers are advised to bring enough anti-repellent with DEET. In this area there are not so many mosquitos, but it will depend mostly on the season, but better safe than sorry.
  If you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to contact us.
  You might want to bring your own mosquito net if you are planning to travel around. Regarding other diseases, volunteers are advised to contact the vaccination center in their home country.
  Kasese is provided with numerous pharmacies that work efficiently and where you might find top quality medicine to cure specific diseases, such as malaria.
  
  
  Clothing.
  
  Many travellers ask what clothes they are supposed to bring to Uganda. Of course, it depends on what you're most comfortable in. However, do not think that because this is Africa you needn't bring anything fashionable. People in Uganda dress very well! Colourful dresses, good jeans, branded shirts, shining shoes; Ugandans like to look good. It's possible to wear short clothing like skirts, dresses and shorts, just leave your sexy hot pants home. At the accommodation, you'll probably want to wear thin, short clothing and flip-flops. Keep in mind that items are cheaper here and that you can even have your custom clothing tailored here. You will pick a fabric and explain or even draw what you would like to have (jumpsuit, trousers, jacket) and voila: your personal design clothing..

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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

  Internet. Currently there is no Wi-Fi at the compound. Workawayers are advised to purchase a Ugandan SIM card with internet bundle. There are different providers of SIM cards with internet bundles and minutes but MTN and Airtel are most common. You can purchase a SIM card upon arrival in Entebbe or Kampala, but there are also possibilities in Kasese. A SIM card including registration free will cost you around 20000 UGX (5,44 USD, 4,80 EUR). The Ugandan mobile system works with mobile money that you put on your phone as it were a mobile wallet. Mobile money can be used to buy internet bundles, to call or to send messages and it's also possible to withdraw or transfer money through your phone. In general, a monthly 10G internet bundle will cost you 50000 UGX (13,59 USD; 12 EUR). In order to use social media in Uganda, you need to pay taxes to the Ugandan government. Monthly social media tax is 6000 UGX (1,63 USD; 1,44 EUR). In Kasese town there are some internet cafes to be found, or if you want to relax while browsing, you can order a coffee in a hotel with Wi-Fi zone.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  We also provide a space where workawayers can park their vehicles

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  My animals / pets

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