Overview of the Project
While on the road to recovery from the country's devastating economic past, Uganda's people are burdened by the worldwide pandemic of AIDS. Children are often born to AIDS-infected parents who often pass away before begin able to make positive contributions to these children's lives. AIDS is a tragic disease and voracious killer, particularly in African countries. Despite prevention efforts, the rate of HIV infection is still rising in many African countries. AIDS is crippling the lives and economies of many nations in Africa and Uganda is no exception.
Many local organizations are facilitating AIDS prevention in Uganda programs to create awareness and provide comfort to HIV/AIDS-infected people. These projects also train Ugandan volunteers who return to their villages and launch awareness programs, as well as provide support to their village neighbors, people already infected with HIV/AIDS. Activities in HIV project in Uganda include stigma reduction, gender awareness, home visits, community counseling and sensitization in schools. The main goal is to create hope among the sick and to assure them that they can live active and productive lives with AIDS if they care for themselves. There is a great and urgent need for volunteers in many areas of this HIV/AIDS projects.
- Program: Volunteer in Uganda
- Project: HIV/AIDS Projects in Uganda
- Start dates: 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month
- Location: Kampala, Jinja
- Departure and End Point: Entebbe International Airport
- Language Need: English
- Accommodation and meals: Host family and Ugandan cuisine three times daily
- Activities: Training, education, counseling and community outreach
- Working hours: 25-35 hours per week
Role of Volunteer
Upon arrival, a village visit plan is developed at the office in Wairaka, Jinja. Volunteers travel to villages on foot or ride bicycles/motorbikes during field visits. Locations include Wairaka, Iganga and Mpumudde.
Volunteers' duties for AIDS prevention in Uganda project Include:
- Provide comfort through counseling and spiritual guidance
- Deliver donated basic supplies like food, soap and clothes
- Bathe the sick and wash their clothes
- Accompany the sick to TASO (The Aids Support Organization) in Jinja; and with others to Jinja Hospital
- Administer medication to fight diseases like coughing, diarrhea, etc.
- Build or repair homes
NOTE:Above are sample activities and may vary from day-to-day depending on the schedule of the team. The local staff members may request assistance help in any various activities that may assist the sick or support-givers.
Skills/Qualification Needed
There are no specific qualifications needed to volunteer AIDS Africa projects (including in Uganda), but your understanding of Ugandan culture and diversity can help improve the experience for you and your students. Consider enrolling in our one-week Language & Cultural Immersion program. Volunteers should have passion for educating the masses, addressing their fears and the many misconceptions of HIV/AIDS. Volunteers should also be willing to share love, time and compassion with people, often the very ill, all the while maintaining great patience and high flexibility.
Volunteer in Uganda: Project Locations and Free Time Options
Our volunteer in Uganda projects are located in/around Kampala or Jinja. Rural Uganda hosts various incredible examples of wildlife. Local villages can be discovered on hikes through the countryside and these excursions provide genuine Ugandan cultural experiences.
Jinja is the second largest commercial center in Uganda and is located in southeast Uganda – approximately 87 km from the capital city of Kampala. Located on the shores of Lake Victoria and close to the source of the White Nile River, Jinja offers the many small town urban amenities such as a post office, town hall, hospital, golf course and numerous internet cafes. Echoes of Jinja's Indian influence are reflected in the city's architecture. Some of Jinja's attractive features include whitewater-rafting, a brewery, Bujagali Falls (a kayakers' heaven) as well as an animal sanctuary and memorials for both Mahatma Gandhi and Buddha in addition to an active Hindu temple.