Uganda

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

Volunteering in Uganda was an enlightening experience for me. It is a culturally progressive country with amazing natural beauty. The people are wonderful and they generally have a positive and hopeful outlook about life. The togetherness and love I found from the local people was truly touching. I stayed in an orphanage/children's home in a town called Wakiso, and from the day I got there I felt appreciated. I felt that as long as you went into the experience with a caring attitude towards these less fortunate children, then you would inevitably have a positive impact on the children and the community as a whole. Plus the support you get from the coordinators (James and Joyce) is excellent. They are very kind, warm and supportive of each volunteer’s needs

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Mar 27, 2012

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By: Jason
Age: 25

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By: IVHQ
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Official Program Administrator
Posted: Apr 2, 2012

Thank you for your review and sharing your experience in Uganda :)

International Volunteers Network (IVN)

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Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Mar 27, 2012

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By: Jason
Age: 25

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International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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i spent 2 wks in uganda during feb. 2012 volunteering at Ibonde Childrens Home. the experience for me was the most rewarding thing i've done . The children are so well adjusted & kind. I became very close & attached quickly , especially to the teenagers that i worked along with as they were in between school grades & not attending school. MY coordinators James & Joyce were the best & went to great lengths to make sure we all were adjusted & had what we needed. In fact i now consider them both good friends & keep in contact. They made my volunteer experience an easy transition. As a first time global volunteer i now know this won't be my last. i'm also going to remain in contact with the children at Ibonde Childrens Home & send them money to help with their future studies etc....Anyone seeking a TRULY REWARDING EXPERIENCE please consider going to Uganda, you won't be disappointed.Only good things will become of your experience. You will be better for having met James & Joyce & all the children & people of Uganda.

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Mar 24, 2012

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By: sherry
Age: 56

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By: IVHQ
Age:
Official Program Administrator
Posted: Apr 2, 2012

Great to hear you enjoyed your first experience as an international volunteer and thank you for your review.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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Over Christmas I spent 9 weeks in east Africa, 5 weeks volunteering in Uganda and 2 in Kenya. I had a fantastic time, from the minute I signed up I had access to so much information, and it was very easy for me to get in contact with the local staff. This was the first time I had travelled by myself and I felt very safe and looked after, the local staff in Uganda were fantastic, so welcoming and approachable. The placement I spent the most of my time in Uganda was great, the children at the orphanage were wonderful, so happy just to have interaction and attention from the volunteers, and they really made an effort to get to know you and just spend time with you. Accommodation was more than adequate, very safe and so easy living at the orphanage, never a lonely moment!! Whenever us volunteers wanted to go explore the city the staff were fantastic, either giving us lifts or organising something for us, which was great until we got used to the public transport. The people in rural Uganda were so welcoming and it was a fantastic culture to be able to experience. I spent my last 2 weeks in Kenya, working with a local doctor in her clinic within Kibera slum. This was a very different but also great program, the Kenya grassroots company within Nairobi was very organised with several outreach programs offered over weekends so volunteers could see more of Kenya. I was very impressed with IVHQ's flexibility, I changed my placement last minute, extending in Uganda and going to Kenya instead of Tanzania, and this was very easy to do with minimal costs associated. Overall a fantastic program which I would recommend to anyone!

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Mar 7, 2012

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By: Alex
Age: 18

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By: IVHQ
Age:
Official Program Administrator
Posted: Apr 2, 2012

Thanks for your review, Alex. We're happy to have been apart of your first trip abroad.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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I cannot say enough about the IVHQ Uganda program!! Right from the beginning of my application process with IVHQ, I was given an incredible amount of support preparing for my travels abroad. Upon arrival in Uganda, I was greeted by two of the warmest smiles: James and Joyce. They instantly made me feel comfortable, which was particularly appreciated as I traveled from the US on my own and have never been to an African country. I had no idea what to expect and right from the beginning, I knew it was going to be an absolutely unforgettable experience. I worked in an orphanage not far from the capital city of Kampala. While I was there, there were about 10 other volunteers at any given time. Many of them did some fundraising before they went abroad so they would have additional funds to spend on projects at the orphanage. While I was there, the volunteers developed additional sports programs and bought new equipment, fixed up the schoolhouse, and helped out with the daily tasks. The accommodations at the orphanage were much better than anything I could have pictured. The rooms were comfortable and although there was no electricity, the program coordinators were more then happy to charge our cameras and cell phones for us. The kids were the most happy, beautiful little angels I have ever met in my life. They were so full of life and love. Two months after my return, I find myself thinking about them often throughout the day. I cannot wait to go back to Uganda and get to hug them all a few more times!! I would recommend this program to anyone. I have a billion positive things to say about it, but not a single negative comes to mind. I can truly say this was the most life changing and incredible experience and I owe it all to IVHQ and the Uganda team. "Often we set out in the world to make a difference in the lives of others, only to discover we have made a difference in our own.

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Mar 1, 2012

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By: Alyssa
Age: 21

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By: IVHQ
Age:
Official Program Administrator
Posted: Mar 5, 2012

Thanks for sharing your experiences on our Uganda program, Alyssa. We hope to have you volunteer with IVHQ again in the future.

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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I have travelled to over 80 countries and thought I would try volunteering for 3 weeks. I volunteered for the teaching programme and was told I would be teaching. When I arrived school was on holidays for the entire time I was there so there was no teaching. I was in an orphanage with nothing to do. I tried to set up some sort of tutoring for the 10 children but they were always busy doing chores. It was a lot of sitting around with kids on your knee and nothing to do. It was so well run that they did not need me and the other 6 volunteers. We did a lot of sitting around and card playing. I requested to be moved and was moved to an orphanage with over 100 kids. It was extremely badly run by both IVHQ and the owners. I tried to set up a kindy for the young children when the older children attended school on the site. How can you paint a room when you ask for paint even when you offer to pay for it? How do you set a kindy when they won't help you buy the furniture and items needed for the room. Others were there on construction. How do you construct if there are no bricks or materials? It was a waste of time and money. No resources to complete tasks or achieve anything. If you like to socialise with other volunteers, sleep and read books then this is the programme for you. There was no plan or structure for volunteers. You had to try and find ways to help and there was nothing to accomplish. This is volunteerism not volunteering. I had raised money for my trip and did not use the money because the money i did see come in was being used inappropriately and not to benefit of the orphanage. Waste of time.

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Feb 26, 2012

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By: KASSIE
Age: 40

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By: Alyssa
Age: 21
Posted: Mar 1, 2012

This is a really interesting review and as I had an entirely different experience, felt the need to comment. I volunteered in Uganda this past Christmas and have nothing but absolutely wonderful things to say about the people, the children, the coordinators, the accommodations, and my experiences with it all. Volunteering is entirely what you make of it. Of course there are little to no resources to complete projects. If they had the money to make improvements they would. This is your job as the volunteer. I was with a number of people who did fundraising before their trip so they would have some additional funds to buy resources and take on a project during their time abroad. It's really a shame that you did not use the money you raised... I bet I could walk around those orphanages and point out a bunch of things that needed some fixing up and that could be done at a very low cost. You have to be creative on all aspects. If nothing else, the kids in the orphanages need love. Maybe they need someone who is willing to just sit there with them and hug them. Maybe they need someone to talk to about what they hope to do with their lives and for someone to be the inspiration to tell them that where there is a will there is a way. Volunteering does not have to mean you dump a whole bunch of money into a place and hope it fixes itself. There is no price tag on sharing love and friendship that these beautiful angels are in desperate need of. You have to be the change you want to see... we all go abroad with different intentions but the common ground is the same: to make a difference in the life of at least one person. In my opinion, if you can find a way to do that, it was a successful trip.

By: IVHQ
Age:
Official Program Administrator
Posted: Mar 5, 2012

Hi Kassie, we're sorry you didn't enjoy your time in Uganda. As we have previously discussed with you, volunteering abroad does require the volunteers to show initiative and be proactive in their placements. With many of our placements (particularly in teaching and childcare projects), there is very little structure to the institution in which you are placed and as a volunteer part of your job is to show initiative and provide that structure. Volunteer teachers are sometimes required to design their own lessons or design activities to involve the children in childcare placements. We feel that our local staff tried very hard to accommodate you by placing you at three different projects during your time in Uganda, but you felt none were suitable for a variety of reasons. It is clear your expectations of the projects and what to expect in Uganda were very different to what you encountered and we must take responsibility for this. In all of the countries we work many of the placements have little to no structure and very poor resources and it is important future volunteers are aware of this. We felt this was very clear in information provided as most volunteers understand this, but clearly it was not for yourself so we will revisit it and see if we can make this clearer to ensure future volunteers have a better idea of what to expect. In regards to the building projects you refer to, it is simply not feasible to ask for a new classroom to be built or new shower to be constructed with no warning. In 99% of the projects we work, the institutions simply do not have the money to do this. On the IVHQ building projects in Uganda, materials are provided for all of the projects our volunteers are working on, whether they are building, renovating or painting projects but these projects are chosen by local staff on a needs basis (also taking into consideration finances and which projects can be funded and completed properly). Once again, we're sorry you didn't enjoy your time in Uganda. We treat all poor feedback seriously and will work to ensure future volunteers have more accurate expectations of what to expect of the program in Uganda - Dan Radcliffe (IVHQ Executive Director)

By: Tim
Age: 28
Posted: Mar 11, 2012

Hi I must have just missed you in Uganda I was also volunteering for 6 weeks over Christmas last year at the Bulabaku Orphanage it is unfortunate to hear that you had such a negative experience as mine was vastly different. It was school holidays while I was there which gave us the opportunity to renovate and paint the school to create warm, welcoming positive environment for the children to learn which as a teacher is dear to my heart the local volunteer coordinators were constantly taking me places, helping hire workers and keep supplies topped up I have nothing but praise for Jim and Joyce. It was difficult to get the children into class as it was school holidays thus class size did vary from day to day and the children do have jobs to do but would usually be free by the afternoon. I also raised money for my trip and used it all up on various projects that I wanted to do to benefit the orphanage. Hope to see you volunteering somewhere in the world !!

Abroaderview

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Volunteering with Abroader View (ABV) was an amazing experience. This was my second volunteer assignment with them in Uganda at Good Hope Orphanage. Sarah, the director in the U.S., is very thorough and responds quickly to questions. They also give you detailed information about your location and helpful hints before you go, like what to pack, ideas to maximize your time there (like prepping activities ahead of time if you'll be teaching, etc.), what to expect with your living conditions, the culture, and so much more. Once in Uganda, I felt like I had sufficient support from the field coordinator when I had questions or needed help with something, like getting transportation for a day trip on the weekend. It definitely helps if you are independent, flexible, and a self-starter because you may be the only volunteer while there and there isn't a lot of structure as someone may be used to in America. It was a life-changing trip and the work I accomplished felt like it made a difference in the community. It was great to go back and continue to foster the relationships with the people I had worked with two years ago and help out in so many different ways. I'm so thankful for everyone who helped make this an incredible experience, from the coordinators in the U.S. to those on the field, to the headmaster at the orphanage, the kids, and the Ugandans I stayed with at the compound. Go on a trip with ABV - it's totally worth it and it'll change your life! They are a great non-profit!!

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Feb 14, 2012

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By: Melanie
Age: 33

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Global Crossroad

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Traveling to Uganda on a volunteer program at Sanyu Babies Home in Kampala will remain a humbling, learning and a positive life experience for me. One lesson I learned is that humanitarianism can change the world into a better place if individuals and organizations such Herman and Global Crossroad continue to dedicate their fine services toward the co-ordination and networking of such selfless services. In all, my overall experience in Uganda was quite positive and adventurous. Although my program expectations were slightly jeopardized by a lack of communication, thankfully I was able to switch to an alternative activity which did not deprive me of my basic objective –that of being able to volunteer. Hopefully, such mishap should be avoided at all cost-in the future. Nevertheless, my volunteer participation at Sanyu Babies Home left me with a sense of self fulfillment and satisfaction as any humanitarian could be. To say the least, ground support provided by the coordinator in terms of transport, meals, care, counsel and guidance was superb. The family were warm, friendly as well as helpful. The accommodation in a Kampala suburb of Lungujja gave me a sense of total security and safety that perhaps only a few would dispute. All said, in spite of all the country’s political upheavals and misfortunes, Uganda remains a wonderful place to visit and yes- also volunteer.

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Feb 8, 2012

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By: Stephen
Age: 58

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Institute for Field Research Expeditions - IFRE

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In November of this year my friend and I travelled to Uganda to volunteer at Lilly Orphanage and Kindergarten for a week. Our volunteering experience with IFRE was absolutely incredible. This week had a lasting impact on us mainly to the amazing kids we met at the orphanage, teachers and other personnel as well as our local coordinator. We found the IFRE International program in Uganda is structured very well. Our local coordinator Herman was very involved and eager to give his time and advice. We enjoyed our evening conversations around the table with all other volunteers, Herman, our host, and his lovely wife and 3 adorable kids. The time I spend in Uganda changed my life, and IFRE and its local Uganda coordinator Herman made it possible.

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Dec 7, 2011

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By: Elena
Age: 50

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Institute for Field Research Expeditions - IFRE

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I went to Kampala for two weeks in the beginning of September and worked at a primary school as a teacher the first week, the second week did I work at a babies’ home. I truly had an amazing time and I really got to experience the real Uganda and meet the real people. What I liked about the work was that it was real work, we really did get to do things and it really felt as if we did make a difference, it was sometimes long hours but it was always fun and worth it in the end. The coordinator was also very flexible and helpful and helped us with basically anything from problem at work to plan activities for the weekends. It was of course all very new to go to such a different country and I struggled a lot in the beginning to take it all in, to understand the culture etc, but the people were so nice and helpful that it went quicker then I thought it would take. I would though recommend everyone that is interested to stay for a longer period then I did. At least one month or more, which gives you time to settle down, get used to the work and get to know the children and teachers better. Regarding accommodation, we lived with the coordinators family and a few other volunteers in small dorms (4 beds). The family were very nice and the room comfortable with toilet and shower (only cold water though). The food was definitely something we all looked forward to during the day, the housekeeper cooked amazing food everyday and we were never disappointed! The only thing I could object on is that the description of the work not really fitted with what we actually did. I applied to work in an orphanage but ended up teaching the first week (it was though no problem to talk to the coordinator and arrange a new volunteering place for the second week). Otherwise I have nothing else to complain at, it was two amazing week and I dearly recommend anyone who wants to have fun but at the same time work and make a change to go!

Program: Volunteer Abroad

Location: Uganda

Posted: Oct 10, 2011

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By: wolkert
Age:
New User

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By: Nasim
Age: 46
Posted: Nov 12, 2011

What did you think of IFRE? Is it really a real organization and not a hoax? I am so sorry I ask this question, as we never know these days with the way teh internet is being utilized. Thanks,

By: wolkert
Age:
New User
Posted: Nov 13, 2011

Well I did not have that much contact at all with the organization, I applied through IFRE, and paid through IFRE but that was about it, after that our coordinator in Uganda handled everything. But I didn't have any problem at all with money or payment, and we got everything we were promised, accommodation, food, airport pickup etc.

By: Nasim
Age: 46
Posted: Nov 13, 2011

Thank ou so much for your post and reply to my questions. Thanks for your honesty! We ahve been thinking about going to either Kenya or India.

By: bec
Age: 25
Posted: Mar 24, 2012

What clothing did you find suitable to wear during this time of the year? Is there some clothing you'd suggest isn't appropriate or to avoid packing?

Uganda

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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International Volunteers Network (IVN)

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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Abroaderview

Global Crossroad

Institute for Field Research Expeditions - IFRE

Institute for Field Research Expeditions - IFRE

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