Only 420€ per week!
Community Outreach
Kajjansi - Uganda
Support the sustainable development of schools, churches, health care centers, and more in a small Ugandan village through construction and renovation work!
In this program, you will be working in a village that receives minimal support from the government to maintain its infrastructure. Your tasks here will vary depending on the needs at the time, giving you the opportunity to take part in community development and other improvement efforts.
Program
Living
Kajjansi
Uganda
Program Description
Rural communities away from large cities often lack support from the government in terms of infrastructure development and maintenance. Most families only have enough to feed themselves with what they grow but are still affected by occasional food shortages and malnourishment. House repairs are not common as the priority is working the farms in order for their children to have food to eat.
Local communities rarely receive funding from the government which oftentimes means that there is limited support in schools, healthcare centers, village halls, churches, etc.
During this project, you will be assisting with simple construction and renovation at these locations. Your tasks will be assigned depending on the current needs, which may include building sinks, water tanks, repairing chairs, planting flower beds, painting or repairing walls, etc.
In addition, you may also get the opportunity to assist with a feeding/nutrition project aimed at enriching the health and well-being of local schoolchildren.
Aims & Objectives
- Support the community and promote sustainable development in the village
- Give you a sense of achievement through light construction and renovation projects
- Assist the effort with extra hands
Schedule
Monday to Friday
You will be working for 4-5 hours on construction/renovation and anything that may be needed at the time. Below is what a typical day might look like:
- Breakfast
- Construction/renovation work
- Lunch
- Construction/renovation work
- Back to the accommodation
- Free time
- Dinner
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: –
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Basic
CRB required: On Signup
Passport copy required: No
Resume copy required: No
Required qualification: None
Additional Requirements
There are no further requirements for this program.
Additional Equipment
- Modest work clothing – covering your shoulders down to your knees, nothing see-through or with offensive themes written on them for the time you will spend working in the community.
- You are welcome to bring tools, supplies or other useful items to donate for community use.
Location
Enjoy the local life in this rural township in central Uganda. Your accommodation location provides you with a great opportunity to see and experience Uganda on an authentic, local scale.
About the Accommodation
You will either be staying at our homestay or in our rural accommodation center. The homestay is a bit more comfortable with the family setting, but in our farm accommodation itself is quite basic and authentic. All participants are expected to be environmentally aware and to use all resources with restraint, especially water, paper, and electricity. You will be expected to clean up after yourself, and to play your part to keep the accommodation neat and organized. There is no WIFI in either location and you will need to purchase a local SIM card in order to access the internet.
Food Arrangements
Food will be Ugandan-style, which means lots of vegetables, potatoes, bananas, bread, and pancakes. Some dishes may have meat, but if you are vegetarian just let your coordinator know.
Facilities
There are many shops located near our homestay, all within 10-15 minutes walking distance.
Transportation to Kampala is available from the homestay. Local transport from Farm accommodation is much less frequent, but arrangements can be made and/or information provided to assist you with getting to Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
Kampala
There are many things to see and do in Kampala, the Ugandan capital. It is located within a 30-90 minute drive from our center and is filled with culture and history.
Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.
Quick Facts
Name: Republic of Uganda
Population: 40 million
Capital: Kampala
Language: English, Swahili, Luganda
Currency: Ugandan Shilling (UGX)
Time zone: UTC +3
Country Information
For a small country, Uganda has everything an adventurer could wish for. It has everything and more than its neighbouring countries do, including the famous “Big Five” must see animals of Africa. More than that, the country is home to the tallest mountain range and largest lake in Africa. Half the remaining mountain gorillas in the world reside in this country, making wildlife watching a unique experience!
Climate
Uganda boasts a tropical climate across most of its surface area, except in the mountainous regions (which can get quite cold and some even receive a bit of snow). Temperatures range from 21-25°C (70-77°F), with the hottest months from December to February. The wet months occur from March to May as well as October and November. The dry season occurs between January and February as well as June to September.
Culture
Uganda’s culture is made of up many ethnic groups making it difficult to generalize. For example, Lango and Acholi people dominate the north, while the Iteso and Karamojong people rule in the east. Moreover, Pygmies can be found living in isolated rainforest regions in western Uganda.
At least 40 languages are spoken in Uganda, with Luganda language being the most common despite English being considered the official language. In fact, English is barely spoken. Swahili is also widely used.
Uganda has a conservative Muslim and Christian society. This means that it is often not acceptable to wear clothes displaying too much skin. There are exceptions to this rule such as Kampala, however, it is advised to dress as locals do in order to blend in and be taken seriously outside tourist hotspots. Another important thing worth noting is that you should never criticize religion in presence of a Ugandan, as this is taken seriously and can be of great offense.
Gastronomy
Ugandan cuisine has been heavily influenced by English, Arab and Indian dishes. The most common ingredients used are vegetables, potatoes, yams, bananas, chicken, pork, fish, beef, goat and mutton.
Transportation
Boda-Boda
Boda-Bodas are motorcycles or scooters, which are a fun and inexpensive way to get around in big cities such as Kampala.
Buses
In Uganda, there are two classes of buses “matutus” which are minibuses with fixed routes, and coaches which run less frequently (i.e. they only leave Kampala in the morning). These two options run between major cities. Note that neither of these modes of transport run on fixed schedules and usually depart when they are full up.
