Go to Uganda

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Table of Contents

Volunteer in Uganda
Join our Expedition Team
Frequently Asked Questions

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Volunteer in Uganda

Running a non-profit organization can be a complex endeavor; and, at African Promise Foundation, our vision usually exceeds the ability of our board of directors alone. As a result, we rely heavily on the generous donations of time given by our volunteers. Below is a glimpse at just a few of the people who help make our work with the orphans and widows in Northern Uganda possible.

Visit our How To Help page to learn how you too can help us change the world for orphans and widows in Northern Uganda. From hosting an African Promise Beads party to contributing to the design of our Web site, there are lots of opportunities to get involved and make a difference! We welcome your contribution and look forward to working with you!

Join our Expedition Team

Each year APF takes volunteers to serve in Northern Uganda. This is a trip of a lifetime and you will opportunities to see and do things that most people will never have the chance to do. It is meant for volunteers to learn as well as serve. These trips can be life changing! We typically take 1-2 groups per year that consist of 10-20 men, women and teens. Trips are approximately 2 weeks.

What a Volunteer Expedition IS

A volunteer expedition is an opportunity for you to have a cultural exchange with some of the most beautiful people in the world. Although it’s a service expedition, we find that volunteers come home with the feelings that “they” have been helped. Going on a trip definitely changes the way you look at the world. Africa has a way of cracking your hear wide open and often brings out your best self through serving others!

Examples of Things A Volunteer Might Do:

• Teaching music, art, recreation, hygiene, first aid, and HIV/AIDS awareness to children and adults
• Simple construction projects such as building a hut
• Basic first aid for children in orphanage’s
• Teaching square foot gardening
• Teaching basic nutrition to mothers and caregivers
• Holding, feeding and caring for babies in an orphanage
• Playing with children
• Physical Therapy with disabled children
• Teaching English or School classes
• Working together with community members on projects such as painting

What a Volunteer Expedition is NOT

• A vacation
• A work project
• A service project
• A quick fix, the solution to poverty or AIDS.

Cost for expedition

Depending on the specific trip, cost is between $1200-$2000 PLUS the cost of airfare, (which varies throughout the year). Your program fee will cover your lodging, food, water, ground transportation, safari and work supplies.

NOT COVERED in Program Fee:

Shots, travel medications, passport, visa, laundry, internet, sodas, snacks, airport meals, tips, souvenirs.

Fundraising

As a volunteer you will be responsible for raising the funds to cover your expedition costs. Many of our volunteers raise money through contributions from friends and family. APF is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation and all contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Please consult your tax advisor for additional details on tax deductible expenses. We can assist you with sample letter for your fundraising efforts. We can also share with you with a list of fundraising ideas. Please note that 100% of the money you raise goes towards your trip. Most volunteers have been able to cover some, if not all of their volunteer expenses through fund raising.

Traveling to Africa

• Uganda is located in East Africa. Winston Churchhill named it the “Pearl of Africa” during a visit to the country. Uganda is a country of diversity. There are hundreds of tribes and languages spoken. Northern Uganda has been ravaged by war and is now in a recovery phase. Poverty is at its highest in this region of the country. The people are open and excited to work with us and welcome all volunteers with open arms. English is the official language, but many in the north do not speak it well. We will rely on interpreters as needed.
• You must obtain a current passport for travel. The passport can take up to 2 months to process and will cost between $80 and $110.
• Water is polluted so we only drink bottled beverages.
• It will be difficult to make calls, but we will have cell phones for your loved ones to call you. E-mail is slow and sometimes not available.
• Clothing need to be modest. We will wear team t-shirts on most days. Women must wear skirts to the knee.
• Luggage space will be limited. You will be required to pack lightly as one of your bags will be for supplies. If the airline only has a one bag policy, your checked bag will need to be for project supplies and you will have the option to pay for your an extra bag. Your carry on luggage is for you and your personal items.
• You will be able to have your clothes hand washed, but you may not always feel clean!

Airfare

We will help you in arranging your airfare and travel insurance.

Lodging

While in Uganda we will stay in Guest House’s or in dorm type living at an orphanage. Quarters can be close. If you need your privacy, this may not be the trip for you!

Food

Food is delicious in Uganda! Team leaders will advise you about what is safe to eat and how to stay safe. You may want to consider packing some extra snacks if you are a picky eater. You may also purchase extra food on your own (snacks) if you are not able to eat what is provided. Typical breakfast will include, fruit, hard boiled eggs, lunch, snack type food, dinner beans and rice, chicken, stew.

Medical Health

According to the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov/travel/africa.htm) there are several health risks associated with travel to Africa that can be avoided if you are immunized in advance, understand your responsibility to prepare ahead of time and adhere to safety advice during your stay. Take special care with regards to drinking water and food preparation in order to avoid the parasites that cause ‘traveler’s diarrhea’. All water should be boiled or bottled, including water used for brushing teeth. We will provide you with plenty of clean water! Sealed, bottled beverages are usually safe. All food that we prepare for you will be cooked properly and thoroughly. We will provide food that is safe, DO NOT eat food from street vendors, and if offered food in a village setting always check with a team leader before eating.

Malaria is a prevalent disease in Africa. It can be prevented or cured by proper medication. All APF volunteers must adhere to the following:

• Visit your health care provider 8-14 weeks before foreign travel for any necessary vaccinations and a prescription for an anti-malarial drug.
• Take your anti-malarial drug exactly on schedule without missing doses, including after your return home.
• Bring and use insect repellant that contains DEET.
• Mosquito nets will be provided for sleeping.

Recommended Vaccinations

Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus, Yellow Fever and Polio booster, MMR
(Note: Hep A and Hep B are a series of vaccinations so get started on these as soon as possible). Check with a doctor that specializes in travel to verify recommended shots. You must have Yellow Fever to get into Uganda and will need to pack your yellow fever card in your carry on to get through customs.

Health Insurance

All team members are required to have adequate health and travel insurance prior to traveling with us. We can assist you with a reasonably priced policy that will cover your needs during your expedition.

Respecting the Culture and the People:

Please remember that THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF OUR VOLUNTEER EXPEDITIONS IS CULTURAL EXCHANGE. We go to learn as much as we go to help the people. We are not there to force cultural changes. We want to share skills that will enable them to have a better existence in their own country, in their own culture, and in their own tradition. If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your interest in our volunteer expeditions to Uganda!

Frequently Asked Questions on Volunteering for APF

Uganda, Africa

Anyone ages 14 and above. If you are under 18, a parent must accompany you and you will need board approval. 12-14 year olds may be able to serve with APF board approval. This will be done on a case by case basis.

We try to cater our expeditions to the volunteers skills. Each trip is approximately 14 days in length and the dates are determined by APF. Team members are selected by the APF team leader. A team is typically made up of 10-20 men, women and teenagers. Expeditions travel together, work together, sleep and eat together. The team is led by experienced Team Leaders. We arrange travel, housing, meals and volunteer projects. As part of our trip we also include a 2 day Safari to Murchison Falls National Park where volunteers will be treated to a one of a kind African wildlife experience as well as a Nile River boat ride. You will see hippos, giraffes, elephants and if you are lucky you might even see a lion!

In Africa there is a saying TIA, or “This is Africa”. Volunteers need to be very flexible. Things usually don’t go as expected and being flexible is key. There may be times you are hungry, thirsty and tired. Volunteers need to view themselves as part of a team and put aside individual needs. Volunteers should expect there to be times they may not have hot water, showers or electricity. If you can’t live without these things, THIS IS NOT THE TRIP FOR YOU!
While a large portion of this trip is about volunteers “helping” in Africa, we have found that for many volunteers their trip has been more about how they have been helped. Always expect the unexpected!

Depending on the specific trip, cost is between $1200-$2000 PLUS the cost of airfare, (which varies throughout the year). Your program fee will cover your lodging, food, water, ground transportation, safari and work supplies.

Passport, visa, shots, travel medications, souvenirs, laundry, sodas, tips, airport meals, and required travel insurance.

You can apply by downloading an application Please link the PDF volunteer Application here. After you complete the application, mail it to our Washington address or e-mail it to suzy@africanpromisefoundation.org. Your application will be reviewed to see if you are a good fit for our team. If your application is approved you will need to pay a $500 non-refundable deposit within 2 weeks to hold your spot along with signed release and code of conduct forms.

After your deposit is paid, a payment schedule will be given to you. This will allow you to break up the payments.

You can pay online using a credit card, but keep in mind there may be a fee, otherwise sending a check will work fine.

Travel insurance is a protection against the unexpected. If you need to cancel your trip it helps protect you as well as if you have an emergency in country and need to be evacuated.

No, if there is space available we can usually add you. Signing up early will guarantee your spot as well as help keep your airfare cost down.

This varies from year to year, but at least once a year.

Each expedition is unique and until we are closer to a travel date specific projects may be unknown. We try to cater the projects to the volunteers expertise and skills, but that is not always possible.
Some activities may include:

• Teaching music, art, recreation, hygiene, first aid, and HIV/AIDS awareness to children and adults
• Simple construction projects such as building a hut
• Basic first aid for children in orphanage’s
• Teaching square foot gardening
• Teaching basic nutrition to mothers and caregivers
• Holding, feeding and caring for babies in an orphanage
• Playing with children
• Working together with community members on projects such as painting

APF can provide a sponsorship letter that you can mail out to friends, family members and business’s. African Promise is a 501c3 so all money donated toward your trip is tax deductable with the exception of the safari expenses. Other ways to raise money could include bake sales, garage sales, car washes, holding a 5K or soliciting organizations such as Rotary or the Lion’s Club. With determination it is possible to raise the money needed for this once in a lifetime experience.
For more information, please contact us.