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Childcare volunteer
This program’s mission is to care for the at-risk and impoverished children of Uganda. Volunteers will be placed at one of three different Child Centers in Masaka. The Childcare centers include a primary school, secondary school, special needs unit, vocational school and clinics. The centers cater for students aged from 4 weeks to 16 years. The schools cater to the children and also the local communities. The children’s centers are run under religious beliefs and although the facility does not require volunteers to hold the same religious values, they do require volunteers to be courteous of their beliefs. Volunteers play a major role in these facilities, helping to care for the children across all aspects and assisting with the running of the organizations.
The Childcare Volunteer Program in Uganda is a great way to help the children in Masaka. Volunteers joining this program get a unique opportunity to understand the country and their problems as well as express love and affection to the kids who come from extremely underprivileged backgrounds. The childcare center where the volunteers work provides the kids with basic necessities such as food, medical care, education, shelter, and proper clothing.
Volunteers can be of great help at these centers as the local social workers lack proper assistance and sufficient manpower resources. The best part of the project is that the kids leave the center once they find a sponsor for their education and start-up kids for further growth and opportunities. One of the most impactful projects offered, this project is well rounded and leaves a great scope for meaningful volunteering contribution.
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with children. You should also be proactive and have the ability to take initiative All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.
Living
As you arrive at the Entebbe International Airport, we take care of everything starting right from the airport pick up to the accommodation, meals and local assistance. You will also get a comprehensive pre-departure information booklet and other assistance to prepare you for living in the city. Living options for various projects in Uganda range from host family accommodation, volunteer house, and guest house. All necessary facilities are provided in the accommodation for a comfortable stay of volunteers.
Airport Transfer
Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Mwanzo Tours Uganda will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation. In case you are coming by road or are already in Kampala, you need to inform us beforehand and the pickup will be arranged accordingly.
Accommodation
Volunteers are provided accommodation at a guesthouse which is located about 3-5 minutes’ drive and about 15-20 minutes’ walk from Masaka Central business town within a very humble neighborhood. The guesthouse is very close to facilities like banks, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants.
The guest house has self-contained rooms, a large dining/ conference area, a view area/ gardens, on site water facilities and well managed facilities by our local team in Uganda.
Some of the facilities available for the volunteers include, western toilets and showers, camping tents for hire, laundry services at additional cost, bikes for hire, and security guard.
Orientation
Mwanzo Tours Uganda will give you an orientation about the placement, local transport, facilities around the accommodation and necessities like ATMs, banks, restaurants, shops, pharmacy, local customs, and practices, Do’s and Don’ts, safety and so on.
Meals
3 meals a day, i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided from Monday to Friday. Breakfast and dinner will be given at the accommodation whereas lunch will be provided at the program location.
Breakfast includes tea/coffee, bread, jam, fruit and one dish (eggs, porridge, French toast, cereal etc.). Lunch is mostly prepared by local families or community members and typically includes meat (beef or chicken or fish), potatoes and rice.
The program coordinator may take you occasionally to a local restaurant for lunch. Dinner includes vegetable, meat once or twice a week, rice, maize etc.
On weekends, only breakfast and dinner will be given. For lunch, you can go to the good local restaurants. The program coordinator will recommend the restaurants and other activities to do during the weekend. Weekend trips can also be taken up after consulting the coordinator and your fellow volunteers.
Always be wary of local street food as at most of the times it is contaminated or half cooked or made by unhealthy components. Do not drink tap water directly. Brushing your teeth with tap water is fine. You can purchase packaged water bottles from a supermarket for drinking.
Daily Transportation
Most of the program locations are within a walking distance from the program location and in cases where travel is required, volunteers are picked up and dropped back on either a boda-boda (motorcycle) or a car. None of the program locations or local utility shops are within a 5 – 10 minutes walking distance of the accommodations.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
Joining a volunteer project for childcare in Uganda brings along a high level of responsibility and dedication. Volunteer, typically, will be required to execute the following tasks;
Volunteer Work Schedule
The Childcare Volunteer Program is located in masaka district and the accommodation for this project is either within the premises of the childcare center or a nearby guest house. The schedule for the volunteers remains as follows;
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.