We do not weaken those we serve by “showing them a
better way”. We empower them by sharing the
responsibility. We are cheerleaders and coaches -- not caregivers.
The luxuries you live with. All the benefits. Sometimes
this allows you to believe you know what’s
best for other – less fortunate—people. Be careful. Rethink. Try to see life –and needs – from the
Ugandan cultural perspective. A child may not “need” a watch; he needs to go to school to learn his
numbers.
Yes, you’ll make a difference – and you’ll return home
and be able to tell friends and
family the impact you made on one small part of the world. You’ll be on the ground. You’ll see the
difference you made –and you’ll keep us accountable.
How might you change? A new approach to your prayer life?
A resistance to accumulating “things”? A
new attitude toward being a “servant”? A new-found sense of humility?
You are on a trip of discovery, of insight, of education
– yours is not a “final destination” to
Uganda, you have placed yourself on a path that will alter your reality forever.
You paid a lot of money to come to Uganda. You’ve
invested time, done your research. You are hoping
it will be a meaningful experience. Perhaps even life-changing. Your investment will be returned if
you open your heart, listen deeply to the people you’ll be working with, and choose to act with
humility.
Our Volunteer Programs
Here are the programs your team can choose from.
Please note: when you read “villages” below, these are rural areas with no electricity, no
running
water, no
wi-fi, poor (if any) cell reception, unclean water, clothes drying on bushes, limited sanitation
practices,
dusty and muddy dirt roads, small charcoal cooking stoves and certainly little English spoken or
understood
(you will always be accompanied by a translator.) You and your care will be considered a gift
from
God.
Medical and Health Care
Who and what you will care for:
School children who do not receive annual check-ups.
Villagers who have not received medical care in years.
Sugarcane plantation workers who toil in the mud from sun up to sun down.
Men whose alcohol intake has destroyed their health.
People suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Pregnant mothers who have never received a pre-natal exam.
Those suffering with high BP and diabetes.
Children and adults with upper respiratory infections.
People with undiagnosed skin and eye and dental conditions.
Newborns with undiagnosed life-threatening infections.
What you will do:
Go to the village schools, set up a care center, treat the children.
Go into the villages, set up a working tent, treat the villagers.
Pre-natal examinations.
Infection diagnosis.
General health care screenings and counselling.
Start the medical charting process for long-term care.
Eye, ears, nose and throat exams and basic care.
Dental exams and basic care.
Educate about the importance of sanitation, hygiene, the use of mosquito nets, the use of
contraception, taking medications regularly.
Village children not attending school, living in abject poverty.
What you will do:
Play, dance, sing, draw.
Teach basic sanitation methods.
Tell stories. Play games. Read books.
Help serve meals (to school children).
Pay attention to little ones who are lacking individualized care and love.
Volunteers needed:
Anyone with a heart for children.
School Teaching and Mentorship Program
Who you will interact with:
School children aged from 4 to 17..
What you will do:
Learn new teaching skills from seasoned Ugandan teachers.
Witness education from a whole new perspective.
Teach students about some aspect of the American way of life.
Co-teach classes with a Ugandan teacher.
Mentor students struggling with learning disabilities.
Reinforce the importance of education and the importance of staying in school.
Be a cheerleader.
Volunteers needed:
Teachers
Student teachers
Teachers’ aides
Sports, Arts and Music
Who you will interact with:
School children aged from 4 to 17.
Village children, not attending school, living in abject poverty.
What you will do:
Create a performance program.
Teach songs.
Teach sports.
Teach dances.
Create crafts.
Teach teamwork.
Learn traditional Ugandan dances and songs.
Improvise.
Volunteers needed:
Coaches
Drama and music teachers
“Craft” teachers and hobbyists
Community and professional theatre students and performers.
Nutrition Education
Who you will interact with:
School age children aged from 4 to 17.
Village mothers and daughters
School cooks
Teachers
Parents
What you will do:
First, learn the Ugandan foods and methods of preparation and “storage”
Then, prepare a curriculum to teach
Why a variety of food groups is important
Which foods support the immune system
The importance of food for the development of the child aged 1 to 5.
The importance of food for the elderly.
The importance of hydration.
Why cow’s milk is dangerous for the newborn.
Why breast feeding is best.
Why boiling water is important.
Why the consumption of fruits and vegetables is important.
The safe storage of foods – keeping insects off of foods to be consumed.
The importance of hand sanitation in preparation and eating.
Interesting recipes using existing foods and cooking methods.
Volunteers needed:
Nutritionists & Dieticians
Nutritionist and Dietician students
Women Empowerment Programmes.
Who you will interact with:
Village mothers and grandmothers (jajjas)
What you will do:
Work alongside women to produce clothing and crafts to sell.
Teach crocheting and knitting.
Reinforce the importance of budgeting and saving
Inspire women to be self-sufficient
Volunteers needed:
Anyone with a love of and skills for sewing and crafts.
And anyone with a passion for women empowerment incentive.
Public Health and Hygiene
Who you will interact with:
School children aged from 4 to 17.
Village children, not attending school, living in abject poverty.
Village residents
What you will do:
First, understand the major diseases and conditions killing and shortening the lives of Ugandans.
Teach about the importance of sanitation.
Teach how common diseases are spread.
Teach why mosquito nets are important. (Malaria)
Teach why shoes are important. (Worm disease)
Teach why boiling water is important
Teach why animals should not be allowed in the homes.
Teach about the spread and prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Teach about contraception.
Teach basic First Aid.
Teach about how diarrhea kills children and how to treat it.
Teach about the care of the newborn child and signs of disease and infection.
Teach about the importance of breast feeding and the dangers of cow’s milk.
Teach about the dangers of alcoholism.
Volunteers needed:
Public Health Nurses and Practitioners
Social workers with special training in Public Health and/or medicine
Nurses with public health training.
Elderly Care and Support
Who you will interact with:
The beloved “jajjas” or “grandparents” in the villages
What you will do:
Find them! Go into the village and find where the jajjas are located and whether or not they are being taken care of.
Do a needs assessment.
Touch them, clean them, listen to them, bring them sugar and juice, let them tell their stories.
Provide the care they need within your scope of practice.
Create a detailed report of what you found and what’s needed.
Volunteers needed:
Anyone with a love of the elderly.
Construction and Building
Who you will interact with:
Skilled Ugandan laborers and builders
What you will do:
Build classrooms, health centers, child care facilities, community centers.
Dig wells and bore holes.
Teach villagers how and where to build safe latrines.
Volunteers needed:
Builders, masons, painters, construction workers, brick layers.
Anyone with the strength and energy to help build.
Agriculture
Who you will interact with:
Skilled Ugandan farmers
What you will do:
Help ensure long-term food security by working 10 acres of farmland in Najja
Plant and harvest maize, beans cassava
Help plan animal husbandry working with chickens and goats
Volunteers needed:
Anyone with a love of gardening and farming.
Anyone with the strength and energy to work in the Ugandan sun.
Pastoral and Discipleship
Who you will interact with:
Adult Christians hungry for the word of Christ
What you will do:
First, learn about Ugandan Christianity and how it is practiced here.
Train and inspire new Christian leaders.
Lead discussion groups about spirituality and Christian growth
Lead Bible discussion groups.
Volunteers needed:
Pastors, deacons, trained Christian lay leaders.
Seminary students
Christian Youth Groups (18 and older)
Christian Men’s Groups
Christian Women’s Groups
People with an open and gentle heart regarding Christianity.
“Just by being in Uganda and being yourself, you’ll never know the difference you’ll make.”
Christopher Stackhouse
“Really appreciated how incredible Valence and his queen Doreen are. God has His hand on this organization.”
Kalee Willingham, Franklin, TN, USA
“The dream of a better life for the children at Hopeland Junior School – you will forever change their concept of the world…it’s now a place of great opportunity and endless boundaries.”
Elizabeth Rainey, Texas, USA
“Don’t be afraid! Eat that mystery food on a stick. Talk to strangers. Take that boda-boda ride. Do everything – except drink the water!”
Courtney Cox, UK
“The dream of a better life for the children at Hopeland Junior School – you will forever change their concept of the world…it’s now a place of great opportunity and endless boundaries.”
Elizabeth Rainey, Texas, USA
“The kids here are some of the most wonderful you will ever meet. Each filled with passion and potential. I fell in love with each and every one of them.”
Cristina Klosterman
“You are working with an awesome organization. Valence is a great man with a big heart and immense passion.”
Cristina Klosterman
“Explore. Be open. Ask billions of questions. Find your strength. We all make a difference in what we do in our own unique ways.”
Elizabeth Rainey, Texas, USA
“I helped a little girl bandage her elbow. I took time and talked to her. She didn’t understand me but she understands caring. I gave her hugs and smiles – and there were no more tears when I was done.”
Cristina Klosterman
“This was truly a life changing experience. Smile at everyone. Live and love life in Uganda. You can’t go wrong!”
Amanda Stratton
“You will be the luckiest volunteer in Uganda! This is an amazing organization created by an extraordinary man (Valence) who is married to the best woman in the entire world (Doreen.)”
Jessica Praznik, Canada
“Sweat. Get dirty. Don’t be afraid. Dance and sing with the kids. Hold hands. Laugh at yourself. Drink lots of water. Don’t take a single second for granted.”
Bary M.
Hopeland Schools in Mukono, Kitoola and Najja Uganda
(Valence has created three schools “in the middle of nowhere” with a total of about 1,200 students. Following
is a breakdown of those schools.)
Hopeland Kindergarten & Day Care Center Mukono
80 students
7 teachers
Baby class = 3 & 4 year olds
Middle class = 4 & 5 year olds
Baby class = 3 & 4 year olds
Top class = 5 & 6 year olds
Baby class = 3 & 4 year olds
Primary 1 = 6 & 7 year olds
Primary 2 = 7 & 8 year olds
Hopeland Junior School – Kitoola
~500 students
~20 teachers and staff
Nursery School = 3 to 6 year olds
Primary School levels = 7 to 13 year olds. (P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4, P-5, P-6, P-7)
Hopeland Junior
& High School – Najja
~750 students
~40 teachers and staff
Nursery School = 3 to 6 year olds.
Primary School = 7 to13 year olds. (P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4, P-5, P-6, P-7)
Secondary School = 13 to 18 year olds. (S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, S-5, S-6)
