|  Caring for those in need
True Love and Care comes from the heart
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Isaac Ssamba, Scovia Mukahirwa Ssamba and Ronnie Muwanga Ugandans who came up with an idea to build an organization that puts money and skills into the grassroots and underpriviledged communities of Mukono, Uganda. We are a legally registered non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), operating totally in Uganda especially in Mukono and Mpigi. We have been placing and hosting volunteers since November, 2007.
Beacon of Hope Uganda recruits and places foreign volunteers with small community based projects and schools around Mukono- Uganda. Through our volunteer placement program, we aim to build the capacities of local projects and raise awareness around the world about the successes and challenges of life in Uganda
Many local Projects lack the money and skills to grow themselves. We hope that with our program in place, our projects will overcome some of the more serious challenges they face. These include: lack of money for operations (wages, office space, transport, training courses), lack of business skills (book keeping, marketing, strategy, grant writing), and lack of up to date knowledge (Counseling/mentoring skills, English language, HIV/AIDS and life skills information).
We offer a safe and family-like environment in which to come to Uganda and give your time. We offer pre-arrival support by answering your questions about Uganda (Mukono) and by finding a project that best fits your skills and interests. We can also connect you to former and current volunteers working with us. We offer in-country assistance by collecting you from the airport, getting you to your placement, and unraveling some of the more complicated cultural issues you face when entering Uganda for the first time. It is not easy to come to a completely foreign culture on your own. We want to be there to give you encouragement, advice, and support in order for you to be most effective while you are here.
While working with Beacon of Hope Uganda, volunteers learn about the real situation at the grassroots level in Uganda. Life in Uganda is tough for everyone, not just HIV/AIDS patients, orphans and refugees. Wages are low, corruption is rampant, and education is not universal. In spite of this, Ugandans are some of the most welcoming, friendly, and open people in Africa. Volunteers become part of the family, learning about the local culture: how to cook, how to speak the language, how to sit peacefully with their neighbors and talk about life in general. We hope that volunteers take that knowledge home with them, spreading the word about Ugandan development issues and culture around the world.
If you can spare a month or 2, Beacon of Hope Uganda will find you volunteer work with projects based in Mukono Town and within nearby villages. The organization (Beacon of Hope Uganda) we work with provides primary and secondary education to needy children, youth mentoring, community outreach and counseling. Please read ahead about the various types of the programs you can join.
All of our projects need volunteers who can bring new ideas, work with minimal supervision, and have a positive, self-starting attitude. The organization does not need just young volunteers, but older people with business skills and experience. They need those who can sort out bookwork and apply for grants. Just as these projects try to help all members of society, they need all ages of volunteers to help them function.
Basically, you need to decide if you want to live in a town with a bunch of other volunteers or if you want to be more fully immersed and spend your time living and working in the village!
Mukono Town Projects
There are many private schools in Uganda that educate, house and feed needy children and orphans. You can teach primary classes, including academic subjects and life skills, and organize sport and art activities for the children. Let us know what you’re interested in teaching and we’ll get you into the best school for you. School terms vary annually but are likely to be: Feb 1 to April 15, May 20 to August 20, Sept 20 to November 30. We also work with village-based boarding schools. So, don’t feel limited to Mukono town!
Teaching needy and orphaned kids has serious challenges and needs volunteers who are open to local teaching methods but still able to bring creativity and fun into the classroom. You are the outside world to these kids. Schools have a basic curriculum, but you’ll be planning your own lessons daily. Know that traditional education in Uganda is based on memorization and passing exams. While there is a language barrier, by volunteering you can introduce creative writing, drawing, debate, and life skills into the classroom.
However, if you’re into something a little less structured that includes camping out and mentoring youth around the campfire, perhaps you’d like to work with a Mukono based youth group. We have a project (Youth with a Target Project) that promotes the voluntary spirit in Uganda. You would work alongside Ugandan volunteers (youth aged 17 – 27) in programs directly benefiting local communities all over the District. Expect to take part in an ever changing schedule made up of public speaking and mentoring youth and youth leaders fighting against HIV/AIDS, public health/hygiene, family planning, condom use/distribution, and creativity workshops promoting small business generation, the importance of basic education, and women’s rights and empowerment. Bring camping gear to get the most of this program.
All volunteers based in Mukono Town (up to 10 at one time) will live together in a Guest House (The Light House) run by Beacon of Hope Uganda; Scovia is there to take care of you. The building is within an open compound, with an outside showers and Toilets (Without running water). But very clean and safe enviroment with maximum security. 3 meals are provided each day, which consists of local foods, such as matooke (mashed plantain), posho (cornmeal), potatoes and rice or noodles. They are generally served with beef, fish, peas, beans or groundnut sauce. Bread, eggs, chappatti, Rolex and fruits are available for breakfast, vegetarians are also accommodated.
VILLAGE PROJECTS:
Beacon of Hope Uganda also places volunteers with a number of small community based projects that provide counseling, care, and education for rural people and orphaned and underprivileged children. Each of these placements is located in a village setting within Mukono District and Mpigi District.
Each village placement provides a totally different experience, but main activities involve working with local children and youth. You can decide if you want to teach nursery, primary, secondary, and vocational education or if you want to be involved in a more free form work arrangement placed with an organization that provides community outreach services.
Since teaching placements have been described above we won’t dwell on them here. But you should know that you’ll be living at your school or at the The Light House. You’ll have the opportunity to really get to know your kids as many of them also live at your school.
As far as community outreach activities are concerned you’ll have to decide just what you’re into. We have projects that provide health care, HIV/AIDS prevention and AIDS care, counseling, youth mentoring, women’s rights education, and small business development. Let us know and we’ll figure out a good placement for your skills and interests.
A village placement is appropriate for you if you have great ideas and a seriously flexible nature. Expect your schedule to change daily with no notice. Expect to have time to relax. Expect to become a part of the village forever.
Each village based project will house you and feed you. They will fetch your water and wash your clothes. They will love you and take you places. Your village home will be secure enough for your stuff, but won’t have running water or very much electricity. Your toilet and (bucket) shower will be outside (but fully enclosed). Your food will be local Uganda food, but will be served at weird times. You are welcome to come and stay in the Mukono town (Light House) with the other volunteers on the weekends. You will need to defrag with those like you.
ABOUT MUKONO TOWN
Whether you volunteer in Mukono town or in a village, you’ll likely use Mukono town as your base for services and meeting other volunteers. It’s located on the Kampala-Jinja highway about 20km from Kampala. With a population of about 35,000, Mukono has 7 internet cafes, a major university, a bunch of restaurants and drinking spots, supermarkets, several banks, and luxury hotels with a swimming pool and gardens. It’s easily accessible from all village placements by public transport.
By public transport it takes about 40 minutes to get to either Kampala or Jinja, which are good places to get specialized services or have some western fun.
HOW TO APPLY
Please email us your resume, a list of your skills/interests, and tell us why you want to come live and volunteer in Uganda. Our program is pretty popular, so try to apply well in advance of when you’re traveling.
You must arrive around the 1st or 15th of the month. We have a 2 weeks minimum and a 6 month maximum. If you want to stay longer, we’ll work it out if the space is available.
You need to be at least 18 years old, speak English, and be in relatively good health to volunteer with Beacon of Hope Uganda.
THE COST
The cost to volunteer with Beacon of Hope Uganda for one month is $ 500 USD. You can pay your fee through wiring it to our account for proper preparations of your placement or upon arrival in cash to Beacon of Hope Uganda administration offices
The fee covers support while you prepare for Uganda, airport pickup, Accomodation, food while volunteering, supervision, a donation to the organization, Your in country fee, 24hr Emergency, Membership to host organization, All safe travel alert service and a Letter of Completion after your service.
The fee does not cover airline tickets, visas, vaccinations, drinking water, leisure activities, or medical services. You’ll likely need $20-$40 a week to support a basic life which includes drinking water, internet, transport, and a few western treats such as coffee and chocolate. Safaris and white water rafting are a bit more expensive.
BoHU began placing international volunteers with Mukono District projects (operated by the organization) and schools in November 2007. We started out very small and informal. However, due to the need for skills and funding and the desire for people to come to Uganda and volunteer on a short term basis, we opted to expand. BoHU provides pre-arrival support to volunteers, search for new and monitor existing projects for partnership, and offer a fun, relaxed environment in which to volunteer.
BoHU engages in other activities meant to benefit its partner NGOs and the local people of Mukono District.
Ronnie and I (Isaac Ssamba) are available by phone, email, and personal visits to all volunteers. We are sensitive to the fact that volunteering in a foreign country can be overwhelming and that there are many cultural cues that you will be unfamiliar with. If you have an idea for a particular project and want to discuss it, give us a call. Also, we've got detailed knowledge of places to go and things to see during your leisure time. Please contact us as you need us and we'll be happy to help you! (By the way, I'm always available for coffee).
2. THE MUKONO VOLUNTEER GUESTHOUSE (The Light House)
The Mukono Volunteer Guesthouse is run by me and Scovia.. I can often be found there in the Morning and Evening because I spend most of my time in the field (disadvantaged communities where we work). And it acts as my home. But if you want to catch me, give me a call and we'll fix a time to meet up.
It is important to note that any person working at the guest house receives well above the normal wages paid in Uganda for the type and hours of work they do. Should they ask for money or goods from you, keep in mind that they are earning and are not in great need. However, if you wish to leave a small tip for them when you go, that's cool and much appreciated.
If you live at the guesthouse, you'll be given keys for your room and the front door. Carry them with you as go everywhere. You should lock your door when you go out. When your volunteer placement is over, please return the keys to me or leave them in your door. Village based volunteers are not given keys and must rely on the kindness of those living at the guesthouse.
Those living at the house, there is a list of "guesthouse rules" posted in each bedroom and in the sitting room. You must follow these. Whether you live at the guesthouse or not, you have a responsibility to clean up after yourself, remove the sheets from your bed when you are through with them, and limit the amount of water you use. If you don't know where something goes, ask. Don't leave a mess because you don't know where the mop is!
Meals are served according to the schedule laid out in the "guesthouse rules". Do not eat the food in the common areas apart from meal times, as there may not be enough for planned meals. I'm talking about stuff like bananas and bread. You can make tea or coffee any time you wish. Also, volunteers often buy their own goodies; I would ask that if it doesn't belong to you: don't touch it.
If you are a village based volunteer and wish to spend a night and take your meals at the guesthouse, contact me at least 2 days in advance. It's first come first serve with the beds and Scovia and I plan all meals 2 days in advance. If we don't know you're coming, we can't guarantee a bed or food for you). Also, we ask that you respect the fact that the guesthouse is home us and to some volunteers. It is not a weekend "party" retreat. Smoking (outside) and drinking (in moderation) are allowed, but be cool about it, okay?
The guesthouse is highly known within Mukono Town and you'll find that many local people are interested to meet the volunteers staying there. Please do not invite them in as it will encourage them to come back. Remember that you have nice things to lose, like digital cameras, phones and laptops. While there are many wonderful Ugandans, it is best not to have strangers inside the guesthouse as their motives may not be apparent.
3. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS AN INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER UNDER BEACON OF HOPE UGANDA
We'd like to extend our appreciation to you for giving your time and money to BoHU. Because you have done so, we can continue to help our communities, beneficiaries (Youths and Orphans) and schools operate on a day to day basis. The fact that you are here means that you are motivated, a self starter, and interested in learning about the real situation in Uganda.
Volunteering at the grassroots level is overwhelming. It is supposed to be. You are going to see things that will affect you deeply, including pervasive poverty, disease, and a largely ineffective education system. You may not always agree with the way your host NGO (BoHU) operates. Please remember that you are the visitor and it is your thoughts and priorities that are alien or weird, not ours. It is your responsibility to accept the situation and see where you can make the greatest impact, while remaining respectful toward your host NGO directors and members.
It is also your responsibility to assess your impact in the African context and not in the context of the developed world. If you are patient, open minded, and flexible your volunteer experience will be greatly enhanced.
Expect to be the centre of attention while in Uganda. People at the grassroots level do not have access to foreigners so you'll be openly stared at and constantly approached. While in the village you are a representative of your country and of your host NGO. No matter how you feel at the time, there is no justification for treating any Ugandan unkindly. If you are asked for money, school fees, medicine, or anything else a polite "NO" will do. However, if you wish to give, please do so as it will be much appreciated. In traditional African culture, those who have automatically share with those who don't. It is commonly believed that all mzungus are rich – and you are, relatively. So get used to it, denying it is offensive.
If you have brought gifts or donations for your host project, school or the organization atlarge, note that you cease to control how they are used once they are given. As school supplies tend to be hoarded, keep what you brought in your room and use it while you volunteer. At the end of your stay you can distribute what's left or bring it to the office or to the house for future volunteers to use. If you have clothing or shoes you don't want to take home, they make great gifts for local people. BoHU also takes this kind of donation. We give them to our Director for Orphan Care and Support, for distribution in villages through our program of “Extend your Helping Hand”.
Once you are settled in, you'll meet with your counterpart and work together to set up a schedule for your stay. You'll be fitted into an existing program but expect to work with little supervision. If you have a particular idea for a program, discuss it with your Counterpart or me. It is important for you to be clear about your needs when setting up this schedule. It is also important that you realize your schedule will be changed – a lot. Just go with it, you're in Africa now.
The donation portion of your program fee is given to your host project by the administration in order for that project to operate on a daily basis. You do not have a right to dictate how the funds should be spent. Suggestions, however, are welcome. If you have questions as to how the money is spent, please ask the director (of the project) or directly the Finance Officer.
If you are a village based volunteer, your host project provides your food, accommodation and transport (when you are working). You are to receive 3 meals of local Ugandan food per day. The local diet is heavily based on carbohydrates, and you may not love it. You should receive a minimum amount of protein at least once a day, but fruits and vegetables are locally seen as less desirable. You may see much of them. Feel free to ask your Director to provide them instead of all the carbs or to supplement on your own. Let either me or Scovia know if you are chronically starving, please! As meals are traditionally served late, you might want to keep some snacks in your room and you must provide your own drinking water.
It is your responsibility to know if your Visitor Visa is valid for the duration of your stay. If you are unsure, see me. Instructions for visa
extensions can be discussed with me. Some volunteers don't wish to deal with immigration officials and opt to travel over the border to Kenya or Rwanda. Ask around to see what others are doing.
We encourage you to register with your embassy while in Uganda. Should any civil unrest breakout during your stay, it will be your embassy to assist you. Most embassies have an online registration system. Ask me (when in Uganda) for your physical address. If you don't have a local phone number, use mine or that of your project director.
If you get sick, don't ignore it. Go to the clinic. International Air Ambulance (IAA) is a western level clinic on the main road as you approach Kampala from Mukono. It's on the left side of the road as you pass the second roundabout. Public transport stops at the Shell Petrol Station just ahead. IAA is open 7 days a week from 8 am to 9pm. You'll have to pay cash up front, but you can claim back on your insurance once you get home. If you get sick and receive treatment, allow yourself some extra time to get better. You won't heal as fast here as you do at home. Basic antibiotics (Cipro) and first aid supplies are readily available in Mukono pharmacies.
When it rains in Uganda, everything stops. If you have a meeting and it is raining, don't go until the rain is over. If there is an event scheduled and it is raining, the event will start after the rain finishes. You'll also find that teaching during rainfall is impossible. All schools have tin roofs; you won't be heard over the noise.
Glass bottles used for soda and beer are reused in Africa. If you want to buy a soda or beer, take an empty with you and trade it for a full one. The local shops will not charge you a deposit if you take an empty. If you don't bring an empty and they don't charge you a deposit, please return the bottle when you are through as the shopkeeper is responsible for all bottles he's given by the bottling company. Please don't make local shopkeepers incur debt because you can't be bothered to return a bottle. Please don't use empty bottles as candle holders.
Should your family and friends wish to send you something, use my post office box: Isaac Ssamba, Beacon of Hope Uganda, P.O Box 5620 Kampala, Uganda, East Africa. It takes about 6 weeks to receive items from abroad by airmail. By surface mail it takes about 4 months.
During your leisure time, we encourage you to get out and see other aspects of Uganda. There are many options for safari and white water rafting. Kampala night life is also great. You'll be relying on public transport (taxis) which may not be as safe as in your own country. If you're nervous about using it, let us know. You can also arrange a private car to get you and your group around. A much safer option, if you have the budget!
It is our responsibility to get you to the airport when your volunteer placement ends but you can decide to transport yourself. You can take a private car or public transport. Remember we don’t have an organization vehicle, so we use hired cars. If you choose public transport, get a taxi from Mukono to the Old Taxi Park in Kampala. From there, ask around for the Entebbe Stage. If you stay on the taxi to the end of the line, you'll arrive at the Entebbe Taxi Park. To get to the airport, there is another taxi or you can hire a private car at the taxi park for about Ushs10, 000.
It is my hope that volunteers don't come set on working all the time. Relationships will always be more important than work in Africa. Relaxing with your workmates or neighbors and getting to know local culture will give you all kinds of incites into what it means to be Ugandan. It is also
my hope that you'll take away something special from Uganda and spread it around once you return home.
4. EXTRA TIDBITS TO HELP YOU IN YOUR DAY TO DAY
The following "on liners" are taken from BoHU sites. They are reproduced here because they make much more sense once you're actually on the ground!
• Local currency is the Uganda Shilling (Ush). The exchange rate of USD to Ush is approximately 1:1,500-1,800. You can change money at the Barclays Bank in Mukono Town or in Kampala forex bureau
• Blue Mango and Red Chili are good weekend getaways in Kampala
• If you are white, you are a "muzungu"
• Mass transit is a white mini-van and is called a "taxi". A private car for hire is called a "special hire"
• There is no day light savings. During the summer the time zone is GMT+2. During the winter it is GMT+3
• The capital city is Kampala
• Don't drink the water (buy your bottled water from a supermarket)
• An hour of internet costs about $1 (Ush1,500-1,800) and is very slow (compared to yours back home)
• Anopheles (malaria carrying) mosquitoes are active from midnight to 5am and they don't make a sound
• The 2 major English language newspapers are "The New Vision" and "Monitor"
• Try the roast pork
• A permit to see the gorillas is $360. See Uganda Wildlife Authority for details
• Never say "hi", always say "how are you"
• The most common ailment among volunteers is dehydration
• Lunch time is 1pm or later. Supper might be served after 8pm
• If you have to pee, it's called "making a short call"
• Constantly collect small bills and coins for village purchases
• Potatoes are called”irish". Peanuts are called "g-nuts"
• If someone says "you've grown fat", it's a compliment
• Go with "Adrift" if you want to go white water rafting, they'll pick you up in Mukono if you ask them
• Don't swim in the lake, you'll get bilharzia
• To greet someone in Luganda, the local language in Mukono, say "Olyotya"
• A "rolex" is an omelette wrapped in a chapatti, you'll have many
• There is no airport departure tax
• There's great internet at Lugogo Mall, Jinja Road, at the Uganda Telecom shop or wireless at Golf Course Hotel next to Garden City shopping mall
• The best pizza in Jinja is at Two Friends Restaurant, in Kampala it's at the Speke Hotel
• Christians and Muslims live together in harmony in Uganda
• Ugandans don't like confrontation. Never shout at a Ugandan
• Barclay's Bank and Standard Chartered Bank take Visa related ATM cards. Mastercard will not work
• If you are open and relaxed Ugandans will love and welcome you
• There's a swimming pool, hot showers, good food and traditional dancing at the Ridar Hotel in Seeta
• Baganda women and girls kneel when greeting
• As a pedestrian, you do not have the right of way, get off the road!
• The electricity goes out every second day for 4 to 24 hours
• Red Chili has a great budget safari to Murchison Falls
• The population of Uganda is 28,000,000, it's about the same size as the state of Oregon
• Motorcyles and scooters are called "bodabodas". They're cheap transport
• Jose Chameleone, Bebe Cool, and Bobie Wine are huge popstars
• A taxi from Mukono to Kampala is Ushs1,500
• Garden City is a shopping mall that has everything: movie theatre, bowling alley, karaoke
• Matooke is the main staple food, it's made from un-ripened mashed bananas
• Zain is the major mobile phone company, and it's everywhere
• Some things in Uganda are very expensive (like foods and basic needs)
• It is not an easy thing to volunteer in Uganda, but it's fun if you have the right attitude
Best regards,
Isaac Ssamba, Chairman, Beacon of Hope Uganda
Director, Light Guest House
www.beaconofhopeuganda.webs.com, www.lightguesthouse.blogspot.com, www.beaconofhopeuganda.blogspot.com, www.idealist.org/en/org/en/178051-115
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