Volunteer opportunities 

Be part of our exciting team.
We offer volunteer opportunities to individuals skilled in the following areas. 

Classroom teachers in local schools
Ugandan schools are often understaffed and poorly supplied, but you can help to improve this situation by volunteering. You can gain work experience teaching at primary or secondary schools overseas and no formal teaching qualification is required. Whether you want to volunteer abroad by teaching during your gap year, career break, or vacation you will have a role to play and your efforts will be greatly appreciated.

The impact you have on the lives of your students will be obvious and long lasting, but you will also be part of a much wider international volunteer network, which is making a really positive contribution to the communities in Uganda.

The purpose of this project is to promote quality education in the rural schools so as to achieve quality education output.

Subjects to be taught will include; Mathematics, Writing, Drawing, English, French and German, Literature, Science, Music, Art and Craft. Your encouragement, praise, and some creative lessons are often all that are needed to spark an interest in the language and a desire to learn more. Our friendly Ugandan teaching colleagues act as supervisors and ensure that you feel happy with your classes. They will generally have a good command of the English language themselves which will make your life that much easier! In fact, many other extra-curricular subjects are always welcome additions to the curriculum in most of our placements. Provided you can offer the basic provision of conversational English lessons, our partner schools are eager to let you develop the children's interests in other areas as well.

Note: You are only required to possess knowledge of at least one subject.

Role description
* Develop schemes of work and prepare lesson plans (this will be done with the help of a local classroom teacher).
* Facilitate learning by establishing relationship with pupils or students.
* Develop and foster appropriate skills and social abilities to enable the optimum development of children.
* Assess and record progress and prepare pupils or students exams.
* Link pupils' or student's knowledge to earlier learning and develop ways to encourage It further.
* Challenge and inspire pupils or students to help them deepen their knowledge and understanding.

Work activities
* Teaching all areas of the primary or secondary school curriculum.
* Taking responsibility for the progress of a class of primary and secondary school age pupils and students.
* Organizing the classroom and learning resources to create a positive learning environment.
* Planning, preparing and presenting lessons that cater for the needs of the whole ability range within their class.
* Motivating pupils or students with enthusiastic, imaginative presentation.
* Maintaining discipline.
* Preparing and marking to facilitate positive pupil development.
* Meeting requirements for the assessment and recording of pupils' development.
* Providing feedback to parents on a pupil's progress at parents' evenings and other meetings.
* Coordinating activities and resources within a specific area of the curriculum.

Skills or Qualification
* Enjoy working with children and the youth.
* An intermediate or advanced level of English is required for this project.

Orientation and training
You will be taken through a one day orientation and training session. During this period you will be.
* Introduced to the teaching and none teaching staff and the pupils or students.
* Trained on how to make lesson plans.

Project start date
Study terms for schools vary from year to year but are approximately as follows:
* First Term - 1st February to 20th April.
* Second Term - 20th May to 18th August.
* Third Term - 15th September to December 10th.

Placement into this program requires that you apply one month before the commencement of every term.

Materials to bring with
You will be requested to bring some picture books, mathematical sets, art works, text books, pens, markers, colored pencils, notebooks, games and any other teaching materials.

Child care

By getting involved in the day-to-day running of an orphanage
* Making sure children are fed, washed and dressed, and paying them personal attention.
* You will be making a really positive impact on their lives.

There is always scope for any talents or interests you may have to be utilized. Art & crafts or music are always popular activities and some child care placements have outside areas where sports and games can be played. Many volunteers also help to educate the children in personal hygiene and social skills.

Opportunities exist in some orphanages for our volunteers to be more involved in the 'teaching' or 'medical' side of care work. You may spend your afternoon helping the older children with their homework on their return from school, or if you have the relevant skills you can administer first aid to any children in need. The work volunteers do can be challenging at times but the strength and resilience of the children will inspire you to persevere.

Your day may start early to help get the children up and give them breakfast, however, you will probably finish early too or have several hours off at lunchtime before returning to play with the children in the afternoon. Many volunteers like to take some of the children out on a trip from time to time. An afternoon at the beach or walking around the market can be a revelation for some of the children, who rarely get the chance to travel more than a few miles away from their homes.

Knowledge and Skill required
* Proper home care techniques including house cleaning, feeding and personal hygiene.
* Appropriate Home Care interventions.
* Team building skills.
* Supervisory skills.
* Analytical and problem solving skills.
* Decision making skills
* Effective verbal and listening.
* Communications skills.
* Stress management skills.
* Time management skills.
* Strong interpersonal skills.
* Conflict resolution skills.
* Well developed organizational.
* Demonstrate good decision making in dealing with safety and other medical issues.

Personal Attributes
The volunteers should maintain strict confidentiality in performing the duties of child care giving.
* Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity.
* Demonstrate sound work ethics.
* Be consistent and fair.
* Be compassionate and understanding.
* Be flexible, adaptable and able to work effectively in a variety of settings.
* Respect cultural differences.
* Work effectively as a member of a team.

Materials to bring with
You will be requested to come with some kids toys, books, used clothing/shoes, and any other materials that you may deem fit in helping you to carry out your assignment.

Apply Now

We have some of the most affordable program fees and payment terms than one can ever imagine. Volunteers comming on their own are expected to pay their program fees a day after arrival while those coming under any volunteer sending agency or organisation have to make their payments at least two weeks before arrival.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring with them their VISA ATM cards to enable them make transactions with some of the banks in Jinja among which include; Barclays bank, Standard Chartered bank, and Stanbic bank, Crane bank, Bank of Africa, Kenya Commercial Bank, Centenary Rural Development bank, DFCU bank, United Bank of Africa, Orient bank and Tropical bank. However, we also have FOREX services in Jinja town from foreign currencies can be changed to Uganda shillings
   Program fees

Period in month Amount in EUROS
1 month 600
2 month 1200
3 month 1,800
4 month 2,400
5 month 3,000
6 month 3,600

Program fees include

* Airport pick up and departure - 22%.
* Project Donation - 20%.
* Transport - 17%.
* Meals - 21%.
* Utilities - 14%.
* Laundry - 6%.

Note: We have no Application fees and Accommodation is FREE.

What is NOT included in the program fees

* Flight expenses.

* Passport.
* Travel Insurance.
* Visas.
* In country travel expenses (except airport pick up and drop-off).
* Immunization.

* Mobile phones/internet.

* Bottled water.

* Soft drinks.

* Entertainment.

* Toilet tissue and hand wash liquid soap.

* Luxurious accommodation.

* Tours beyond Jinja and other personal effects.

You will need a weekly budget of approximately $40 US to cater for these other expenses.

Free benefits provided

Accommodation

Volunteers are provided with FREE accommodation whilst on assignment. They stay with carefully selected host families which conform to Clemency Uganda set standards of living. The host families live in safe neighborhoods and their distances from the project sites vary. These families provide accommodation i.e. shared or single room.

Weekly/Monthly tours and travels

We arrange for volunteers either weekly or monthly weekend tours and travels within Jinja for them to visit important tourist sceneries such as the Source of River Nile, Owen falls, Ripon falls, Itanda falls among others. Volunteers also do community walks in the slums of Bugembe where they get to interract with the local people and also have a feel of the life they live. Those coming for our mid July assignments get the opportunity to visit Jinja's Agricultural Exhibitions organized annually at the source of River Nile.

Volunteers who wish to go for safaris are guided on which safari operators to use.

However, you are free to do as you wish any time that you are not expected to be working.

The locals are very welcoming and would be more than happy to entertain you or show you some of the local attractions - particularly animals, pieces of art, cultural attires, and local foods.

If you may want to spend some time in Uganda before or after volunteering to see more of the country you can survive on as little as $40 US a day traveling in Uganda. You can also spend much more if you want a bit of luxury.
Assignment Recommendation Letter/Certificate

Each and every volunteer that successfully completes his/her assignment will either receive a recommendation letter signed by our Project Administrator and Executive Director.

Certificate of Merit

In addition to getting a recommendation letter, you will receive a certificate of merit in recognition of your invaluable contribution towards changing the lives of indigenous communities. These will be handed over during a fare well diner organized by management of The African child.