Volunteer Uganda Gap Year

Originally there were parents giving lessons under a tree. Now there are 4 primary schools, 1 secondary school and a university. Now there is a volunteering organisation. VU brings enthusiastic 18-25 year olds to South West Uganda to volunteer teaching in local schools in this very poor area. Volunteers also work on outreach programs teaching teenagers and young people about family planning and HIV avoidance. VU programs include White Water Rafting, Chimpanzee Tracking, Pygmy Community Visits and A 3 Day safari to give the perfect balance between Adventure, Wildlife and Valuable Placements. This combination gives volunteers an Unforgettable Experience they take with them. The projects aim is to produce sustainable development in South West Uganda with a focus on poverty alleviation through Education, HIV prevention and family planning.What support is given to participants?Volunteers are placed in groups of 2-4 in primary school where they have a volunteer co-ordinator within the school. This person manages their roles in the school, supports them in their continuity with the syllabus and mentors them. The project manager Andrew is an experienced Ugandan teacher who supports them in their role. Groups also have a group leader from the UK who has experience teaching in the schools who helps to keep placement running smoothly. While working in HIV prevention outreach projects volunteers Volunteers are first trained through seminar on how to disseminate information with a focus on empowering young women and teaching abstinence and contraception. When on these outreach projects they work alongside experienced HIV counsellors and with Andrew who was a founder of the NGO Youth and Health which has 30 trained counsellors.What kind of accommodation is available?Volunteers stay in a lodge on a mountainside overlooking Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which is home to 350 of the 700 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild. A Chimpanzee was recently seen from the site! . The Lodge Runs on solar power and is built with over 50% of the materials coming from the site with our water coming from a mountain spring on the site. The actual accommodation is comfortable Log Cabins with volunteers sharing in groups of 2-4. We grow the majority of our vegetables on the site. The building where we eat our meals is hostel style with pool table and a small bar with beers for less than a pound. Each day volunteers are dropped at their placements in the morning and collected in the afternoon.Special features and other comments:Included:• White Water Rafting on the Nile through Nile River Explorers• A 3-day safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park • Chimpanzee Tracking• Camping on Lake Bunyoni• Visits to Pygmy community• Various Hikes and Excursions• The opportunity to go Mountain Gorilla Tracking• Meals while at the LodgeThe program is run in partnership Great Lakes Regional College one of two colleges in South-west Uganda. Volunteer Uganda and its partner charities “CURED”, “CHIFCOD” and “Friends of Kirima” have built four primary schools, a high schools and Great Lakes Regional College as well as a health centre and various other sustainability projects.Volunteers fees provide a scholarship program as well as developing the schools. IT IS EXTREMELY GOOD VALUE!! Duration / Dates Feb 2010 ( 12 weeks)Feb 2010 ( 6 weeks)June 2010 (12 weeks)June 2010 (6 weeks)July 2010 (6 weeks) Costs / Pay 6 weeks = £145012 weeks = £2450