GoAbroad
holistic community development
Holistic Community Outreach in Uganda logo

Holistic Community Outreach in Uganda

by: The Real Uganda

9.81 (16)Verified

The Real Uganda's volunteers assist our partners with a variety of empowering community-based activities. Volunteers split their time between these locally requested interventions: Public health and clinical work: Volunteers work in rural clinics providing testing, treatment, counseling services, and prevention education. Nutrition, vegetable gardening, and community sanitation programs are als...

Read More

Program Highlights

Engage in a variety of relevant, requested activities - everyday is different.

Work in classrooms, medical centers, and community gardens - see and do a lot in a short time.

Get a holistic view of how locally-led community development actually works.

Spend your time with empowered people, totally immersed in Ugandan culture and way of life.

Spend weekends exploring Uganda, choosing from zip-lining in a rain forest, white water rafting the Nile, wildlife safari, and primate tracking.

Quick Details

Locations
  • Mukono, Uganda
Availability
Year(s) Offered2019,Year RoundDuration:
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 3-6 Months
  • 9-12 Weeks
Cost Per Week$100-300
Age Requirement:Varies
Types & Subjects:
  • Agriculture
  • AIDS
  • Anthropology
  • Arts
  • Building & Construction Projects
  • See more
Guidelines:
  • All Nationalities
See all program details

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

9.81

Total Reviews

16

Mukono with the Real Uganda

by: Rhodes Fox-Smith - AustraliaProgram: Holistic Community Outreach in Uganda
8

Incredible experience. Super challenging. Leslie was a fantastic support through the whole program. Felt like I received a genuine Ugandan experience. Leslie connected me with a fantastic local organisation that is really in it's early stages of development. Spending time in the villages and meeting true locals and hearing their stories has changed me. Uganda is a beautiful country so spending a month it wasn't difficult to fill my time. Go into an experience like this with an open mind and heart.

An Amazing, Life-Changing Experience

by: Jasmine Walker - United StatesProgram: Holistic Community Outreach in Uganda
10

I participated in The Real Uganda's Public Health Improvement program. While in Uganda I spent most days at a local health center, where I volunteered in the antenatal clinic or the antiretroviral therapy clinic. Since I had not yet begun my medical training, I often sorted medications or documented appointments and patient information. However, volunteers with medical experience and adequate qualifications can be more hands-on in the clinic. I am excited to return to the program after beginning medical school and apply my new knowledge at the clinic. During my time at the clinic, I formed meaningful relationships with the people who worked there. I am so grateful to call some of them friends. Some days, I also helped to build mud stoves during the day, and most evenings were spent bonding with my host family. Although I traveled to Uganda as a volunteer, I gained more from my experiences with the locals than I could have ever imagined. I formed such strong bonds with the people at my volunteer site and my host family -- we keep in contact to this day. While in Uganda, I lived in a village with the sweetest and most caring family. There was so much love and happiness within their house, and we now consider each other family. Side note: Although I thought it would be difficult to get used to having no running water (which meant using outdoor pit latrines and taking cold bucket showers), I adapted to it pretty quickly and it was just fine! Please don't let this deter you. This program allowed me to be fully immersed in Ugandan culture and I LOVED that. The Real Uganda is the absolute opposite of "voluntourism", and exactly what I was looking for. Ugandan culture emphasizes joy, gratefulness, community, and kindness to all. While living in Uganda, I learned and began to embody the country’s values. It was typical to remain leisurely and take the time to fully experience the surrounding people and environments. So if you decide to participate in this program, please allow yourself to enjoy this way of life. Leslie (the program founder) was amazing and extremely helpful, from start to finish. As soon as I confirmed my program dates, Leslie began helping me prepare. In the months leading up to my arrival, she continued to walk me through each step of my international travel journey. While in Uganda, Leslie became my second mom. I always went to her with questions, funny stories, and any concerns, and she was always empathetic, honest, and transparent. I also think it's important to note that she conducts this program out of the kindness of her heart. Although she experiences small financial gain from it, Leslie understands the value of the experience she is able to provide to travelers/volunteers at an affordable price. Volunteering through The Real Uganda is 100% worth it, and I would do it a million more times if I could. At the end of my fourth and final week in Uganda, I called my mother and told her I wanted to live in Uganda -- The Real Uganda fostered the love for this beautiful country that grew within me. Ugandan holds a big piece of my heart, and I plan to return within the next year and travel through The Real Uganda once again.

Posing in front of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinic with some of the staff members.group of people using rakes their feet to Mixing Mud for Stove-Making newly build stove with clay with a local at its side

An authentic and real immersive experience

by: Livia Pruskova - SlovakiaProgram: Holistic Community Outreach in Uganda
10

I have volunteered with TRU for 2 months and I must say it has been one of the most immersive experiences I have ever had. I have previously volunteered in conservation projects but was looking for some more cultural experience that would help me to understand the relationship between the people and the environment. Leslie, the director of TRU, has been very welcoming, answered all my questions, was available when needed and somehow always full of energy! I was placed with a local family, that took good care of me, in Lugazi and my main focus was working with the women's group as it was what I was really interested in. The Mayiando and Buyentete ladies were very welcoming from the first day, always full of joy and cheerful. And I was always excited to go to see and work with them. Together we managed to built fuel efficient clay stoves which they didn't have before and it was apparent that it was something that was needed in the community. These stoves are faster to cook with and use less firewood and produce less smoke so it has multiple benefits. We also started to make some charcoal briquettes but as it was towards the end of my stay I didn't have much time to pursue it. The women were always happy to work but made sure that we also had a good time and we danced, sang and cooked. Sharing a meal with them was always very special. I must say that the ladies truly touched my heart and I will keep them in my memory forever. During my time I had also chance to do some crafts with the Kobba ladies, visited a local clinic and did some reusable pads workshop at the local school with Doreen and Olivia (the family I lived with). I also wanted to see Uganda a bit so in a spare time I travelled to Jinja, Murchison falls, did gorilla trekking and also some cycling! Overall, it has been a beautiful experience with some challenges (as expected) and I think it made me more aware of who I want to be in this world; that we can all have an impact, big or small and that at the end of the day it is our actions that count.

Livia with Kisaasi Buyentete ladies

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Mukono, Uganda

Types and Subjects

  • Causes
  • Agriculture
  • AIDS
  • Anthropology

Availability

Years Offered: 2019,Year Round

Duration:
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 3-6 Months

Age Requirement

Age Requirement Varies

Guidelines

  • All Nationalities
  • This Program is also open to Solo, Couples, Families, Group

Cost per week

$100-300

Program Cost Includes

  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Weekday Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • Weekend Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • Airport Transfer (Pick-Up)

Accommodation Options

  • Guest House
  • Home-stays
  • Other

Qualifications & Experience

      Accepted Education Levels

    • High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (for example: GED)

    Application Procedures

    • Online Application
    • Essay

    Interviews

    Read interviews from alumni or staff

    Fernanda Flores

    Participated in 2015

    Alumni

    I thought it was great to help a country that really needs to improve many things, and besides that, it's interesting to learn about a different culture.

    Show Full Interview

    Catarina Almeida Martins Rocha Moreira

    Participated in 2017

    Alumni

    I have always wanted to volunteer abroad, since I was a child. Throughout the years, I never stopped thinking about it. I always wanted to feel useful and to help (even if just a little) other communities in another countries. Africa was in my list a long time ago, and I decided I wanted to go to Uganda after checking a few things on the country.

    Show Full Interview

    Related Programs

    Browse programs you might like