Volunteering

If you are interested in volunteering, we assume you have already been through the project pages and familiarized yourself with our programmes.  As you have seen, there are many hands on projects and categories for workshops.  This page will help you through the process of making that decision to fill out an application and come work in the beautiful Ugandan countryside with a very grateful community. 

Presently, BUVAD is a volunteer run organization with no paid staff.  Many of the programmes BUVAD operates are designed around the length of time a person might stay on as a volunteer.  There is room for both long and short-term volunteers to run workshops and work on other projects.

BUVAD is aware of the many volunteer opportunities that exist in Africa and wants to make your decision to come to Uganda as straightforward and painless as possible.  Many non-profits running on volunteer time and effort leave many questions unanswered, and the process of making that decision is harder than it should be.  BUVAD intends to make as much information possible on the front end in an attempt to make this a more transparent process.

There is a lot of room for independence and decision-making when you volunteer for BUVAD.  While BUVAD has set up specific subjects in its programmes for implementation, BUVAD answers to its community and is able to change as the communities needs change.  This enables you, as a volunteer working in the field, to be the eyes and ears of BUVAD.  As you design your programme, you have the freedom to react as you see fit.

BUVAD assumes you will have extensive knowledge on the subjects you wish to create workshops on or projects you wish to participate in.  This is something that we will confirm as we go through the application process with each other.  What we need over and above your valuable knowledge is that you as an individual are able to act with a high degree of responsibility, independence and that you are by nature a proactive person.  We already know by first hand experience that most people willing to volunteer possess these traits.    

For a first hand account of working in Uganda, please see this blog kept by our current long-term volunteer:

http://volunteeringforbuvad.blogspot.com/

You can also correspond with past volunteers by just asking.

The Volunteer Centre

BUVAD accepts both long and short-term volunteers and has housing located in Butakoola village.  Our Centre is a western style house made of concrete with large airy rooms and an internal washroom.  The toilets are located in the backyard.  The house has three to four bedrooms, enough room for 10 or more volunteers.  There is enough space in the front room of the house for small workshops and a large porch overlooking the front yard where you can conduct larger workshops.  People can bring grass cloth mats to sit on in the yard and the porch serves as a great stage for you to present from.

It takes about 15 - 20 minutes to walk from the main road to the Centre, or you can catch one of the boda boda’s (local motorcycle transport).  There is a small store for basics down the road from the house but more specific staples like beer or produce can easily be found on the main road.

If you are looking for a place to get away from it all, you will love it here. The village is very quiet and you will rarely ever see a car.  Take off through the back yard and make your way through the farmland for a nice hike, or grab a chair and some fruit or a beer and sit out on the porch with a book.  People are very curious and friendly and if you are in front of the house, you will have many visitors and plenty of opportunities for conversation. Please understand that as there is no power in the village, there is no power at the Centre.  The Centre uses hurricane lanterns for lighting, creating a very romantic setting for your African adventure.

As BUVAD is in a period of tremendous growth, there are many expenses that come with this.  As you make your decision to volunteer here, we appreciate any efforts you might make towards fundraising within your own community on our behalf.  Anything you can donate towards making the Volunteer Centre as comfortable as possible is particularly appreciated.  This could be books, solar lanterns, screens for the windows, extra furniture or anything you can think that will make you and future volunteers feel more comfortable.  

Butakoola is located near several locations you will want to make part of your schedule.  Many can be done in a day and some you can make overnight trips out of. 

Ø  Kayunga Town where you can find music and dancing at the recreation center, cinema halls, trading and restaurants (7km)

Ø  Kangulumira, includes fishing and the Kalagala Waterfalls, among other sites (20km)

Ø  Busaana, along the Nile and includes fishing and a ferry crossing into Jinja (20km)

Ø  Bujagali Waterfalls, for rafting.  Good tourism facilities  (40km)

Ø  Lake Kyoga, located in Bbaale (60km)

Coming to Butakoola

If you decide to volunteer for BUVAD, please be prepared to bring everything you need for your workshops with you.  BUVAD will help you find everything and make transport of them as easy as possible.  Think through your workshop and anticipate anything you might need.  It is important that this be purchased in advance as supplies such as paper, poster board and markers in the trading centre near the village are minimal.  For this reason it is best for us to plan any purchases in Kampala before you leave.  

BUVAD’s offices are based in a suburb of Kampala and staff will escort you from Kampala to the Volunteer Centre and help you get settled in.  Neighbors will provide meals for you and this information will be discussed more specifically at the end of this page.  If you are a long-term volunteer coming from Entebbe Airport, BUVAD will arrange pick up and delivery to the village.  

The trip to Kayunga from Kampala is done using public transport.  You will travel on a bus holding about 50 passengers that leaves Kampala.  As these buses leave only after they fill with passengers and it might take a while, so bring a book.  On the way back you will likely use one of the small group taxi’s that hold 14 passengers.  These come by on the main road frequently and you will not have to wait long to catch one.

Current Needs

All of the subjects mentioned in the programme pages are always open for workshops.  Every subject mentioned is extremely valuable to the local community.  Whether your skills are in ESL, HIV prevention and care, child welfare, or any of the categories mentioned - you are welcome here anytime. 

As an alternative to these classes and projects, below are a couple of pressing needs that BUVAD seeks volunteers for.  Once these projects are complete, we will be able to remove them from the list forever.

Renovation project of the Volunteer Centre

Currently, the Volunteer Centre is in need of slight renovation.  This is a great opportunity for a couple wishing for some quiet time in the countryside.  Most of the work that needs to be done is cosmetic and includes cleaning, window replacement, painting and replacement of door fixtures. 

For the persons undertaking this job, all of your volunteer donations will be spent only on this project.  If there is any money left over after the purchase of materials for repair, it will be spent on furniture.  Presently, there is bedding in the house for two to three people and your money can be spent on the purchase of much needed bed frames.

It is BUVAD’s goal to have the Centre renovated in the very near future.  With your help this will happen sooner.  BUVAD will introduce solar power to the Centre as soon as funding becomes available. 

Alternative construction techniques

BUVAD is very interested in constructing toilet structures out of plastic bottles as a pilot project for construction alternatives.  Many people in the area that cannot afford the locally produced bricks and build out of mud, creating a dangerous and temporary structure.  If you are experienced in building structures from bricks made of plastic bottles, here is your chance to come and introduce a very foreign concept to a fascinated and grateful audience.  BUVAD believes that toilets are a good place to start, as the structures are generally small and compact.  At the same time you are constructing the building, you can create a workshop, transferring your valuable skills to the local community.    

As the village community does not typically consume bottled water, bottles will have to be transferred in from Kayunga Town or the trading center nearby and this will require some creative logistics on your part.  BUVAD is very excited about the possibilities of this construction, will be involved and cooperate with you in every way to make your project run as smoothly as possible. 

Marketing

Currently, BUVAD has need for marketing advice.  BUVAD has an ongoing programme introducing new income generating projects to the community.  One of these projects is to create a women’s craft project.  These women will need help introducing their products to outside markets.

Another project is our Sunflower seed oil co-op.  You can read more about this on the specific project page.  This will be one of BUVAD’s biggest projects and if you have knowledge about marketing in developing countries, we could use your help.  This is a volunteer position that could take place here in Uganda or at home in front of your computer.

Financial Details

BUVAD requests a small donation of $75 usd per week or $200 usd per month of your stay.  This money goes towards transportation and administrative costs, which are very difficult to get funding for as most grants go directly to programme implementation.  BUVAD will discuss the issue of expenses for your workshop on an individual basis and hopes that you can fund raise the amount you expect to spend on materials from your own community.  BUVAD will arrange for 3 meals a day to be provided to you by a neighbor committed to helping us in the area.  Your menu will consist of local food and BUVAD will communicate reasonable dietary requests to your cook. The cost of food per person is $35 usd per week but could be lower depending on the number of people staying at one time and any changes to the menu.  Please be flexible and understand that BUVAD will attempt to minimize food costs to you if possible and as this can only be done on an individual basis, we use $70 as a safe base of cost.

There is a fire pit in an enclosed area that serves as a kitchen for the house so if you wish to tackle cooking yourself, we can discuss this and advise you on the best ways to make use of the kitchen.

Many organizations see volunteers as a potential cash cow and are guilty of charging extreme rates.  BUVAD makes every effort to keep your costs to a minimum, as it is your talent and time that are most valuable to the community.  If you are interested in volunteering long-term, BUVAD will discuss alternative arrangements with you concerning finances.

We hope to see you here in Uganda very soon and if you are already here, we hope you might make some time in your travel schedule and stay with us for a while.  Please send us a cover letter and CV as your application and we will be in touch as soon as possible.

Thanks very much for considering BUVAD for your volunteer service.