Are you a passionate volunteer?
With a passion for sharing your skills with others?
Join the See Them Grow Foundation team in Luuka Eastern Uganda for an unforgettable volunteer experience. You will spend weeks, months or a year working with local teachers in Luuka district, helping them to transform thousands of children’s life chances. We offer exciting short term and long-term volunteer opportunities in our center. Our volunteer placements are open to people of all ages and backgrounds regardless of nationality, or qualifications.
As a an STGF Volunteer, you will become highly skilled in leading diverse teams of educators and gain an amazing life experience from your participation in your placement program. We recruit volunteers all the year round.
Apply to our 2023 Volunteer Placement (beginning in February 2023) today by sending your CV and Cover Letter to volunteer@seethemgrow.org
Why join STGF in Uganda?
The STGF’s volunteer placement program offers volunteers the chance to make a real difference in Luuka district, Uganda where 80% of children do not finish primary school. This is unique voluntary work through which you can help bring about lasting change.
Working closely with our vocational center, volunteers will help teachers develop and improve their practices, and create a positive learning environment in which students want to come to school and enjoy learning. Helping these students remain in school is crucial to improving their life chances and helping their families escape the cycle of poverty.
By bringing about change at a grassroots level, a chain of learning is carried from teachers to the schools in their region, meaning that the training our volunteers deliver goes on to impact hundreds of teachers and thousands of children across Uganda.
How will the placement help you grow professionally?
The STGF Volunteer Placement gives volunteers from all backgrounds the chance to gain unique skills that are invaluable to their future career. Working closely with rural schools, you will help local teachers develop and improve their practices and create a positive learning environment in which children want to come to school and enjoy learning. Helping these children remain in school is crucial to improving their life chances and helping their families escape the cycle of poverty.
Working in such a challenging and under-resourced environment, volunteers learn to apply creativity to their career approach, and develop a capacity for flexibility. These skills will enable you to effectively take leadership within schools, careers and implement positive change.
Costs and Fees
| 1 week | 2 weeks | 3 weeks | 4 weeks | 5 weeks | 6 weeks | 7 weeks | 8 weeks | 9 weeks | 10 weeks | 11 weeks | 12 weeks |
| $140 | $280 | $420 | $560 | $700 | $840 | $980 | $1120 | $1260 | $1400 | $1540 | $1680 |
What’s Included?
Inclusions:
- All accommodations within your host country, which have basic amenities and security
- All adventure activities except where indicated in program details
- All ground transportation within your host country
- All meals throughout your stay (note country specific exceptions)
- All volunteer projects and materials
Not included:
Flights. Entry Visa. Departure taxes. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance,
Volunteer FAQs
Where is See Them Grow Foundation?
See Them Grow Foundation is located in Luuka Town in Eastern Uganda , with offices in Luuka Town.
Which Airport would I land?
Your flight will land at Entebbe International Airport in Entebbe Uganda, East Africa. You will be welcomed at the airport by See Them Grow Foundation staff. If it is too late (after 5:00pm) to travel to placement, overnight accommodations will be arranged in Entebbe. Early the next day you will be driven to your final destination.
Where would I be living?
You will be staying at one of our placement with children, staff and other volunteers. This will afford you the opportunity to get to know the Ugandan culture quite closely as well as the cultures of the other volunteers that may be serving at the same time you stay.
Am I required to pay for the program?
Yes! Volunteers are required to commit a fee that caters for expenses of their meals, housing and support for our community projects. This is payable online or in cash upon arrival in Entebbe or you can wire the money directly to our bank account. Kindly inquire directly about the volunteer program costs.
What types of food will I be eating?
Food- A large variety of foods will be available. These include chapattis (delicious burrito like bread), Posho (a white corn stiff porridge a staple, and a range of East Africa vegetables and fruits (mango, pineapple, bananas and more). Chai (African Tea will be plenty). Delicious nyama choma (roast beef or mutton) is also available at nearby towns.
Can I drink the water?
The water used by our facilities is natural from a borehole and is very clean and safe to consume. Bottled water is also available at nearby shopping center.
Is the Luuka safe?
Yes, Luuka is generally safe; however, volunteers are advised to be accompanied by a member of staff if they have to be out after nightfall. Luuka town, like other towns is less safe and it is advised not to be at night alone. Take care with your money and belongings. The facility has company trained guards.
What work will I be doing?
The type of work you are involved with will be dependent on your interests, abilities, level of experience as well as your comfort levels. One of the advantages of the See Them Grow Foundation program is that you are not limited to one job role and will have the opportunity to ‘sample’ other roles during your placement. To become involved in another project simply inform a member of staff who will happily make any necessary arrangements. We offer flexible work schedule where you can split your time between working on our projects and exploring other parts of Uganda.
Is there electricity, should I bring my cell phone/laptop?
Most of our placements will be powered by solar and has power converters, so you are able to charge electrical items, such as phones, laptop, cameras, rechargeable batteries, etc.
Do I need a visa, where do I get one at?
Yes, you will need a visa. We recommend volunteers to get visitors’ visas to come to Uganda. This normally is a 6 months renewable VISA. This is pretty simple to get at the airport in Entebbe with your passport. It currently costs $50.00. Uganda Visa : click here HERE.
Airport Transfers and Orientation
Upon arrival at the Entebbe International Airport (airport code: EBB) in Entebbe, you will proceed through immigration and customs officials. One of our friendly staff will be waiting for you inside international arrivals’ hall. Look for a sign with your name on it. Beware of other people pursuing to sell you a ride.
How long will I be staying?
You can volunteer for as little as one week and still get rewarding experience, but you can also stay for a maximum of 12 months in one project.
What language is spoken in Uganda?
Luganda, Lusoga and English are the major languages spoken, most Ugandan speak at least some English.
How many volunteers are at the See Them Grow Foundation at one time?
This is difficult to answer; it depends on the situation. Between 1 and 10 volunteers.
What is the weather like in Uganda?
Straddling the equator, there is little year round fluctuation in temperature and no real winter or summer. The hottest months are January and February when the average daytime range is 24-33°C (52-91°F) with peaks of up to 40°C/104°F in the far north.
What types of clothes/items should I bring?
Dress is casual, women wear pants or capris (shorts are not usually worn). Sneakers and flip flops are a must. A light jacket and long and short sleeve T shirts are needed. Pack light you can get your laundry done here inexpensively. Female volunteers limit the wear of bikini tops, halter necks, midriff tops and short skirts. However, we also advice that male volunteers wear a shirt/singlet (i.e. not topless) and wear knee length shorts. A hat to protect you from the sun and sunglasses & sunscreen would help.
What do I do if I have a medical emergency?
In case of illness or any emergency, we have contacts of local doctors who have a clinics in most of the areas we operate from. Medicines are readily available at pharmacies however it is advisable that volunteers bring their own first aid kit. It is recommended you have travelers’ health insurance when you leave your country.
Which vaccinations do I require?
With regard to vaccinations, volunteers require the following prior to travel to Uganda:
- Yellow Fever
- Diphtheria
- Polio
- Tetanus
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis
A listing of recommended vaccines can be located on the http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/
Volunteers will also require anti-malaria medication.