Overview of the Project

While on the road to recovery from its devastating economic past, Uganda 's people are still heavily affected by the world-wide pandemic of AIDS. Children are often born to AIDS-infected parents who often pass away before begin able to make any kind of contribution to these children's lives.

Many local organizations are running HIV/AIDS programs to create awareness and provide comfort to HIV/AIDS-infected people. These projects also train the local volunteers who later return to their villages and eventually launch awareness programs, as well as provide support to the people already infected by HIV/AIDS. The projects' activities include: stigma reduction, gender awareness, home visits, community counselling, and sensitization in schools. The main goal is to create hope among the sick and to assure them that they can live productive lives even with AIDS (given proper care of their bodies). Volunteers' assistance is greatly and urgently needed in many areas of this HIV/AIDS projects.

Role of the volunteer

Volunteers' assistance is greatly and urgently needed in many areas of this HIV/AIDS projects. Volunteers meet at an office in Wairaka, Jinja and develop a plan pertaining to village visits. Volunteers mostly walk on foot or ride bicycles/motorbikes during field visits. Places visited include Wairaka, Iganga and Mpumudde.

Volunteers' Duties Include:

•  Provide comfort through counselling and spiritual guidance
•  Donate basic supplies like food, soap and clothes
•  Bathe the sick and wash their clothes
•  Accompany the sick to TASO (The Aids Support Organisation) in Jinja; others to Jinja Hospital
•  Administer medication to fight diseases like coughing, diarrhoea, etc.
•  Build or repair clients' houses.

(NOTE: Above are sample activities and may vary from day-to-day depending on the schedule of the team. The local staff members may request assistance help in any various activities which may assist the sick or support-givers.)

Skills/Qualifications Needed

There are no specific qualifications needed for this particular program. However, volunteers interested in participating in this program should have a passion for educating masses – addressing their fears and numerous misconceptions of HIV/AIDS. Participants should also have a passion for caring for others and a willingness to share their time, energy and compassion with these in-need Ugandans.

Room/Food/Supervision

Global Crossroad manages living accommodation and meals for volunteer. In most cases, these accommodations are set up in local, Ugandan host families who provide three (3) meals a day.

Location Description

Kampala is the capital and largest city (population of approximately 1.2 million) of Uganda and is just 10 km from Lake Victoria . The city of Kampala offers a plethora of attractions such as Ssezibwa Falls , the Ugandan National Theater, the very active Balikuddembe Market and Nakasero Market as well as numerous historical sites providing glimpses into Uganda 's past. Said to have been built on seven different hills, each hill plays some significance in Uganda 's history.

Jinja is the second largest commercial center in Uganda and is located in southeast Uganda – approximately 87 km from the capital city of Kampala . Located on the shores of Lake Victoria and close to the source of the White Nile River , Jinja offers the many effects of a small town such as a post office, a town hall, a hospital, a golf course and numerous internet cafes. Echoes of Jinja's Indian influence are reflected in the city's architecture. Some of Jinja's attractive features include whitewater-rafting, a brewery, Bujagali Falls (a kayakers' heaven) as well as an animal sanctuary, and memorials for both Mahatma Gandhi and Buddha in addition to an active Hindu temple.

Iganga is the chief town of the Iganga District and boasts several internet cafes, guest houses and an active market in the town's center. Situated almost at the Equator, Iganga is approximately 25 km from Lake Victoria and the source of the White Nile . Iganga has a population of approximately 35,000 with 85% of its people living off of the land's natural resources. The markets offer over 200 stalls while the town itself offers over 600 shops. The Mwaana Hotel is a popular destination – offering both an internet café and a restaurant.

Program Fees:

http://www.globalcrossroad.com/ugandaprogramfee.php