Volunteer Program Information:

What kind of support does GIVE INTERNATIONAL give its volunteers?
GIVE INTERNATIONAL has full-time field staff resident in Jinja, Uganda in order to provide encouragement, advice and emergency services if needed. Our staff visit and assess all placements, facilitate your orientation, oversee your accommodation, and provide monitoring and advice whenever needed. All of our volunteers receive regular visits while in their placements.

What will my accommodations be like?
An important component of being a GIVE volunteer is living in the midst of the community you are volunteering in. Most volunteers start out in a clean and secure guesthouse (running water and flushing toilets) for the first few weeks, and then if they choose, have the option of moving into a home-stay situation with a local teacher, nurse, or local family. Conditions will obviously be basic, lacking most of the amenities that you are used to, but GIVE representatives only choose living accommodations that are appropriate, safe, and within walking distance from your individual volunteer placement (ie. school, clinic, orphanage, etc.)

Can I extend my project while on an existing placement?
It is best to decide exactly how long you would like to volunteer before you depart. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to extend your project once you are abroad since there may be other volunteers going to the project, or your accommodation may not be available. Similarly, your VISA will only be valid for 90 days and this must be taken into account when debating an extension.

Will I be able to work closely with a local community?
Yes, our projects are all based in local communities, and through volunteering in one you will receive maximum exposure to the local culture. As well as sharing skills with the community, volunteers often learn the indigenous language (Luganda or Kiswahili), customs, and views, and come away with a far greater cultural understanding and sensitivity as a result.