Volunteer Opportunities
February 3, 2010
Hope of Children and Women Victims of Violence(H.O.C.W) provides opportunities for international volunteers to participate in the community programs on both long term and short term basis.in other to improve the life of victims of violence especially refugees coming from different countries like DR.Congo, Sudan,Burundi, Ethiopia,Somalia and those in Uganda.
Volunteers live in Ndejje on Entebbe Road and work directly with refugee community, providing mutual benefits to both refugee community and volunteers.
HOCW could not continue its work without volunteers. Even Executive Director is a volunteer! Our organization sincerely welcomes anyone who wishes to donate their time or talents. We need teachers both in primary and adult education .medical doctors and nurses, social workers, computer instructors, people with an interest in community development and any one else who might have special skills to offer. Volunteers can participate in a short term or long term basis. Volunteers live in Ndejje Central Zone and work directly with the community. Meals and housing are provided for a small monthly fee. HOCW has hosted volunteers from DR.Congo, Burundi,Canada ,The U.S. and the UK .
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS PROGRAMS.
Education Program:
Adult English Programs :
All the refugees face the same problem of language when they arrive in Uganda: Many of the refugees are from countries such as DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, which do not share common languages with Uganda.
This means that the adult refugees struggle to find employment and carry out daily tasks once they cross the border.
Here volunteers help them to learn english to facilitate them to be integrated in the society.
Volunteers who are interested in teaching children are sent to MIREMBE PRIMARY SCHOOL where most of children are the needy and most urban refugee children are sent there.
A volunteer choose which lesson to teach and this has to be arranged before he or she arrives in Uganda.
More information is indicated in Volunteer Information pack which is received after confirmation of the flight number.
The school has 120 students, just over half are refugees. Volunteers will work with the school staff to help teach English,Maths (and other subjects if possible) . The volunteers will frequently be faced by large classes with children of wide ranging age and English abilities, often in the same class.
Although they are sometimes a challenge to teach, the children always warmly receive volunteers and school staff are always on hand to give help and advice.
Health
HOCW do welcome Medical Doctors and Nurses who wish to volunteer with the Organization,they are sent to the health centers which do welcome a big number of vulnerable as well as Refugees.
Volunteers are involved in counseling this is done by inviting our clients to the office or by home visit .Others are sent to Health centers were most refugees get the health assistance from.
Due that most of refugee women were sexual violated and others find themselves traumatized due to the experience they went through while at their origin home so counseling is vital to them as they get an opportunity for the voluntary HIV testing and later taught on how to live with or without the HIV AIDS and other chronicle diseases.
HOCW also runs seminars to inform refugees about common health issues and how to prevent them. Volunteers with a background in counseling will be gladly received and will have an interpreter to assist them in the sessions.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Sustainability and self-sufficiency are the one of the greatest gifts an organization can provide.
Income generating projects help pull out of dependency here we do welcome volunteers who may have skills which may be helpful to the women, as per now women managed to learn how to make different crafts, our liaison officer helps them to find some one to buy them in USA. The women hand craft project is very helpful to the community.
Cultural and Sports Activities -
Many of the refugee youths are vulnerable to idleness and the cultural and sports activities are a good way to encourage them to take an active part in society. We are looking for volunteers who have experience in coaching sports or are interested in teaching the refugees other cultural activities, such as drama or dancing. This is a part-time program.
HOW PROGRAM FEE IS SPENT
H.O.C.W do welcome your program fee as a great donation to the Organization.
Monthly program fee:
A Week 100$
A Month 400$
Two Months 800$
Three Months 1.200$
This covers : Accommodation in self contained house.
Food Three meals a day
Pick from the Entebbe airport.
Registration fee
Program donation.
You will need a weekly budget of about US$20 to cover your bottled water and personal cost.
To check your currency conversion rates, you can use the tool at http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html
How to apply
To apply for a volunteer placement, please send your resume to info@hocwug.net with details of when and how long you plan to stay, and what programs you would like to be involved in and we shall sent to you the application form which you will have to fill and a Volunteer Information Pack will be forwarded to you after the confirmation of your coming this Pack contains most of the information you may need to know.
If you have any questions about volunteering please direct them to Kelly Rigney our Volunteer Liaison Officer she will be able to respond to your questions. And you can share with her of the experience she had when she was in Uganda, also when you need more international volunteers to talk too we can still provide more