International Volunteer Manual

2014
International
Volunteer
Manual
Uganda, Africa
Our Vision
A Child. A Village. A Country
Meet Jane, seven years old, living with her mother and sister in a small village in Western
Uganda. After a horrific attack during the night as the result of a land dispute, her mother
and sister died. Jane lived, but barely. Not long afterward, a providential introduction was
made between Jane and an American visiting Kampala, Steve Cobin. At that point a series
of events were set in motion that would change Jane’s life and have a ripple effect that
would touch untold number of lives in both countries. Jane was flown to the United States
for medical treatment where she was ultimately adopted by Wake Forest’s Dirk and Paige
Hamp. So too was her village.
Kaihura. Embrace Uganda grew out of the Hamp’s and Cobin’s love for Jane’s home, for
the orphans and other vulnerable children that lived in her village of Kaihura. Since the Fall
of 2007, our non-profit, fully volunteer organization has, along with its Ugandan partner,
Bringing Hope to the Family, constructed a new home for Home Again Orphanage, finished
the existing Dorcas Vocational School, made improvements to a public school in the area,
and supported clean water initiatives and self-sustaining agricultural projects. We have now
raised the additional funds to complete the building of the Hope Again Medical Clinic!
Bukerere. While change is coming to Kaihura, the work of Embrace Uganda doesn’t end
there. Miles away, just outside the capital of Kampala in the town of Bukerere, another
orphanage needed our help. Team members have lived, played, and worked with the
children and housemothers of Agape Children’s’ Village. With our other Ugandan partners,
African Church Empowerment Ministries and Agape Baptist Church, we have assisted in
construction projects to better the community’s school and the grounds of the orphanage.
In addition, when we learned that the orphanage would lose its funding, resulting in the
“reintegration” of the children into communities that often cannot support them, Embrace
Uganda committed to raising the necessary funds to support the orphanage, both from the
outside as well as from small economic enterprises that could be developed on site.
Koreng. If you drive the rutted roads east from Bukerere, past Jinja, the source of the Nile
River, and on to the plains of the Teso region, you will come to the community of Koreng.
The hometown of Michael Okwakol, pastor of Agape Baptist Church and Director of African
Church Empowerment Ministries, Koreng is a community with a lack of material resources
but no lack of spirit. It had a school without walls (it meets under a tree). It lacked
electricity, basic health care, easily accessible sources of clean water, and proper
sanitation. And yet because of the work of Embrace Uganda, Kadacar Primary School now
has clean drinking water, funding for additional teachers, and proper sanitation. We
continue to assess how Embrace Uganda can contribute meaningfully to this impoverished
area.
Embrace Uganda is committed to long-term relationships with Ugandans in these three
communities, seeking better educational opportunities for children, quality health care, and
sustainable economic development --- all in conjunction with our Ugandan friends and
partners. Our mission is nothing less than to encourage and empower a generation of
orphans, one village at a time. Will you join us?
Uganda
Uganda
Overview
The colonial boundaries created by Britain grouped together a wide range of
ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. Because of this,
there are over 60 different dialects spoken in Uganda. English is the common
language. Uganda gained independence from Britain in 1962. Since then
Uganda has undergone a long road to democracy.
The dictatorial regime of Idi Amin (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of
some 300,000 opponents. Guerrilla warfare and human rights abuses under
Milton Obote (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of
Yoweri Museveni since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic
growth to Uganda.
• Democracy, Independence from British Rule in 1962
• Rocky political and economic history, today one of the poorest nations in
the world.
• Landlocked, in East Africa, just to the west of Kenya
• Straddles the equator
• Size app. equal to North and South Carolina combined
• Rich natural resources, abundant wildlife
• Population 32 million (50% under 14 years of age)
• Largest City: Kampala, pop. 800,000
• 3/4 of country without electricity or running water
• Literacy Rate 66.8%
• Per capita income $320
• Life expectancy 51.75 years
• Infant mortality 67/1,000 live births
• Physicians 4/100,000 population
• Estimated number of orphans 2.3 million
FAQ’s
Passport Info
A valid US passport, expiration date at least six months beyond expected time of
travel. Be sure to purchase travel insurance including medical evacuation coverage.
You need to apply for this right away if you do not have one. We must have 2
copies of your passport. A Uganda entry visa (WE WILL OBTAIN WHEN WE GET
TO UGANDA). You will carry your own passport unless you want the leader to safeguard it for you.
Vaccinations/Medical
• Evidence of yellow fever and typhoid vaccination, along with international
immunization certificate. Yellow fever and Typhoid vaccines alone cost about
$250 per person. We must have 2 copies of your official certificate and you
carry the original.
• In addition, when we spoke with "Passport Health", they usually recommend
one of everything, as many diseases are endemic in Uganda. This includes
o recent MMR
o Polio
o Flu
o Hep A
o Meningitis
o Tetanus vaccination
o You will NOT likely need Rabies vaccination.
• If you travelled to Uganda last year you will NOT need all these vaccinations
again. Make sure your flu shot and other vaccinations are current.
• You will need to take medication to prevent malaria. There are several
choices. We opted for the Malarone, which was covered by BC/BS, but still
cost a level 3 co-pay ($40.00) per person. You will need mosquito repellent.
Vaccinations are provided through the travel clinic at Wake County Health Dept.
There are charges, and there is often a wait.
Alternatively, "Passport Health", located in Cary, provides all of these vaccinations
as well, by appointment. http://www.passporthealthtrianglenc.com/Cary.html. The
Passport Health Team is willing to come out again and do all the vaccinations at one
of our meetings.
Follow this link to the CDC page on travel to Uganda for more detail:
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationUganda.aspx#vaccines
Medical/Travel Insurance
Everyone traveling in our group must have basic travel insurance with medical
evacuation. We will purchase this with our airline tickets. If you want additional
travel insurance you can purchase that independently.
Medical Insurance: We need two copies of your medical insurance card.
Housing
While in the village you will be staying in one of the following:
• Kaihura (Volunteer house/Faith’s house, Home Again, Dorcas Vocational School)
• Koreng (Hotel)
• Agape Children’s Village (The orphanage)
Showering/Toilets
In most places (except travel nights at hotels), you will be bathing from a bucket – water can
be warmed over the fire! Most toilets are of the “squatting” type – start those quad
exercises now!
Laundry
Even though you will only be on this trip for 2 weeks your clothes may still get very dirty,
considering that you are in a village. You will need to wash your clothes or pay to have
them washed. The kids and ladies in the villages will show you how!
Clothes
The weather in the village is typically very mild. The days can get to the upper 70’s and the
nights can get into the low 60’s. It would be a good idea to bring a rain jacket along with a
sweater or sweatshirt for the evenings. While you can obviously bring comfortable clothes,
remember that while you are in the village you are a representative of Embrace Uganda.
Don’t wear anything that would be inappropriate such as: shirts with inappropriate logos,
shorts (for girls), spaghetti straps or tube tops. The typical dress for women in the village is
long skirts, you won’t be expected to wear them (you can wear pants or capri’s) but you are
definitely welcome to. You will want to bring a nice set of clothes for church. Everyone
dresses up for church in Africa!
Email
Computer access is challenging at best. We will attempt to send an email blog back to the
US to designated volunteers stateside who will distribute to an email list. Please make sure
to turn in anyone who you want on the email distribution list.
Phones
International calls are VERY expensive from Uganda to US. It is not as expensive for calls
from US to Uganda. We will purchase 2 or 3 cell phones when we get in country and will
email those numbers via email to our volunteer coordinators stateside. They will send out
the numbers to your family members. Do not expect to communicate daily with your family.
We will have a contact person who in the US who will send updates out to your family and
friends.
Communicating with the Villagers
Most of the staff of Bringing Hope to the Family and Agape Children’s Village speaks
English. Many local community members also speak English. Most those in outlying
villages however speak local tribal languages. However, you will find lots of ways to
communicate – so not to worry!
Extracurricular Activities
During the trip you may find yourself with some down time. Take full advantage of this time
to get to know the staffs of the organizations we are supporting. The kids love to play
football (soccer) or sing songs for you!
Culture Shocks
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You will be called Muzungu (Swahili for foreigner) so know that this is not a
derogatory term.
The poverty in Uganda can seem very overwhelming if you have never seen people
living in those types of conditions before. Bringing Hope to the Family is working very
diligently to bring about change in Kaihura. While you may be tempted to give
money to someone who asks you to while you’re in the village do not give them any
money! If the need is legitimate, the chances are that Faith or Michael is already
aware of it. If you would like to help meet the need discuss it with Faith and Michael
first and make sure that the donation goes BHF or AEM. We don’t want to give
the impression that Embrace Uganda always comes with a hand out anytime a team
comes to the village. The same rule applies to other kinds of gifts you may want to
give out as well.
It is not uncommon to see women breast-feeding without a covering.
It is also not uncommon to see men showing each other physical attention such as
holding hands. This is a sign of friendship; there is nothing homosexual about it.
If you spend time in any of the surrounding cities the chances are that you will run in
to street kids who will ask you for money. It’s wonderful to talk with them and make
a relational connection with them but it is better not to give them money. I carried
peanuts and other small food items to give them. This was the hardest part of the trip
for me because there is just such need everywhere!
Packing
WHAT TO BRING
Documents and Dollars
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Passport, Shot Record, Insurance Card
Meal money for traveling to and from Uganda – all meals on rest of trip are covered.
o $50-100 US dollars for 36 hour travel front and back end
Spending Money for Uganda (suggested $100) *For the best exchange rate all cash
should be in $100 bills from year 2005 or higher. Or bring travelers checks.
Clothing
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(all your clothing must fit in a carry-on suitcase)
2 pairs of sandals/flip flops (1 pair showering and 1 pair for indoor shoes. Tennis shoes
aren’t worn inside the house.)
Sneakers/Hiking boots – you'll be doing a lot of walking so make sure you have a
comfortable pair of shoes.
1 or 2 long sleeve shirts (an under shirt is good)
5-6 short sleeve shirts
2-3 pairs of pants
One set of nice clothes for church.
Week worth of underclothes
Light jacket or sweatshirt
Rain jacket/small travel umbrella
Sunglasses and Hat
Supplies
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Towel and wash rag/sponge
Any personal medicine (don’t forget malaria medicine)
Sunscreen and bug spray
Personal hygiene products: soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine
products, razor.
Hand Sanitizer/GermX
Baby Wipes (for face or hands – very easy way to stay fresh)
Water bottle – that can be refilled with bottled water.
Snacks (granola bars, trail mix, nuts, etc)
Bible and Journal
Camera and batteries.
Flashlight and batteries. Every individual needs his or her own flashlight.
Voltage Converter for those bringing equipment that needs charging.
WHAT NOT TO BRING
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Electronic devices. (e.g. – Ipods, gameboys, PSP, cell phones etc.)
Purses. A small backpack purse or fanny pack is better.
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Jewelry. Ladies must NOT wear an excessive amount of jewelry. Less is BEST! It must be
conservative in style.
Trip Expenses
Covered in Your Mission Trip Fees
Your Mission Trip Fee of $3000 cover the following:
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Flight
Travel Insurance (**If you select more extensive insurance then you pay difference)
Visa
Food
Lodging
Ground Transportation
*If you are on the 1-month team there is an additional $250 fee.
Other Expenses
Shots: $100 - $300 - Depending on what you need and where you get them.
Money for meals while traveling to and from Uganda: $50
Approximately 4 meals not covered
Breakfast and lunch on way to airport when leaving for Uganda
Lunch and dinner on way home from Uganda
Meals will be provided on flights but if you want additional food at airports you need
to bring $ for those expenses as well. We strongly recommend packing snacks for
travel – it saves TONS of money. You cannot pack drinks.
Spending Money: $100* or more depending on what you plan to buy. We will visit local
craft markets.
If you are part of the Kaihura mission team, you will most likely have the opportunity to go to
a Wildlife Refuge/safari day trip. *This additional cost varies between $60 - $100. (optional)
*All cash should be in $100 bills from year 2006 or higher.
*Credit Cards are not accepted many places in Uganda.