Volunteer Support Network

FAQs

Please find below our Frequently Asked Questions. If you can’t find the answer to your question, please don't hesitate to email us at: volunteeruganda@ymail.com or info@volunteersupportnetwork.org.

Thank you for your interest

Why is VSN needed?

Many NGOs and volunteers have had bad experiences, usually due to poor coordination and management, unrealistic expectations, and lack of cultural understanding. This can put them off volunteering or taking prospective volunteers.
NGOs often complain that volunteers start with enthusiasm, but can become despondent and even a liability after some time. Without the proper coordination or support some volunteers can end up doing more harm than good, despite the best intentions, as they are left to ‘start up’ their own project with little input from the local community, meaning the project often fails once they leave.
Volunteers often complain that when they arrive at a placement, they are “dumped” by the coordinating organisation and left to fend for themselves. When they reach the placement on the first day of work, the programme is not organised, no job description is offered and they are sometimes told to just help out wherever they feel they can. Some placements seem to be set up in order to cater for growing numbers of volunteers, rather than to address needs requested by the local community. The coordinator is often only available by phone or email.
Volunteers who take the adventurous route of just ‘turning up’ often find it extremely difficult to find a legitimate organisation which will allow them to volunteer, and even more so to be able to share their skills and ideas to the fullest.

VSN addresses these issues by carefully selecting a small number of legitimate organisations which genuinely need and have requested volunteers. VSN also selects volunteers with the necessary skills requested by the host organisation, and provides advice and support to the volunteer before, during and after their placement. We assist the local community organisation in managing volunteers effectively so that everyone gets the most out of their experience. We hold regular meetings and debriefing sessions with volunteers (as well as NGOs) in-country, provide safe and secure accommodation, and are always on hand when you need help or advice.

The volunteering sector is already massive and our goal is to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the sector. We are in the ideal position to do this, given our extensive experience in volunteer and program management, and a combined ten years experience living, working and volunteering in East Africa.

Why do I have to pay to volunteer?

We appreciate that it can seem strange to pay a fee to volunteer. The first and obvious reason is to cover the costs of your placement. If you were volunteering in another town in your home country, you would expect to pay for your own accommodation costs, food, transport, etc. You would also expect the host organisation to conduct a thorough recruitment process, and provide you with a supervisor during your placement. The nature of the VSN program is that we try to stick to the same principles, and adhere to codes of good practice regarding volunteer abroad programs, which includes pre-departure as well as in-country support and supervision, and the usual accommodation, food, etc. This obviously requires administrative costs which we must pass on to volunteers, since local NGOs tend not to have the time and resources needed to accomplish this effectively.

Do I have to work full-time?

No, our programs are flexible depending upon the objectives for your trip. Please let us know your preferences in advance. You do need to show commitment to the program, but we are flexible and days off can easily be arranged.

Where can I volunteer?

Please click here to see a sample of our Partner Organisations. Please note that not all partners are listed. If you have any preferences to work with a particular project, please let us know when applying. You will want to consider whether you would prefer an urban (Kampala) or rural (Masindi) placement, bearing in mind that being in a rural village requires a lot more independence!

Will I receive training on the job?

All volunteers go through a thorough orientation on arrival, and some of this is training based. Through regular meetings with your Coordinator, you will also receive lots of advice and professional support to help you achieve your tasks. Depending upon your particular placement, we are able to provide additional training in a range of areas, including: teaching, project planning and management, participatory approaches to community development, and proposal writing, among others. Just let us know your needs.

Will I have time to travel?

Yes. Weekends are your own, and there are some amazing places to visit locally and around Uganda. Most volunteers choose to travel at the end of their placement. Uganda is a truly beautiful country to explore, and you should see as much of it as you can. We can help create the right balance of work and play, by offering advice about trips and activities throughout Uganda, including white-water rafting, safaris, and so on. We also offer the opportunity to explore some of Uganda’s national parks in a personalised and exciting way, including bush camping with the animals by the River Nile, safaris by boat, bird watching and chimpanzee tracking. Please feel free to ask us about options for different budgets.

Do I have to be a skilled professional?

No. Some placements require a certain level of experience and qualification, for which we seek professionals, but there are many more opportunities for unskilled volunteers.

How old do I have to be?

The minimum age requirement is 18. There is no upper age limit.

What are the requirements?

Volunteers must:
be 18 years or older
be fluent in English
be positive, adaptable and open to learning

Am I guaranteed to be accepted into the programme?

No. Our recruitment process is selective, and we try to match the interests and skills of prospective volunteers with our partners’ needs. We may not have an opportunity which fits your particular skills and available dates, and we prefer to let you know rather than provide you with a placement that doesn’t suit you or our partner organisations.

What's the accommodation like?

Volunteers stay in guesthouse style accommodation, which varies depending upon the placement and availability. This can range from a basic shared room with bunkbeds in a local house, with cold water / bucket baths and pit latrine (drop toilet) outside (a truly local experience!), to a comfortable volunteer house with shared living room, flush toilet, and hot showers! All accommodations provide a mattress, bed linen, pillow, blanket, a fitted mosquito net, and good security.

A kitchen or fridge may be available for volunteers to use at some accommodations, while at others meals are prepared on a charcoal stove outside. Boiled drinking water, tea and coffee, are available at some guesthouses, as well as a laundry service for an extra fee.

Some volunteers will be a short walk from their work placement, while others will have to travel by bus or boda taxi. Local buses (known as mutatus) are the cheapest way to get around, and fares are never more than $1 return.

If you would like a private room, we can arrange this for an extra fee. Please let us know your preference when applying.

What about food?

Volunteers will be provided two meals per day (breakfast and dinner). Depending upon the accommodation type, meals may range from typical local food (see the section on Local Food below) to western style dishes. For a small number of rural placements, a daily stipend may be given in lieu of meals, which will amply cover the cost of your breakfast and dinner.
Vegetarian options will be available at all locations. Please let us know in advance if you are vegetarian or have any specific dietary requirements.

Local food - Expect eggs, (usually black, spiced) tea and coffee, with bread, chapatti or cassava for breakfast. Fruit is sometimes available depending on the season. You will usually eat your lunch at one of the local restaurants near your placement. Both lunch and evening meal will usually be local Ugandan food, consisting of “food” such as rice, matooke (boiled savoury bananas), potato, sweet potato, posho (known in other parts of Africa as milli-pap, ugali and others, basically a stiff maize-flour dumpling), chapatti, cassava, yam, makaron (pasta) etc., with a “sauce”. Sauce can be beans, greens, peas, fish, meat, ground-nut sauce, green-grams, etc., often with garlic and oil.

Restaurants serving western dishes can be found in all major towns across Uganda. They are more expensive, but great for a special treat!

Will I need a visa?

Yes. If accepted, you’ll be given information on how to go about this in your volunteer handbook.

Will I have to pay for my own flight?

Yes, volunteers are responsible for booking and paying for their own flight. If you need help sourcing flights, just ask us.

What about Insurance?

Volunteers are responsible for obtaining their own travel insurance, which should include medical and emergency evacuation cover. We can provide contacts for a few companies, at your request.

How much does the programme cost?

Cost for 4 weeks - US $1400
Cost for 6 weeks - US $1750
Cost for 8 weeks - US $2100
Cost for 10 weeks - US $2450
Cost for 12 weeks - US $2800

What do the costs include?

Administration fee; advice and support before, during and after your placement; in-country orientation, training and 24 hour emergency assistance; volunteer handbook and suggested further reading and resources; professional support and advice, regular meetings with your coordinator and problem-solving sessions; airport pick-up; transfer to placement; shared accommodation throughout placement; breakfast and dinner throughout placement; in-country travel advice; letter of completion/reference and follow-up support.

What don't they include?

Flights; medical expenses; medical and travel insurance; visas; lunch; daily transport; any onward travel or trips around Uganda; personal expenses and entertainment, etc.

How do I know if the organisations are legitimate?

This is where our experience of living and working in Uganda comes in. The VSN Directors personally select and assess local NGOs and projects, and have often volunteered there themselves. Being a registered NGO in Uganda is quite different to registered charities in developed countries - registration does not guarantee that the project is charitable or reputable (or that it even exists!). While most of our partner organisations are registered NGOs, others are community based organisations without NGO status. One thing you can be sure of is that we have assessed their programs to ensure they benefit the target community, and have selected the organisation based on its effectiveness in carrying out their programs.

How do I know if VSN is legitimate?

VSN itself is a registered Ugandan organisation, under incorporation number 99044. We have personal and professional links with numerous international NGOs (including Invisible Children, Action Aid Masindi, the Child’s i Foundation), as well as good relations with the British High Commission in Uganda and the Ministry of Education and Sports. We are registered on a number of volunteer websites, including Idealist, Volunteer Abroad, Volunteering Options, Transitions Abroad, and Travel Tree, and you can also find us on Facebook and My Space. We are also featured in the new Lonely Planet East Africa 2009 edition. If you would like to be put in touch with previous volunteers, just ask us.

What support will I receive?

We provide pre-departure materials, links and resources to help you plan and prepare for your trip, and are always available by phone or email should you have any questions or concerns. Once in-country, we will pick you up at the airport and provide a full day orientation, as well as a thorough induction day at your placement. We are on hand anytime if you have any questions, concerns, or frustrations, and will have a roundtable discussion on how things are going at least once a week, as well as a more formal one-to-one session to discuss any difficulties, support requirements, feedback, and plan for the following week’s tasks. Your VSN Coordinator has extensive knowledge of project management, teaching and training, so please just ask if you need any extra advice or training.
Volunteers are requested to complete a weekly evaluation to provide us with feedback and help us see where improvements can be made, and also go through an exit debriefing session at the end of their placement. We can also provide a letter of completion / reference upon request.

How do I apply?

Please click here to read through the information on the Application Process. If you are ready to apply, please email us at: volunteeruganda@ymail.com or info@volunteersupportnetwork.org for an application form.

What happens after I complete the application form?

We will use this form to assess your suitability for the programme, your readiness to live and work in a developing country, and to find you a placement which suits your skills and interests. We will then follow up on your references and may ask you for further information. You will be notified within one week as to whether your application is successful. If it is, you will be offered a placement and a brief outline of your job description. Once you have read through the outline offer and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place. Upon confirmation of your placement, you will receive the volunteer handbook, giving more details and information to help you prepare for your trip. We will continue to support you throughout.

When can I come?

Anytime of year. Start dates are flexible.

Where can I find out more about Uganda?

For more information about Uganda, you can visit the country profiles sections at the BBC website (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1069166.stm) or Lonely Planet (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/uganda).
We provide volunteers with a detailed volunteer handbook upon confirmation of their placement, full of useful information to help you plan and prepare for your trip, including medical and country information, how to register with the embassy, what to bring, and a lot more about what you can expect when you’re here. Don’t forget that we are here to help you with anything you need. If you have any questions or concerns at any point, please do not hesitate!