Public Health Educator

location
2 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • If you thrive on creatively communicating important information, this is your calling! Join our program in Uganda, where your communication skills can make a real impact on public health.
  • Engage with communities in remote locations to empower Ugandans to stay healthy and make informed decisions about their well-being.
  • Design and conduct seminars on crucial subjects such as community sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, malaria prevention, sex education, HIV prevention, and AIDS care.

Highlights

  • If you thrive on creatively communicating important information, this is your calling! Join our program in Uganda, where your communication skills can make a real impact on public health.
  • Engage with communities in remote locations to empower Ugandans to stay healthy and make informed decisions about their well-being.
  • Design and conduct seminars on crucial subjects such as community sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, malaria prevention, sex education, HIV prevention, and AIDS care.
  • Work in diverse locations, collaborating with local professionals to create lasting change.


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples

    About the program

    Work with community groups and in clinics to improve public health in rural Uganda.

    Chronic underdevelopment in Uganda is a problem not easily solved. Remote rural living, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, a subsistence economy, loss of hope, and lack of services helps to keep many families dependent upon hand-outs, malnourished, and uneducated. Currently, there are few real ways to generate ...

    About the program

    Chronic underdevelopment in Uganda is a problem not easily solved. Remote rural living, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, a subsistence economy, loss of hope, and lack of services helps to keep many families dependent upon hand-outs, malnourished, and uneducated. Currently, there are few real ways to generate funds at the village level to support anything other than subsistence living. Therefore, The Real Uganda has developed relationships with local communities to help provide start-up funds, knowledge, and motivation all necessary to solve their respective problems in a sustainable way.

    About the Program

    Can you communicate important information in creative ways? Do you want to learn the reality on the ground regarding public health in Uganda? Do you like camping? In this program, volunteers work alongside local counselors and health care professionals, in a variety of remote locations, designed to help Ugandans stay healthy and make informed decisions about their health care.

    Volunteers talk to people in schools and communities about issues directly affecting them. You’ll design and conduct seminars based on subjects such as community sanitation, household and personal hygiene, nutrition, malaria prevention, sex education, HIV prevention and AIDS care, etc. Basic training and educational materials are on site, but volunteers are encouraged to bring new materials as well.

    International volunteers are needed to work in public health improvement in rural communities in Uganda. In this program, volunteers work alongside local counselors and health care professionals, in a variety of locations, designed to help Ugandans stay healthy and make good decisions about their health care. 

    Volunteers can also work in clinics and maternity hospitals talking directly to women and girls about safe sex, family planning, maternal and child health, and nutrition. Volunteers are involved in the lab and pharmacy, as well.

    This program may involve walking long distances in the sun. Volunteers should bring a hat and walking shoes. As you’ll be working off the beaten track, expect to ride to work on the back of a motorcycle.

    Volunteers are given a private room at the host organization as their home base. All have electricity, some have running water. When work is done in surrounding villages, you’ll commute by motorcycle. If outreaches are longer than one day, volunteers camp with fellow staff in the village.

    This program is perfect for volunteers who love talking to people and really want to see the reality on the ground regarding public health in Uganda.


    Typical day

    The schedule is flexible and includes some or all activities offered by the program. 

    Other activities such as teaching, youth mentoring, and vegetable gardening may be on offer by the host organization. Volunteers are encouraged to dig in and try everything. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and ...

    Typical day

    The schedule is flexible and includes some or all activities offered by the program. 

    Other activities such as teaching, youth mentoring, and vegetable gardening may be on offer by the host organization. Volunteers are encouraged to dig in and try everything. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and culture is highly encouraged.


    Free-time activities

    Uganda is a beautiful, peaceful, fun and very welcoming country. Volunteers can easily meet up on weekends to travel. Popular tourist activities in Uganda include wildlife safari, white water rafting and bungee jumping on the River Nile, chimpanzee and gorilla tracking, nature walks and forest ...

    Free-time activities

    Uganda is a beautiful, peaceful, fun and very welcoming country. Volunteers can easily meet up on weekends to travel. Popular tourist activities in Uganda include wildlife safari, white water rafting and bungee jumping on the River Nile, chimpanzee and gorilla tracking, nature walks and forest hikes. Volunteers are encouraged to see as much of the country as possible. Volunteers are provided with assistance in setting up tourist activities either before or after arrival.
    The Real Uganda also encourages volunteers to visit each other at their respective program placements. We find volunteers learn more about grassroots development, locally led initiatives and themselves, the more they see and do while in Uganda. All volunteers are provided with contact information for each other before and after arrival.


    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (basic level)

    Education Requirements

    at University level

    Criminal Background Check

    required

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    Volunteers must be flexible, patient and comfortable public speaking. We accept volunteers with a positive attitude and open mind regarding cultural exchange.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 09:00 - 16:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by The Real Uganda

    Our program fees cover:

    • online support from us, while you prepare for Uganda
    • pickup at Entebbe International Airport
    • first night hotel stay
    • in-country orientation
    • transportation to your placement
    • three meals of Ugandan food each day
    • secure accommodation
    • weekend volunteer guesthouse use
    • 24 hour supervision, and
    • a donation to the organization with which you are placed.

    The fees do not cover airline tickets, travel insurance, tourist visa, vaccinations, drinking water, leisure activities, or medical services. But I'm happy to help you make those arrangements.

    Besides covering your basic expenses listed above, the program fees help to ensure our partner programs are able to do the work they wish to do in their communities. They also allow The Real Uganda to monitor partner progress, guide and advise current volunteers, and continuously seek new (appropriate) international volunteers for work in Uganda.

    As a result, The Real Uganda is able to partner with effective social and economic development programs. Our volunteers are also well supported to maximize their impact.

    Airport Pickup at Entebbe International Airport

    Volunteers must arrive around the 1st or 15th of the month they start volunteering. They should fly into Entebbe International Airport. We have procedures for all arrival times and flights. Our driver collects our volunteers and brings them to our Mukono Town headquarters for orientation and placement. 1 week before volunteers leave home, they are given an email detailing their arrival and first few days in Uganda.

    Accommodation

    Volunteers are given a private, lockable room (often shared with another international volunteer) in the home of your host organization's director. Most homes have electricity, western toilets, and running water, although frequent outages do occur. Once a volunteer commits to join us, and a particular host program is selected, full details about location and accommodation are then provided. Bed linens and mosquito nets are provided, but bring a pillow as they're not commonly used in Uganda.

    Food & Beverages

    Volunteers receive 3 meals of local Ugandan food each day. Meals consist of matooke (mashed steamed banana), posho (corn meal), potatoes, and rice. They are generally served with peas, beans, groundnut sauce and (occasionally) beef or fish. Tea and bread is the usual for breakfast. Vegetarians and vegans are welcome! Dairy products are rare. Volunteers can supplement their diets with locally bought fresh fruits and veg if they wish.

    Internet Access

    Limited access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Entebbe International Airport (EBB) in Entebbe. We assist you to find cheap flights to Uganda. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Uganda provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in Uganda you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Uganda. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Volunteers must arrive around the 1st or 15th of the month they start volunteering.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program fees

    2 weeks (min. stay) 1,007€
    4 weeks 1,254€
    6 weeks 1,624€
    8 weeks 1,995€
    10 weeks 2,366€
    12 weeks (max. stay) 2,737€
    Average fees 365€/week

    Program fees

    365€ per week 2 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    2 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


    Final Payment

    Your final payment will be agreed with The Real Uganda during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


    Meet your organization

    The Real Uganda

    Perfect 4.6 rating (24 reviews)

    Non-profit - founded in 2005

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Excellent response rate

    Coordinated by

    Leslie

    About the project

    The Real Uganda doesn't want to save Uganda, it wants to share Uganda with the world. We support Ugandan innovation and motivation.

    Meet your organization

    About The Real Uganda

    The Real Uganda is an organization that sources funding and skills for selected locally led initiatives in south central and western Uganda. We respectfully support Ugandan innovation and motivation. We are a legally registered non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), operating totally in Uganda, since January 2005. We place about 70 volunteers each year.

    What we do

    The Real Uganda recruits and places international volunteers with a number of schools and community based organizations around Uganda. Through our volunteer placement program, we aim to build the capacities of local organizations and raise awareness around the world about the successes and challenges of life in Uganda.

    Many local organizations lack the money and skills to grow themselves. With our program in place, our partner organizations are overcoming some of the more serious challenges they face. These include: lack of money for operations (wages, office space, transport, training courses), lack of business skills (book keeping, marketing, strategy, grant writing), and lack of up to date knowledge (Counseling/mentoring skills, English language, HIV/AIDS and life skills information).

    Many travelers wish to visit sub-Saharan Africa to find out what’s really happening on the ground. We offer a safe and family-like environment in which to come to Uganda, give your time, and experience some real culture. 

    We offer pre-arrival support by answering your questions about Uganda and by finding an organization that best fits your skill and interest. We connect you to former and current volunteers working with us. We collect you from the airport, get you to your placement, and unravel some of the more complicated cultural issues you face when entering Uganda for the first time. It is not easy to come to a completely foreign culture on your own. We want to be there to give you encouragement, advice, and support in order for you to be the most effective while you are here.

    Why we do it

    While working with The Real Uganda, volunteers learn about the real situation at the grassroots level in Uganda. Life in Uganda is tough for everyone, not just HIV/AIDS patients, orphans and refugees. Wages are low, corruption is rampant, education is not universal. In spite of this, Ugandans are some of the most welcoming, friendly, and open people in Africa. Get prepared to experience Uganda in a deep and meaningful way. Volunteers become part of the family, learning about the local culture: how to cook, how to speak the language, how to sit peacefully with their neighbors and talk about life in general. We hope that volunteers take that knowledge home with them, spreading the word about Ugandan development issues and culture around the world.

    Why choose The Real Uganda?

    We’re local – Our offices, staff, and projects are located in Uganda. We are on the ground with encouragement and support to ensure your success.

    We're experienced – Our volunteer coordinator is a Canadian, living in Uganda full-time, since 2004. We've hosted over 800 volunteers from all over the world.

    We’re relevant – Our partner organizations are Ugandan run and engage in Ugandan led activities. Activities that help and develop real people and communities, on their terms.

    We're specialized – We focus on Uganda and know it intimately. Our volunteers work at schools, in public health, on farms, and with women's empowerment groups.

    24 reviews · rating4.6

    Joana Brümmer rating5

    2022 at Public Health Educator

    I volunteered with The Real Uganda for 12 weeks in 2 different projects, in a public health project and in an agriculture project. I gained a lot of different experiences for myself. I lived in each project with a ugandan family. Both of them were so lovely and welcomed me warmly. The organization ...
    Esey rating4.4

    2015 at Public Health Educator

    I volunteered with The Real Uganda for two months as an undergraduate. I had never been anywhere in Africa or even outside of my home country by myself before that. Leslie was an amazing administrator and made me feel comfortable and prepared coming into the program, answering every email I sent in ...
    Katarina Unknown rating4.2

    2015 at Public Health Educator

    I cannot say enough good things about Uganda, The Real Uganda, and Leslie as a program director! I arrived in Uganda feeling completely prepared. I was provided with an email for any questions which were answered promptly and thoroughly, I had a checklist of things I needed (from bug spray to health ...
    Katarina rating5

    2014 at Public Health Educator

    I cannot say enough good things about Uganda, The Real Uganda, and Leslie as a program director! I arrived in Uganda feeling completely prepared. I was provided with an email for any questions which were answered promptly and thoroughly, I had a checklist of things I needed (from bug spray to health ...
    Katerina Ost rating4.2

    2014 at Public Health Educator

    I taught courses on HIV/AIDs, domestic violence, hygiene, parasites, nutrition, family planning, breastfeeding, and answered general health questions. This helped me solidify all the information I learned in University and gave me more confidence in my ability to answer questions on my feet and give ...
    Maggie rating4.8

    2011 at Public Health Educator

    During my time with the Public Health Improvement program, I spent each week travelling to a different remote village and delivering educational talks on topics including sanitation and hygiene, HIV/AIDS, family planning, and economic empowerment. We covered the basics of these issues, so while ...

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