Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, is one of the continent's most beautiful and inspirational countries and Soft Power Education is lucky enough to be based in Jinja, a town that sits on the edge of Lake Victoria, at the source of the Nile. The best advice we can give is to read as much about Uganda as you can before you come. Whilst it is a beautiful country, it is still a developing country and there are things which may shock the first time visitor.
These are some of the most frequently asked questions:
What will I be doing as a volunteer?
The beauty of Soft Power is that there are never two weeks the same! Our volunteers help with everything from painting and building as part of the School Refurbishment Programme; assisting at the Pre Schools; getting involved in the Community Programmes through The Amagezi Education Centre and more... Your role here will largely depend on your skills and experience, the number of other volunteers here and the time of year.
When is the best time to volunteer?
There really is no 'best time'. Our busiest time is June to September as this is when most of the Western world schools and universities have their summer holidays. Whilst the rest of the year is not as manic as those months we have volunteers all year round and there is always something to do!
How much do I need to fundraise and why?
We ask all our volunteers to hold an event or do some fundraising before they come. We ask for a minimum of £75 for each and every week you volunteer with us. Soft Power Education is still a very small charity, 100% dependent on the monies raised and donated to us through our volunteers. Every single penny you fundraise will go where it is needed right here in Uganda. Without this fundraising we would not be able to do what we do and the money you fundraise will help us to pay for the materials and projects you work on whilst you are here.
Is Uganda safe to visit?
As with anywhere in the world, there are risks when travelling and as long as you are aware of them and respect them you will be fine. Uganda is a friendy and welcoming country but you need to be aware of cultural differences and of not putting yourself in harm's way. All in all Uganda is safe, the peace talks are ongoing in the North but you will be in Jinja which is the other end of the country. It is important not to flash your wealth when in towns and cities - don't have lots of jewellery on or your camera around your neck!
Where will I stay?
We aim for all of our volunteers to spend at least some of their volunteering time living on site at one of the schools we are refurbishing. This has proved to be a very rewarding experience. You'll be sleeping in a classroom at the school and we will send a cook out to live with you. You will get to experience the day to day life of a Ugandan school and have opportunities to really get involved in the school day.
When you are not staying on site then you will be staying around Bujagali. There are a number of accommodation options in Bujagali and Jinja with varying prices. If you decide to stay in Jinja then you'll need to consider the extra transport costs of getting out to Bujagali.
What is the food like?
There are many local places to eat in and around Bujagali and there you can eat for as little as 1000 ush and be full for a week! Local food is rice, matooke, posho, potatoes served with beans, fish or meat. There are also several western style eateries serving food between $2 and $4. Then if you are feeling flush there is a lovely restaurant called The Black Lantern which is part of the Nile Porch accommodation offering meals for around the $10 mark. If you are working at a school for the day then a local lunch will be provided by the school.
How will I get there?
From outside of Uganda, the best thing to do is to search around for the best prices. United Arab Emirates offer very competitive prices with a stop off in Dubai; British Airways fly direct and often have special offers; Brussels Airlines offer good prices via Brussels and give a huge baggage allowance; KLM, Kenya Airways and Ethiopia Airways all fly here too. The International Airport in Uganda is Entebbe. You can also take the Akamba Bus from Nairobi.
From inside Uganda: If you are already in Uganda then you need to get yourself to Jinja. You can take a rosa bus from the Old Taxi Park in Kampala (around 5,000 ush); take a special hire (around 60,000 ush) or use the Nile River Explorers Shuttle Service.
Will someone meet me at the airport?
Uganda's Entebbe Airport is approximately 3 hours drive from Jinja. If you are arriving late at night we would suggest you stay in Entebbe for the evening, at one of the guest houses, and we can arrange for a car to come and collect you to take you through to Jinja the following day. It is a relatively modern airport where they have an information desk, forex bureau and canteen.
We can arrange an airport transfer from Entebbe, but we will need the following information from you - date, time and flight number. It will cost 100,000 ush (local currency) or US$65 if booking a taxi through us. The price will be approx double this if you just arrive at the airport and get a car there!
You will need to get a tourist visa at the airport which costs US $50 for 2 months. Please ensure you have US $50 ready in cash as there is nowhere to exchange / withdraw money before getting a visa! Also ensure that they give you 2 months if you are staying for more than a month.
Our volunteer coordinator will come to meet you at Bujagali when you arrive (provided it is not 2am as he is not very happy at that time of the day!) and give you a de brief on the charity and show you around the local area.
What is the weather like?
Most of the time we enjoy beautiful clear blue skies and bright sunshine. However, we do have "rainy" and "dry" seasons. These are very hard to define and seem to change every year. All you need to remember is that it can rain and when it does - well it really does! So remember to bring a waterproof of some kind. But at the same time the sun is very hot so you cannot forget sun cream and a hat. Many people are fooled thinking that they can sunbathe here like they do elsewhere in the world but the African sun is hotter, more intense and burns! As a general rule the dry months are supposed to be December and January and very wet months October and November with a good mixture for all the other months!
Do I need to take malaria medication?
Absolutely yes. There are several options and it may work out cheaper to buy the bulk once you arrive in Uganda. You can also buy a mosquito net here much cheaper than anywhere in the western world! Make sure to see your local Travel Clinic at least 6 weeks in advance of your trip here. You may need to have other injections too. Ask your doctor for advice on which injections are necessary.
How much money will I need to bring?
This really depends on what you do, where you eat, the activities you want to try, how much you drink. However, this should give you a bit of an idea. Please budget your living costs separately to your donation to Soft Power Education.
Costs per week when living on site
You will want to budget for US$50 per person per week whilst living on site/school. This will cover you for - paying the wages of one of SP's local cooks, food for the cook to cook, all necessary equipment hire - ranging from mattresses, pillows, cooking equipment, cutlery, pots, pans, stools etc. Cook's travel cost to purchase food/consumables, cleaner (for clothes washing)...
Not Provided by SP: sleeping bags, pillow cases, mossi net.
Costs per week when living at Bujagali
- Accommodation in Bujagali
- Food, drink and snacks etc. If you go to a school to help paint or help the builders then a local lunch is provided free of charge.
- Transport
- Activities
Weekends
You will need to budget for:
There are many activities on offer in Jinja and close by. Have a look at the Activity Options and Prices.
Additional Costs to Consider
- Flights and Insurance. (The earlier you book your flight the cheaper your ticket tends to be).
- Local transport costs to and from the Primary Schools/sites where you'll be volunteering and weekend travel
- Taxi from Entebbe airport to Jinja - costs approx 100,000 ush (US$65) can be arranged through Soft Power once you have confirmed your flight.
- Ugandan Tourist Visa can be obtained at land borders/Entebbe airport on arrival - US$50 for 2 months.
- Please check with your Doctor regarding appropriate injections and malaria.
- Money for all meals, drinks & snacks, optional activities that you may wish to do - rafting, quad biking, a trip to see the gorillas, QE II National Park...
Which currency should I bring?
If you are coming from the UK then it is fine to bring Sterling. You can easily change them here and it will save you losing money exchanging to dollars to then exchanging into local ugandan shillings when you get to Uganda. If however you are planning on travelling after volunteering then you should also bring some US$ as it may not be as easy to exchange Sterling in other countries and US$ are accepted all over. If you are coming from outside the UK then bring US$. Check www.xe.com for up-to-date exchange rates.
Travellers cheques are more trouble than they are worth. If you are not keen on bringing heaps of cash with you then make sure to bring a VISA ATM card with a PIN. That way you can withdraw cash straight from your account when you need it. (VISA is the only card which works in the ATMs here) To save carrying lots of cash too, you can transfer your donation to us before you leave home. You can find our bank details under the Fundraising section.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you are bringing US dollars make sure that they are large denominations ($50 and $100) as you will get a poor exchange rate for lower value notes. ALSO ensure that they are dated from the year 2000 or newer. You will have troubles changing any notes from before 2000.
What is Jinja like?
Jinja town has a local market, a post office, cafes, email facilities, several supermarkets, forex bureau, hospital, restaurants, guest houses, backpackers, craft shops etc... Most of the banks now have ATM machines which accept VISA cards if you have a PIN. Mastercard or AMEX don't work here! The city of Kampala is 1.5 hours west of Jinja and can be reached easily by local bus, taxi or hire car. There you have many western delights - cinema, SA supermarkets, 3* hotels, nightclubs, embassies, Barclays bank and a great local market.
Soft Power Education has an office in Jinja but mainly operates from out of Nile River Explorers Campsite at Bujagali Falls which is 8km from Jinja town, on the banks of the river Nile, opposite from Eden Rock campsite. Most of our volunteers initially stay in accommodation around Bujagali - coming into town to use the Internet or to shop before living out on site within the communities or at the schools.
What do I need to bring?
- Casual but respectable clothing for living and working on site - T-shirts, shorts and trousers are fine, but please don't bring hot pants, low cut tops or clothes that will offend.
- There is a great social side to volunteering with Soft Power - BBQs, dinners out, weekend excursions... you may wish to bring clothes for these occasions.
- Your mobile phone is invaluable - bring a charger or lead and you'll just need to buy a Ugandan SIM card once here which costs around 3000 ush (less than £1) (Note that you may need to have your phone unlocked.)
- Torch/Head torch - it's imperative.
- It can get cool at night - the odd jumper/jacket won't hurt.
- Depending on where you're staying, a mozzie net/sleeping bag/sheet.
- Mozzie repellent - alarm clock - pen knife - books - sunglasses
- First Aid kit
- Plenty of camera film or memory cards and software for downloading digital photos.
- Waterproof & sunshine clothes. When it rains it really rains!
- Flip flops or sandals and a sturdy pair of boots or trainers.
Will there be time for me to travel around Uganda?
Definitely... depending on your schedule of course! The weekends are free for you to enjoy and we encourage you to see as much of Uganda as you can. There is a great trip up to Murchison Falls National Park which we can book you onto (you'll get a 5% discount and we'll get some commission!); you can take a trip to Sipi Falls which is just a couple of hours away; we can put you in touch with a local travel company to organise longer safaris or trips to the gorillas. The great thing about Soft Power is our flexibility and so you can organise to spend 2 weeks volunteering with us, then take a week for a safari and then come back for more volunteering! If a trip you want to do goes from Friday to Monday then we are ok with that too!
If you have any other questions please feel free to send them to volunteering@softpowereducation.com