There is a lot of fun stuff to do in Uganda. You will have access to incredible sightseeing and activities! You can go rafting or taking a boat ride on the Nile, you can see the beautiful nature and animals on a safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park or Murchison Falls. You can hike up Sipi falls or travel to the Bwindi Forest and see the silver back gorillas in their natural habitat. It’s a reason why Uganda is known as the Pearl of Africa.

We look at international volunteers as a complement of the staff. Volunteers provide cultural exchange and life skills to children, youth, and adults.

The ideal volunteer will bring new ideas, share their thoughts and observations about the work, adapt to local conditions, and have a positive, collaborative attitude. They will also gain first-hand experience working with local communities and learn about the culture – and maybe some local languages if wanted.

Our NGO is in Jinja City. Jinja is located on the east side of the country, just 68km from Kampala. With a population of 514,419, Jinja is the second biggest city in Uganda and has all amenities to cater for the volunteer needs.

Jinja is home to the source of the nile, the longest river in the world, also Lake Victoria surrounds the town. Jinja is Uganda’s number one tourist destination due to its numerous water falls that attract water rafting, kayaking, bungee jumping etc.

Nursery and primary school

Maternal and Child Health

Livelihhod Support

Youth Sports Academy

Youth Skilling Programs

Microfinance groups

Agriculture

Workshops in the community

Joy Makers Charity Foundation has a guesthouse in Bujagali for volunteers working with us. As part of our daily guesthouse fee, volunteers are provided with three, basic Ugandan meals each day. Breakfast and dinner are served at the guesthouse, and lunch is served at the place one is volunteering. All houses offer two flush toilets and hot showers. Joy Makers charges a nightly guesthouse fee per person. For a stay of 1-21 nights, the fee is $40 per night and for 22 or more nights, the nightly fee is $30 per night. Guesthouse fees do not cover the cost of a hotel stay in Entebbe or Kampala if required on nights of arrival or departure.

Joy Makers Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all of our international volunteers. In advance of their trip, volunteers work closely with the International Coordinator to plan and arrange travel and activities. The coordinator supports our volunteers throughout their trip.

Joy Makers provides transportation for volunteers to and from Entebbe Airport, which is located two hours away from Jinja City. Our International Coordinator meets volunteers at the airport and travels with them back to Jinja. The fee is pro-rated if the vehicle is shared with other volunteers. For a 4-passenger vehicle, the roundtrip fee is $200 and $100 one way. For a 7-passenger vehicle, the roundtrip is $300 and $150 one way.

The Program Fee is $200 per person for every volunteer. This fee supports our projects and covers staff support for volunteer coordination in Uganda.

Volunteers will be responsible for the cost of their flights, visas, travel insurance, and vaccinations.  Below are approximate costs of these items plus general recommendations for spending money and other travel.

Flights range from $1000 – $2500 roundtrip from the US

Visas are currently $50 for a 3-month tourist visa but volunteers should check Uganda’s E-Immigration website for the most updated fees.

Malaria pills range from $90-190

Vaccinations (yellow fever required) and medications recommended by your travel doctor can range from $100-$800

Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage ranges from $50 and up – we can provide a list of suggested providers.

Souvenirs and personal expenses $300+

Safaris, side trips $800+