REOPENING OF SCHOOLS.

The dream has come true after the announcement of the reopening of schools. Everyone is getting ready teachers, school owners, parents, and students. Reopening of schools but who is going back? After two years of closure, schools are to be opened up in Uganda on the 10th of January 2022. The president of Uganda confirmed on the 31st of December 2021 that all the learners will go back to school on the 10th of January. This is good news to all parents and school owners plus teachers who are willing to continue with the call.

The minister of education and sports says that learners are automatically going to the next class. That is to say, those who were in senior one to be promoted to senior two as schools open. This is due to the missed terms by the students due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This may be good news for the high growth rate of children mostly girls. But the coverage in the school syllabus is low and no one knows how it is going to be covered. Teachers are advised to find balancing solutions to make up for the lost time. But remember it has been long since students last sat in the classrooms and their minds are not set the school class works, tests, and exams.

SCHOOLS

About 40% of Uganda’s primary schools and 60% of its secondary are private institutions, run by individuals, religious organizations, charities, and businesses. Their main income is through school fees which cover all the running costs. These include the teachers’ salaries which range from ($100) 350,000 to (250) 880,000 Uganda shillings a month. Some private schools offer high-quality education and have good facilities. As schools were closed due to COVID-19 many had got loans to sustain the schools hoping they would pay using the payments of school fees. Therefore many have been put out for sale due to failure to pay loans of the bank. The government’s promises to assist private school teachers have gone unfulfilled. No one knows if all schools will be in a position to open up by January 10th.

Schools need a lot of money to start operating as:

  • Some classrooms are not in good shape due to the long time not been in use.
  • The sits or desks used in the classrooms are all broken due to the ants so new ones are needed.
  • The materials to be used in putting SOPS in practice are also limited in schools since all students are going back at the same time. For example temperature guns, tape water, soap to wash hands, and hand sanitizer to be used. This means additional money which is not available.
  • Schools are to provide some money to teachers who had moved to the villages. The money is to cater for the rent since some were chased away from the houses and to buy some other stuff like clothes, shoes, etc.
  • Facilities to enable social distance are also not available such as dormitories and classrooms.

All the above and more up to the school owners and heads to find ways of providing everything that is needed.

TEACHERS

School teachers as the holders of the institutions are also to be looked up in this matter as schools reopen.

Schools are set to have a shortage of teachers as they look forward to reopening up. So many schools as they closed due to COVID-19 they were u able to pay these teachers by that time. Those in private schools received messages “No more payments until when schools open.” So many teachers were left to starve and be chased out of their homes since the source of money was closed. It reached a point where teachers started begging parents to give them something to eat

Many teachers had to find jobs to earn some money since there was not any light when schools will be opened. They worked in jobs like making chapatis, washing clothes in the neighborhood, some became farmers and others decided to go to Dubai to work. Many have been successful in their businesses where they get good money. They are not willing to go back to teaching leaving their business. Those in farming say that they have a ready market for their products so they have transformed from teaching to farming. So where are the teachers who are going to attend to learners in school? What quality of learners is going to be produced.

So it’s advised that teachers should have more listening ears than ever before this time around. The students have gone through a lot in the past two years. The government of Uganda has remembered at last teachers from private schools both primary and secondary to receive ten thousand shillings ( 100,000shs) each in COVID-19 relief cash.

Let’s talk about the PARENTS.

Parents are the breeders of the school fees and providers of the students. The school fees range from shillings 100,000 to shillings 2,000,000 and above. Many parents lost their jobs during the COVID-19 and they are looking north and west to get the school fees ready come January 10th. And many parents are not willing to take their kids back to school due to financial difficulties. So the question comes up how many parents will have the full fees for the children in schools. Although very many parents are shopping for their children per now. They are shopping from school uniforms, books, shoes, pens, and pencils to what they will eat in the term.

The big factor comes up the “STUDENTS”

Children were safe in schools but the closing of schools due to COVID-19 every changed. According to the National Planning Authority says that 30 percent of students are expected not to return to their school decks in January due to teen pregnancy, early marriage, and child labor. The two years of school shutdown have done more harm than good. This was said by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) General secretary Filbert Baguma. Many girls got pregnant, got married off and others got jobs and started earning money. Some girls have two children in two lockdowns.

The cultural norms and the stigma can make the girls ashamed of going back to school while pregnant or even being married. Although some would wish to go back to school some were chased away from home and had no stable job to provide school fees. Boys are not also spared from the impact of the school shutdown with many in the child labor market. They have been working in mining, street vending, making bricks, and sugarcane planting. They are touching money so they see no reason to go back to school. It’s very hard to convince these children to go back to school as they see no valve in schooling again. So which children are going back to school?

 

reopening of schools

Donations of scholastic materials upon the reopening of schools at Love Uganda Orphanage.

Volunteering in Uganda gives an opportunity to volunteer under the education program and the orphanage program to extend help to vulnerable children.

Partnering with Love Uganda foundation that has about 30 children and they all need to go back to school come Monday 10th, December 2022. They need scholastic materials that are to say uniforms, books, pens and other materials need in schools.

Through donations, we will be able to provide them with the school requirements. By sponsoring a child at Love Uganda Orphanage home, she or she will be able to attend school without any differentiates. Please check out our fee and get involved.

With its partners, Tuyambe.org, Love Uganda Safaris, join hands to make sure that these children get everything they need during school times and holidays.

But we can’t manage alone without your help. Offer a hand as we “empower the next generation.”

 

 

 

malnutrition
Webmasters December 28, 2021 No Comments

MALNUTRITION

The World Health Organisation defines malnutrition as “deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients”.

The National Health Services of the United Kingdom refers to malnutrition as “poor nutrition”.

There is something in common here, based on those two definitions and that is food.

The food in question is available but it is not exactly the kind of food the body needs and requires to grow as it should grow.

Food is a very vital part of life for children and living life and it shall guide our discussion here.

 

The World Food Programme puts it so well;

“To get to Zero Hunger, food is not enough. Providing food assistance in an emergency can save lives, but the right nutrition at the right time can also help change lives and break the cycle of poverty”.

According to the Global Nutrition Report, Uganda is ‘on course’ to meet two of the global nutrition targets for which there was sufficient data to assess progress!

 

Take, for example, one group of malnutrition (under-nutrition). It includes wasting (having a low weight for one’s height), stunting (having a low height for one’s age), and being underweight (having a low weight for one’s age) as well as having deficiencies in vitamins and minerals.

Undernutrition makes children in particular much more vulnerable to disease and death!

 

According to the World Health Organisation fact-sheet on malnutrition, wasting usually indicates recent and severe weight loss, because a person has not had enough food to eat and/or they have had an infectious disease, such as diarrhea, which has caused them to lose weight. A young child that is moderately or severely wasted has an increased risk of death, but treatment is possible.

 

When it comes to stunting, we are generally dealing with a result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition. Usually associated with poor socioeconomic conditions, poor maternal health and nutrition, frequent illness, and/or inappropriate infant and young child feeding and care in early life. Stunting holds children back from reaching their physical and cognitive potential.

 

For a child to be underweight, they may be stunted, wasted, or both.

 

In the same spirit of having children under the condition of under-nutrition, there exists over-nutrition!

Overnutrition is the situation where a child has more nutrients in their body than they need to have.

Signs and symptoms of malnutrition.

The most common signs and symptoms of malnutrition in children include feeling tired all the time, feeling weak, getting sick often. And taking quite long to recover, a general lack of interest in eating and drinking. Having a low body weight, not growing or not putting on weight at the expected rate among others.

 

Many doctors advise that the best course of action to take once you realize a child is malnourished is to start them on a diet high in proteins and calories.

Food that is high in proteins includes poultry, lean meat like beef and pork, fish, eggs. Dairy products like yogurt and milk among others.

Food that is high in calories includes beans, whole milk, cheese, eggs, oily fish, potatoes, brown rice. And whole-grain bread among others.

 

If you can, it is recommended that you give out a snack in between meals to the child that is malnourished.

And begin them on a diet of drinks that are high on calories like orange juice, apple juice among others.

Adding plenty of fruits and vegetables to the diet of the children helps a lot, too!

 

 Feeding them a balanced and healthy diet, as much as possible hence prevention of malnutrition.

However, this can also begin with the entire journey of the expectant mother. As they are provided this same balanced and healthy diet. In the hope that their children are born healthy and have a lower risk of being stunted, developing poorly, or dying.

Breastfeeding mothers need to eat a plentiful diet to store the energy and nutrients they require to breastfeed successfully.  (UNICEF, 2018)

 

Ps. Since we are talking about malnutrition in children, it is strongly advised medical personnel are consulted to establish what is causing this condition in a child before any action can be taken.

Volunteering in Uganda is the only place you can choose to volunteer to reach out to those who are suffering from malnutrition. Through our community outreach and healthcare plus the orphanage programs, you will be able to extend services and help to these people.

At Love Uganda Foundation orphanage you will get to care for the orphans both external and internal. We care a lot about what type of food our children take. Although they are orphans they deserve to have a balanced and healthy diet. With the help of our partners Tuyambe.org, and Love Uganda Safaris. Through charities and donations that you give to us with we can ensure that they get to eat a balanced diet.

Christmas day
Webmasters December 24, 2021 No Comments

CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas day is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ around the world on the 25th of December every year. Both religious and cultural people celebrate it around the world. It’s preceded by the season of advent that initiates the season of Christmastide which historically in the West lasts twelve days. Isaiah 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Christmas day involves giving gifts, Christmas music, and corals, going for church services, decorations of the Christmas tree. People do shopping all over the world. Markets are always full, supermarkets and shopping malls. Buying new clothes for that day is on everyone’s to-do list.

When I was young my mom used to take me shopping to get a Christmas dress and a new pair of shoes. I remember the smile on my face those days because I was just so happy to the extent that I couldn’t sleep. A lot of food was cooked and too many sodas were served. Up to today, nothing has changed.

But who provides for the vulnerable children, who cares if they have got Christmas gifts, new clothes and something to eat. These children don’t have families that care for them, no basic needs, no health care, and no family. Remember Christmas is always fun celebrated with family but where is the family. Some end up on the streets and others in the orphanages where they try to get a picture of what it feels like to have Christmas.

Children are happy for there Christmas gifts

The joy of being given gifts.

So how can you help vulnerable children enjoy Christmas like any other child with a family? Through volunteering, this can be made possible. The memories may seem like a small thing but to a child in foster care means a world to them. Our orphanage program gives you a chance to reach out to the vulnerable children at the Love Uganda Foundation orphanage.

  • Vulnerable children or any other child love gifts. You may not know the name of the child but know the age and gender of the child you are a blessing. This will help you choose the gift or items you wish to purchase. The extra time and effort put in to make a huge difference in helping the child feel loved. You may choose to donate clothes, pairs of shoes, toys, and a teddy bear to kids under  Love Uganda Foundation
  • Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem and when you read luke2:7 says “she gave birth to the firstborn son and wrapped him in the swaddling clothes, and laid him in the manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” Jesus looked like a vulnerable child and he faced hunger, sadness pain and isolated. Many vulnerable children are isolated once their parents die by relatives. They look for what to eat and they are always sad. So choosing to donate food to orphanages during this Christmas season. As you do shopping for your family pick some items to take to the orphanage? For example, sacks of sugar and rice, cooking oil, and loaves of bread.

These kids long to have something they can call theirs and it will become special to them. You will remain in their hearts and pray. I challenge you his holiday season as you decorate your house and Christmas tree, gather around as a family, and celebrate think of ways to make a child in an orphanage and streets feel special. Maybe your love this year will make ornaments for the organization.  The way you love to be given gifts is the way kids at Love Uganda Foundation love them too.

Volunteering in Uganda and its partners Tuyambe.org, Love Uganda Foundation, and Love Uganda Safaris. Wishes you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. We thank you for all the help through donations and sponsoring a child in 2021. And we look forward to working with you in the year2022. Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to give. This is according to BC Forbes, the Scottish-born American financial journalist

 

christian volunteer program
Footprint Volunteer Uganda October 25, 2021 No Comments

CHRISTIAN VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN UGANDA

 

Uganda is a gifted country located in East Africa. It is known as the pearl of Africa covered with water and green vegetation. The mountains, the lakes in the country for example lake victoria, lake Albert, and lack kyoga. Uganda is a land-locked country. But that does not stop visitors from coming around to enjoy the natural breathtaking beaches on the lakesides. Uganda has a tropical climate because of its location on the equator and it has wet and dry seasons. Christian volunteer program in Uganda allows volunteers that come to Uganda can enjoy the cool breeze around the lakes and mountains and also tour around the country.

Christian volunteer program in Uganda creates so many questions that come into your mind on why you could choose to volunteer in Uganda. But your questions are answered below.

When you choose to volunteer in Uganda you are building a community through service delivery.  You will be able to eat with the people in the community, work together which unites people towards a common good. When volunteering, you can untie with students, teachers, and community members. This will show you there is little or no difference between you and community members that may set you apart.

You will be able to learn the old fashion way of trade that’s to say people still use hand hoes to dig despite the introduction of farming machines and also fetching water from a well.

Uganda is gifted with people who always have something new all the time. They will ask you your names, what you do in terms of your job, your life experiences, and what inspired you to come to Uganda to volunteer and you will also be able to know more about the people here.

Volunteering in Uganda gives you a free ticket to tour around beautiful places like Jinja where the adventure starts from the shores of the River Nile. You will get to play games like bungee jumping, ATV riding, and zip-lining to white water rafting.

You will also get to taste the true organic foods of Uganda. Such as fruits and vegetables straight from the gardens to the table, chicken that lays eggs, sweet fresh juice made locally not from machines that are a grantee, you will not be disappointed at all.

Volunteering will make your way to your childhood life.

When did you last be a child, you will be able to play football and netball, sing children’s songs and dance with them and also get to tell stories of your childhood to the children. You will understand what they mean when they say being around kids is fun and restores joy to your heart.

Uganda is a gifted country due to its wildlife at Murchison falls located in Lolim, Masindi. When you choose to take a safari, you will be able to see the gazelle, giraffes, elephants, and also a chance to see a lion.  You will get a chance to move on the water to see the crocodiles and the hippos, the breathtaking landscape at the view of Murchison falls and a powerful flow of water at the Nile River which the tour guide will take you through.

Uganda has got several volunteering programs that help the vulnerable children

Volunteer in teaching is a program that involves teaching orphaned children, street children, and vulnerable children in rural areas. You can teach the children English to improve on writing and reading English words. And also other subjects like math hence helping in educating a child.

HIV/AID is a problem in Uganda as the numbers of those who are sick are rising as days go by. So HIV/AIDs has become a program or project to volunteer in too. Every day parents and children are affected by the disease and many die. So the volunteer is allowed to deliver educational programs, training, and other activities. These are to help those suffering from it. The volunteer will offer support in terms of giving encouraging words, treatment informs of ARVs to the patients. And also psychological support through guidance and counseling to the patients of HIV. And help create awareness to the population on ways how to protect themselves from the disease. To those who already have the disease not to spread it to other people.

The community development program;

involves developing communities through empowering women and youth in the community. This is through giving them skills on how to work and reduce poverty in their households. For example, tailoring of clothes, agricultural skills. And how to run and manage the business. The basic hygiene and health care of their bodies. The best way is to educate the girl child so that they receive equal opportunities with men.

Child care /orphanage program; this program runs around child development, showing love to orphanages. This is by providing for them in so many ways that are to say education where volunteers can sponsor or donate for the education of the child. Teach them ways how they can clean themselves, take drugs in case they are sick, and also prepare meals for them to eat. Hence making them feel loved and also showing them that somebody cares for them.

Health care programs, this is to cater to the health of the people, children in the community. The opportunity is for medical persons. These will work in both public and community hospitals to offer needed assistance to doctors. And financially unstable patients. There are so many people in Uganda who are suffering from curable diseases. But this is due to inadequate healthcare professionals, hospitals, and also money to fund the treatment. And this will give a valuable medical experience that will benefit one greatly in the future.

In conclusion, the Christian volunteer programs in Uganda should work towards improving the lives of vulnerable children, orphans, and street children and also develop more volunteer opportunities to attract more volunteers to come into the country to offer their support in communities. Let Footprint Volunteering in Uganda take you through your volunteering process.

 

community empowerment
Footprint Volunteer Uganda October 20, 2021 No Comments

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

A community empowerment program refers to a process of enabling communities to increase control over their lives.  Community development is the process by which community members come together to take collective action and generate solutions to problems.

Community empowerment programs aim at empowering individuals and groups of people.  They provide them with skills that can bring about change in their communities.

Community empowerment looks at the social, cultural, political, and economic determinants. The program calls for the participation and engagement of communities.

Examples of community empowerment programs

Youth camps; are formed to equip youth with skills to start up their jobs. They are trained in competitive software development, web literacy skills, and digital. Youth also acquire skills on communication and presentation skills, advising counseling, leadership, and teamwork. This helps the youth to go away from the criminal and poverty life to the life of productive occupation.

The educational community empowerment program looks at both formal and vocational training for the people in the community. Youth and women are equipped with vocational entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy that helps them to develop the communities and their careers.

Peer counseling is one-on-one interaction between members of a group who have so many things in common. There is active listening where complete attention is given to what someone is saying and responds without judgment. Peers can talk about their feelings, explore their issues and help them find solutions. This helps them acquire skills in active listening and problem-solving in real life.

Career guidance; looks at giving people comprehensively, developmental programs that are to assist in making and implementing informed educational and occupational choices. This helps the students and parents with the knowledge to explore different career options.

Impact of community empowerment programs on people

The power lays within the person and not the professionals or services when empowered.  So below are the impacts of community empowerment programs.

Community empowerment programs bring about the academic engagement of the people in the communities. This includes activities of collaborative research with industry, contract research, consulting, and informal ties. Volunteer programs and community-service requirements like engaging students in public services, community organizing, and advocacy and will help people to develop skills in their careers.

Secondly, empowerment of people in the communities especially women and youth in the communities; enables the woman to acquire skills to contribute to the workforce and be able to raise the children healthier and happy.

Community empowerment programs

call for the civic engagement of citizens in the community. For example, participating in group activities. voting, and volunteering. furthermore, these can be political or non-political processes. Either paid or unpaid forms of community and national service, environmentalism, and many more.

It creates leadership and teamwork skills in people. People get skills like self-development, team development, strategic thinking and acting, ethical practice and civic-mindedness, and innovation. Teamwork helps to lead to greater productivity hence reaching goals and accomplishing them. They can join their strength and weakness hence leading to development.

This leads to personal and social development in community people. Personal development involves how people understand themselves concerning their interactions with others. This will help one grow and develop. Social development is about improving the well-being of individuals to their full potential in society. The person should be able to manage feelings and impulses to learn and grow.

This also creates a sense of self-worth in a person. As it helps a person to value him or herself. And encourages one to try out new things, meet new people and also enjoy your life. This enables one to believe that you are a good person, not a bad person and you deserve good things in life.

Furthermore,

it helps one to expand their sense of hope. A person gets to understand that no matter how bad the situation may be, there is hope that at some point in life everything will be okay. This helps you keep on pushing through a tough situation to make it through to a better future.

Helps one to have empathy and compassion for others; one can feel the pain of the other person and be able to understand what they are feeling. Therefore this also enables one to help those who are going through tough conditions in life.

In a nutshell, community empowerment programs aim at developing communities and people living there. To ensure that communities are developed the government and non-profit organizations should work hand in hand

financial specialist
Footprint Volunteer Uganda October 18, 2021 No Comments

Volunteering as a financial specialist

In Matthew 5:16 it says “in the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.” A financial specialist refers to a person responsible for the financial management in the organization, or business. There is a lot in volunteering as a financial specialist in a Non-governmental organization you are to focus on promoting collaborative processes, client-focused, quality, and results-oriented approaches in an organization where he or she is volunteering. Volunteers will give advice and support the projects in an organization.

The people who volunteer as financial specialists have to have some qualifications. People who take up this program have a degree in finance, accounting, economics, finance, and public administration.

The financial specialist will do the activities below when you choose to volunteer.

Volunteering as a financial specialist you are to manage projects of the organization through financial analysis. And oversight of all the resources used on the project. This is to ensure proper managing and monitoring of resources in an organization.

The financial specialist will carry out proper planning, tracking expenditure of financial resources basing on the rules and regulations of an organization. This is to help the organization spend on the required activities to ensure growth and development in organization.

The volunteer will track and report to the management on the key financial performance indicators in an organization. This will help managers know where they have reached the set goals.

The volunteer will also set up or establish financial procedures in place. For example receipts, payments, disbursements and bookkeeping, filing procedures for the project. This helps one to keep track of how much was spent on what project and how the money was managed.

Volunteering as a financial specialist you are to ensure that all the financial procedures are in place. And comply with the financial or accounting and procurement requirements of the organization. This helps to create a connection between the financial procedures used in an organization.

The volunteer will continuously analyze and monitor the forecast presentation for projects and also the financial situation in an organization. In addition, the volunteer will also oversee the transparency of the financial processes and find out how the use of funds and the compliance with the organization’s financial guidelines.

The volunteer will carry out routine monitoring of the financial exception reports for unusual activities, transitions. Also, the volunteer will inform supervisors of the results got from the investigation with satisfactory answers obtained.

The volunteer will manage all financial resources through preparing and monitoring project budgets develop proper mechanisms to eliminate deficiencies in budget management. In addition, the volunteer should ensure that the payment information is recorded properly into the system timely.

The volunteer has to ensure proper project cash management and focusing on achieving timely review of cash position for projects and preparation of monthly cash flow to ensure that sufficient funds are provided.

The financial specialist has to ensure the capacity development of the organization. That’s to say advising and assisting with proper financial management, training of staff members on financial management, and implementation in projects.  The volunteer will also help in reviewing submitted financial documents and provide feedback before processing payments.

To sum it up, volunteering as a financial specialist in any organization is of a good advantage as you can learn new skills; it helps you grow a career, helps in networking as you can grow personal and professional relationships. It also helps a volunteer to gain experience in any career as you can further your knowledge and experience. So come find a volunteer program that you would love with volunteering in Uganda.

successful volunteer program
Footprint Volunteer Uganda October 14, 2021 No Comments

Successful volunteer program

A volunteer program refers to a systematized way of preparing for recruiting, training, supervising, and also thanking volunteers to make it easy for people to volunteer in a nonprofit organization for example at Love Uganda Foundation and Footprint Volunteering  Uganda. The volunteer program aims at reaching out to the various needs of people within our society. And these include; vulnerable people, wildlife, water and environment, Agriculture, human rights. Volunteering involves providing a safe health environment that could accommodate life and any kind of living.

To have a successful community and faith-based organization you have to implement a successful volunteer program the will attract volunteers to come to your organization.  Some of the volunteer programs at Footprint Volunteer Uganda include; Elderly program, Childcare/Orphanage program, Widows program, Disabled program, HIV/AIDS program, Youth program, Water and sanitation, Healthcare program, Human rights, and Community development program.

First, you have to understand the role of volunteers in your organization. This will enable you to form good successful volunteer programs. Below are some of the volunteer roles in an organization.

  • Volunteers in an organization help in the marketing efforts this is through creating posters, setting up events. And updating blogs on the website with information that encourages people to attend.
  • They also help in providing information to the public via phones, emails, or even meet them in person. They answer questions and also provide more information about the cause.
  • Volunteers also provide teamwork in an organization. That is to say, they work with other volunteers on projects to achieve targets. And also help in creating activity plans.
  • They help in motivating others to get involved in the cause at hand. That is to say, encouraging them to donate money or get involved in signing up for fundraising events.
  • Volunteers are good at keeping accurate records of the organization. They are responsible for keeping up-to-date records where necessary and provide reports to the top members of the organization.

What does it take to implement a successful volunteer program? There are several steps that you have to follow to have a successful volunteer program.

First, you have to have a plan so the step is called planning. This involves you to state the mission for example the mission of Footprint volunteer Uganda is “WORK FOR A CAUSE”. And the one of Love Uganda Foundation states that “Giving hope to Orphans, Needy, Vulnerable and Disabled children.” The mission statement helps volunteers to fit into an organization. It also helps the person to make consistent decisions, motivate others and also enhance communication in an organization.

Under planning still you have to know what you are going to use volunteers for in your organization. So of the questions, you ask yourself are:

  • Will the use of volunteers in your organization expand your services. Or will a volunteer program help you to save money?
  • Do you have to find out how the use of volunteers affects the collaborative efforts? Are the partners able to work with volunteers?
  • How will the staff react when the volunteers come around?

You have to be able to explain to your staff; what will be the work of a volunteer, what are your reasons for recruiting volunteers? And you have to be to create healthy teamwork between the paid and unpaid staff.

Secondly, you have to know how you are going to recruit the volunteers so the second step is recruiting. Volunteer recruitment refers to attracting and inviting people to consider involvement with the organization. Many organizations have less paid staff and more volunteers. People tend to volunteer for an organization that promotes a cause. And they always want to know if their contribution will make a difference. Some of the active particular areas they may which to volunteer are children welfare. And also abuse prevention so you have to assess your image.

In addition, there are so many ways on how to recruit volunteers to your organization that is to say;

  • You can contact the local volunteer center
  • You can also use the current volunteers in an organization. These are the best people to use because they are committed to the organization and believe in it.
  • The organization can also use social media or mass media such as newspapers, newsletters, televisions, radios, and billboards.
  • Registering with volunteer referral organizations
  • Getting referrals from staff, ministers, friends, and religious leaders such as deacons
  • You can make personal appearances at senior centers, career fairs, and other venues or events.

The third step is the training of volunteers in an organization. This involves developing your orientation program. This will help volunteers to see how the volunteer’s position will fit within the context of the organization.

To add to the above, you should assign orientation leaders. Volunteer manager or staff trainer usually conducts orientation. You should ask experienced volunteers to mentor and orient new volunteers. In addition, you should schedule an orientation, develop orientation such as a volunteer handbook, orientation packet, and reference guides. You should introduce the volunteers to the staff and other volunteers.

The fourth step is managing where you will assign a supervisor to a volunteer and regular communication with the volunteer. Evaluating volunteers to see their performance and share the results. This is to show that you care about the volunteers and the quality of their work.

Lastly, evaluating is the last step that calls you to describe your program to the volunteers in the organization let’s say a teaching program or health care program. It also involves designing the evaluation that includes reviewing and documenting the effects of your services and their importance to the community. There is also a collection of data, analyzing data, and report results.

In a nutshell, implementing a successful volunteer program requires a lot of research and paperwork to ensure that the mission, objectives, and goals of an organization are achieved. There are better programs at Footprint volunteering Uganda for volunteers to work in.

 

 

 

orphanage project in Uganda
Footprint Volunteer Uganda September 15, 2021 No Comments

ORPHANAGE PROJECT

ORPHANAGE PROJECT

It’s a good project but a challenging one. It needs a lot to put in without expecting a lot to come out of it. Orphanages are homes that accommodate orphans, children with special needs, street children, and vulnerable children. The orphanage project provides shelter for children, gives them health care, provides education, and also gets basic needs of life. These children have abandoned children due to financial problems, conflicts, or wars, some have lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS. Some leave homes due to child labor, and domestic violence, and abuse from their relatives who tend to take care of them when their parents die. Due to extreme poverty in their homes/ families, their parents or relatives abandoned them on the streets.

Below are some of the skills need in the orphanage program.

In an orphanage project, you do not need much to be a volunteer. What you need is to be able to love the children, play with them, care for them and teach them some of the skills you know. This is to enable them to grow up knowing that somebody loves and cares for them amidst their childhood times. When around children you have to be patient, kind, and at the same time flexible when working with children that’s all you need to have.

Responsibilities of the volunteer in an orphanage project

The volunteer in an orphanage will help in preparing meals for children, feeding them, bathing and dressing the children, washing clothes, and help in keeping the orphanage clean, well-organized at all times.

The volunteer will take care of the children in the orphanage in an affectionate manner. You should be able to offer support in their times of challenging situations and also play with them during their leisure times.

The volunteer may be asked to help in teaching children in an orphanage school. This would depend on the volunteer’s capability on the subjects said to be taught and his or her comfort zone. Subjects mostly English will be taught to children and other subjects, educate them about personal hygiene, and impart valuable life skills.

Organization of Educational games by the volunteer for children at the orphanage. For example, learning fun songs and rhymes, and sports activities. This helps in the growth of children, child development, and also their well-being.

How does volunteering in an orphanage project helps the children?

Volunteering helps children discover their inner strengths and life skills. That’s to say as they can talk to people, they become open and say what they feel like. The volunteers can guide them in their day-to-day life hence becoming successful in life.

Volunteering helps children in orphanages to attain quality education. Volunteers help in teaching the children English and other subjects like math and also help them in doing homework. This helps them to become better citizens of the country. Quality education allows them to acquire skills, values, beliefs, moral habits, and achieving knowledge.

Volunteering also helps in building better classrooms, houses/shelters for the children. This gives the children better learning structures and a good place for them to leave in hence a secured living.

Volunteering helps the children attain good health services.  At the orphanage treatment of malaria, cough, and flu is done. This helps children grow healthy and strong.

Children can eat balanced and good food in an orphanage. Volunteers help in feeding the children food that develops their immune system. To fight diseases and also build their bodies.

Volunteering helps in restoring hope to children who had lost hope.  It makes them feel loved when shown love, care, a listening ear, and playing with them. This helps the children to grow well knowing that they have a shoulder to run to. For instance, in chase danger knocks on the door.

Summarily, volunteer in Uganda orphanage project, volunteering is of great importance in the lives of children. It creates a unique bond between the children and the volunteers. children get their restored hope, love, care, and kindness restored. It also helps the volunteers to improve on their skills, learn new cultures, and how they do things. All in all, it’s always fun when you choose to volunteer.

 

 

 

 

volunteering in Uganda footprint volunteer
Footprint Volunteer Uganda September 14, 2021 3 Comments

VOLUNTEERING IN UGANDA (FOOTPRINT VOLUNTEER UGANDA)

A volunteer refers to a person who offers to take part in an organization with little or no pay. Footprint Volunteer Uganda is an initiative project to reach out to the various needs within our society. And these include; vulnerable people, wildlife, water and environment, Agriculture, human rights.

Volunteering involves providing a safe health environment that could accommodate life and any kind of living. Various programs are currently running under this project among which include; Elderly program, Childcare/Orphanage program, Widows program, Disabled program, HIV/AIDS program, Youth program, Water and sanitation, Healthcare program, Human rights, and Community development program. The major objective of the footprint is an opportunity for everybody out there that has the zeal of changing and transforming a society positively basing on the mentioned needs.

Discussed below are the programs carried out in Footprint Volunteer Uganda.

Childcare/Orphanage program

is a volunteer program set up to render support to orphaned, poor, and marginalized children of Uganda who have not acquired parental support and have faced several challenges in life.

A local orphanage based in Kalagi-Mukono [Uganda], founded by the late Emmanuel MacMillan Kitumba in 2012 to rescue and restore hope to the vulnerable children in most war, epidemic, poverty, HIV/AIDS affected areas. The orphanage shelters around 20 children around the age of 3 to 15 years. This program is based to show love and restore hope to the orphans around Uganda.

These children have encountered a lot of problems that make it hard to trust anyone so easily. So a trained team on grounds specialized in children trauma healing education. Some children are sexually abused by their relatives so volunteering in Uganda works with Love Uganda Foundation that connects to the police

Health care program

its aim is (To improve health in rural communities through educating and engaging people in health programs.) Medical volunteers or interns can join our Public health & medical care project and sustainably change the health, and hygiene of Uganda’s rural people.

The medical volunteer program takes you to rural hospitals, clinics, small communities or orphanages, sub-urban medical centers to provide checkups. Basic medical care, early intervention provide services for infants and toddlers less than three years of age who may have or be at risk of developmental delay.

Family planning-provide information about birth control methods to help in planning the number and spacing of children, when to become pregnant and provides to improve the health and well-being of children in their care.

Treatment of malaria, tuberculosis, and syphilis are the most common health ailments in Uganda. For example, a registered nurse, medical doctor, lab technician, and paramedic or have a trained medical skill then you can.

Participate in patient care such as diagnosing, injections, lab work. If you are a midwife then you can work in the maternity ward assisting with prenatal and antenatal care. All the activities are under the supervision of professional doctors, nurses, and support staff.

Education/teaching program

is also a program undertaken to equip the orphans and the community to attain education at all levels. The volunteer project involves teaching primary school children using dedicated one-on-one sessions to help bring them up to required standards. The aim is to give certain students extra attention as they have fallen behind the rest of their peers. The education volunteer will help children learn the correct use of English words, master English grammar, encourage writing, reading, and comprehension skills. This will let the children practically learn the language and may be able to improve their verbal skills.

Volunteers are also to work in government and public primary schools located in and around the areas to teach children. Volunteers mainly teach children aged between 4-16years. Subjects to be taught include English (Conversational and Written), Math’s, Geography, Religious Education, Entrepreneurship skills, General Knowledge as well as Physical Education a sports program in schools. They teach for approximately 4-5 hours a day, five days a week.  They may be alone or with the help of other teachers.

Community development/ empowerment

involves work alongside local people on community development programs. This includes education, women’s empowerment, environmental monitoring, income-generating activities, health management, and mapping.

Women empowerment is one of the programs under community empowerment that works towards better welfare and social development of women.

Empowering women to improve basic hygiene and health care, to fight high rates of infant mortality. The answer is to educate girls. Volunteering in Uganda therefore, understands that the future of many communities lies in the hands of empowered female leaders. Women may share their knowledge in the community’s best interests.

Equal opportunities are what we aim for in Uganda.  volunteers have a chance to assist women by boosting literacy and health education, providing income generation tips and microcredit loans education, rights, and life skills.

saving and credit – micro-credit through cooperatives, income generative skills training, women health, and maternity education. Teaching the English language to young women, help with small business skills.

We see the rise in quality of life for the women as fundamental to positive development for Uganda as a whole. By providing women with the tools to be at the head of their own future successes.

Lastly, youth empowerment concludes then community programs.

The percentage of unemployed youth in Uganda both skilled and unskilled stands at 2.44%. Covid-19 made the matter worse companies closed and some lied off workers due to limited funds. (UNICEF generally defines youth as being between the ages of 15 and 24 years old). Some youth also have negative views on certain jobs so they are unwilling to take them if offered a position. Youth unemployment poses a serious political, economic, and social challenge to the country and its leadership. It’s difficult for Uganda to break out of poverty.

Volunteers help in sensitization of the youth through sharing, success stories experimentation with different case studies, acquisition of some important skills such as leadership,  at times even a financial push where needed.

Youth are also encouraged to take part in community activities like Leading and attending Events for example arts and crafts, games like group games, non-competitive games, and puzzles and quizzes. Youth advisory programs, Aid work in remote parts of the country Elementary and high school clubs’ and Development of projects.

In a nutshell Footprint volunteer, Uganda offers a platform for people around and outside Uganda to volunteer in all areas to help the orphans, the vulnerable women in rural areas to develop skills, support financial support, health care to develop social development hence reducing poverty, the dependence of women on men and stopping domestic violence.

 

 

Volunteering in Uganda
Webmasters February 15, 2021 4 Comments

THE MOTIVE TO VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering either through individual or group action is away in which: human values of community,
caring and serving can be sustained and strengthened it is a fundamental building block of civil society. It
brings to life the noble aspirations of human kind, the pursuit of peace, freedom, opportunity, safety.
For every reason a person volunteers, there is a need associated and to effectively convey gratitude, it is
necessary to determine what everyone’s distinct need is. Everyone has a button that can be pushed and the
issue is intriguing each potential volunteer so they will become ebullient in a distinct way. These
necessities include, an agency that has a stimulating mission has a good reputation, is effective at what it
does, is financially secure, and makes them feel needed and valuable. A program that successfully attracts
and retains volunteers reduces the number of people entering and exiting through a revolving door, saves
volunteer leaders from the incessant undertaking of filling roles, and offers gratifying and enduring
volunteer experiences.Volunteering in Uganda

There are several factors relating to peoples’ motives for volunteering, which included the following:

a) Serves as a groundwork for employment
b) Presents a reward for displeasing employment
c) Offers opportunities to meet people and build relationships
d) Provides opportunity for personal growth, development, and recognition
Maxwell (1993) addressed factors associated with the motivation of volunteers. When people are
involved in creating something, they will support it because they have an investment in the issue, which
can be referred to as goal participation. Displeased volunteers are eager or inspired to make an immediate
change; also known as positive dissatisfaction.

“Potential board members, volunteers, and staff who feel their skills and passion will be put to good use
will be inclined to contribute their efforts to a successful non-profit, advancing their active participation in
the community while benefiting your non-profit and its mission” (LaPiana & Hayes, 2005, p. 42). These
authors also discussed that some competitive challenges distinctive to these organizations include the
following: community involvement, mission, and public perception. It is essential to keep these elements
in mind regarding attracting, motivating, and retaining volunteers.

Significant contributions, goal participation, positive dissatisfaction, recognition, and clear expectations
also motivate people to engage in volunteer work. People may be interested in volunteering based on
altruistic or instrumental motives. Furthermore, some people are inspired to engage in volunteer roles
because of ethical motives such as a desire to help others, religious beliefs, believe it is a social duty, or
help themselves feel better. Others with influential reasons may want to prepare for employment
opportunities, better use free time, interact with others, gain experience in a field, or help with displeasing
employment issues. They also explained that when volunteers work in an encouraging environment,
recognize efforts, and work to maintain positive relationships, they are more likely to remain engaged.

Other reasons that motivate people to engage in volunteer capacities include significant contributions,
goal participation, positive dissatisfaction, recognition, and clear expectations.

When it is appropriate for volunteers to assist in recruiting other volunteers, Retention can be positively impacted. Furthermore,
when volunteers represent an organization, this indicates trust, a confident organizational culture, and
assurance that the agency offers a worthwhile experience for the volunteers. Fisher and Cole (1993)
explained that psychological needs can impact a person’ interest and decision to volunteer. An
environment can influence the choice to continue volunteering. Hager and Brudney (2004) explained that
age can be a factor in volunteer engagement and commitment. They continued to discuss that people
under age 24 are known to have lower retention rates and are less likely to sustain relationships compared
to older volunteers. Due to the substantial preparation and consideration associated with a person’s
decision to volunteer suggests that individual needs are essential foundations of volunteer motivation
(Dwyer, et al., 2013).

This involves determining where people fit, how their abilities can be put to proper use, and then provides
them with the tools needed to adequately perform their roles. Volunteers are more likely to remain
engaged when they have the resources needed to successfully perform their position, have a clear
understanding of expectations, are interviewed, and reasonably placed in their appointment.
In conclusion People engage in volunteer capacities because they care; therefore, it is essential to provide
them with opportunities to contribute as much as they can.