Experiences of past volunteers

Over the past few years several volunteers have helped out the organization United African Orphans and Widows Foundation. Their reasons to come and their experiences in the country of Uganda were broad and varied.

One of the volunteers, Katy O’Grady, stayed for two years. She was connected to the organization through the Peace Corps. This is an American organization which sends volunteers overseas in order to help individuals in developing nations using the local resources, as well as to engage in cultural exchange. Because she stayed for a longer period she was able to start new projects as well as to help in already existing ones. She is very proud of the things she has been part, but “the most rewarding part of my work at UAOWF was working with Nsubuga Peter (red. coordinator), as well as Simon, Julius and Anthony (red. volunteers and employees), in the office to figure out how we could best serve the surrounding communities.” Another volunteer, Christy Pouty, also remembers the nice interaction between the people involved in the organization, when they were busy starting up the goat rearing project: “Peter and the rest of the staff at UAOWF did a great job preparing, mobilizing the community, making partnerships with the district vet extension officer, and really lead a great program.”

Next to the good memories, the volunteers also came across some challenges. For example Katy O’Grady, who encountered some difficulties in her work: “The biggest challenge I faced was a lack of resources, especially transportation, which made reach out to communities difficult.” UAOWF has two bicycles which they use for the villages a bit further. Most of the work is done by foot. Another volunteer, Priscilla Loh, who stayed for two months, mostly experienced cultural differences. She was not used to the slow-pace in which the work is done, since she came from a city. After the first two weeks she got a bit used to it and was not affected by it that much.

All these volunteers have experienced the organization in a different way, if you are wondering how you will experience it, don’t hesitate to take a closer look at the webpage (uaowfuganda.webnote.com) or send a message to uaowfuganda@gmail.com.

Introduction to the blog

From this blog, you will find the musings, reflections, thoughts, and grievances as well as highlights of the volunteers working for the United African Orphans and Widows Foundation (UAOWF). The organisation was founded in 2004 and has since then hosted various individuals from all corners of the globe. These encounters have been enriching for both the interns as well as the organisation itself, as working in close contact with other cultures will always yield new insights to life. Here, we will do our best to give you a good impression of what you can expect from your time as a volunteer in a foreign country and in particular with the UAOWF. This is of course a mere glimpse of the whole volunteer experience and in order to discover what it truly means, you will have to experience it yourself. We in any case hope that this blog can assist you in making the right preparations and evolving correct expectations so that you can enjoy your volunteer experience to the fullest.

Before continuing to the everyday pragmatics of the volunteer life in Iganga, Uganda, here are a few words to sum up the actual meaning and value of the experience itself. No matter where, when, or why you choose to volunteer, the period will be among the most meaningful in your life.All that you need to do beforehand is to make sure that you are equipped with an open mind and a positive attitude as those will be the resources that transform the occasionally overwhelming cultural clashes and shocks into unrivalled life skills. Upon your return back home, you will find yourself viewing the world from an alternate viewpoint as the horizons of your perception have been stretched beyond the limit you thought possible. We hope and believe that the mental resources that you acquire during your volunteering experience will facilitate any of the future challenges emerging from changing environment or differing takes on life.