Volunteer
Opportunity description
Share your business skills to
enable Ugandan people to build better livelihoods. Work with an internationally
recognized NGO to help create local wealth – through trade not aid.
We work closely with the
local people who manage Small Medium Enterprise in tourism , and they have
identified their primary volunteer needs as follow:
- small business skills
- accountancy, book keeping, IT
- marketing and sales
- report writing for fundraising and research
- training trainers
- hospitality industry
- web design
The project
Tourism offers much-needed income
to poor countries. But who gets the holiday money? This project supports Small Medium Enterprise (SME)
that helps small tourism operators gain a livelihood through training and
promotion.
ASTCF (The Africa Sustainable
Tourism Care Foundation) is a civil society organization that has been
established in 2014. Founded with enormous support from the tourism industry in
Uganda, it plays a key role in ensuring that Uganda’s tourism is sustainable,
both in terms of concern for the environment and for the welfare of local
communities.
Communities in Africa’s rural and
marginalized areas are the custodians of most of the world’s natural and
cultural treasures. The abundant and diverse natural, historical and cultural
heritage resources that are available in many rural areas represent exciting
tourism opportunities to stimulate direct and indirect jobs and other
micro-economic activities. The appropriate development of these resources can
create a range of social, economic and environmental benefits for rural
individuals and communities. Africa Sustainable Tourism Foundation (ASTCF)
provides expertise and other consultancy services to assist village communities
and entrepreneurs to identify and analyze their natural, historical and
cultural heritage resources, and to develop them into appropriate, viable and
sustainable new tourism attractions, facilities, services and experiences that
will meet the needs and expectations of various market sectors.
These enterprises include craft
market vendors, official tourist guides, juice pressers and fruit sellers, eco
camps, horticulture initiatives, guest houses, small hotels and community
associations – ASTCF is now supporting, training and representing over 100
members – individuals, small businesses, community organizations.
Volunteers will work with the
ASTCF team to build the strength of the organization and train ASTCF staff to
help them train local people. Volunteers will work to design simple training
modules that ASTCF can use to build the capacity of its members. This will
involve working directly with members to identify need and appropriate training
modules. Your skills are needed to help make tourism an even greater force for
good in Uganda – one of the poorest but also one of the friendliest countries
in Africa.
ASTCF gives individuals and small
scale tourism providers a voice, helping them achieve a living through tourism,
and campaigning to ensure that a fair chunk of the tourism dollar reaches the
local economy and the local community. ASTCF also works at government and
international level to ensure that the adverse impacts of tourism are minimized
and that maximum benefits are gained by local people and their communities.
ASTCF’s Aim
ASTCF’s aim is to assist and
support small-scale enterprises in tourism to trade fairly and pursue
sustainable development, which contributes to the conservation of the physical
environment and the social and economic welfare of the community in Uganda.
ASTCF’s goals are to:
- Contribute to improving the tourism product in Uganda
and help to bring development for the country - Provide assistance to members with product development,
marketing, training, quality control and access to finance - Work collaboratively, promote networking and joint
activities amongst members - Develop partnerships with government, other institutions
and external organizations where appropriate - Contribute to sustainable development within Ugandan
Tourism Industry using principles and practice of Fair Trade in Tourism - Identify appropriate quality standards for members
- The protection of small-scale business interests in the
mass market tourist industry English for business
Context Uganda is one of the smallest and poorest
countries in the world. It is also one of the friendliest – perhaps the most
attractive “real” Africa to visit. Ugandans demonstrate a genuine
warmth and tolerance for other cultures. This may be the perfect place for
first time travelers to Africa.
More than half of the 37 million
population lives on less than a dollar a day, with most of the population (over
75%) surviving on subsistence agriculture. Life expectancy is a staggering 55
and the average age is 17.
Volunteer opportunities are many
and varied in this NGO poverty reduction programme – small business skills, IT
and administration experience, agriculture, alternative technology, product
design and marketing – all these skills and more will be welcome in this
volunteer project. Whether you are in work and looking for a career break, or
already retired, you can share your skills and experience with local small
business owners and market gardeners. Take a look at the list of needs, as
identified by the project, near the top of this page. You can play your part in
responsible volunteer projects abroad.
Minimum Duration
4 weeks is an optimum length of
time, but placements can be designed for as little as 2 weeks to a maximum stay
of 3 months according to volunteer input.
Living Conditions
You will stay in either in a
hotel, Guest House Cottages or in a Homestay in your own room with a shower
room and lavatory. Each room has a fan.
For more information,
please contact our volunteer program advisor at info@africasustainabletourism.org
How to apply
If you are interested in our
volunteer program, Please visit our website at http://www.africasustainabletourism.org
or send us an email at info@africasustainabletourism.org
