Volunteer
Opportunity description
Hope of Children and
Women Victims of Violence (HOCW) was founded in 2008 by refugees and
international volunteers who had a passion for the plight of women and
children. A non-profit humanitarian organization, HOCW’s mission is to instill
hope, provide opportu
nities, and offer support to the community of Ndejje,
Uganda.
HOCW’s clients
include an ever-changing population of Ugandans and refugees from the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and
other African nations, many of whom have experienced war, internal conflict,
natural disasters, gender-based violence, and extreme poverty.
We have a small,
full-time staff composed mostly of refugees. We rely on volunteers to provide
the manpower to help us carry out daily activities as well as share expertise
and collaborate with our staff.
HOCW is a community
center that provides services to an average of 50 people a day. We do our best
to meet the needs of refugees through several programs: adult education, health
services, youth activities, social development, and community collective.
Volunteer
Information:
HOCW is
recruiting 2014 summer and fall volunteers for an array of programs and
short-term projects. The ideal candidate will possess a strong interest in
HOCW’s mission. We encourage our volunteers to assist with a program that
serves their interests, such as teaching English classes, starting an art
project, creating and leading youth activities, or providing help with the
organization’s administrative needs (fundraising/grant writing, website
design/operation, etc.).
Volunteers
with a mental health background are encouraged to apply. Many of the people we
serve are victims of rape and other acts of violence. There is very little
mental health infrastructure in Uganda and HOCW does what we can to work with
victims of trauma and war. Based on volunteer skills and appropriate training,
we have offered popular art and group therapy sessions.
The HOCW compound is
located in Ndejje, a rural village approximately 11km from Kampala’s city
center. The compound contains a volunteer house (bedrooms, bathroom, common
living room), the Executive Director’s house (where all meals are served),
office, classrooms, and small outdoor space.The volunteer house provides all
the basic amenities — running water, electricity, bedding, and wifi.
Volunteer fees are
$150 USD per week for volunteers who stay four weeks or less and $100 USD a
week for volunteers who stay more than four weeks. Fees include: pick-up from
Entebbe airport, accommodations in the volunteer house, and three delicious
home cooked meals per day. In addition, you will need a weekly budget of
approximately $20 USD to cover bottled water, local transportation, and other
personal expenses.
Public
transportation (matatu or shared taxi) to Kampala is easily accessible. The
capital is a busy, bustling city that some volunteers enjoy spending time in.
For those who prefer to stay away from the hustle and bustle, there is also a
shopping center in Lubowa, about a 25-minute walk or a short bodaboda
(motorbike) ride away. Lubowa has a bank, grocery store, coffee shop, bar and a
few restaurants. Uganda is a beautiful country- we encourage volunteers to
travel on the weekends!
HOCW
Programs:
Adult
Education:Many
of the refugees that come to HOCW are from countries that do not share common
languages with Uganda, such as DR Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. This language
barrier means that adult refugees struggle to find employment; have difficulty
carrying out daily tasks; and often feel isolated from their neighbors. In the
adult education classes, volunteers help these refugees learn English,
facilitating their integration into society, opening the doors to jobs, and
having a lot of fun along the way. We offer basic literacy classes and three
levels of English.
Health:Zanta Clinic, one of the few
public clinics in Kampala, is a short walk from our compound in Ndejje. This
bustling primary care center offers services including HIV testing, prenatal
care and preventive services. Zanta provides health care to a large population
of vulnerable people and refugees, including most of the people we serve. HOCW
partners with Zanta to provide health professional and health professional
student volunteers.
HOCW also provides
health education seminars and classes- volunteers with expertise in this area
may work with HOCW staff to plan and conduct workshops.Language barriers and
discrimination can be barriers to refugees as the access the health services
they need. Volunteers can accompany HOCW clients to medical appointments to
advocate on their behalf.
Social
Development:Many
of the people we work with are incredibly talented and creative. We work with
them to nourish these talents and turn them into viable businesses. We have a
small tailoring shop as well as groups of women that produce jewelry and
baskets. We are working to create a collective of artists and craftspeople. We
welcome volunteers that have creativity or business lessons to share.
Youth
Activities:State
run education in Uganda is very limited. The reality for the families we serve
is that if they cannot afford school fees, their children cannot go to school.
Because of this, many children spend long periods of their childhood not in
school. We serve many children who are not in school at all and many more that
are far behind in their studies.We
try to provide as many organized activities as possible including academic
lessons, sports and arts. We are looking for volunteers who have experience
teaching academics, coaching sports or are interested in teaching music, dance,
drama or other cultural activities. Currently, this is a part-time program.
Community
Collective:
HOCW founded and hosts a Community Collective, where women make a variety of
products to sell in Uganda and abroad. The Collective is comprised of the
Tailoring Group, Jewelry and Crafts Group, Embroidery Group, and Soap-Making
Group where the emphasis in each group is to empower women by providing them
with job skills, stable sources of income, and opportunities for social
engagement.
How
to apply
How
to apply
To apply for
volunteer placement, please send your resume to kelly.hocw@gmail.com along with
details of when you would like to volunteer; how long you would like to stay;
and what HOCW programs you would like to be involved in.
Once you have been
accepted and your volunteer dates have been confirmed, you will receive a
Volunteer Information Packet that contains an abundance of useful information
about living and working in this beautiful country.
If you have any
questions about volunteering, please direct them to Kelly Rigney, our Volunteer
Coordinator. She will be happy to respond to questions big and small as well as
share some of her own stories about volunteering in Uganda.We look forward to
hearing from you!
Ms. Kelly Rigney
[[tel:617-694-0338|Tel:617-694-0338]]
Email: kelly.hocw@gmail.com
For further
information or to inquire about volunteer opportunities, please email Kelly.
Please also visit
our website and
page: www.hocwug.net or https://www.facebook.com/hocwug.net
HOCW has fiscal
sponsorship from Visions Made Vaible, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the
United States (tax ID number: 26-2214003). Fiscal sponsorship means that the
HOCW has legal and tax exempt status under a sponsoring organization which has
agreed to offer us administrative overhead and consulting help, freeing up our
energy to be directed exclusively at achieving our mission. Our fiscal sponsor
is Visions Made Viable, a 501(c)3 non-profit based in California and committed
to helping seed projects launch, and many of which “spin-off” to
become independent non-profits.
This also means that
all donations, including the cost of flights, made through Visions made Viable
are tax deductible for US tax payer
