Opportunity description
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 opportunities, 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
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
opportunities, 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
