Most Affordable & Trusted Volunteer Programs in Uganda from $280

I volunteered with V2U hoping to have a rewarding experience where I made a positive impact, however small, on the children in my placement. What I ended up having was not only a rewarding experience but also one of the most enjoyable three weeks of my life. The perfect placement, the friendly volunteers, the excellent V2U staff, the delicious traditional meals, the wide range of activities available to fill evenings and weekends, the wonderful Ugandan culture - it all combined to make an unforgettable experience. I was teaching abandoned/orphaned children between 3-5 years of age. Amazing children who despite their hardship were always smiling, laughing and willing to learn. A fantastic program!

I spent 6 weeks in Uganda. I was a teacher in Royal Nursery and Primary school. I had enough time to know all the children in the school. Many children were Christians, but there were also Muslims. We bought children Bibles to every class and we could read them stories. They really loved them and I was glad that I could share gospel to the children even to the Muslims. I also showed to the teacher how to study Bible stories so she can share them better. It was really blessed time. My country call itself Christian country, but we cannot do anything like this in normal classes at home.

Had the most amazing time in Uganda with IVHQ. I worked in Kajjansi Health Clinic for a month, and spend a few days in other clinics and an orphanage where the childcare-volunteers had their placement.
The placement itself was wonderful: We mainly did vaccinations and HIV-counseling. On thursday you go on outreach to little villages to give medical support to people who can't easily reach the hospital. There is also a maternity in the clinic. I was able to assist on circumcisions as well.
You mainly work during the mornings in the hospital (9 a.m. till 13 p.m.), so you can spend your afternoons doing whatever you want.
Visiting the children in Crystal, one of the orphanages where our childcare-volunteers are placed, is a nice way to spend the afternoon. You can just explore the local town or even go to Entebbe or Kampala.

You live in a house with a bunch of other volunteers, which gives you a great opportunity to make tons of new friends. Everybody wants to make the most of their time in Africa, so you are definitely in for some fun in your spare time. Volunteers to Uganda (the local organisation taking care of you) organizes an amazing 3-day safari, there is boda-boda-tour in Kampala, and Jinja is definitely worth a visit. There is a nice bar (King) very close to the house, so definitely pay that a visit for a taste of the amazing Ugandan beer, Nile.

On my quest to find a volunteer program I came across so many different options and sites. I didn't know which one was better or more trustworthy. IVHQ looked amazing but to be honest I was a bit concerned about how cheap it was. After seeing reviews on this site I felt comfortable with the program so I went for it and I am so glad I did.

The time I spent in Uganda was the best two weeks of my life. The people, the place, the kids (that I volunteered with) were all amazing. It seems a lot has been covered in other reviews though so I really want to share mostly about the staff members that made this trip so Incredible!

There were some complications with my work schedule so I had to switch programs a few time and Will McBride was extremely helpful. He was quick to respond and helped with my tricky schedule. He also addressed all of my questions/concerns very quickly and seemed happy to help.
As for the Volunteers to Uganda staff--I couldn't possibly say enough good things about them. They were some of the nicest most genuine people I have ever met. No matter what you wanted to do they would make it happen!

My girlfriend and I landed in EBB on July 17th and were greeted by Volunteers 2 Uganda (the in country partner organization) staff member Carol. She was extremely sweet and was genuinely excited to see us! I knew we were in good hands.

David the IVHQ in country director was awesome. I had several talks with David and I can honestly say there is no better man for the job. I could tell from the first time I met him that he was extremely passionate about helping others. And he wanted to help you be able to do the same; while of course having the greatest experience.
If you ever wanted to do something (go on a safari, go to some craft markets, get a ride back to the airport) Martin would take care of it. He made everything effortless so we were able to focus on volunteering and having fun.

Sunday (the volunteer house guard) was always around to help out as well. He was an awesome guy who was also happy to set up rides or any other thing we needed. One night we bought about 50 lbs. of flour and 50 lbs. of rice to hand out to some of the neediest in the community. He and Fred (the maintenance manager) organized everything. They got us a ride, bartered to help us get the most food, and helped us hand it out. It was an amazing experience thanks to Sunday and Fred.

I saw Fred a bit more than Sunday because Sunday worked nights. Fred was awesome! He was incredibly hard working and loved to talk to everyone. He was always smiling and laughing. Asking everyone how they were doing. A few nights we wanted to have a bonfire and Fred without hesitating went and got us tons of wood and then get it lit so that we could all hangout by the fire. Fred is the man!

Betty cooked and cleaned for everyone at the house. To be honest I was a bit worried about eating local food and whether I would like it or not. Betty's cooking was absolutely amazing! I honestly looked forward to her cooking every day! She was (of course) very very sweet as well. She was always so happy. Always greeted everyone with a smile. I can’t say enough good things about Betty.

Hilda was also always around. Most mornings she would be helping cook and when I came out to get breakfast without fail her or Betty would say good morning and ask how I slept or how I was doing etc. They made me feel very welcome.

Daniel the V2U driver was awesome! It is very tricky to navigate through the busy main roads in Uganda as well as some of the rough backroads. He did so with ease. His driving ability was truly impressive. Daniel accompanied drove us to almost every trip—including the safari. And was honestly just a really cool guy who was always looking out for everyone. He was also great company. I really enjoyed talking to Daniel over the course of the two weeks in Uganda.

The staff at IVHQ and V2U were absolutely incredible. Without them this trip wouldn’t have been nearly as good. Thanks to everyone who made it happen.

If you have any questions about the program check out the IVHQ Uganda page which will tell you a lot.

Overall, this volunteer trip was amazing. I had a mix of feelings. I was scare of getting lost when traveling to my placement however I was able to recognize landmarks and find my way home. I was happy to meet so many different volunteers and people from Uganda because I laughed and smiled a lot with them. I was also a little sad when I was helping patients with severe medical conditions but these patients are very positive and motivated. This trip had changed me. I became more humble and more appreciative the smallest thing around me. People in Uganda are very friendly and outgoing.

During the time I was in Uganda, a group of us worked closely with Mutima Uganda, an organisation supporting HIV/AIDs affected communities with a strong focus on women’s empowerment. The strength and positivity within the Mutima community taught me more than I could ever ask for during the time I was there. These women and children will always hold a special place in my heart!

I have fallen in love with not only the people of Uganda, but the entire country and their culture. Memories from this experience are ones I will never forget and will always cherish.

Uganda was quite simply the best experience of my life. I was lucky enough to share my time there with other lovely volunteers, but ultimately the staff and the place were the pinnacle of a remarkable trip.
Contrary to what I'd been told about Africa, there was not a single moment where I felt unsafe; this was due to a) the village where the house was situated being occupied by really friendly locals and b) the staff doing their upmost to ensure everyone is safe at all times. Just an example of the staff's willingness to help:
My card got swallowed by the ATM (I waited too long to take it) leading to obvious panic, but Martin, the placement manager, went to the official office in Kampala with me and made sure that I retrieved my card.
That is just one of my instances where the staff were incredibly helpful. All of the staff - without exception - were some of the nicest people I have ever met.
If you're debating where to go for your travels, you would be hard pushed to find somewhere better than Uganda and IVHQ.

I loved the group and the programs available around the central Kampala/Entebbe area ranging from orphanage support, outreach, and medical placement and felt they all had a great impact. The costs are fully justified and appropriately used, a great and safe location for the program, and the country of Uganda itself is a country that should be on everyone's list to visit and contribute to. I can't wait to go back and visit this country and even more so to return to this volunteer program.