Ethical Volunteer Opportunities in Uganda

This ain't no youth group mission trip!
Volunteering with The Real Uganda was an experience I will carry with me as I continue to learn about international development and public health. By placing you with a Ugandan led NGO you get an immersive and authentic experience working to improve the conditions that rural Ugandans deal with.
During the volunteer experience you are able to share your ideas for public health development and learn from locals on how they want to empower their community. This is great for flexible individuals who are passionate about preventing disease and improving stigmas in low resource settings.
You also get to have a blast hanging out with other volunteers from around the globe and exploring this amazing and beautiful country!
The Real Uganda director is there along the way to help you process everything from peeing in a pit latrine to helping you organize zip lining in the rainforest!

I went on a volunteering trip organised by a company called Bamboo. Bamboo had entrusted the organisation of the trip to 'The Real Uganda' which is run by Leslie. She has a real connection to Uganda & its people & this came through with the activities and community visits she organised. I had a great time meeting a great group of fellow travellers & also seeing the country with more than just 'tourist eyes!' Leslie also organised for another company - 1000 Shades of Green, to show us more of Uganda's countryside and animals. Can also highly recommend them and their knowledge of the country

I was on an organized tour with we are Bamboo who coordinated with this organization on a volunteer/ community outreach trip. This was my first time to Africa and will definitely not be my last. I had the most amazing experience and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the real Uganda. We got to meet and spend time with so many locals and got an amazing glimpse into their lives. Leslie was our tour guide who has a deep and passionate love of Uganda. We all felt complete safe and comfortable being in this group.

Leslie and The Real Uganda were my first foray on the African continent. Leslie and the community group she connected me with were the *most* welcoming and informative hosts I could imagine.

All of the content on TRU website was insightful and useful and relevant to what I ended up experiencing. My lowest moment was experiencing dehydration, that was accompanied by both vomiting and diarrhea (sorry, but it’s true!) - which were quickly alleviated by oral rehydration salts, and accompanying rest (both from Leslie’s experienced guidance).

The high moments are too innumerable to count, but I was able to start friendships that I hold to this day.

The best review I can give is that I’ve returned every single year since my first trip, and will continue to do so!

I wanted to work with an organization that was truly "for the people, by the people", and this is exactly how it was with The Real Uganda. They paired me with a local Ugandan group who knew the country and the people so well. As a foreigner, you want to work with local groups/individuals to help in any way you can, and this is difficult if the organization itself does not relate to the citizens in that country. I truly got to understand the people of Uganda during my time here. I also had a lot of free time to go on weekend trips, explore Fort Portal, and go on an african safari! I would come back in a heartbeat.

In the women's groups in the remote districts of Bulyantete and Mayindo you will meet remarkable people. With lots of humility, energy, joy and skill, the ladies manage their sometimes hard everyday life. They do have my utmost respect.

They cultivate fields themselves to harvest sweet potatoes, corn, beans or peanuts. As a volunteer you get an impression about their hard work in the fields, dragging stones for the construction of a well or a chicken coop, trying out their admirable art of braiding, teaching a little English and answering questions about your life abroad.

Dancing and singing together is just as popular as a game of netball. In these unique hours you learn a lot from each.

My time teaching English and volunteering with rural village groups was the by far the most eye opening experience I have ever had. It was my first time out of my home country and the experience inspired me to go home and be a better person in our world. A highlight of the trip was getting to know the small community. The teachers at the school and nearby business owners are amazing people with inspiring work ethic. The children at the school are so excited to see you every day. You can tel that just you being there is exciting and something they look forward too.

I went to volunteer with TRU in 2015. It was my first time leaving the country and I was doing it SOLO.
Leslie was amazing the entire time. Before I arrived she answered any and all questions- I think I even asked her what bugs I could expect when I arrived- HA!
The backpackers they posted me up at was safe and friendly. Beautiful with some nummy food!
Meeting Leslie was amazing. It was like reconnecting with an old friend. She took me out and told me what to expect for my time there.
When that was finished I volunteered for 2 weeks with hopeline. It was an amazing and unforgettable experience. To this day I think of Uganda frequently. Every day I use things I learned while there. It really opened my eyes to the world and the different experiences available to us that we should take advantage of.
TRU was friendly, educational, adventurous. I would go back in a heartbeat if the opportunity arises.