International Volunteers

Information for potential International Professional Volunteers at Hospice Africa Uganda:

This section will provide some points to consider if you are thinking about volunteering with HAU as an International Volunteer. These are only initial considerations - to further explore this possibility please contact (Betty Babirye: betty@hospiceafrica.or.ug , betty.babirye@gmail.com at HAU. International Professional Volunteers are usually clinical but HAU also welcomes enquiries from others including professionals, i.e. from  Administration, Accounts or  IT and gap year students. The volunteers play a major role in taking over a substantial post at Hospice and in sharing their skills with our teams, to support individual and team development.

Volunteers stay for a minimum period of 3 months, up to 2 years, occasionally for shorter periods on a case to case basis and depending on availability. Those coming for longer placements have a possibility of having volunteer subsistence provided by a donor, which will be arranged with HAU. HAU will recommend volunteer support from organisations such as  VMM and VSO at times when we are unable to assist. This is discussed with the volunteer on individual basis.

As part of your very early considerations, it is important to spend some time considering the following points:

• What skills do I have to offer? - i.e. clinical palliative care experience, palliative care teaching experience, management and leadership, information technology etc.
• How long do I have to volunteer?

Language:
English is the official country language and is used at HAU. Translation, by other team members, will be provided if needed, i.e. in clinical situations, as there are many languages within the country.
Accommodation:
We will arrange your accommodation for you here in Uganda. In Kampala, we have a guesthouse within the Hospice compound. This costs 18,000Ush (Ugandan Shillings) (about 10US$ or 9 Euros) per night for bed & breakfast and 5 Euros for dinner, bed and breakfast (20US$ or 15 Euros). If you are staying for a long-term placement, we may make alternative arrangements for you.
In Mbarara, there is no accommodation at the hospice. We will arrange for you to stay at a local guesthouse. (Where you can expect to pay around 15 Euros for dinner, bed & breakfast) There are many reasonably priced cafes and restaurants within Mbarara town.
Hospice in Hoima does not have its own accommodation. We will arrange for you to stay at a local guest house within town (where you can expect to pay about 10 Euros for dinner, bed & breakfast) or slightly outside the town with the Hoima Diocese Roman Catholic Missionary Fathers (this is cheaper at 5 Euros for dinner, bed & breakfast).

Transport:
Below is some background information on transport, specific details will be agreed once a definite placement is confirmed:
To Uganda
The International Airport in Uganda is in Entebbe. Entebbe is 35 km and approximately a 45 minute journey from Kampala by road.
 
Within Uganda
Mbarara is approximately 266km to the south-west of Kampala and takes between 3 and 4 hours to reach by road. There are regular buses and matatu taxis (small public mini-buses) that travel between Kampala and Mbarara.
Hoima is 300km from Kampala to the north-west and takes 3-4 hours by road directly or 5-6 hours by road via Masindi. Again, there are regular buses that travel between the two.
For further relevant information relating to many aspects of international volunteering in palliative care it is recommended that you read International Volunteering - Tips to Get started which can be found in the publications section of Help the Hospices website http://www.helpthehospices.org.uk
For further informal or formal enquires regarding possible volunteering with HAU please contact - Betty.babirye@gmail.com as above, and we look forward to discussing volunteering opportunities at HAU with you.
How to apply:
1.    Please write in good time to Hospice info@hospiceafrcia.or.ug with a copy to Betty (as above). State who you are and what would be your expectations  from Hospice and what you can offer to Hospice. Also give the suggested dates of arrival and departure.
2.    If you are suitable, then we will request you to send a CV together with referee contacts.
3.    Ensure you get your medical requirements together in good time.
4.    Medical insurance and travel arrangements should then be made.
5.    You can get your visa on arrival at Entebbe airport and it costs US$50 at present depending where you are from. Visa is free to Irish residents.
6.    You can get Ugandan shillings from the ATM at the airport as you come out, or at ATMs in Kampala and towns in Uganda. If you bring cash, US dollars, UK pounds and Euros are acceptable for exchange.
7.    We will meet you at the airport and bring you to your residence.