Volunteering in Uganda

Hi friends! As many of you know, we will be graduating from nursing school this December. Before beginning our careers as registered nurses, we want to expand our horizons and learn about healthcare in underdeveloped countries while incorporating childcare, which is something we are both very passionate about. After extensive research into where our help would be most beneficial, we have planned a volunteer trip to Kampala, Uguanda, through the organization LoveVolunteers! We will spend three weeks volunteering in Kampala, with one week in the medical field and two weeks in childcare and development. While in the medical program, we will be working alongside doctors and nurses at a local hospital and assisting in providing quality medical care to the impoverished people of Uganda. During the second half of our volunteer experience, we will be placed at a childcare center catering to local children aged 4 weeks to 16 years. The care center includes a primary school, secondary school, special needs unit, vocational school, and health clinic all in one. We will be assisting in the essential care of the vulnerable children in Uganda, providing health education, and perhaps most importantly, helping the children with a key part of childhood... having fun (and letting kids be kids)!

A little bit about Uganda: Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Winston Churchill famously named this country the "Pearl of Africa" after its stunning beauty and vast wildlife. It is home to two highly endangered animals, mountain gorillas and chimpanzees! From a socioeconomic standpoint, Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. Due to a lack of access to healthcare and a high prevalence of life-threatening diseases, the median age in Uganda is extremely low, at only 16.7 years.

We are asking for donations to offset the cost of this volunteer trip. While we are overjoyed with the opportunity to travel overseas and make a difference, this opportunity does not come without a price tag. Donations will be used to cover the cost of flights, housing, meals, volunteer fees, immunizations, and other essential travel expenses. The more money we raise, the more supplies we will be able to bring on our trip! Thank you so much for your support; we couldn't do it without you! We will keep you all updated as it gets closer to departure time and of course lots of pictures when we return! If you have any travel or volunteer recommendations before we go, please reach out to us!

Thanks again,

Lexi and Lily