This year, I am participating in the UCDVO Volunteer Programme, a component of which is an approximately 4-week voluntary placement with Church of Uganda Kisiizi Hospital, based in Uganda.

UCDVO is a registered charity that provides the UCD community with the opportunity to engage in a values-led volunteer programme for the benefit of disadvantaged communities overseas, in response to needs explicitly identified by those communities.

UCD Volunteers Overseas is a registered Irish charity (charity no. 20055776) based in University College Dublin. Since its foundation in 2003, UCDVO has provided transformative learning opportunities to almost 2,000 students, staff, faculty and alumni of UCD. UCDVO’s volunteer projects have included education, healthcare

and community development projects in India, Haiti, Nicaragua, Tanzania and Uganda.

The Church of Uganda Kisiizi Hospital is a private, not-for-profit healthcare provider in Southwest Uganda. The hospital consists of several wards - including Paediatric, Surgical, Maternity, amongst others - as well as an outpatient department/A&E, and a full rehabilitation department. The hospital also provides a number of other services such as community-based outreach clinics, vaccination and rehabilitation programmes, an HIV and antiretroviral treatment centre, and more.

I will be assisting staff from the Kisiizi Hospital in a Community/Paediatric Rehab programme, consisting of a 2-week intensive therapy programme for children with Cerebral Palsy, group therapy sessions, community outreach and education activities, and engagement with the hospital’s nutrition programme.

I would be extremely grateful if you could support my fundraising efforts for the project!