Project Location
Ocheng Village, Nansana Town council is 12kilometers North-West of Kampala the capital of Uganda, in Wakiso District in central region of Uganda.
Project Background
Uganda Pioneers’ Association has her head office and guest house located in Ocheng village, Nansana Town Council, Wakiso District at 12 kilometres on Hoima Road North – west of Kampala. The current structure hosts UPA head office and a guest house for only 15 volunteers. For a while UPA has had to rent outside for excess volunteers. For the past 3 years UPA concentrated on improving the working environment and expanding the office space. With the completion of the new office block and on shifting the offices, it will now give way to embark on a task to start on major renovations to improve the living conditions of the volunteers. The renovation is intended to both improve on the structures and also to construct a new toilet, shower and kitchen to easy the living conditions of the volunteers. Painting, making outside resting shades and laying floor tiles shall be part of the other activities to be done.
Project Objectives
- To expand on space for international volunteers living in the guest house.
- To provide convenient space for holding in-country orientations and other UPA meetings.
- To provide a conducive living environment for the volunteers.
- To provide reading and resting space for volunteers, UPA members.
Activities
- Mixing sand and cement
- Collecting mortar and water
- Painting and fittings
- Laying floor tiles
Expected Outcome
It is expected after the work camp:
- The volunteers Guest house will be renovated
- A wall fence constructed around the guest house.
- Current office and library rooms shall be reconstructed into sleeping rooms for volunteers
- There will be more space for volunteers sleeping rooms
- A new toilet, shower and kitchen constructed
Cultural and educational visits
- A visit to Wamala tombs a 197 years old cultural heritage which is the burial ground for the 29th King of Buganda, the late Ssekabaka Suuna II Kalema Kasinjo Mukaabya Sekkyungwa who reigned from 1832 until October 1856.
- Visiting Nansana Community market
- Climbing Kabulengwa hill to have a view of all Nansana and surrounding suburbs.
Note: There is also the possibility of visiting the Uganda Museum, Entebbe Wild life Education Centre and Botanical beach gardens all found in a radius of not more than 40 kilometres from the camp site but at the cost of interested volunteers. A cultural night will be organised and participants will display items, songs and dances from their home countries and traditions.
Beneficiaries
- UPA staff members
- International work camp participants
- Medium and Long term volunteers
- Local volunteers
- Nansana community
Participation
The project expects 25 participants maximum with a composition of people from Uganda, regional and International volunteer organisations. Participants will work 6 hours daily from Monday to Friday. Weekends are for social interaction and/ or excursions unless if the official camp programme has an activity.
Who qualifies to participate
- Open minded, ready to interact with other people of different cultural background
- Willing to share his/her experiences
- Flexible to live/stay in simple life conditions
- Flexible to the taste of other foods (local)
- Ready to do heavy manual work on the project
- No experience needed
The Host Community
The people found in central Uganda are multi tribal with the majority population being Baganda. And the major language spoken is Luganda with also a big percentage of people speaking English well.
Like most regions in Uganda people in this community always welcome visitors and always interested to talk/work with people from other cultural backgrounds. Volunteers on this project will have the opportunity to interact with mostly UPA members, medium and long term volunteers in the country and those from the community.
Accommodation
- Accommodation will be in the UPA hall at the office.
- Average but not luxury.
- The camp site has simple bathrooms with no showers
- The camp site has latrines not toilets
- And a simple cooking shelter (kitchen).
Meals
- There are several local foods to choose from e.g. matooke, cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkin and also rice, spaghetti, ground nuts, beans, peas and different types green vegetables
- Fruits can also be easily bought from local markets, mangoes, sweet bananas, water melon, pineapples etc
- Participants will chose food to prepare depending on the availability
- Volunteers will prepare their own meals using charcoal and firewood. There is a variety of local foods to choose from.
Health Services
Nansana has several medical clinics at distance of less than a kilo meter and the main hospitals are situated in a radius of 12Kilometres in Kampala
Water Source
Participants shall be required to collect water from the nearby spring well only about 600 metres away.
Climate /weather
August lies in the second rain season. It is characterized by both hot and wet. It is normally sunny in the morning and rainy in the afternoons, but shines again shortly after. Temperatures range between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius.
What to bring
Participants shall be required to bring own sleeping bag, Mat, pillow, Mosquito Net, sun/mosquito creams/repellents, working gloves and boots/shoes. Light working clothes during working hours and warm clothes at night, as it may turn out to be chilly or cold; Musical instrument {optional}; Torch or flash light; Water purifiers {optional}; Personal effects {i.e. soap, toothpaste, toiletries.
Bringing your national flag, common art facts of your country; stories, games, picture and local recipes for cultural presentations from your country is advisable too for social interaction. Please carry along anything that you feel can well introduce you and your culture to make it enjoyable. Above all do not forget a happy and positive attitude and energy.
NB: Very short (Hot pants); skirts and dresses will not be culturally welcome especially for female.
Smoking in public is illegal while engagement in drug/harsh carries a life prison sentence.