Rar! I've been looking up various websites about volunteering in Uganda (at orphanages) for a week now, I've been to probably almost a hundred now, and they're so annoying! There's always a registration fee for the program that's at least $300 USD (which sucks even more since I live in Canada and it costs even more in CD), THEN I have to give them $1000-$5000 for a two-week stay with them (for accomedation, basic meals, transportation, etc), and that's not even mentioning that I have to pay around $600 airfare when I go there from Bombay. Its retarded, I do NOT want to spend $5000 on volunteering! I want to help, but the trip alone (not including accomedation) is going to cost around $10,000, and I'm planning to go in 2-years, I do not have a full-time job. I can raise $10,000, but I can't spend that much on the programs! Does anyone have any alternative ideas so I can still volunteer in Uganda? Its only 2 or 3 weeks for me to stay, ad I think I can get a host family for a bit (hotels for the 3-month stay in and around Africa get mighty expensive!).
You could try Raleigh International. I know they work in Namibia in south west Africa but I'm not too sure about Uganda. With Raleigh you do have to pay to go on the trip, usually about $2,500, but this covers the cost of your stay, food, insurance, flights there and back etc. I worked with Raleigh in Mongolia when I was 17 and I had abrilliant time. The work period usually lasts for a minimum of 10 weeks but it can be extended.
I told you. Whatever you do, don't go to Uganda alone. I assume you're aware of the violence that's going on in the north right now--20,000 children have been kidnapped and are forced to work as soldiers. Where in UG will you be going? I went to TZ with Cross-Cultural Solutions, but found out afterwords they're one of the more expensive groups to go with, and they don't go to UG. http://www.globalcrossroads.com is one of the cheaper ones, and they do have programs in India, but as for Africa, they only have Ghana, South Africa, and Tanzania. You shouldn't have expected volunteering to be cheap--I don't think you're being very realistic about this. International volunteer groups have HUGE liability issues they must cover (in addition to accomodation and food, your money also covers in-country health care, because so many volunteers become ill living in an unfamiliar country. It is also the reason that non-specialist volunteer groups only have stations in politically stable countries, which, I'm afraid, Uganda is not at the moment--at least in the north). Plus, managing a business (even if it's non-profit, it's still run the same way) overseas--that is, with offices and headquarters at different areas of the world, is extremely expensive. I don't see why you're complaining about a $300 fee--that's nothing kid, I paid $2,300 for mine, plus airfare. I know you want to meet your sponsor child and everything, but are you up against a time limit or something? I mean, could you wait a few more years till you have a better paying job? It's not like after your gap year you can never travel again for the rest of your life. Depending on what you want to do, you could even get a career that involves travel of this kind. Don't rush things--you can't always get what you want. I haven't left the country in over a year, but I'm dealing.
I haven't left it in like... 12 , because we were living in Canada for a short while before we moved from Alaska to here.
