Basajjansolo Memorial Training Centre (BMTC) is a project of Basajjansolo Community Development Association (BACODA), a community-based organisation founded and registered in 2003 under Ref NO. CD - 312 - 03 of Luwero District Community Development Department. The project is committed to work for the plight of HIV/AIDS, through offering disadvantaged orphans and vulnerable children basic education, life skills and career training. BMTC today offers education to 68 children aged 6 – 10 years. With the HIV/AIDS rate still staggering between 6.5 – 7% in the Country, the burden of handling its consequences, particularly orphans, remains a huge challenge. Many orphans continue to live at the mercy of their helpless grand parents who often are not able to meet their developmental needs. Faced with this desperate and miserable situation, many of these orphans continue to loose hope, thence increasing their vulnerability to social evils including drug abuse, rape, prostitution, under-age marriage, child labour and gambling to mention a few.
The three week-long workcamp shall bring together the workcamp volunteers, the 68 pupils aged 4-10 years, and teachers in a series of psychosocial support activities such as games and sports for interaction as well as work on the construction of a school classroom and making playing materials for the pupils.

To build hope in AIDS orphans and other disadvantaged orphans;
to offer orphans and vulnerable children the opportunity to interact and share good practices as means of reducing stigma and discrimination;
to improve the environment of the classrooms for the pupils at BMTC.

Home visits to HIV/AIDS affected families and Post AIDS Clubs; interaction with HIV/AIDS orphans through sports, games and theatre; drawing and painting pictures with the children; singing and dancing; making playing materials; running a one-day competitive sports gala

Brick laying; mixing sand and cement; collecting bricks, mortar and water; plastering and painting.

Visit Luwero Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre
Home visits to HIV/AIDS affected families
Visits to health centres
Visit post AIDS clubs
Visit Bamunanika Kings Palace
A cultural night will be organised in which the different nationalities at the workcamp can introduce and celebrate their cultures.

A classroom will be furnished at Basajjansolo Memorial Training Centre;
68 pupils of BMTC, including orphans, shall be counselled through interaction with the work camp participants
there will be a reduction in cases of stigma and discrimination towards HIV/AIDS orphans in Luwero Town Council;
there will be increased awareness in the people of Luwero Town Council of the need to understand, intervene, relate to and effectively manage the psychological and social wellbeing of HIV/AIDS orphans.

Pupils in school, HIV/AIDS affected families, teachers, work camp participants

The people found in central Uganda are multi-tribal with the majority population being Baganda. The major language spoken is Luganda though many people also speak English.

Accommodation will be in a school classroom. Participants will be required to carry own sleeping bags and mats. The camp site have simple bathrooms with no showers and participants will wash using a cup and bucket. The camp sites have latrines (there will be no flushing toilets) A simple shelter will be used in which to cook.

Participants are advised 2 arrive two days before the project begins.

International volunteers are required to pay €250 on arrival.
The fee covers pick up in the airport or bus station upon arrival in Uganda, orientation at the UPA guesthouse, local transport to and from the work camp and food and accommodation during the work camp. The fee also contributes to the running of activities during the workcamp and communication costs prior to the workcamp.

FURTHER CONSTRUCTION OF GARUBUNDA PRIMARY SCHOOL, WATER AND SANITATION ON LAKE NYAKASANDA AND HIV/AIDS AWARENESS.

GARUBUNDA PRIMARY SCHOOL AND LAKE NYAKASANDA ARE BOTH LOCATED IN GARUBUNDA VILLAGE, KEBISONI SUBCOUNTY, RUBABO COUNTY, RUKUNGIRI DISTRICT ABOUT 360 KMS IN THE WESTERN PART OF UGANDA.

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The construction of Garubunda Primary School was started by UVDA Volunteers in 1996 in conjunction with the local community members of Garubunda village. There was only one old grass thatched mud and wattle school building built 60 years ago accommodating about 100 pupils which was in such a dilapidated state nearly collapsing. Since that time, UVDA has conducted several work camps constructing that project from Primary 1 to P. 7.
Due to Universal Primary Education system (UPE) in Uganda, the school now accommodates over 1000 pupils but the buildings are not enough for them.

Lake Nyakasanda is a small lake of about 150sq meters. It is located near Garubunda Primary School and very close to the house where UVDA volunteers will be accommodated.
The lake water is used for domestic purposes to include; drinking water, bathing, cooking etc. at the same time people swim from the same. Clean drinking water from a spring well could be obtained from a distance.
The water in the lake is contaminated while its out flow is poor. Some domestic animals like cows, goats and sheep also drink from the same source. We also noted that people make local brew beer from banana using the same water. There are very few fish in it due to water contamination and some parts of the lake have a lot of papyrus reeds.
There is currently installation of gravity water system since the area has a lot of hills. Some houses are already receiving clean water in their homes although very few. There is need to help the local people to clean their lake water as well as educating them about hygiene. For that matter, there is also need for some MTV's and LTV's who are experts in water and sanitation to work together with local water engineers and health workers. Some equipments and tools if available with volunteers can be of a great use during the exercise.

Garubunda village is situated about 100kms from Bwindi Impenetratable Forest National Park where gorillas are found and Queen Elizabeth National Park and Mt. Rwenzori is also not very far. It is also possible to visit Lake Bunyonyi in Kabale near the border of Uganda and Rwanda. People are pastoralists and are very friendly. The population of Runkunguri is about 308,696 people.

Camp sites may change due to unforeseen circumstances BUT the Dates will not change.

It is very important that Volunteers arrive in the country earlier, before the workcamp commences for orientation purposes which takes place two days before the camp.

It is very important that all participating volunteers report to UVDA office FIRST for briefing and orientation before traveling to the project. Orientation fee is 20 euro per individual. You are expected to exhibit good behavior in the community, respect the Camp leader and one another and show commitment to the project.

Foreign Volunteers can be picked from any port of entry e.g. airport, bus station etc. by our members to reasonable cheap and safe accommodation once we are requested to do so and informed in time. It costs about EURO 30 for a special car hire from the airport to Kampala in case a Volunteer arrive at night or after 6:00 PM. It is cheaper by public means of transport like omnibus (Matatu) if a volunteer arrives during day time before 6:00 PM.

The work camp will take place at UPA Pakwach branch, Abongo Women's Group premises. Pakwach Town Council is in Nebbi District, West Nile region.

Pakwach branch officially registered with UPA in 2000 with the aim of helping the youth in Jonam County to participate in community development work. The branch is located in Jonam County, Nebbi District, North Western Uganda. Jonam County is a semi-arid area with very unfavourable conditions for basic agriculture. The community mainly live on the scarce natural resources, hence the rapid degradation of the environment. Food supplies are dependent on imports from neighbouring districts. Situated on the business transit route to Southern Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Pakwach town is exposed to a high HIV/AIDS infection rate due to the traffic and people who stop by en route to their destinations. Heavy drinking and unemployment is high amongst the youth, and as a result many have been sexually abused under the influence of alcohol or lured into commercial sex, prostitution and immorality through which they contract HIV/AIDS. UPA Pakwach branch has for a while been engaged in initiatives which address the HIV/AIDS challenge and is committed to designing new methods. The international workcamp is therefore designed to scale up sensitisation efforts by use of Forum theatre.

To equip 30 local and International youth with skills in Forum theatre for mobilisation and sensitisation on HIV/AIDS;
to mobilise and sensitise 2000 people in Jonam County on HIV/AIDS prevention and care;
to advocate for youth-friendly approaches in handling HIV/AIDS through Forum theatre;
to popularise the ACT, LEARN and TEACH UNESCO Theatre HIV and Aids Toolkit for Youth in Africa;
to increase the level of awareness of the effects of HIV/AIDS amongst youth in Jonam County.

Open discussions and debates; holding workshops on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care; lectures on HIV/AIDS counselling and care for parents/children; visits to Post AIDS clubs; performing forum theatre on HIV/AIDS prevention and care; conducting interactive sports with local communities; radio talk shows; one-day public dialogue.

A visit to local communities in the fishing villages for forum theatre presentations;
a visit to voluntary counselling and testing services that provide youth friendly services;
a visit to hospitals where HIV/AIDS testing is done;
a visit to historical sites i.e Wanglei Puvumgu and Emin Pasha’s Tomb in Wadelai.
There are other available opportunities to visit popular tourist sites such as Muchsion falls, Hot and cool Amor pii in Panyimur, Nyangak falls and Aguu Hill in Paidha, and Lendu forests. However this is not included in the host fee and interested volunteers will have to fund such visits themselves.

Open discussions will have been held against domestic violence as a potential cause for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS e.g amongst the Panyigoro fishing community;
Forum theatre presentations will have been made to local communities;
500 people will have been sensitised on HIV/AIDS prevention and care in Jonam County;
1 workshop will have been conducted on HIV/AIDS prevention and care;
1 Voluntary Counselling and testing session will have been organised.

HIV/AIDS affected families, people in the fishing communities, work camp participants

The workcamp shall be hosted by community members of UPA Pakwach branch and affiliated groups. The project is in a predominantly Alur population speaking the Alur language though many are also fluent in English.

The accommodation shall be provided within Abongo Women’s Group premises. Participants shall be required to carry along their own working clothes, boots, sleeping mats, bags and mosquito nets. The camp site have simple bathrooms with no showers and participants will wash using a cup and bucket. The camp sites have latrines and not flushing toilets. A simple shelter will be used in which to cook.

Participants are advised to arrive two days before the project begins.

International volunteers are required to pay €250 on arrival.
The fee covers pick up in the airport or bus station upon arrival in Uganda, orientation at the UPA guesthouse, local transport to and from the work camp and food and accommodation during the work camp. The fee also contributes to the running of activities during the workcamp and communication costs prior to the workcamp.

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION (TREE PLANTING), ELDERLY PEOPLES SUPPORT INITIATIVES, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND HIV/AIDS AWARNESS AND COUNSELLING.

BAKASIBIRAEMBALE IS LOCATED IN MPIGI DISTRICT 30KMS FROM KAMPALA WESTERN PART OF UGANDA IN MAWOKOTA COUNTY.

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Bakasibiraembale community development initiative project Mpigi was found in 2004 by youth members of Mpigi village some of whom are living and working in Kampala the capital city.
They had realized that a lot of trees have been cut down for business purpose e.g. firewood and charcoal selling.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is rising from time to time due to poverty and lack of knowledge about it. In that case awareness and counseling about HIV/ AIDS was also necessary. The number of elderly people is very high. Many of them have no good homes to live. It should be noted that men and women of advanced age in Africa hold a community’s history and wisdom forming a precious human, social and economic network. They help indigenous societies retain their cultural roots, passing along traditions to younger generation.

There is no welfare system in place where work is done for elders, they live on a limited income and lose their access to busy services at the same time that they lose their prominent place in society. They can easily become cut off and isolated. Therefore various community initiatives and organizations will reach out to provide basic nutrition, health care and social interaction to these people. Your help will be an important link between social services and the elderly recipients. We shall help build and repair safe housing for them, engage them in activities such as singing, dancing , playing games and developing arts and crafts projects and assisting them on recreational outing.

Camp sites may change due to unforeseen circumstances BUT the Dates will not change.

It is very important that Volunteers arrive in the country earlier, before the workcamp commences for orientation purposes which takes place two days before the camp.

It is very important that all participating volunteers report to UVDA office FIRST for briefing and orientation before traveling to the project. Orientation fee is 20 euro per individual. You are expected to exhibit good behavior in the community, respect the Camp leader and one another and show commitment to the project.

Foreign Volunteers can be picked from any port of entry e.g. airport, bus station etc. by our members to reasonable cheap and safe accommodation once we are requested to do so and informed in time. It costs about EURO 30 for a special car hire from the airport to Kampala in case a Volunteer arrive at night or after 6:00 PM. It is cheaper by public means of transport like omnibus (Matatu) if a volunteer arrives during day time before 6:00 PM.

CONSTRUCTION OF 3 CLASSROOM BLOCK, HIV/AIDS AWARENESS AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION.

LWEMUNA PRIMARY SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN BUSHAKIRO VILLAGE, BAMUTANDA PARISH, RIVER MANAFA DISTRICT FORMER PART OF MBALE DISTRICT APPROXIMATELY 260KMS EAST OF KAMPALA.

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UVDA was invited to Bushakiro village in 2004 to help the community to construct
another new school building since there was only one school block of 3 classrooms
and an office constructed by the government and the parents plus some old mud
and wattle buildings constructed 70 years ago.
This was successfully completed in 2007 with some financial assistance from UVDA foreign volunteers and roofing iron sheets bought by the Germany volunteers.
Due to Universal Primary Education (UPE), (Free education in primary schools) the number of pupils has increased from 600 to 800 making it impossible to accommodate them all in the existing classrooms. Some attend classes under the trees or from the Church.

We hope that this construction will be completed by the end of 2008 in case there
is any funding for cements, timber and roofing iron sheets. The local community
has contributed most of the bricks needed, sand and stones.
Manafa District (Mbale) is located in a mountainous area (Mt. Elgon) with a lot of
rain especially in the month of July and August. The mountain borders Uganda and
Kenya and people are very friendly.

Volunteers will be accommodated in classrooms. It is possible to climb Mt. Elgon to
Wagagayi Peak and to visit the Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District.

Camp sites may change due to unforeseen circumstances BUT the Dates will not change.

It is very important that Volunteers arrive in the country earlier, before the workcamp commences for orientation purposes which takes place two days before the camp.

It is very important that all participating volunteers report to UVDA office FIRST for briefing and orientation before traveling to the project. Orientation fee is 20 euro per individual. You are expected to exhibit good behaviour in the community, respect the Camp leader and one another and show commitment to the project.

Foreign Volunteers can be picked from any port of entry e.g. airport, bus station etc. by our members to reasonable cheap and safe accommodation once we are requested to do so and informed in time. It costs about EURO 30 for a taxi from the airport to Kampala in case a Volunteer arrive at night or after 6:00 PM. It is cheaper by public means of transport like omnibus (Matatu) if a volunteer arrives during day time before 6:00 PM.