Support Youth in a Community Special Needs Centre - Kampala, Uganda

Description

Uganda Pioneers Association (UPA) is a community-based development organization established since 1989 in Uganda dedicated to the promotion of community-based development, intercultural dialogue, and youth participation. The center in which the volunteer will be based is committed to unlocking the potential of children with disabilities by providing them and their families with opportunities for better access to quality healthcare, education, and sustainable livelihoods. Volunteers will support children and young people with disabilities through activities such as therapy support, educational and vocational training, community outreach, parent support programmes, production of low-cost assistive devices, and the organisation of sports, recreational, and creative activities.

Accommodation, food and transport arrangements

The volunteer will be accommodated in a shared house in Kampala (Villa Mamu, Mengo) together with other international volunteers. The accommodation offers a spacious compound, a fully equipped kitchen for self-catering, bathroom facilities, Wi-Fi access, hot showers, and a friendly environment with pets. Alternative accommodation options may be arranged within Kampala, taking into consideration convenience, safety, and security.

Training during the activity

This opportunity is part of the BRIDGE project (Building Resilience, Innovation, Development and Gender Equality), in which volunteers will have the chance to work on a common objective: the empowerment and skills development of vulnerable communities. Volunteers undergo training in humanitarian action, safety and security, intercultural awareness. On deployment, the volunteer gets to experience community work through participating in various activities implemented at Kikooba School. Further development of project management, communication and leadership skills is anticipated.

Participant profile

Candidates must be 18 to 35 years old and reside in an eligible country, which includes EU Member States, North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Turkey. Applicants must have completed the compulsory Humanitarian Aid Volunteering training and cannot have participated in an individual Humanitarian Aid Volunteering mission before. When adding together this new volunteering opportunity and any previous participation in EU volunteering programmes, the total duration cannot exceed 12 months. The participant should have a strong interest in working with children and young people with disabilities and be motivated to contribute to their inclusion, development, and wellbeing. They should be able to support educational activities, including accelerated learning and catch-up classes, as well as assist with vocational and life-skills training for children and young adults. The participant should be comfortable assisting in therapy-related activities, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy sessions, under the guidance of local staff. They should also be willing to engage in community outreach activities, home visits, and awareness-raising initiatives involving children, families, and local communities. The participant should demonstrate empathy, patience, creativity, and strong interpersonal skills, as they will interact daily with children with diverse needs, parents, caregivers, and community members. They should be able to facilitate recreational activities, including sports, games, arts, and creative workshops, creating a positive and inclusive environment for all participants. A background in education, social work, community development, psychology, therapy, special needs education, or a related field is highly desirable. Previous experience working with children with disabilities, vulnerable groups, women, youth, or community-based projects will be considered an asset. Good written and spoken English skills are required, as well as basic computer literacy. Knowledge of digital communication tools, social media management, website content creation, or graphic design is welcomed. The participant should be flexible, open-minded, and able to adapt to local living and working conditions, including cultural differences, local food, language barriers, and occasional limitations in internet connectivity.

Activity dates

A total of 36 week(s) during the period 01/08/2026 to 30/11/2027

---

Activity location

8 Miles Hoima Road, Nansana, Kampala, Ouganda, Nansana, Kampala, Uganda

---

Activity type

Individual volunteering

---

Looking for participants from

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye

---

Activity topics

Social challenges

Education and training

Employment and entrepreneurship

Working against discrimination (including gender discrimination)

---

Deadline for applications

No application deadline

---

Project code

2024-1-EACEA-VOLUN-101191889