WHAT IS A VOLUNTARY DEVELOPMENT WORK PROJECT?

This is a project activity, sometimes called a workcamp, organized by UVDA in collaboration with members of the local community. These activities are conducted throughout the whole year i.e. January to December and their duration may be 2 or 3 weeks.

There are also weekend activities that may be conducted at any time of the year upon request from the needy communities.

Emergency activities are conducted in times of catastrophe or natural disasters in collaboration with national or international partner organizations.

These activities are conducted to help local communities: problems are jointly solved while different cultural and social backgrounds are exchanged or observed, as are different perspectives from different parts of the world.

Voluntary service gives the opportunity to work for local and world peace and for welfare and development.

UVDA PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES

Since its inception in 1986, UVDA has provided various social and economic development services to the communities in different parts of Uganda. These include;-

Community Development

UVDA has participated in the construction and rehabilitation of several schools, dispensaries, clinics, spring water wells roads etc.

Health

UVDA has promoted and participated actively in health programmes in rural areas, especially by helping to construct dispensaries and clinics. The programmes include curative and preventive, community based health care, nutrition, immunization, HIV/AIDS awareness and family life education.

Women’s Projects

Women are important to UVDA. Projects have included: craft making, tailoring, better agricultural production techniques, social-cultural activities, income related activities, and health.

Youth Projects and Programmes

UVDA realizes that youth in most rural areas (and in town) are not gainfully employed. In order to reverse this trend UVDA has run activities for them in productive work including carpentry, building and masonry, agriculture, social-cultural activities and other related income generation initiatives. They also join voluntary workcamps, both international and local, which are organized by UVDA and other partner organizations.

Orphans / Destitute Children

Due to war which has hit different parts of the community, and due also to high HIV/AIDS prevalence and fatalities, Uganda has a high number of orphans and destitutes, whom UVDA tries to assist through various strategies which include educating them and giving them clothes, bedding and medical treatment. In some cases UVDA tries to solicit assistance for them to be trained in some skills in agriculture, carpentry and other trades that will enable them to survive in society.

Education

UVDA supports schools with materials and volunteer teachers. UVDA is also trying to support the development of vocational training institutions. UVDA also helps construct classrooms, teachers’ houses and other school buildings.

Relief Programmes

UVDA may solicit for funds and provide relief to needy people and it participates in relief programmes organized by other local and international NGOs and agencies e.g.UNDP. We may provide local and international volunteers for these programmes

Medium and Long Term Volunteers.

Medium and long term volunteers are accepted in UVDA programmes for periods between 1 and 12 months

Check UVDA International work camps programmes 2008 page 8 for more information