I participated in The Real Uganda's Public Health Improvement program and spent most weekdays volunteering at a health center (which had an outpatient, antenatal, and antiretroviral therapy clinic). Sometimes, I also built mud stoves during the day and bonded with my host family in the evening.
Although I traveled to Uganda as a volunteer, I gained more from my experiences with the locals than I could have ever imagined. I formed such strong bonds with the people at my volunteer site and my host family -- we keep in contact to this day.
While in Uganda, I lived in a village with the sweetest and most caring family. There was so much love and happiness within their house, and we now consider each other family. Side note: Although I thought it would be difficult to get used to having no running water (which meant using outdoor pit latrines and taking cold bucket showers), I adapted to it pretty quickly and it was just fine! Please don't let this deter you.
This program allowed me to be fully immersed in Ugandan culture and I LOVED that. The Real Uganda is the absolute opposite of "voluntourism", and exactly what I was looking for. Ugandan culture emphasizes joy, gratefulness, community, and kindness to all. While living in Uganda, I learned and began to embody the country’s values. It was typical to remain leisurely and take the time to fully experience the surrounding people and environments. So if you decide to participate in this program, please allow yourself to enjoy this way of life.
Leslie (the program founder) was amazing and extremely helpful, from start to finish. As soon as I confirmed my program dates, Leslie began helping me prepare. In the months leading up to my arrival, she continued to walk me through each step of my international travel journey. While in Uganda, Leslie became my second mom. I always went to her with questions, funny stories, and any concerns, and she was always empathetic, honest, and transparent. I also think it's important to note that she conducts this program out of the kindness of her heart. Although she experiences small financial gain from it, Leslie understands the value of the experience she is able to provide to travelers/volunteers at an affordable price. Volunteering through The Real Uganda is 100% worth it, and I would do it a million more times if I could.
At the end of my fourth and final week in Uganda, I called my mother and told her I wanted to live in Uganda -- The Real Uganda fostered the love for this beautiful country that grew within me. Ugandan holds a big piece of my heart, and I plan to return within the next year and travel through The Real Uganda once again.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
When you arrive at your placement in Uganda, don’t hold back, try not to overthink the little things, and live in the moment. Take every opportunity to try new things, say hi to everyone around you, and speak the language as much as possible. The people are so friendly, and you will not regret interacting with them as much as possible.
Also, I would advise taking others’ comments with a grain of salt, prior to departure. My family was nervous about me traveling so far alone, and they continued to warn me of all that could go wrong. If I could do it again, I would instead arrive at my placement thinking of all the things that could go right, and everything that I might (and ultimately, did) gain from the experience.
