Location
  • Uganda
    • Kampala
Length
4 weeks

Program Details

Age Min.
16
Age Max
60
Timeframe
Short Term Summer Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15)
Travel Type
Budget Solo

Pricing

Starting Price
0
Price Details
You don't have to pay to become an iServe Volunteer! We're not after your money, we're more interested in your expertise and talent that can help our children improve their literacy rates, and develop important life skills.

Your accommodation is on us!
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals SIM cards Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
May 25, 2023
Jun 26, 2022
0 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Uganda is a young nation with more than 50% of the population being under the age of 30. The literacy rate is currently at 76% and it's our goal to get it to 98%+ in the next few decades. To do that, we need to start by educating, training, and mentoring children from a young age. iServe is a volunteer program that welcomes people from around the world with expertise in language, writing, IT, science, and other fields to teach Ugandan children through our carefully curated programs.

Most volunteer programs don't make a lasting impact because they tend to last 1-2 weeks. The iServe programs are designed to make a lasting impact in Ugandan communities by equipping young people with the education and training they need to make it in this world. In partnership with schools like Friends International Christian Academy, volunteers get their accommodation covered, personal tour guides, curated travel experiences, and so much more.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Get to teach children in a new environment
  • Volunteer in Kampala and Mbarara
  • No hidden fees for volunteering
  • Completely free & private accommodation
  • Access to a dedicated Experience Manager (available 24/7 for any of your needs and takes you on tours around the regions)

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.80 Rating
based on 5 reviews
  • 5 rating 80%
  • 4 rating 20%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.6
  • Support 4.8
  • Fun 4.6
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.2
Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Default avatar
Pearl
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I really love these kids

It’s the kids
They’re the ones that reeled me in, challenged me, made me laugh, and showed me so much about life. I worked as a volunteer helping the kids with their public speaking skills and I really enjoyed the process. What stood out to me the most was watching the shy, and bashful kids becoming more confident in their abilities and preparing to speak in front of hundreds of people. I know that this program truly adds value to them and will set them up for more successful opportunities in the future

Pros
  • The kids! They’re great :)
  • You can volunteer for up to a year
90 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
GODWIN
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Very positive experience!

I was looking for a meaningful program for a few months after my first year and I have to say that my experience in their IT volunteer program was nothing short of amazing. The team, the environment, and the students are all very welcoming to volunteers and new comers. The workload is very manageable and the vision for each program is made clear. Communication with the experience managers and iServe team is also really great. I’ve had some really meaningful experiences in my time working with them and I’d 100% recommend. :))

96 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Stephen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Finally, a volunteer program that doesn't charge you to work for free!

I kept looking online for different volunteer programs to join and the thing that struck me the most was how expensive it is to volunteer in Africa. Like, why charge someone to come to work for free?? I even had friends who would work 40+ hours in these programs and I wanted to find a program that was the opposite of that.

One of the biggest selling points for me is that iServe is free, no hidden fees, no administrative costs bullshit. They asked me if I wanted to have a personal tour guide to be with me throughout my stay and I paid for that separately, and they covered my accommodation and most of my meals. I got to volunteer with kids that I never would've had the opportunity to help and it's been such a worthwhile experience, especially because I didn't have to empty my bank account to do it!

Pros
  • few hours (less than 15 per week)
  • free accommodation and airport transfer
  • supportive team
Cons
  • school isn't that big
111 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Finally, a volunteer program that doesn't charge you to work for free!

I kept looking online for different volunteer programs to join and the thing that struck me the most was how expensive it is to volunteer in Africa. Like, why charge someone to come to work for free?? I even had friends who would work 40+ hours in these programs and I wanted to find a program that was the opposite of that.

One of the biggest selling points for me is that iServe is free, no hidden fees, no administrative costs bullshit. They asked me if I wanted to have a personal tour guide to be with me throughout my stay and I paid for that separately, and they covered my accommodation and most of my meals. I got to volunteer with kids that I never would've had the opportunity to help and it's been such a worthwhile experience, especially because I didn't have to empty my bank account to do it!

Pros
  • it's free to join
  • free accommodation
  • few volunteer work hours (less than 15 hours per week)
Cons
  • the school isn't very big
84 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Worthwhile experience!

I was hesitant at first, but I'm glad I took a leap and joined the iServe volunteer programs. I felt so welcomed, supported, and valued by the team at Friends International. The program is designed to make sure that I still had lots of free time to travel and do touristy things while still making a difference with the volunteer program.

Some programs keep you busy for nearly 40 hours per week, but iServe was just 10-20 hours and I could spend the rest of my time interacting with locals and doing other things I love.

Pros
  • Amazing team to work with
  • Lots of free time, so you don't feel like you're working full-time
  • Cheap volunteer program
Cons
  • Ugandan food is an acquired taste, so I recommend eating out at places like KFC
106 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers