Location
  • Uganda
    • Kampala
Length
1 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Age Min.
13
Age Max
80
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse Lodge
Groups
Small Group (1-15)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
30
Price Details
_Program Fees:_

- Daily rate: $30 per day
- Includes:
- Accommodation:
- Self-contained room with private bathroom
- Comfortable bedding and furniture
- Local meals:
- Breakfast and lunch prepared by our in-country staff
- Traditional Ugandan cuisine with vegetarian and vegan options
- Free internet access:
- Reliable Wi-Fi connection in our volunteer house
- Stay connected with family and friends back home
- Additional amenities:
- 24/7 support from our in-country team
- Opportunities to participate in cultural activities and events
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Meals SIM cards Transportation Wifi
What's Not Included
Domestic Airfare Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
Jun 19, 2024
Mar 27, 2024
2 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Welcome to Amatsiko Organisation, a community-based organization dedicated to supporting orphans, vulnerable, and street children in South Western Uganda. By volunteering with us, you'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, work alongside our dedicated team, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of our children.

With over 15 years of experience hosting volunteers from around the world, we offer a unique and enriching experience. Our community school, with 420 pupils, is at the heart of our work. As a volunteer, you'll assist with teaching, both in and outside the classroom, and contribute to our holistic approach to education. No teaching experience is necessary, but if you are a teacher, that's a bonus!

Beyond the classroom, you'll have the chance to engage with our community outreach programs, empowering families and communities through sustainable projects like home gardens, rabbit cages, and organic farming practices.

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here. Learn more about how Amatsiko Organisation is promoting ethical volunteering.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Empower vulnerable children in Uganda
  • Immerse in local culture through community tours and outreach
  • Explore Uganda's natural beauty and wildlife on affordable trips
  • Contribute to sustainable projects like home gardens and organic farming
  • Join a global community of volunteers and make lasting connections

Program Impact

- *Empower Vulnerable Children*: Make a meaningful impact in the lives of orphans, vulnerable, and street children in Uganda.
- *Immerse in Local Culture*: Experience the warm hospitality of Ugandan communities and engage in cultural exchange through our community tours and outreach programs.
- *Wildlife Adventures*: Explore Uganda's stunning natural beauty and wildlife on our affordable and exciting trips.
- *Sustainable Projects*: Contribute to innovative projects like home gardens, rabbit cages, and organic farming practices that empower communities.
- *Global Community*: Join a vibrant network of volunteers from around the world and forge lasting connections.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 6 reviews
  • 5 rating 100%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.85
  • Value 4.85
  • Safety 4.7
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Default avatar
Karinn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer at Amatsiko

I had an amazing experience volunteering at Amatsiko. The school brings vulnerable children, often living on the street and/or orphans, into its embrace providing a nourishing, secure and joyful environment. Amatsiko finds guardian homes in the community where children are cared for, or some live at the school. Amatsiko provides three nutritious meals a day, enabling the children to grow and learn. Academically, Amatsiko outperforms some of the best schools in Kabale. Alex and Alphonse, who run Amatsiko, are fun and inspiring leaders who welcome you and your talents with open arms.

What was your funniest moment?
I helped to start a library at Amatsiko and read a novel to one of the classes. The novel, Holes, is about a boy who gets sent to a juvenile detention camp in Texas. The book is very funny and enjoying the silly jokes with the kids was a highlight of my three weeks in Uganda. The students were so engaged with story, it made the experience very gratifying.
Pros
  • Joyful environment at the school
  • Can do attitude that anything is possible
  • Eagerness of the students to learn
32 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Seth
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering With My Family

I travelled to Uganda with my wife, daughter and son in 2014. We spent a week sightseeing and a week volunteering and had an amazing time! Alex, Alphonse and everyone at Amatsiko were great hosts and they welcomed us warmly into their community. We spent time with various projects they were running and thoroughly enjoyed everything we were part of. I would wholeheartedly recommend volunteering at Amatsiko - you will have an incredible experience and help with hugely valuable work with the children, families and wider community Amatsiko supports.

Pros
  • Experience of helping with important projects
  • Sense of achievement
  • Supporting the community
Cons
  • None
  • None
  • None
79 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Tommy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteer

I was at amastiko last year with my family we had a great time with alex and alphons learning about the area and seeing the locals. The most impactfull time was volenteering at the school there we joined there classes and helped the children and also during there breaks went to the yard and played with them. In my eyes its a must experience for every family combines meanigfull work and having fun. We also combined tours around uganda after the volunteer work which was also very special no wonder its called the pearl of africa

Pros
  • Meanigfull
  • Organized
  • Funnnnnnn
74 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Gad
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amatsiko Review

My family (my partner myself, and my daughters aged 12 and 8) and I volunteered with Amatsiko organisation in December 2017, we had the most wonderful experience. Alex and Alfonse run a very well organised charity, and we were able to take part in the school work as well as working with the communities around Kabale. This was a transformative experience for us all, we learned so much and were able to see the direct impact of funds that my daughter has fundraised in the months prior to our visit. We are still in frequent contact with Alex and Alfonse today. If you are looking for an organisation to volunteer with as a family or as an individual, I would highly recommend getting in touch with Amatsiko

Pros
  • Hands on
  • Direct action
  • Profouimpact on the people of the community
Cons
  • None
82 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Gemma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A wonderful experience with wonderful people

I have visited Amatsiko twice now and it has been wonderful to see what Alex and Alphonse have achieved over the years.
They make a big impact on the lives of these children and their community.
Some of my fondest memories are of when we refurbished a classroom together and had so much fun in the process.
I also did some teaching at Amatsiko, the children are amazing and you could not wish for a friendlier bunch of people to work with.
Kabale is a beautiful little place and you have Lake Buyoni very nearby.
This place will stay in your heart forever!

Pros
  • Wonderful people
Cons
  • Don’t rely on Wi-Fi!
76 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rory
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Spend time changing lives

I have visited Amatsiko three times and am always amazed how much it achieves with so little. The experience you will have is life changing. The school children are so affectionate, polite and happy to be in school. Prepare to be mobbed like a rock star at break times. The other programs include going out to village projects way off the tourist route, again you cannot explain the experience of how you are greeted in the villages, and it is an adventure just getting to them. Alex and Alphonse the two principal driving forces behind the projects have their own back stories of how they ended up creating this amazing project.
Safety? I certainly feel safer walking around Kabale than my home town in England and any downtime you have you can visit Lake Bunyonyi, 6 miles from town, a stunning heaven for birdlife and hostels and hotels to suit all budgets.
My wife accompanied me on our most recent visit and was blown away by the whole experience. She is already looking at ways of fund raising to help out those whose lives may be poorer in many ways than our own, but so much richer in others

Pros
  • the classroom experiences
  • the village projects
  • the enthusiasm and commitment of all involved
Cons
  • occasional mosquitos
  • electricity unreliable
  • the sanitary arrangements for the boarders
77 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers