How long do you plan to stay in Uganda?
My internship at Amani is open-ended but I hope to work there from August 2016 until June 2017.
Where is the Amani Baby Cottage?
Amani is located in the town of Jinja, Uganda. Jinja is the 14th largest town in Uganda and is located on the northern shore of Lake Victoria. The population of Jinja is approximately 75,000. You can read more about Jinja on wikipedia here.
What kind of work will you be doing?
There is a wide range of work I can be engaged in at Amani Baby Cottage. I won’t get my assignments until I arrive, but I will work directly with the children, including work in the nursery (0-12 month old babies), and with toddlers and preschoolers. Other work possibilities include maintenance, Bible studies, painting, office work, social work, organizing, working on the newsletter and website, and perhaps doing some skill training for staff. And, of course, there’s always the kitchen–and I love to cook!
Why don’t you get paid to work?
Amani Baby Cottage is a ministry that cares for children who are orphans or whose parents can’t care for them. They have a small budget and rely on volunteer staff (like me!) to supplement the work of paid, local (Ugandan) staff. I will actually pay Amani a monthly fee to cover my living expenses and meals so they can devote their resources to caring for the children.
Will you have to learn a new language?
English is the official language of Uganda so most of the time I can use my native language! In the villages, it is common to hear people speak Lugandan. I hope I can learn to speak some Lugandan while I am there.