INTERNSHIP in UGAnda
adventurous & unique experience
Are you looking for an internship?
Let us find the perfect place for you! Uganda is a country that is perfect for an internship abroad; English is the main language, the cost of living is low and there are many national and international companies/NGO’s present. We have a big network of companies we work with, and we are very sure we will find the perfect company/NGO to match your needs and wishes.
The best cities to volunteer in are Kampala and Mbarara and for some studies, Gulu. Every city comes with advantages and disadvantages, Kampala for example has a lot to offer, but is less safe than Mbarara and a lot more expensive to live in.
I loved the time I spent with the staff and other volunteers at the orphanage. The best experience ever!
Hanna
Student
Costs of internship
It is impossible to give a standard price because every internship is different. Most important for you, the intern, is to understand that we as a foundation are NON-PROFIT. It means we only need to have our expenses covered and if there is any money left over, we invest it in social projects in Uganda.
We can give you an idea of the living expenses in a city like Mbarara based upon an internship period of one year. A month living with a host family would cost you about $150, when you opt for your own apartment the costs would be around $300 and lastly, a stay in a guest house would be around $400 a month.
Local coordinators
We have a Dutch employee who lives in Uganda, and he is your go-to for any questions or problems. He is the one responsible for your placement and the one who makes sure you have a good accommodation and a great experience overall.
Then we have Ugandan coordinators that help you get around in the city you live in. They make sure you know the good places to eat, they help you with regard to the cultural differences and are on call 24/7.
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Are you interested?
Then just fill in the form, and we schedule a (video) call to talk about all the details.
And don’t worry if something is unclear, click here to have a look at the most asked questions; information about VISA requirements, insurance and much more. If you need to know more, just send us a message on WhatsApp!
Important!
It takes time to make sure you have the best experience. Not all things work very quickly in a country like Uganda so make sure you start this process on time (at least four months before the intended start date!).
Frequently
ASKED
Questions
There are some subjects that you need to look into before travelling to Uganda.
Travel insurance
You will be living and working in Uganda on a volunteer permit. It is important to discuss this with your travel insurance agency.
Allowed medication in Uganda
Some types of medication are not allowed into the country, so be mindful and discuss this with your embassy and check pages like this one on Tripadvisor. Most medications are easily accessible in Uganda.
Obviously, we will try to advise you on these topics if something is unclear.
Upon arrival in Entebbe a representative of Joeboentoe will await you to either bring you to your lodge (if you arrive late) or to bring you to your project (when you arrive early in the morning).
The same applies for your return; we can only rest assured when we know you are safe and well on your return flight. Therefore, our representative will drop you at the door of Departures – Entebbe Airport, as far as he or she is allowed to go.
* We often get the question if it is possible to stay one or two nights in Entebbe to acclimatize after arrival. This is obviously no problem; just let us know, and we will arrange your stay in a nice lodge, and the same goes for the return flight.
We have multiple local project coordinators who are available 24/7 to provide assistance during your time at the project.
Furthermore, we have a Dutch representative of Joeboentoe who lives in Rukungiri district (south of Uganda) who will be available for questions the local project coordinators can’t answer. He regularly comes to visit you and the company/NGO to see if everything is going according to plan.
When you arrive at Entebbe Airport, a representative of Joeboentoe will be there to welcome you and drive you either to your accommodation or to a lodge in Entebbe to acclimatize.
In the town where you are doing your internship, we can arrange for a private driver to drive you (either by car of motor taxi) to and from your workplace.
When you opt to stay with a host family in Uganda, they will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you tell them about your culture and local customs. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Uganda and have a truly unique experience. This stay comes with breakfast and dinner.
When you choose to stay in your own apartment, you will have to buy and prepare your own meals. But don’t worry, the basics for a healthy meal are never far away. If you really can’t (or don’t want to) cook, we can arrange for a cook/cleaner to come assist you!
When you stay in a guesthouse, breakfast is included in the price.
The most important requirement is that you need to be a calm and loving person, ready to help where needed.
We stress that it is very important to be flexible throughout your time in Uganda. An open mind and a strong work ethic are good attributes to have, so that you may make the most of your time volunteering and be of the greatest value to the project.
Personal appearance is important to Ugandans, and therefore we want you to dress appropriate. In Ugandan culture, the knee and upper leg of a woman are something special, so please cover it. Cleavage is of no importance, as Ugandans see breasts as the milk supply for babies (so don’t be amazed if a woman pulls out a breast to feed her baby while talking to you). For men; short pants are worn by boys, so if you want to be seen as an adult, wear trousers. To all; travel light! Uganda has many second-hand clothes markets, so just buy clothes in Uganda and help the local economy at the same time!
Please remember to be respectful and considerate to the people you interact with. The staff and members of the community you are working with will have different cultural expectations and values to those that you believe to be right, or appropriate. The woke ideology of the West is not appreciated, so no They/Them or ‘I identify as a …’ or any outward showing of sexual preference. If you are attracted to the same sex and you are afraid of coming to Uganda; don’t be. The people actually don’t care about it as long as you keep it to yourself.
Another thing you need to learn to deal with is time. To be more precise; time is flexible, waiting is fine and ‘I am on my way’ can mean that the person will arrive somewhere this week or within five minutes. This also applies to our local coordinators, even though we try very hard to make them more Western in the way they keep time. So don’t be frustrated, but let our Dutch representative know when you are constantly running into time keeping problems with your project and/or coordinator.
The minimum age is 18, there is no maximum age.
When you want to come with a group of people (two or more participants) and you would like to stay together in a apartment, guesthouse or at a host family, we will have to make some special arrangements with regard to your accommodation. Please be sure to let us know when you are applying.
Uganda is beautiful! When you travel from the north to the south, you will see many landscapes and experience different microclimates. In your free time, we can arrange trips to one of the many National Parks in Uganda or one of the other amazing places to visit with beautiful names like ‘the mountains of the moon’.
Another trip can be a visit to the capital, Kampala. This crazy, busy and colourful metropole has an amazing nightlife, many cosy restaurants and is a great outing with a group of volunteers (with a coordinator to make sure everyone returns safely).
Even though it is obvious, let us emphasize; weekend trips/safaris are not included in the price of the project. However; we can arrange it for you and because we are a non-profit organization, the prices are a lot lower than if you were to go with a travel company.
COVID
Uganda has had very little Covid cases and deaths, therefore the restrictions are mostly lifted. Just be sure to check with your embassy to see the current requirements.
EBOLA
Ebola outbreaks occur from time to time, they are however not a big issue for the majority of Ugandans and visitors/tourists. Of course, when you are travelling using public transport, you want to be a bit more vigilant, but the chances of getting Ebola in Uganda are very small.