The founders of this home in Uganda prefer not to call it an orphanage, but rather a Revival Home. Their goal is to reconnect children with their extended families whenever possible and support those families in providing a stable, loving environment. When financial hardship is a barrier, the project steps in — helping families start small businesses or income-generating activities, such as opening a shop, to ensure they can care for the orphaned child sustainably.
In cases where no family can be found, the child remains at the Revival Home, where they receive a proper education, emotional support, and life skills training to prepare them for independent adulthood.
Volunteering at this project is intentionally different — and for good reason. Many of the children at the Revival Home have experienced deep loss, instability, and trauma. Building trust takes time, and relationships built too quickly — only to be broken again — can be damaging. That’s why the project only welcomes long-term volunteers, with a minimum commitment of two months. This approach helps create a sense of stability, allowing the children to form meaningful, lasting connections with the people around them.
The selection process is not taken lightly. Volunteers are carefully chosen through a thorough screening system that evaluates not just skills and experience, but also emotional maturity, cultural sensitivity, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of vulnerable children. The goal is to ensure that every volunteer who joins the project is not just a visitor, but a safe, consistent presence in a child’s life — someone who truly understands the importance of patience, empathy, and long-term care.
This approach may not suit everyone, but for those who are ready to invest their time, energy, and heart, it offers a deeply rewarding opportunity to make a real and lasting difference.
As a volunteer, you will be involved in a variety of tasks that support both the children and the overall operation of the project. This may include helping with daily routines, assisting with homework, organizing recreational activities, supporting agricultural work, or participating in community outreach efforts. Flexibility, initiative, and a willingness to engage wherever needed are key.
The cost of volunteering at this project is $350 per week — a bit higher than some other programs. However, as a non-profit organization, we ensure that every dollar is used responsibly and goes directly toward supporting vulnerable children in Uganda. Your contribution not only covers your stay but also plays a vital role in the broader mission of the Revival Home.
A significant portion of the funds is used to help reintegrate children with extended family members — a process that often involves travel, legal support, and helping families establish stable income sources. So, in addition to the time and care you give as a volunteer, your financial contribution has a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of the children and their future.
We host a maximum of two volunteers at a time to maintain a calm, personal atmosphere that’s in the best interest of the children. We also encourage volunteers to come with a friend if possible. Sharing the experience with someone you know can ease the adjustment to a new country and environment, and that sense of support often translates into a smoother, more positive transition into the project. When volunteers feel comfortable and grounded, they’re better able to give the consistency, care, and attention the children need.
We do things differently from most volunteer organisations. We are not in Uganda to make money — our mission is to help people. That’s why the cost to volunteer with us is very low.
In return, we ask you to show us why you would be a valuable addition to our projects. If we feel you can bring something meaningful, we will be delighted to host you!
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to get in touch with us anytime via WhatsApp or email — we’re happy to help!
Upon arrival in Entebbe or Kigali, a representative of Joeboentoe will be waiting for you to take you to your lodge (if you arrive late) or to take you to your project (if you arrive early in the morning). The same applies to the return flight; we can only rest easy knowing that you are safe and sound on the plane on your way home. Therefore, our representative will drop you off at the entrance of the departure hall of Entebbe or Kigali Airport (as far as we are allowed to go) so we know that you are well and truly on your way home.
We are frequently asked if it is possible to stay one or two nights in Entebbe after arrival to acclimatize. This is of course not a problem; just let us know when you register, and we will arrange a stay in a nice lodge. The cost will be between $25 and $50 a night.
We have multiple local project coordinators who are available 24/7 to provide assistance during your stay. We also have a Dutch representative of Joeboentoe who lives alternately at Lake Bunyonyi, Masaka and Entebbe and he will be available for questions that the local project coordinators cannot answer. He will regularly visits you to see if everything is going according to plan.
Upon arrival at Entebbe or Kigali Airport, a Joeboentoe representative will be waiting to welcome you and take you to your project or to a lodge in Entebbe to recover from the journey.
At most projects, there are two accommodation options available: either on-site at the project itself or with a host family in the surrounding area. In both cases, you’ll have a clean room equipped with all the essentials—most importantly, a bed with a mosquito net. Simple breakfast, lunch and dinner are ALWAYS included.
If you choose to stay with a host family, they will warmly welcome you into their home, eager to share their traditions and learn about your culture and customs. You’ll share a (Ugandan) breakfast and dinner with the family, making it the perfect way to fully immerse yourself in Ugandan culture and enjoy a truly unique experience.
We carefully select host families near the project or school. The family receives a good contribution for hosting you, so they’ll do everything they can to make your stay comfortable and memorable.
The minimum age for volunteering is 16, there is no maximum age.
If you want to come with a group of people (two or more participants) and stay together in a volunteer house or with a host family, we will have to make special arrangements regarding your accommodation/project. So let us know when you register!
The most important requirement is that you are a calm and loving person, ready to help where needed. Age is not an issue here.
We emphasize that it is very important to be flexible during your stay in Uganda. An open mind and the will to help where needed are good qualities to have, this will help you get the most out of your time as a volunteer and be of the greatest value to the project.
Personal appearance is important to Ugandans, so we want you to dress appropriately. In Ugandan culture, a woman’s knee and thigh are something special, so please cover them. For men; shorts are worn by boys, so if you want to be seen as an adult, wear long trousers. To everyone; travel light! Uganda has many second-hand clothing markets, so just buy clothes when you are here and help the local economy at the same time!
Remember to be respectful and considerate to the people you interact with. The staff and community members you work with will have different cultural values than those you are used to. The ‘woke’ ideology of the West is not appreciated, so no ‘I identify as…’ or any outward display of sexual preference. It is not appropriate to kiss your partner in public, holding hands or a hug is no problem. If you are attracted to the same sex and are afraid to come to Uganda; there is no need for that. People generally do not care, as long as you keep it to yourself.
Another thing you have 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 sometime 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 deal with time. So don’t get frustrated, but let our Dutch representative know if you are constantly having problems with your project and/or coordinator when it comes to time.
You are going to live and work in Uganda and based on the length of your stay this is either a work permit or a tourist visa. It is important to discuss with your insurer what your coverage is.
Uganda is a strange country when it comes to volunteer work. When we receive a registration from Uganda, the person assumes that there is payment for the (voluntary) work. This is also the reasoning of the government and for that reason obtaining a volunteer work permit is extremely expensive (2500 dollars per year!).
Thanks to our partnership with the Catholic Church, our volunteers fortunately do not have to pay these kinds of amounts. Depending on the duration of your stay, there are two options;
Short term; you come as a tourist and help (without receiving a salary) during your stay. This VISA costs 50 dollars per three months. This VISA can be renewed two times (a total of 270 days).
Long term; for a stay of one year or longer, we apply for a work permit for you in cooperation with the church. Via the church this costs 250 dollars per year.
In Uganda, some types of medicine are not allowed, so please be aware of this and discuss this with your embassy. Most medicines are easily and cheaply available in Uganda; in most cases, you do not need to bring them. Of course, we will advise you on these topics if anything is unclear.