Volunteering in Uganda
Volunteer recruitment
Section titled “Volunteer recruitment”Most volunteers find out about Whisper via an online search.
Whisper is registered with Volunteer4Africa and it is worth keeping Whisper’s information up to date there.
The Adventure Medic may be a good place to advertise for volunteer medical staff.
Volunteer management
Section titled “Volunteer management”http://energizeinc.com is a useful resource for volunteer management.
The Certificate in Volunteer Administration is a formal qualification in volunteer management.
Volunteer welfare
Section titled “Volunteer welfare”Volunteers in Uganda are undertaking somewhat hazardous and potentially stressful work. Whisper needs to take steps to mitigate risks and provide support:
- An assessment interview
- General orientation in the form of a handbook so that volunteers know what to expect and can take steps themselves to mitigate risk and handle issues better
- Volunteer insurance, a liability waiver or both
- Specific induction processes for Mutai, Kagoma Gate and the Hospital.
- Protective equipment and clothing, for example motorbike safety clothing, bednets or mosquito screens, communal water filtration
- Emotional support including emotional first aid following traumatic events and a debrief at the end of their stay
- A defined disciplinary procedure in case things go wrong
Volunteer manual
Section titled “Volunteer manual”To help things to run smoothly, Whisper is producing a manual for potential volunteers for Uganda. The Giving Circle, a small US-based charity that Whisper sometimes used to have dealings with, provides this manual for its volunteers. They have a very different system, with annual visits from a group of volunteers arriving together.
Insurance
Section titled “Insurance”Whisper needs to decide whether to arrange liability insurance for volunteers or to ask them to sign a waiver, or both. The Giving Circle does both. Whisper should take legal advice from somebody experienced in this area.