Lira volunteers manual



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UGANDA: LIRA VOLUNTEERS INFORMATION

Uganda is situated in East Africa, sharing borders with Kenya, Tanzania, Congo, Sudan, and Rwanda. Its capital city is Kampala. Educated Ugandans are generally fluent in English. There are over 30 different languages in Uganda .The language that they speak in Lira is Luo.


For four-five months from late October to February, the climate is near perfect with cloudless blue skies and little or no rain. From January to March it is very hot, dry and dusty. The weather turns wet at the end of March giving the population their main growing season. For this part of the year the weather is very British, but with a day time temperature of about 25-28 degrees. We get rain right through until September.

The set-up

LightForce International has rented a property in Lira for the purpose of housing teams of volunteers. The property is in a half acre compound. It has been suitably furnishing to give visitors a reasonable measure of comfort. Bathrooms and toilets are of a good standard and the showers have hot water!


Each room has beds with mosquito nets, a radio/cd player, electric fan and wardrobe. Electric sockets are all UK style and so all the “plug in” items from the UK work there. The house has a colour television, DVD player and satellite link. BBC, CNN and most major sports fixtures (and Eastenders!) can be accessed. There is a safe in the house where passports and other valuables can be deposited.
WE DON’T WEAR SHOES IN THE HOUSE – AS YOU ARRIVE BE PREPARED TO PUT OFF SHOES BEFORE ENTERING. THIS KEEPS DUST & MUD TO A MINIMUM. PLEASE RESPECT THIS. Bring some suitable indoor footwear.
LightForce International provides all bed linen and towels. A daily laundry service is provided. Clothing taken in the mornings is returned in the evening. A housekeeper takes care of all domestic chores and a cook prepares meals. Volunteers do not need to engage in domestic chores. In fact please note that the kitchen and office are out of bounds. Please keep out of both unless specifically asked to do something.
The house is less than half a mile from town and within easy & safe walking distance. Boda boda – a bicycle taxi service is near to hand wherever you are in Uganda. In Lira you can move in town for just 10p.
If you have a mobile phone it will work in Uganda. Unless it is locked to your UK network you can purchase a local Ugandan SIM card. It will cost you £1 including some credit. If using your UK network in Uganda it will be expensive. Remember you pay to receive calls as well as make them. All the networks work but if sending SMS (text) messages to the UK you are best to purchase Celtel. There are numerous (cheap) internet cafes in town – cost is less than £1 an hour.
You will be best to bring cash rather than travellers cheques. The exchange rate for traveller’s cheques is low. If you want to change money it is best to do it with LightForce as you will get a better rate than at the airport or the bank in Lira. We will give you whatever rate we last got in Kampala. Apart from paying for your visa with US dollars you can bring the rest in clean UK pound notes. (not written on).
Cultural
There are a few things to bear in mind when you are in Lira:
Dress: People wear pretty much what we wear in the UK. Just be sensible about low cut tops and tight, short shorts/trousers. Generally we have discovered that Ugandan girls who wear trousers are considered “rebellious and free” so you will find most girls wear a dress or skirt. They accept though that British and Americans girls wear them as part of every day life and that it is no reflection on their character.
Alcohol: Ugandan Christians don’t drink alcohol. This is not to impose their stance on you but we do not want you to bring alcohol to the house. Also be wise when out with local people – we don’t want to confuse or stumble them in any way.
Friendliness: You won’t fail to realise very quickly how friendly the people are. They will all speak to you and make you feel very welcome. Small children in the camps may be a bit surprised (or even afraid) if you are white. They may even sometimes cry and run away!

What you will be required to do

If you are coming for a short two week visit we will endeavour to move you around and let you experience the culture and also get an over view of our work. Where practical and possible you will be able to get actively involved.


You could be involved in any of the following:


    • Warehouse work

    • Verification of the needs of people

    • Practical jobs

    • Constructing tents

    • Distributing non food items

    • Loading and unloading trucks.

    • Working with Special Needs children

    • Building projects

    • Volunteers agree to get involved with whatever needs doing



Is this for you?

Being a Christian is not essential – but you must at least be sympathetic and open. Lira will test and strengthen your faith! Committed Christians should be mature and able to maintain their spiritual lives WITHOUT the expectation of prayer & bible study being organised for them daily. This is boot camp – not bible camp! If this statement upsets you please go to Spring Harvest, GrapeVine or Soul Survivor! Having said that you are encouraged to connect with a local church – all flavours and sizes available.


It is also a great opportunity to serve. It goes without saying that you have got to love people and children. You must be patient, kind and generous but at the same time strict in order to earn their respect and ensure the smooth running of the project. You must be able to handle the heat and humidity and insects. You will struggle if you have a morbid fear of all things creepy crawly! If you are prepared to put in the work it will be the most amazing, life changing experience you will ever have. It may take you a week or more to adjust to the food, time difference, heat, smell and culture but in the end it will be well worth it.
Why to volunteer?


  • Make a difference in the lives of children, adults and local communities

  • Volunteers get huge satisfaction

  • Grow close to the children and teach them new things

  • What you contribute helps fund the good work

  • To rediscover yourself and to learn true values of life.

  • Ugandans feel encouraged to see you there and helping them



Where you will be staying

LightForce has a house in Lira as previously mentioned. The LightForce office is located in the compound as well as two small meeting houses. It is a secure base with a guard at the gate 24hrs. The house is very comfortable, with a furnished kitchen, modern bathrooms and European toilets. Lira is a nice town and has a lot of facilities including general stores and chemist. There are also medical clinics available.



Before you leave England

Please note the following:



  • We will probably ask you to complete a CRB (police) check (bring out a photocopy of the part that is sent to you)

  • Passports must be valid for a period of 6 months longer than the period you will be in Uganda. Please ensure yours fits the criteria.

  • Visa. When you arrive at Entebbe go to the visa desk and hand over your passport and the immigration card that you will receive on the plane. Then hand over the $50 when they ask for it. You will need the following information to complete the form: Address in Lira: LightForce International, PO Box 434, Plot 11, Kioga Road. Purpose for visit is: Tourism. If they ask you at the desk why you have come then tell them LightForce is working with displaced people and you have come to see the work and help us.

  • Travel Insurance. Shop around for the best deal to suit you, but it is essential that you have it. You can obtain this through the LightForce office.

  • Vaccinations. Are required for entrance into Uganda. You should certainly have Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Talk to your doctor about having Japanese Hepatitis B and any others and take his advice.

  • Malaria Tablets. As this is a malarias region, you will require these. Seek your doctors advice on what you should take, and if you should take it. As malaria tablets are not 100% effective, you need to take other preventative measures such as covering up and using mosquito repellent. You could bring a plug-in mosquito zapper.

  • Make photocopies of your passport, visa, tickets, travel insurance certificate and print out a list of emergency contact details and any medication you are currently taking. Give this to the office upon arrival.



Kit list

Because you will be living in a comfortable, furnished house, there is no need to bring a sleeping bag etc and you can even bring a hair dryer if you wish!




  • Plain cotton underwear (lace really itches in the heat)

  • Jeans are ok for evenings.

  • Cropped jeans are ok for daytime use but they do make you hot

  • Trousers (Note: jeans may not be comfortable as it is generally hot and they won’t dry in the monsoon), ¾ length trousers are very practical.

  • Shorts not hot pants!

  • T-shirts, short sleeve or sleeveless tops.

  • Long cotton tops in case you go out in the evening

  • Cotton night wear

  • One pair of really good pair of shoes-sandals that fit well for general every day outside use.

  • Walking boots or heavy shoes for use during wet and muddy seasons

  • Flip flops or slippers for in the house

  • First aid kit including blockers for diarrhoea, rehydration salts, paracetamol, antihistamine tablets (especially if you react badly to bites) and Canesten cream for fungal infections (which are more common in the humidity)

  • Sun tan cream, after sun.

  • Hat. A cap is alright - but remember your ears!

  • Insect repellent (spray variety is easiest to apply)

  • Bring your own feminine hygiene stuff-you can buy towels, but tampons don’t seem to be available.

  • Small sewing kit & penknife may be useful

  • Torch as there are frequent power cuts

  • Batteries

  • Bring a diary-you’ll regret not keeping one

  • Toiletries-soap, shampoo etc

  • Bible

  • Camera (spare battery), CD’s, DVD’s, Books etc


What you can bring for the children





  • Children’s Clothes. For Special needs children.

  • People ask us what they can bring that will be useful. It would be great if you could use the remainder of your luggage allowance to bring resources for use in the children’s programme: Pencil crayons, educational toys and resources for teaching, tennis balls, plastic folders, 75 micron A4 gloss laminating sheets, coloured A4 paper. Please make the resources available to the senior UK staff person on arrival – don’t give things out directly.

In fact you will not be allowed to give gifts, sweets, toys etc to children or make gifts to adults, including our staff without first speaking to us. We don’t want to breed a culture where all our visitors are seen as gift shops. Staff should not ask you for help with school fees, building their house, financing a small business or for any of your belongings. They have been told that this is an abuse of their position so please don’t do anything to encourage such practice. Also be careful about giving email addresses & fone numbers as you may be plagued with requests for help after you return home.



Getting to Lira from Entebbe


You can get a direct flight over night from Heathrow with British Airways. You can come with whatever airline you wish but we try and co-ordinate arrivals and departures as Lira is about 7.5hrs drive from Entebbe Airport. If you come with another airline please arrive in the early morning otherwise you will need to stay in a hotel and we will collect you the following morning. Be prepared for a long day travelling to Lira. Someone will meet you at Entebbe International Airport – it will be one of our drivers. Look for someone holding a sign saying LIGHTFORCE INTERNATIONAL. He will introduce himself and will know your name and probably have your photograph with him! You will then drive north to Lira. We suggest you eat your breakfast on the plane and carry with you snacks for the journey. Toilets will be few and basic as you travel. The driver will ensure you can take a comfort break at intervals. We may have to collect supplies in Kampala in which case there will be chance for an hours break.



Principles you agree to live by whilst with us.


Christians are preferred, but volunteers sympathetic to the Christian faith will normally be accepted. If you go to Lira you must accept the following:



  • You mustn’t smoke at all during your time with us.

  • You won’t drink alcohol within the LightForce base or to excess.

  • Long-term volunteers – if you want to go on an excursion, and would like to stay out the night, this is okay but we need to know where you are.

  • Not to get into a romantic relationship while in Lira.

  • You must stay for at least two weeks.

  • You can stay up to four weeks.

  • A visa will cost you $50 usd – you can it upon arrival at Entebbe Airport.

  • Please respect that the office and kitchen is out of bounds.

  • Flexibility in the work program is essential.

  • To relax and enjoy it.


Safari – not to be missed – everybody loves it……….

We endeavour to plan a trip to the Uganda Wildlife Authority Reserve at Murchison Falls to enable all who want to go on Safari to do so. The Reserve covers almost 6000 square kilometres and has lion, leopard, giraffe, hippo, warthog, water buffalo, elephant, various types of deer, crocodiles, hyena, mongoose plus a variety of birds of prey and other exotic birds.


The trip usually runs for 2 days with a nights full board accommodation at the Paraa Safari Lodge. It is a must – especially for those who have never done a Safari. We use LightForce vehicles for the trip and for the Game Drives we travel with a ranger/guide supplied by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
We leave Lira early in the morning and the journey to the lodge is under 3 hours – for the last hour you are in the park enjoying the wild life as we travel to Paraa. After a three course lunch we go down to the River Nile and take a 3 hour boat trip to the foot of Murchison Falls. Upon return to the vehicle we go for an evening game drive before returning to the lodge. Arriving back at the lodge around 7.30pm there is time to shower before a three course dinner, coffee & then to bed. Breakfast is at 6.30am and at 7am we leave for a game drive.
Upon return to Paraa we take a relaxed three course lunch and you will have opportunity to swim in the open air pool before heading back to Lira arriving for a light supper at 7pm.
The all inclusive cost (drinks excluded) for the 2 days is £200. This is payable in cash at the LightForce office in Lira.

Contact Details – please do not contact Uganda directly before being approved as a volunteer



LightForce International UK

Christian Centre,

Oldbrook,

Milton Keynes,

MK6 2TG

Phone: 00 44 1908 670655



Email: missions@lightforce.org.uk

Mailing address in Uganda


LightForce International,

PO BOX 434,

Lira,

UGANDA
Telephone contact for the UK staff working in Uganda – Note*** this is for your use when in Uganda or for emergency contact from the UK. These numbers must not be used by family and friends in the UK wanting to simply chat with you….+256 752 932260, +256 752 932222.



HEALTH & SECURITY WHILST IN LIRA

LightForce International has been providing opportunities for adults of all ages to volunteer on short term & medium term mission trips for 25 years. Our safety record is very good. We don’t have any serious incident on record. We want to keep it that way and ensure that people joining our teams feel as secure as possible and are cared for. Sometimes volunteers are frustrated by the “ground rules” applied but we believe adhering to the guidelines has enhanced security.


The house is secure and supervised 24hrs a day by our guards.
We ensure that in Entebbe ALL volunteers are met. Volunteers need to come out of the airport and look for a sign saying LightForce International or with their name on.
Copies of Medical insurance should be placed in the LightForce International UK office before departure and a copy given to the office upon arrival in Lira. This ensures that in the unlikely event of serious sickness or accident there are no delays in organising treatment or if necessary repatriation.
Travellers expect to occasionally get tummy upsets or feel the effects of heat and humidity. Take care not to eat food from unknown sources, drink safe or bottled water and peel fruits before eating. This will help avoid most problems. Personal hygiene is also more critical in hot climates. If volunteers are feeling unwell they should always make someone in the LightForce leadership team aware.
It is not unusual for most people to feel a little homesick. Especially if they are away for the first time or this is their first long trip. Keeping busy, making new friends and getting involved in the project will help. Those with a mobile phone can buy a Pay as U Go card very cheaply to keep contact with family and friends in the UK. Make sure your fone is not locked onto a UK network.
There is no greater risk of being mugged or robbed in Lira that there is in the UK. The same rules apply there as here. Lira isn’t a popular tourist area but you still need to be vigilant and use common sense.


  • Don’t go out alone after dark

  • Don’t carry phones, cameras or bags in ways that they can be easily snatched

  • Don’t carry large amounts of money or let it be on display when paying for things – just carry what is necessary for the day.

  • Leave passports and credit cards in the safe.

  • Don’t dress provocatively

  • Don’t be rowdy or act in ways that attract attention.

  • Keep your wits about you – don’t be flattered by people who don’t know – people will like to talk to you because you are English. Just be alert. Most are genuinely friendly but from time to time there’ll be an opportunist.

  • Follow local advice given you – keep out of “no go areas” and don’t go anywhere without advising the local project leader. Never change your plans without advising him.


Safe Trip! & Welcome to Lira!




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