Does ABA Foundation accept Volunteers?
Yes – ABA Foundation accepts volunteers on a short-time basis (up to 6 months), longer time must be approved and additional visa arrangements made. We accept volunteers after an application has been made. If you are under 18 years old you must have written parental consent in addition to the application. We welcome volunteers for all over the world. Previous volunteers have been from USA, Russia, Austria, UK, Italy and Venezuela.
What would I be doing at ABA Foundation?
ABA Foundation’s primary goal is to teach character and helping the needy. We have children at different school levels on Uganda's Education curriculum. We also have various children who come to us at different times with different needs. ABA Foundation has a women's group of 200 that meet weekly where we discuss and teach on different subjects including business, medical and family. ABA Foundation gives a character lesson that is Bible based weekly and hands out a snack to 300-500 children (newborn -12 years). ABA Foundation also has a youth program with about 50-100 youths that use sports (especially soccer) to teach character and discipline. During the week ABA Foundation goes into individual homes in the needy villages and prays, counsels, administers minor medical and assists with individual and family needs. ABA Foundation intends to purchase land for the start of Place of Refuge Village so that building of projects can be started. Various other projects are also available (i.e. feeding, medical outreach, playground, Sunday school) during volunteering with ABA Foundation.
How do I get to ABA Foundation? What is the nearest airport? What documents do I need?
The main airport in Uganda is Entebbe airport. It is about 45K from the ABA Foundation headquarters in Kampala. We will pick you directly from the airport and return you upon your departure. You may acquire a "tourist" visa at the airport upon arrival. The cost is $50.00 USD. You will need a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining time before expiring on it. You can carry your inoculation card that shows your vaccine records and have it available if asked.
Immunizations and other health questions including HIV/Aids?
Contact your personal doctor, or find a local travel clinic, to obtain proper immunizations for travel to Uganda. Yellow fever is the only required vaccine for entering Uganda, but it is recommended that you are current on several others. Malaria is a concern here, and caution should be taken to avoid mosquito bites by using a deet-based repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net. Mosquito nets are provided at ABA Foundation. Short term volunteers should consider malaria preventatives like Doxycycline (cheap) or Malarone (expensive). You can purchase the anti-malarials here in Uganda upon arrival or get from your doctor before you come. Please note that Doxycyline can make you sun sensitive and Uganda is on the equator. Most doctors no longer recommend Larium (Mefloquine) because of the side effects. Most long-termers don't take anti-malarials because there is treatment here and it is effective. Consult your doctor with further questions. Consult the CDC website (www.cdc.gov/travel) for Ugandan recommendations and for a Travel Health Clinics in the US. This is Africa, there is HIV. The only way it can be transmitted is blood to blood contact, so we are careful about that. Many of the women in the women's group and several kids are HIV+ many are on ARVs. Regardless of how careful you are about what and where you eat and drink, you may have some minor problems with your health while here. The most common incidents relate to gastrointestinal problems and parasites. These are easily and inexpensively treated. People here get the normal cold, 'flu', infections, etc, as they do in other countries.
