Support children and education in rural Uganda
Volunteer with Tenderhearts Children Initiative Uganda – Tenderhearts Children Initiative Ltd is a registered Ugandan NGO dedicated to supporting vulnerable and underserved children through education, welfare, and community empowerment. The organisation is currently constructing Meredith Noah Children School in Buwofu Village to provide quality education, safe learning spaces, and hope for children aged 5–13.
We focus on:
• Child welfare and community care
• Education support and school development
• Safe spaces and learning materials
• Community outreach and empowerment
Our mission is to uplift children and give them opportunities to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
What category best describes your hosting arrangement? 🏡
Organisation/NGO
Location – Where is your volunteer project located? 🌏
Postal Address (For Packages): P.O Box 710167, Bugiri, Uganda
Organisation Location: Buwofu Village, Bugiri District, Eastern Uganda (Community-based operations and school site located near Meredith Noah Children School)
What are you looking for help with?
- Administration 🔑
- Building 🛠
- Charity Work/Fundraising 💰
- Computer/Web 💻
- Farming/Gardening 🌿🐄
- Film-Making 🎥
- General Help 💁♀️
What’s the mission of your community? 🎯
Our mission is to empower vulnerable children through access to quality education, safe learning environments, and community support. We aim to break cycles of poverty by providing opportunities that promote academic growth, emotional wellbeing, and long-term self-reliance.
Volunteers age restrictions 🔞
We can host volunteers of all ages (senior volunteers and minors are welcome) 💪
Volunteers with disabilities ♿
Volunteers with disabilities are welcome ♿ ✅
How many volunteers could you host? 🎎
- I can host groups of volunteers
When do you usually need volunteers? 📅
- Any time
How many hours of help per day? ⏱
4-5 hours of help per day
How many days of help per week? 🌒
4 days of help per week – 3 days off
Are accommodation and food included? 🏠🍜
Yes, we offer food and accommodation
What type of accommodation can you provide? 🏕
- Private Room 🔑
- Private home 🏠
- Private room for a couple 🎎
Diet – nutrition information 🥗🥤
- All
Fee transparency 🆓🔍
- No charges
VISA SUPPORT – Are you able to assist with visa support, information, or provide invitation letters? 🛂
Maybe. We can help with an invitation letter, if the candidate has good qualifications. 💁♀️
Volunteers’ benefits 🏆🏅
Benefits Volunteers Will Receive During Their StayVolunteers at Tenderhearts Children Initiative Ltd enjoy a wide range of meaningful, practical, and cultural benefits that make their stay both impactful and personally enriching.
These include:
🌍 1. Cultural Exchange & Immersion
- Deep cultural immersion in a rural Ugandan community
- Learning local languages (Lusoga, Luganda, and phrases in Swahili)
- Participation in local ceremonies, traditional meals, music, and dance
- Warm integration into community families, allowing for genuine friendships
🎓 2. Certification & Professional Growth
- • Official Certificate of Volunteering issued by the NGO
- Recommendation letter for future job or university applications
- Opportunity to gain practical experience in:
- Childcare
- Teaching
- Construction
- NGO management
- Community development
- Exposure to working in an international NGO setting
✍🏽 3. Access to Courses & Skills Workshops
Volunteers may access or participate in:
- Teaching methodology workshops
- Child protection and welfare training
- Basic construction skills sessions (brickwork, painting, carpentry basics)
- Art, music, and creative education workshops
- Community leadership & communication training
(These can be run by staff, community experts, or other volunteers.)
🏞 4. Free Local Tours & Experiences
We offer simple and affordable local experiences for volunteers, such as:
- Village tours and community interactions
- Visits to local markets, farms, and cultural centers
- Nature walks around Bugiri District
- Optional trips to waterfalls, lakes, and tourist sites (some free, some low-cost depending on transport)
🤝 5. Personal Support & Volunteer Care
- Airport guidance and travel support (if needed)
- Orientation on culture, safety, and project work
- Daily supervision and check-ins
- A safe, family-friendly community
- Local coordinators available for support 24/7
🏡 6. Accommodation & Meals
Depending on the volunteer’s arrangement, the organization can offer:
- Basic shared accommodation in the community
- Ugandan home-style meals
- Drinking water and access to local shops
- Laundry support or shared washing area
(Volunteers may also arrange their own accommodation if preferred.)
💰 7. Small Allowances / Pocket Money (Optional & Depending on Projects)
In certain long-term or specialized roles, the NGO may offer:
- Small pocket money (stipend) for food or transport
- Free materials for volunteer projects
- Support with local SIM cards or internet access
(This depends on budget and ongoing donor support.)
❤ 8. Impactful Human Experience
- Direct connection with children whose lives they are helping to change
- Emotional fulfillment and a sense of purpose
- Lifelong relationships with the community
- A chance to see tangible results of their work (classrooms built, children learning, etc.)
🏅 9. End-of-Placement Recognition
- Farewell celebration / cultural dance or appreciation ceremony
- Personalized certificate and photos
- A written summary of their impact for personal records
Language 🗣🇬🇧
- English and other languages
How to get to your site ✈ 🗺
✅ How Volunteers Can Get to Our Location
Volunteers can reach Tenderhearts Children Initiative Ltd easily through several transportation options. Our project site is located in Buwofu Village, Bugiri District, Eastern Uganda, approximately 2.5 hours from Kampala and 1.5 hours from Jinja.
✈ 1. By Aeroplane (International Arrival)
Most volunteers will arrive through:
Entebbe International Airport (EBB). This is Uganda’s main international airport.
From Entebbe Airport, volunteers have two options:
Option A — Airport Pick-up (Recommended)
We can arrange:
• Airport pick-up
• Transport directly to Bugiri
• Help with SIM card and currency exchange
Option B — Public Transportation from Entebbe to Bugiri
1. Taxi or shuttle from Entebbe → Kampala (45–60 min)
2. From Kampala, board a bus heading east towards:
• Busia
• Mbale
• Tororo
• Namayingo
Get off at Bugiri Town.
🚌 2. By Bus from Kampala
From Kampala City (New Taxi Park or Namayiba Bus Terminal), take a bus heading toward eastern Uganda.
Reliable companies include:
• YY Coaches
• Easy Coaches
• Gateway
• Namayiba Express
Tell the conductor “I am getting off at Bugiri Town.”
Travel time: 2.5 – 3 hours
We will pick you up from Bugiri Town and take you to Buwofu Village.
🚗 3. By Private Car or Taxi
Volunteers who prefer comfort can hire a private car or taxi from:
• Kampala
• Jinja
• Entebbe Airport
Route:
Kampala → Jinja → Iganga → Bugiri (on the main A109 highway)
We will provide the exact GPS pin and meet you in Bugiri.
🚶♂️🚐 4. Final Journey to the Project Site
Once volunteers reach Bugiri Town:
• We offer free pickup
• Transport to Buwofu Village, our project location
• Takes 10–20 minutes depending on traffic
📍 General Address of the Project Location
Tenderhearts Children Initiative Ltd
Buwofu Village, Bugiri District
Eastern Uganda
Near Meredith Noah Children School
Postal Address for Packages:
P.O Box 710167
Bugiri, Uganda
Contact for Directions:
Director: Joshua Mbogoli
Phone/WhatsApp: +256 771 268 285
✨ Optional Travel Style
Volunteers who enjoy adventure can also travel by:
- Hitchhiking (common and safe along main highways, but only recommended for experienced travelers)
- Local taxis (matatus) between towns
- Boda bodas (motorbike taxis) for short distances
Is there internet access? 🌐
Yes!
“Paying guests” Option. Could you accommodate “solidarity” tourists? 🎎
Yes, we can accommodate eco/responsible tourists & paying guests 👌
CONTACT DETAILS 🔍📧
WhatsApp: 📱 +256 771 268 285
Email: 📧 joshuambogoli@gmail.com
Postal Address:
📮 Tenderhearts Children Initiative Ltd
P.O Box 710167, Bugiri, Uganda
Hostname 📛 Joshua Mbogoli