Curiosities about Uganda

At Cooperating Volunteers, Uganda is one of the most popular destinations for the volunteer experience, and a very special destination because it is where it all began.

Uganda is a wonderful country, located in the heart of East Africa, and known for its natural and cultural diversity. Dreamlike landscapes ranging from lush rainforests to vast plains. A destination not to be missed if you love adventure and nature.

Besides, not only for its beauty, Uganda has a deeply rooted history and culture, reflected in traditions, music, dance, food…

And undoubtedly, the hospitality of its people, known as ‘the kindest people in Africa’, that leaves anyone who visits it in love.

Today we bring you some curiosities about this destination, which you can discover and learn first hand if you do your volunteer experience there.

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

Uganda is one of the few places in the world where mountain gorillas can be found in their natural habitat. Bwindi National Park is home to a large population of these majestic primates. They inhabit the dense mountainous forests of the Virunga region, which encompasses parts of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mountain gorillas are primarily herbivores, feeding on leaves, shoots, fruits and stems.

Unfortunately, they are classified as critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching and disease.

MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON

Uganda is home of a portion of the Mountains of the Moon, also known as the Rwenzori Mountains. This mountain range is popular for its snow-capped peaks due to its altitude and unique biodiversity, including plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. In addition, they extend to the vicinity of the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Part of the Mountains is protected within the Rwenzori National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

THE NILE RIVER

The Nile River, the longest river in the world, originates in Uganda, in Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world, with an area of 68,000kms that receives several tributaries, including rivers and streams that drain the surrounding highlands. One of the main tributaries is the Kagera River, which originates in Burundi and flows north through Tanzania and Uganda. The country is also famous for its impressive waterfalls, including the Murchison Falls.

BIRD CAPITAL OF AFRICA

Uganda is known as the “bird capital of Africa” due to its incredible avian diversity, with over 1000 species recorded, including some endemic, migratory and resident species. The variety of habitats means that the variety of birds is extensive. And also because of its location, it is the meeting point for migratory birds from both Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa.

LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS

Although English is the official language, Uganda is linguistically diverse, with over 40 languages and dialects spoken throughout the country. Luganda, the most widely spoken language, is the mother tongue of the Baganda ethnic group, which is the largest group in the country, and is mostly spoken in the central region. Swahili, on the other hand, is used especially in the east and north of the country, as well as in urban areas. Among many others: Lusoga, Runyankole-Rukiga, Acholi and Langi, Lugbara, Iteso…

THE KINGDOM OF BUGANDA

Uganda has a rich history of kingdoms and cultures. The kingdom of Buganda is one of the most prominent and its legacy is reflected in the country’s culture and traditions. It is located in the central region, with its capital at Kampala, and dates back to the 14th century when the legendary King Kato Kintu established the first centralized government in the region. It is also known for its fertile soil and productive agriculture with crops such as bananas, coffee, cocoa and sugar cane.

 

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UNIVERSITY PRACTICES

Our volunteers will be able to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

What does volunteering focused on university practices involve?

At Cooperating Volunteers, we make agreements with different universities to validate university credits with the aim of traveling in a more responsible and economical way.

The specialties we work with are extensive: medical volunteering, nursing, education, social work, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering, architecture…

The practices can be carried out in our designated destinations for this purpose, as well as in Spain.

If you choose an international destination, it’s a unique way to live an unforgettable and enriching experience, as you will have the opportunity to continue your education in another country, with a completely different culture.

Stepping out of our comfort zone and being part of the various projects at the destination will allow us to grow both personally and professionally, creating a more extensive curriculum.

And we are fully convinced that this experience will accompany you throughout your life.

You will be able to visit hospitals, schools, centers, orphanages, and participate directly and actively in the daily lives of all those people at the destination, always accompanied by other professionals willing to collaborate hand in hand with you and guide you in daily tasks.

If your university is not part of the agreement with Cooperating Volunteers, you can contact cristina@cooperatingvolunteers.com so that we can get in touch and make this experience a reality. 

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

Corporate volunteering consists of tailored programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills.

It is proven that teamwork directly impacts productivity. 

Collective effort surpasses individual capabilities, promotes diversity of skills, stimulates creativity, and facilitates problem-solving in the face of various challenges.

Therefore, it not only maximizes efficiency but also enriches the work environment.

We conduct corporate volunteering programs that consist of customized programs for your company, designed to develop teamwork skills, improve performance, and foster unity among employees.

We tailor projects to the corporate identity and size of the company, and we can adjust them to any destination and time of the year.

The advantages of corporate volunteering include:

  • Improving communication.
  • Group unity.
  • Cultural integration in different situations.
  • Employee training.
  • Increased Corporate Social Responsibility.

The future is aligned with a more responsible society, and participating in social projects positions our company among the list of revolutionary businesses that want to be part of the change.

If you resonate with this message, corporate volunteering is a unique experience both individually and collectively, and at Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the process to make it a unique journey.

FAMILY VOLUNTEERING

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. 

Spending quality time with family and being able to disconnect from our hectic routines is not only enriching but also necessary.

Sometimes we forget to communicate, connect, and dedicate time to each other. Each one of us lives focused on our jobs, schools… And it’s necessary to find the opportunity to pause and take care of ourselves.

Quality time spent with family strengthens emotional bonds, promotes communication, and contributes to the emotional well-being of its members. And of course, it creates lifelong positive memories.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we suggest moving away from those ‘more superficial’ trips (which can also be fantastic), but we invite you to live this experience to bring out our most empathetic and humanitarian side.

Family volunteering gives us the opportunity to be part of a positive impact, promoting values of solidarity and social responsibility.

There are many families who choose to experience these trips focused on cooperation and direct involvement with different communities around the world, where living conditions are very different and sometimes entirely precarious.

Projects are tailored to different ages, allowing us to work together.

An incredible way to fill our suitcase with memories, learning, and knowledge.

And although stepping out of our comfort zone often feels daunting, we assure you firsthand that it’s worth it.

At Cooperating Volunteers, we accompany you throughout the entire experience, from start to finish, to make it unforgettable.

SENIOR VOLUNTEERING

At Cooperating Volunteers, we believe it’s never too late for anything, especially for volunteering and living a unique and unforgettable experience.

There are many people, increasingly so, who opt for responsible travel that involves social work.

Accustomed to organized and mostly touristic trips, at Cooperating Volunteers, we want to advocate for a more enriching experience, one that transforms us from within and allows us to be part of the change the world needs to see.

We can adapt both the destination and the duration of our projects to fit your needs.

It’s an opportunity full of emotions that allows us to significantly contribute to different communities and their evolution. And you can participate in different areas such as education, social support, or assistance in different centers.

Some of the benefits include:

  • Sense of purpose: Provides a sense of purpose by contributing your skills and experiences to meaningful causes.
  • Emotional well-being: Reduces feelings of isolation and establishes social connections.
  • Personal development: It’s continuous learning, skill development, and discovering new activities while keeping the mind-body active.
  • Physical health: Keeping active.
  • Stress reduction: The act of helping others reduces stress and contributes to mental health.

Living this experience will undoubtedly be a before and after. 

SOCIAL VOLUNTEERING

A volunteering initiative with leadership and impact through the educational action program.

When we talk about social volunteering, we refer to all those actions and activities carried out altruistically, selflessly, and with the aim of addressing multiple problems and needs of different communities, always focused on education and self-sufficiency.

Education is essential because it provides the tools and knowledge necessary for personal, social, and economic development.

Our goal is to create self-sufficient communities and provide opportunities for the future personal development of each member. The message is not to ‘give’, but to accompany in the process of training for self-managed provision.

At Cooperating Volunteers, many of our destinations and projects embrace this type of volunteering. Some of our projects include: community programs, education, women’s empowerment…

And although they are completely different from each other, they share a single objective: progress towards a society that can embrace us all in the same way.

If you are someone who is restless, who needs to see a change in the future, volunteering is an experience tailor-made for you.