Volunteer Accommodation

Volunteer Accommodation

Ann with some of the Owino family children in the garden of their home.

Volunteers live in purpose built accommodation at the home of the Owino family which is near Bujagali Falls, about 4 miles from Jinja in Uganda. Moses Owino is the Project Manager and a teacher at our school. Living with him and his wife Florence are their 4 children, 2 adopted children, his sister and her child and his aunty. People are dropping in and out of his home all the time. He has at least fifteen dependents.

Not only is the volunteer building new, but so are the beds, bedding, mosquito nets, floor covering, shelving, chairs and bedside table. The photos do not do it all justice due to the difficulty of photographing small rooms. Moses has worked hard to make it as comfortable as possible without detracting too much from the African experience. Living with the family you will have a safe experience of Africa which you would not have if you lived in a guest house or hostel.

You will never feel lonely here. There are adults to talk to, children who just love to play with you. They don't know your children's games, so you can have a great time teaching them! They also benefit from your English language conversation so even when you're at home you will benefit the children. Then when you want time to yourself, you can go into your room and shut the door!

Below are photos of the accommodation, some of the family and their animals!

The Owino family compound through the trees Dinner with the family on the verandah

The volunteer accommodation building. The ground is still fairly rough in this picture as the photo was taken not long after the building was finished. The ground will be grassed and there will be a gravel path, when there are funds to do this.

The inside of one of the four single rooms. You can see the left hand side of the room with the bed. On the right hand side there is a large set free standing of shelves. There are also coat hangers to hang clothes along the wall rails, a wall mirror, a chair and a small table. This is a rare luxury in Africa! There is also one double sized room in the accommodation building. It has two single beds plus the other furniture and 2 chairs.

Chris Mercer with Moses Owino, his wife Florence and some of the family. Chris loved it
here so much that he is moving from the UK to Jinja to work in a school in nearby Njeru.

Florence Owino with Lucienne Bonici, preparing food for lunch

Aaron Micallef with Florence, Winnie, David and Dan - and the family pig!

Daniel enjoying the thunderstorm!

Aunty Josephine busy with craft work

The visiting knife sharpener using the back wheel of his bicycle to power the grinder. (Viewed from the porch)

Florence and sister in law Agnes bringing lunch

Sister Agnes carrying things back from the bathroom

Some of the children Moses Owino's family in the compound. Daniel has decided that 'seriousness' is the order of the day!

For those not wishing to live with the Owino family, other accommodation is available in town. We have negotiated a good price for volunteers who would like to use this alternative guest house. Please ask Moses for details. Moses' wife, Florence, will still provide your lunch for about $1.50. Taking lunch sandwiches is impractical due to the heat and it's a 2 mile walk during the middle of the day to the nearest cafe.

Volunteers walking along the path from the house to school in the morning

Volunteer Uganda School

Kyabirwa Primary School near Jinja in Uganda