Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program

Every year about 50 Concordia University students will have the opportunity to travel to the East African country of Uganda to volunteer their time where it is needed most. These students will have the opportunity to learn about sustainable development through the experience of our partners in Uganda, a dedicated and knowledgeable staff, and first hand knowledge through the projects they will partake in.

If you are considering applying to CVAP, or have been selected as a volunteer, please read through these general information sections below:

- Application process - Apply now!
- Volunteer training
- Student financial requirements
- General travel precautions
- Health precautions
- Living conditions while in Gulu

Volunteer Training
Mandatory Pre-Departure Informational Sessions
Students who participate in the program will first be required to attend 7 pre-departure classes with the intent of informing them on what the program entails, what is expected of them once they arrive in the host country, and finally, to educate them on the culture, geography, infrastructure, and any additional information that may be pertinent to their safety and successful stay in and around the volunteer site. The classes will begin in January 2012 and will be spread out over the course of 3 months, ending in March. The exact dates of the information sessions will be made available to applicants once they have been formally accepted into the program, but are likely to be 8:00-12:00 every second Friday. Please note it will be possible to take this as a 3-credit (elective) course.

Upon Arrival Training
The first week in Gulu will consist of a full schedule of training and orientation. Volunteers have the opportunity during this time to get acquainted with the local culture and geography, as well as CVAP’s initiatives and partner organizations.

Student Financial Requirements
All students selected to participate in the volunteer program will be responsible to pay for their airfare and vaccination costs. All other costs, including travel in and around the volunteer site, three daily meals for 8 weeks, as well as lodging in Gulu are provided.

Deals acquired by CVAP with international passenger airlines such as British Airways grant students significant discounts off the normal fair to and from Uganda. Please note the following fees that applicants must be aware of prior to submitting their application.

Concordia students & alumni:
All Concordia students chosen to participate in the volunteer program will be responsible to pay for their airfare. Please take note of the anticipated expenses:

Airfare: $2000.00
Canadian Vaccinations: $300.00
Insurance: $110
Ugandan Visa: $50
Books: $55
Application Fee: $50

Total anticipated expenses for Concordia students: $2565.00 CDN
+
Fundraising requirement; at least 15 hours of service + $100

Please note:
These are cost estimates and may rise depending on external factors. All Concordia faculty and non Concordia students will have to pay an additional $300 CAN for travel in and around the volunteer site, three daily meals for 8 weeks, as well as lodging at the Concordia student center in Gulu Uganda.

Fundraising
Each participant is required to participate in fundraising activities so as to demonstrate a commitment to and investment in the organization and its cause. We ask for a minimum of 15 hours of service, as well as a raising of $100. Volunteer work will likely be in the form of planning, promoting, and executing a number of CVAP events, and a percentage of the funds raised will go towards their $100 fundraising requirement. CVAP will support students in their fundraising efforts.

General Travel Precautions
Upon arrival in Uganda, all volunteers will be registered at the Canadian Consulate in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. This will ensure that the Canadian government is aware of the presence of the volunteers in Uganda. In case of an emergency, the Canadian government will be able to better assist the volunteers knowing where they are staying, the purpose of the stay, as well as the duration of the stay. At present, the Canadian Consulate in Uganda is fully aware of the activities being undertaken by the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program and works with CVAP and its volunteers to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience in Uganda. When traveling outside the volunteer site, volunteers will be transported via mini van to the desired destination by a project leader. Each volunteer will travel with a partner at all times and will not be permitted to travel alone.

The government of Canada has issued an advisory against travel to Northern Uganda. Please note that Gulu town does not border Sudan, although the district is in the North of the country. Although CVAP has been traveling to Northern Uganda for four years without incident, we ask that you read this advisory and consider your decision to travel to this region very carefully.

To learn more about the current situation in Northern Uganda, please read our Uganda Updates, including the "Media Reports" sponsored by the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies.

Volunteer Health Precautions
Several vaccines are recommended by the Canadian Travel advisory. The most costly and timely vaccination needed is the Hepatitis A and B vaccination. The vaccine must be taken at least one month prior to departure and a second must be taken the week prior to departure. Each of these injections will cost approximately $50.00 Canadian for a total cost of about $100.00. Students who have opted to use the CSU health plan can take advantage of the $50.00 coverage offered for vaccinations. Other vaccinations currently recommended include: Yellow Fever, Cholera, Typhoid, Meningitis, and Tetanus. All volunteers are recommended to visit a travel clinic where these vaccines can be prescribed or administrated based on the most up-to-date recommendations.

Anti-Malaria medication is strongly suggested and must be administered orally on a daily basis, or weekly basis depending on the brand. This would begin on the date of departure to the volunteer site and continue until 5 days after the date of return. These pills are relatively expensive and cost approximately $150 for the required amount if purchased in Canada. However, students who are chosen to participate in the program are required to purchase medical insurance through International Air Ambulance Uganda (IAA) or UGAMED. This comprehensive insurance plan covers most emergency and prescription needs including the IAA clinic in Gulu as well as other hospitals and clinics while in Uganda. Based on past volunteer needs, it has proven to be the most cost effective and reliable coverage. The cost per student, based on a two month volunteer session, is approximately $110 CDN.

It is important to note that Concordia students who have opted to use the Concordia Student Union health plan provided by ASEQ are NOT properly covered for travel to Uganda. Exclusions in the ASEQ plan are numerous and indicate that travel to various regions of Uganda is not covered. If medical consultation is required while in Uganda, volunteers will be transported to the Kampala Medical Specialist Centre, if the situation permits, or to Lachor Hospital, located in Gulu, for emergency care. In Uganda, volunteers will stay at Makerere University in Kampala and the CVAP facility in Gulu. Precautions have been taken at both locations to further ensure the safety of the volunteers.

Living in Gulu: Accommodations, Travel, and Food
Gulu has one of the highest concentrations of NGOs in the world; there are over 200 NGOs and CBOs (community based organizations) working in and around the municipality. Nonetheless foreigners stick out. The crime rate in the municipality is very low but there are, what some volunteers consider, petty annoyances that you must accustom yourself to. These range from children calling you a Munu (white person) everywhere you go, to the occasional request for school sponsorship from teenagers in the community.

On occasion, once acquainted with Acholi culture, volunteers may have the opportunity to go out in the evening as a group to a local bar (of which there are many in Gulu). In these cases, it is imperative to keep in mind that in this small community an individual’s actions are reflected on the organization as a whole and there are NGOs working in Gulu that have been marred by negative reputations due to the actions of select individuals. While in Gulu you will be provided with transport to group activities and projects. However, students working on projects close to the CVAP facility will travel by foot or commute on bicycle. Although it is safe to walk in Gulu during the day, you will always be with someone else in your group including a local volunteer.

Accommodation
CVAP has built a property in Gulu town. This space is multi-functional as it houses the CVAP volunteers while in Uganda, CVAPs office for the staff in Uganda, a large kitchen and dining area, and huts where the volunteers sleep. When CVAP does not have volunteers in Gulu, this space is rented to other NGOs as accommodation and used by CVAPs community partners and the surrounding community for events.

The CVAP property includes: 4 rooms with 4-6 bunk beds each, an office, kitchen, dining area, and rest room. We also have a large yard with a volleyball court and roofed gazebo. The bathrooms are located next to the huts. Like water, electricity is also sporadic. If the municipal power is down, for one reason or another, power outages are usually short as power supply has become more stable in the recent years.

Students can dine out on the weekends or in the early evenings if they so desire; Gulu is home to a number of good restaurants. Meals are prepared CVAP volunteers 6 days a week by our dedicated cook Agnes. On Sundays, students are required to feed themselves, and consequently have access to the kitchen to prepare communal meals or the possibility of dining out.

Laundry Service is available in Gulu (approx 7000 UGX per load). Laundry will often be returned or ready for pick up 24 hours after drop off. Most volunteers do their own laundry from a bucket. Don’t be lazy! It’s good exercise, and its free!