Manchester twelve go on volunteering trip of a lifetime
06 Aug 2015
A group of our students arrived in Uganda this morning to take part in the University’s new international volunteering programme
Launched this year, the programme is run by the Division of Student Development & Community Engagement and and made possible by donations to the University from alumni and friends. It targets students with a widening participation background to give them an experience they may not otherwise have the chance to access.
The successful students are working with a small organisation. S.A.L.V.E. International, based in Jinja in southern Uganda, which has a centre providing support to children living on the streets. Whilst they are there, the students will be helping the organisation to increase its capacity through three different activities:
- Developing permaculture plans to help the centre be self-sustaining in its food production and teach the children growing skills so that they are able to feed themselves and potentially start up their own small food microbusinesses;
- Teaching IT skills to the children to increase their skills and employability;
- Undertaking community research to gather community views on children living on the street to help inform the organisations’ future development.
Around these projects the students are also planning lots of fun activities in a holiday camp style to engage the children.
You can find out more about the initiative at:
The students will also be jointly keeping a daily blog whilst they are there, sharing their experiences. You can follow their adventure at: