Skip Navigation

Volunteer Opportunity in Uganda for Iowa Women Farmers

uganda

Iowa women farmers are needed for short-term volunteer positions in Uganda in 2011. As volunteers, Iowans will work in teams with the Iowa State University Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and Extension staff, and members of VEDCO (Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns), a non-profit development organization in Uganda. Those wanting to volunteer must submit an application before the Jan. 31 deadline. 

 

Teams will work with an interpreter to interview and provide input to Ugandan women farmers that will help enhance their farm’s profitability through increased efficiencies, improved quality, development or expansion of new enterprises or changes in marketing. 

 

One project will help Ugandan farmers develop detailed farm descriptions and net worth statements so they can access commercial loan funds. Volunteers also will gather information about key crops and livestock, including their potential for improvement, expansion and further economic development.

 

Requirements for volunteers

 

·         Women actively engaged in farming

·         Interest in development of agriculture in Africa

·         Interest in assisting Ugandan women farmers improve their farm business management

·         Ability and willingness to travel outside the U.S. for approximately 10 to 12 days in 2011

·         Attend the required orientation session(s) in Ames.  Mileage to Ames will not be compensated

·         Valid passport that is at least nine months from expiration date

·         Physically able to walk two to four miles in a day, and at least one mile without tiring

·         Must get suggested vaccinations for travel to Uganda and required medications while in country (malaria).  

 

Suggested skills and experience

 

·         Good farm record keeping skills

·         Experience working as professional or volunteer in a lesser developed country

·         Experience in informal organizational or teaching roles

·         Volunteer experience

·         Experience with travel in a lesser developed county

·         Experience living outside the U.S. or embedded in a culture other than your own within the U.S.

·         Interest in other cultures

 

Volunteers will travel to Uganda for one period of 10 to 12 days in 2011. Travel periods will be in one of the following months:  March, August, or November.  All travel expenses from Des Moines or Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Omaha, Neb., Kansas City, Mo., or Minneapolis, Minn. to Uganda and back will be covered. No compensation beyond travel expenses will be allowed. Full medical and liability coverage during the project will be provided. 

 

Volunteers will be based in Kamuli, a town in the Kamuli District of Uganda, approximately 75 miles northeast of the capitol, Kampala. Volunteers will be housed in a group house, managed by VEDCO staff with support from CSRL. All meals will be provided on-site.

 

Farms in the Kamuli District of Uganda

Farms in Kamuli District are small to moderate-sized; in the range of 3 to 20 acres. Farms are very diverse in crops and livestock produced. Farmers grow maize (corn), sorghum, sweet potatoes, millet, bananas, plantains, beans, melons, cassava, jackfruit and laying hens. Some farmers also raise vegetables, sesame, grain amaranth, soybeans, coffee, cattle and hogs. The area has two rainy seasons, so crops are produced year ‘round and are often intercropped. Almost all field operations are done by hand, as is harvesting and grain threshing.

 

For more information, contact Margaret Smith, ISU Value Added Agriculture Program mrgsmith@iastate.edu or 515-290-4456.

 

To apply for a volunteer position, download an application and submit the completed form as an e-mail attachment to Margaret Smith at mrgsmith@iastate.edu.

 

 

Application deadline is January 31, 2011                             Click here to download the brochure

 

 

Made possible by funding from USAID