What is the Farmers’ Economic Empowerment Internship in Uganda project all about?
The Farmers’ Economic Empowerment Internship in Uganda supports the mobilization of farmers. The project works to help the farmers to save, manage, and loan money that may be used to improve their productivity. Each group comprises members who live close to one another and interact regularly. The project’s main approaches involve establishment of Village Associations which are autonomous and self-managed.
The groups are provided with start-up kits (e.g. saving box, calculators, books etc.), and a committee is selected, which overseas management of the group. Each group is also supported by a local community organization who develop a written constitution, and provide a framework for governance, dispute resolution, and disciplinary actions. The intern will support the training of farmers’ groups at a village level, enabling farmers to manage their household cash-flow.
Uganda is a poor, developing country, whose farmers are faced with challenges including a lack of access to credit facilities. Farming is regarded as ‘high-risk’ by commercial banks, and the interest rates on agricultural loans are high. This has affected farmers’ capacity to expand.
A great majority of the Ugandan population possess limited knowledge about credit initiatives and saving schemes. There is, therefore, an urgent need for alternative sources of investment capital besides commercial banks, hence the Village Associations approach. By contributing to the associations training, you will be able to make a profound contribution in alleviating local poverty.
Why choose this Farmers’ Economic Empowerment project?
- Learn how Ugandan farmers, faced with financial challenges, evolve approaches to improve their household income and manage funding
- Contribute to the capability of expansion for local farming businesses
- Gain hands-on experience of real community development approaches in Uganda, which work to alleviate poverty, while making friends and exchanging cultures
Role of the Farmer’s Economic Empowerment Intern
As a Farmers’ economic empowerment project intern/volunteer, you will participate in the mobilization of 30 farmers into a Village Association group. You will carry out a community needs assessment to identify priority resources for the project; develop a project proposal and budget, and write a project report upon completion of your time with the project.
Emphasis will be on ensuring community ownership and sustainability of the project. You will be attached to a local community organization, and work with the local colleagues on identifying, designing, and implementing the local project to benefit the community. The internship experience will help you to build your career, whilst increasing the resources of the local people in the communities of your placement.
What skills do I need to be a Farmers’ Economic Empowerment intern?
A background/interest in economics, commerce, agricultural business, entrepreneurship, social development, or related fields, and with a passion for community development. Background/ interest in similar subjects are also eligible to apply.
You will be required to submit a CV, and a phone interview will be conducted before a placement is confirmed. Any business or banking professionals wishing to contribute are also welcome to apply on a volunteer basis (speak to a Kaya advisor for more information). A good level of spoken English is also essential for this placement.
WHY JOIN THE PROJECT
FEATURED VIDEO
PROJECT TESTIMONIALS
Where will I work in Uganda?
About the location
The local community organization you will work with is located in Kakira, in the Jinja district of Uganda – a semi-urban setting. Kakira is 15km away from Jinja town. As the second largest town and commercial center in Uganda, Jinja has around 90,000 people. It has a major rail connection to Kenya and the Indian Ocean, and is famous as the historic source of the Nile River.
Accommodation
Interns will be living with host families within the community in Kakira. The living conditions are generally considered middle class by local standars and therefore, you will have indoor plumbing with running water, electricity and your own private room.
What to do in your spare time
In your free time, you can take a walk around Kakira community and learn more about its history. The community members often organize social activities like sporting events, to bring the community together. You can also visit the local sugar factory to see how sugar is made. Jinja, not far away, is also now the adrenaline capital of East Africa, with many tourist activities including white-water rafting, kayaking and quad biking, all set in a stunning natural setting with charming colonial architecture.
Details & Costs
- Duration: 3-8 weeks
- Cost: £1364 / $2129 for 3 weeks. See drop-down menu for additional weekly pricing
- Requirements: Age 18+
- Location: Jinja, Uganda
- Working hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 17:00
- Project availability: January through November
- Arrival day: Last Saturday of each month, except for December
What is included
- Accommodation: Host family
- Meals: 3 meals a day
- Airport: scheduled pickup and dropoff from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda
- On the ground transportation: to/from projects included
- Access to personal online Kaya Community account including:
– Pre-departure information pack
– Fundraising Guide
– How to Manage your Money Abroad
– Learning Reflection Guide - On the ground training: cultural and safety orientation and project induction
- Internship support:
– Certificate upon completion of your internship presentation
– Supervision from qualified professional - Support: 24-hour support including emergency contact numbers from local team
- Excursion Planning assistance from local staff (activity prices may be extra)
What is not included
- Flights
- Insurance
- Visas
- Police/Government Background Check; US and UK citizens will be processed through Kaya (admin fee applies). All other nationalities must provide local police check.
- Routine or country specific vaccination if applicable
- Any costs for COVID-19 PCR tests required pre-departure and in-country
Pictures from our Farmer’s Economic Empowerment Internship in Uganda project
Easy 4-step application process
APPLY ONLINE
Apply for a Kaya program and pay your application fee to apply for your space on your chosen project. Our advisors will then contact you to guide you through the next steps.
TELEPHONE INTERVIEW
Once we’ve received your application, we’ll review your details and be in touch to arrange your informal telephone interview with your Kaya Placement Advisor.
CONFIRMATION
Following your interview, we will provide you a placement offer. Once you are ready to confirm your placement and dates, you can pay your confirmation fee to book and secure your space.
GET PREPARED
When you have confirmed your project dates we'll send you your Welcome Pack and lots of other helpful information to assist you with preparing for your placement.