My Nonprofit Reviews

In 2007 I was an unhappy gay kid living in a small conservative town in Canada struggling to get out of high-school early. I looked into lots of places I could volunteer and escape where I was living and to be honest ended up with The Real Uganda because it was the only program that would take someone who had just turned 18. I am so thankful they did because my experience in Uganda was an absolutely formative experience in my life.

Reflecting back what made the experience so rad (a word I picked up, and still use, thanks to Leslie) for me was being simultaneously thrust into an adventure of being independent, learning from caring and interesting Ugandans, laughing harder than I had laughed in years in the company of new friends (both volunteers and Ugandan folks) and in some ways being taken "under the wing" of the folks working at the Real Uganda.

My desire was to be with kids as much as possible, and whether it was in schools, walking down the street, or winding down from the day in the various places I got to stay, kids were the life force of my day. I was honoured to be one of the first volunteers at a program a bit further from Mukono than most other projects, and when I see this school has grown and changed from the dusty hillside with the small school building to a lush food-filled field with colourful classrooms since I was there I can't help but smile.

Here are two things I would say to some of you questioning if this is right for you:
1) If you're queer/gay/lesbian or you're trans and you're thinking "this might be something I want to do, but Uganda, is it safe?" email Leslie and ask your questions to see if it's right for you. Leslie's awesome and I would trust her opinion.
2) Since 2007 I've grown and changed a lot, and am someone who would put a critical eye on lots of the volunteer programs out there. I truly believe The Real Uganda's community-based, Ugandan-driven approach makes it unique. As a volunteer you will not saving anyone (although you might find healing for yourself if that's what you're looking for) but you will build relationships, learn about privilege and witness resistance.