Many Irish people and agencies have been involved with Hospice Uganda since its foundation in 1993. These include Irish Aid, APSO, the Irish Civil Service Development Fund, the Irish Association in Uganda, Irish volunteers working in Uganda, private wellwishers etc. Friends of Hospice Uganda (Ireland) was founded to harness the goodwill of these people by forming a single, coordinated Irish body to raise funds for the hospice movement in Uganda.

Friends of Hospice Uganda was founded in August 1999, with Pauline Pierce, Micheal McGoldrick, Dr. Anne Merriman and Lesley Phipps attending the first meeting and was registered as an Irish charity, No. CHY 13431, in October 1999. Fundraising events are held throughout the year and FOHU liases with donor agencies in Ireland on behalf of Hospice Uganda.

Contact in Ireland
Friends of Hospice Africa Uganda in Ireland,
John O

Information for Potential International Professional Volunteers

This section will provide some points to consider if you are thinking about volunteering with HAU as an International Volunteer. These are only initial considerations – to further explore this possibility please contact (Betty Babirye: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   at HAU. International Professional Volunteers are usually clinical but HAU also welcomes enquiries from others including professionals, i.e. from Administration, Accounts, IT and gap year students. The volunteers play a major role in taking over a substantial post at Hospice and in sharing their skills with our teams, to support individual and team development.

Volunteers stay for a minimum period of 3 months, up to 2 years, occasionally for shorter periods on a case to case basis and depending on availability. Those coming for longer placements have a possibility of having volunteer subsistence provided by a donor, which will be arranged with HAU. HAU will recommend volunteer support from organisations such as VMM and VSO at times when we are unable to assist. This is discussed with the volunteer on individual basis.

As part of your very early considerations, it is important to spend some time considering the following points:
• What skills do I have to offer? – i.e. clinical palliative care experience, palliative care teaching experience, management and leadership, information technology etc.
• How long do I have to volunteer?

Uganda country information
You may want to review Uganda country information online, to provide some background information to the country – there are many websites which will provide an overview of the country and background; and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website provides a country profile which you may find useful. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/uganda

Language
English is the official country language and is used at HAU. Translation, by other team members, will be provided if needed, i.e. in clinical situations, as there are many languages within the country.

Hospice Uganda was founded in 1993 with the purpose of providing specialised care to cancer patients and their families, usually in their own homes. this enables the patient to live a full and meaningful life and the family to come closer in peace and dignity. Hospice Uganda is one of the originators of palliative care in sub-saharan africa .itaims to facilitate the initiation of hospice in other african countries by training courses using the residential facility of kateregga house.