strengthening mmanze TOGETHER
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The following is an account by former healthcare volunteer, Marika Felber.
“Hi Muzungu. How are you, Muzungu? Bye, Muzungu.”
“If you have never been to Uganda before, you may not know that ‘Muzungu’ is the local word for a white person, and also a warm greeting for visitors. My name is Marika Felber, and I am a volunteer in Mmanze, Uganda. Through my host organization, MACERUDET, I worked at the local health unit and helped run its administration for four months. This experience has touched me deeply. I have learned to see life from another perspective, met new people and cultures, and found friendships I know I will carry with me.”
“I had first been volunteering online and was inspired by MACERUDET’s community-centered projects. Over time, I became more and more curious about the people I was serving and the life I could not fully understand from far away. So I decided to travel to Uganda and experience it for myself.”
“Living in the village brought me close to daily life in Mmanze. I tasted chapati, porridge, and matoke, became addicted to jackfruit, attended local celebrations, and experienced the hospitality and friendliness of Ugandans in a way I will never forget."
"Though it was not always easy and I missed home many times, the people I shared my life with here became a close support system in my journey. Even in the face of hardship, guests are warmly welcomed and quickly become part of the family. Living together with the local people has connected me very deeply with their lives here. I know I won’t be leaving the country without the knowledge that I have an African mother, African father, and African sisters and brothers as well."
“As I hope to become a doctor, I chose to volunteer at the local health centre. MACERUDET gave me the chance to contribute my skills, but even more, it gave me the chance to learn from the local community. They taught me about common illnesses, practical care, and resilience. Despite the lack of equipment, the doctors know how to examine patients and judge illness through their knowledge of symptoms. And with every ‘Hello doctor’ from a little one, I grew a few centimetres taller.”
“Volunteering here has given me the chance to share my culture, personality, skills, and ideas in a foreign country. At the end of my stay, I know I will carry home more than luggage. I will carry memories, new skills, new perspectives, and friends who no longer say ‘Bye Muzungu,’ but ‘Bye Marika.’”
Our organization relies entirely on the dedication of volunteers, both online and onsite, to support our schools, health programs, and community projects. Because we do not have paid staff, volunteers play an essential role in sustaining daily operations, providing education, and helping us expand the services we offer. For this reason, volunteering with us is a meaningful commitment rather than a short drop-in experience.
Individuals typically stay for one month or longer, allowing them to fully engage with the community and provide consistent support. Groups, such as church teams or volunteer organizations, are welcome for shorter stays of one to two weeks.
We welcome volunteers from ages 16 to 85, including families. Volunteers under 16 may join if accompanied by a parent or guardian. All international onsite volunteers live with trusted host families, which gives them the chance to learn our community’s rich cultural traditions and daily life firsthand.
Our community needs volunteers in a wide range of areas. We accept:
Assistant teachers in kindergarten, primary, secondary, and vocational schools
Sports coaches
Art, craft, music, dance, and drama mentors
Computer and technology trainers
Medical volunteers to work alongside local staff at Busaawa Mmanze Health Centre III
Construction volunteers to help build classrooms, staff quarters, student dormitories, pit latrines, and water-harvesting systems
If you are ready to make a real impact and spend meaningful time in a community that welcomes you as family, we invite you to become part of our work.
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