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Serve. Explore. Inspire.

Do you have a desire to serve where your support truly matters? Immerse yourself in our vibrant culture, build real relationships within our community, and spend your free time discovering stunning natural wonders. We will work with you to find the perfect role that suits your strengths while touching the lives of the families we support in Uganda.

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Become a Part of Our Zion Family

We invite you to join us at Zion Community in Eastern Uganda, where your compassion can have a lasting impact.

Our mission is to transform lives through providing access to healthcare, education, and vital support for vulnerable children and families. Your unique presence will help strengthen our community and create lasting change. Apply now to begin your journey with us. We are looking for volunteers willing to serve in these essential areas:

  • Healthcare – Join us as we strive to tackle local diseases and work with local laboratories to diagnose and prescribe treatments. We are always looking for educators and counselors for nutritional and mental health needs in the community.
  • Planning and Organizing – We organize specialized camps for dental and vision needs. Volunteers can help us set up and execute these events.
  • DIY projects – Check out our wood workshop or help with local building, renovation, or decorative projects throughout the community.
  • Agriculture – Learn from and visit with local farmers, assist in taking care of cows, chickens, and gardens.
  • Youth Enrichment – Work with our Kids Club; engage in creative activities like drama, music, and dance to inspire children's potential.
  • Tourism – Help make our home more welcoming for tourists through content creation, local guides, or visitor coordination.

*Volunteers can exchange ideas with our qualified staff but will not directly perform medical services. Administrative assistance is still appreciated and job shadowing is generally welcome.

Volunteer Application

Join Zion Community and make a lasting difference.

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Volunteer Stories

Real stories from the hearts of our international volunteers who joined the Zion family in Eastern Uganda.

  • Joe & Liisu

    "Peter and the team created an unforgettable experience. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed. The atmosphere was warm, full of laughter and surrounded by beautiful nature. We (a doctor and a non-doctor) spent our time helping out at the clinic working with different locals and joining immunization outreaches in the nearby villages. It was very-very interesting to see the setup at the clinic and how much they do for the community.

    Peter is just a genuinely nice person and it was a pleasure getting to know him and his mission. Everyone working at the clinic is a volunteer, so visitors contribute to food costs (about $5 per day per person) for permanent volunteers at the clinic and (if possible for the volunteers) sometimes medical supplies. People living around the clinic mostly live on under a dollar a day, so buying even Paracetamol from the pharmacy is not possible for them! So the money arrangements are exactly as described in the profile.

    Whether you have a medical background or not, there’s always a way to help. We sadly had to leave earlier than planned due to unforeseen circumstances but can't wait to return to this special place and highly recommend it."

  • Annalia

    "Thank you to the community for hosting us 3 weeks in March 2023 together with my mum! My mum worked as a doctor and I helped in diverse things. My mum really loved working at the clinic, the relationship with patients was great and there was real means to care them. The medical team is great and brings amazing support to people there. We appreciated the cultural exchange and people from the community were very welcoming ! The landscape is amazing in the mountains. We have appreciated our time at the clinic whilst the way the money topic was handled made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. We were not aware (never mentioned during our calls before coming once aligning) we would have to pay for everything including medicine for the clinic, food and transportation for everybody during our stay. Whilst we were happy to contribute, the way it was done was not nice and transparent. It felt like humanitarian tourism - which we wished to avoid (this is why we chose this place intially) as it doesn't feel too sustainable. We have talked about it to Peter and I'm sure he took action to change that. Peter is a really nice person that does well for all his community and we felt lucky to meet him and work by his side. Unfortunately, during our stay, Peter had to work elsewhere and was not too present. It is very great if you come with your own project idea to really have a plan how to support there!"

  • Nina

    "First of all I want to say thank you for this amazing and unforgettable experience. I volunteered for four weeks at the medical clinic and community and the time was too short and something special for me 😍
    What made it special in my opinion where the people and the whole community. It starts with the fact, that I have been in contact with Peter and Mirriam (hosts) before I came for a while and we had the chance to get to know each other. This is not obvious and very unique in my opinion. Every time I had the feeling I can ask, text or call any time if I have questions or something else to talk about.
    When I arrived it was more like meeting friends instead of strangers. I felt directly at home and not as a stranger in a new place. The community was amazing and welcomed me in such a lovely and friendly way, which I will never forget🙏
    I had some doubts before I came about my capacity to help, because I don't have a medical background, but to be honest there is so much more to do for the community, in the social media field or in creating your own project, that those doubts were unnecessary. I also help the doctors with their patients and learned a lot of new things and this was something unexpected for me, but really great.
    During my stay I felt comfortable and completely balanced with myself and my life. Everything was available in the right amount, the workload, the free time, the time with others, the touristic part.
    I would definitely recommend to volunteer here and get to know the whole community and see the beauty of Uganda 😍the nature is amazing and the people are special and caring ❤️ thanks for this unforgettable time and see you soon."

  • Sejal & Nilay

    Wonderful people. We stayed at Association for a month and from the moment we arrived in Mbale, Peter made sure we were never alone and always well looked after. Unfortunately we had to leave early, due to unforeseen circumstances. However, Peter was very supportive throughout the process and even went the extra mile (literally) to travel all the way to Mbale and drop off a mat we left behind! What a generous and kind-hearted person.
    The project is so diverse and you have many opportunities as a volunteer, from working in the clinic and teaching at the school, to fundraising and outreach projects in the local community. With a small team that is always out and about, you have to be able to work independently and drive whichever project you choose to work on. If you can be happy with a simple life of limited comforts at times, then this is definitely the place for you.
    The Association is located high up in the mountain, where no cars can reach. The surroundings are beautiful and there are many opportunities to go hiking, as well as visit the local markets and forests nearby. The accommodation is modest size rooms, equipped with beds, mosquito nets and we even had a desk in ours. Peter and the team have worked hard to install a new modern toilet and shower room, which really makes this a great place to stay.
    One important thing to note is that every NGO in Uganda is really struggling financially right now. So even though projects such as this one do not request fees upfront, it would be very helpful to collect and bring some donations with you. This can be in the form of money, medical equipment, school materials, clothes, or anything else you can put together.
    Peter, thank you again for having us and we hope to continue supporting the project from afar.

Common Questions

Where will I stay?

Volunteers stay in our dedicated on-site quarters, featuring private rooms, with locks available, and essential amenities designed for rest and security within the community.

Is it safe?

Safety is our priority. Our center is a tight-knit family environment with 24/7 staff presence and local knowledge to ensure all international guests feel welcome and protected.

What are the costs?

Volunteering involves a daily $5 contribution to cover your lodging and meal expenses. We offer transportation from the Entebbe Airport to the clinic for $171, as well as transportation from Mbale city to the clinic for $25.
If you would like to utilize public transportation from the airport to our clinic, it would cost approximately $45 and we would be happy to help guide you in doing so.

Time Commitment?

We recommend a minimum of two weeks to truly integrate into Ugandan life. However, we welcome longer commitments for those looking to spend more time building up our community.

Still have more questions or want to learn about donor opportunities? Reach out to our coordinators via the contact information below.

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