East African Playgrounds

East African Playgrounds aims to enhance the lives of children across Uganda by developing children’s learning opportunities, creativity and environments through building playgrounds and running arts and play sessions. You can be part of this difference by volunteering in Uganda for 4 weeks to build a playground with a team from Manchester University.

As a volunteer with EAP you will help to transform a community school in Uganda by building an amazing new playground from start to finish with a team of trained Ugandan builders and welders. You will also assist on our Arts and Play program to inspire children at a school to learn, explore and develop themselves. Volunteers get to live within the community and work alongside our Ugandan builders and the children and community you will be impacting. Experience the satisfaction of working hard to transform an empty playing field into a brand new, high quality, safe, fun playground. On the open day you will see your hard work in action as you celebrate with traditional singing, dancing, food and of course-play! 

  • Any University of Manchester student including final years.
  • December: Welcome meeting
  • January- February: Fundraising workshop
  • March- April: Pre-departure training
  • Ongoing: Distant support through fortnightly emails, phone calls and Facebook groups.
  • 4 week project: 11th July - 6th August
  • 2 week project: 8th August – 22nd August
  • Applications are live from September to December.
  • The welcome meeting is an opportunity to meet your fellow Manchester volunteers and find out more about your time in Uganda. Your coordinator will also offer lots of advice on getting started on your fundraising.
  • At the Fundraising workshop your coordinator will get you underway with your fundraising, with ideas for group and individual fundraising opportunities.
  • At the pre-departure training your coordinators will host a final training session to get you fully prepared for you summer in Uganda, covering practicalities and responsible volunteering.
  • Guidance is provided for all but students will need to arrange their own: Booking flights, buying insurance, getting vaccinations and buying the visa online.
  • The East African Playgrounds Coordinator in Uganda provides 24/7 support.
  • The University Leader Intern will volunteer alongside you in Uganda, offering welfare support and advice.
  • In Uganda you will also be supported by a Summer Intern who is a trained East African Playgrounds representative who will organise the day to day logistics and has an extensive knowledge of the project.
  • The UK EAP team are available over phone and email from our UK office, including the Fundraising Manager and Partnerships Manager.
  • Your team on the project will also consist of four Ugandan build team members, a cook and an Arts and Play Coordinator.
  • You will live at the school that you are building the playground for and they will provide classrooms that we will transform into dormitories with mattresses and mosquito nets. Toilets are long drops and washing facilities are bucket showers.
  • At the weekends you will have the opportunity to stay at hostels while you do your activities that have dorm rooms, flushing toilets and hot showers.
  • £150 registration fee
  • £250 participation cost (This covers on project food, accommodation, living equipment, cooks, transport to and from airport, Support in the UK from our professional fundraising team, 24/7 on project support in Uganda)
  • £850 fundraising donation to East African Playgrounds.
  • Flights £400-800 Visa £35 Vaccinations £50-£100 Insurance £50-£100
  • Spending money £100, weekend activities £0-£600
  • The fundraising workshop covers all the expertise that East African Playgrounds have gathered in nine years of student fundraising. We also have many online resources including a fundraising pack, how-to- guides, sponsorship forms and much more. You will also be supported by your university leader who will be able to offer even more personal advice, helping you with organising events in your local area.
    undraising pack, how-to- guides, sponsorship forms and much more. You will also be supported by your university leader who will be able to offer even more personal advice, helping you with organising events in your local area.
  • Please apply using Volunteer Hub.
  • Search for 'EAP' and click on 'apply' in the relevant advert.

Information sessions

We will be running more sessions throughout semester 1 and 2, details will be listed here as and when they come up.

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+44 (0) 161 306 6000

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