In July 2015, I spent four weeks living and working in Kisiizi. It had a huge impact on my life. It sparked an interest in development and global injustice. Therefore, now in 2017 I will be returning to  Uganda as a student leader to continue to grow and develop the sustainable projects UCDVO have brought to Kisiizi Hospital in the past. The team travelling in July for four weeks are as follows; one radiographer, two physiotherapists, one nurse, three medical students, two nursing students, three physiotherapy students, one dietetics student and one human nutrition student. This team has a vast range of skills each bringing something to benefit Kisiizi Hospital. The money raised will go towards running a Cerebral Palsy camp for two weeks. This camp takes children with a disability and their mothers and provides them with daily physiotherapy, educational sessions, medical treatment (if required), food and shelter for the duration of the camp. I have watched the impact this camp has on mothers and children. As persons with a disability are often outcasts in Uganda, the relationships formed between the mothers of these children are remarkable. For the first time they are being included and celebrated. Through education workshops on disability during the camp the stigma is slowly being taken away. The children themselves improve physically through their daily physiotherapy sessions but also emotionally as their mothers become more accepting of them. The nursing and medical students play a vital role in screening these children for malnutrition and getting them the high energy foods required to fight this global epidemic of hunger. Malnutrition  educational sessions are also run during the camp along with talks on basic first aid and family planning. In 2015, some of the money raised also went towards the building of a chicken coop which would provide eggs for protein for the children in the malnutrition unit of the hospital. This is a sustainable project with runs throughout the year by the local partners. It is projects like this which have a long term affect on Kisiizi. This year, 2017, we wait to see what the local partners need and try and provide them with it. It is this relationship between local partners that make UCDVO such a successful charity. The remarkable aspect of UCDVO is that you will see the effect your donations have on this rural hospital in Uganda. You are sponsoring a volunteer not only to provide funding for sustainable projects but also share their skills with this community for four weeks. The team of people volunteering in an area has as big an impact as the funding brought to the community. On return you will be able to see exactly where your donations were spent through the sponsored volunteer. The opportunities are endless. So please, if you can, donate to my UCDVO journey to Kisiizi Hospital where I will be working with the local community and a fantastic team of fellow volunteers. Any donation, no matter how big or how small, will be appreciated. Thank you. 

Voluntary organisation for UCD students, staff and graduates to engage in volunteering and global citizenship education programmes.

• €10
  Rob Smith

  Best of luck Aine!!!

• €10
  Hilary White

• €10
  Joe Crotty

• €10
  Michael Dover

• €20
  Naoimh O Neill

• €100
  Els Buggy

  For you and Dave, hope you have a great return trip xxx

• €10
  Anna Egan

• €25

• €25
  Allan Henry

  Good luck Aine!

• €120
  Sinead Durkin

  A fantastic charity, very proud of the work of you're doing.

• €20
  Margaret Rogers

  What fantastic work Aine Durkin!

• €15
  Ciara Mulligan

  Best of luck gal. Would love to be going back. Will donate more when I can x