About Us
SustainMe is a Ugandan nonprofit organization working at grassroots level with vulnerable women, girls, children, and families to address poverty, inequality, and vulnerability through economic empowerment, education, women’s rights, health and nutrition, literacy, and disability support.
We empower women through business and vocational skills, financial literacy, village banking, and seed grants, while promoting women’s rights and awareness of gender-based violence. We also support vulnerable children and families through education, literacy, health and nutrition programmes, including our community library and Reading on Wheels initiatives.
SustainMe supports children and women living with disabilities through safe spaces, psychosocial support, nutrition assistance, referrals, and community awareness. Founded in 2013 by Samuel Wanyagira with just $113 in personal savings, SustainMe began by supporting five women with small business capital and has since grown to impact more than 20,000 lives.
We welcome volunteers who want to share their skills and experience, learn from Ugandan communities, and contribute to meaningful grassroots development.
Program at a glance
Why choose us?
Our programme gives volunteers the opportunity to work directly with women running small businesses that support their families. Rather than working in a classroom, volunteers work alongside women in their real businesses, helping strengthen cash flow, business planning, record keeping, customer management, and entrepreneurship skills.
What makes the programme unique is the personal, one-to-one mentorship. Volunteers listen to the challenges women face and share practical knowledge that can strengthen their businesses and livelihoods.
You will also experience grassroots Uganda, visit local businesses and communities, learn from the women you work with, and gain a deeper understanding of small-scale entrepreneurship. Your skills can make a practical difference while providing meaningful cross-cultural experience and showing how women-led businesses contribute to families and communities.
Requirements
- Age: Minimum 18 years old on the programme start date. Exceptions may be possible with parental/guardian permission or when accompanied by parents
- Language: Basic English required.
- Education: Background or studies in business, economics, or business studies at university or college level
- Criminal Background Check: Required
- Required Documents: CV
- Nationality: No restrictions. Volunteers from around the world are welcome
- Skills & Interests: Passion for women’s empowerment and human rights, good communication skills, and an interest in supporting women’s rights
Volunteer experience
A typical volunteer day with SustainMe runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, beginning with a briefing and planning session at the office. Depending on the schedule, volunteers may prepare for field visits, review business progress, develop mentorship materials, or work alongside the SustainMe team.
On field days, volunteers travel with the team to visit women entrepreneurs in their communities and businesses. They provide practical one-to-one mentorship in areas such as business planning, cash-flow management, record keeping, customer care, and entrepreneurship, while listening to the challenges women face.
Field activities are planned in advance and transportation is arranged accordingly. Some activities may occasionally extend beyond 4:00 PM depending on the location and schedule.
€113 per week
Volunteers stay with a carefully selected Ugandan host family, allowing them to experience local culture, traditions, history, and everyday community life while building meaningful relationships. SustainMe pays the host family for the duration of the volunteer’s stay, and all host families meet the organization’s standards.
Accommodation typically includes a private bedroom and bathroom. Volunteers who prefer to stay in a hotel can request a special arrangement. Families and couples can also be accommodated together in a guesthouse or hotel, or with a host family according to their preference.
Volunteers share breakfast, lunch, and dinner with their host family, providing an opportunity to experience authentic Ugandan food and family life. Meals are arranged through the host family and include a variety of local dishes.
Typical meals may include matooke, beef, beans, posho, greens, potatoes, chicken, rice, and cassava. Breakfast options may include milk, bread, eggs, fruit, coffee, Rolex, and chapati.
Vegetarian and other special dietary options can be arranged upon request to suit individual preferences.
Based in Jinja, volunteers can explore the “Pearl of Africa” and enjoy a wide range of activities during their free time:
- Visit the Source of the Nile
- Enjoy white-water rafting, kayaking, and boat trips on the Nile
- Explore Jinja and nearby communities by bicycle
- Experience traditional dances, local music, cultural tours, and community events
- Visit local markets and craft shops
- Enjoy birdwatching, nature walks, and forest visits
- Take longer weekend trips to Uganda’s national parks, waterfalls, scenic areas, and wildlife destinations
- Relax at local restaurants, cafés, and social spaces
Optional tourism activities and excursions are generally arranged at the volunteer’s own expense.
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