MDU Volunteer Program Activities

Medical Outreach — Tuesdays & Thursdays

During our medical outreach programs, we provide free medical care to individuals and families who may otherwise have limited access to healthcare. Patients are screened for HIV, hCG (pregnancy), and malaria, and our medical team diagnoses and treats a wide range of illnesses and infections, including upper respiratory infections (URIs), urinary tract infections (UTIs), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), gastrointestinal infections, skin infections, and wounds.

We also provide families with mosquito nets to help prevent future malaria infections and distribute Mama Kits to expectant mothers. In many healthcare facilities, the supplies needed during delivery are not provided, and pregnant women may be turned away if they arrive without them. This can put both the mother and baby at serious risk. Each Mama Kit contains the essential supplies needed to support a safe and hygienic delivery.

We distribute reusable sanitary pads to girls and young women, helping reduce barriers that can prevent them from attending school, working, and participating fully in their communities. By providing these reusable products, we help young women remain in school and increase their opportunities to build successful futures.

Every child who attends our outreach receives deworming medication and Vitamin A, both of which are important for healthy growth and development.

All medical treatment, including medications, supplies, and testing, is provided free of charge.

Our medical outreach team is made up of MDU doctors, nurses, laboratory staff, support staff, members of the local communities, and volunteers from around the world. Every outreach is a unique and rewarding experience, providing much-needed healthcare while allowing volunteers to build meaningful connections with the communities we serve.

Women’s Empowerment — Wednesday Mornings

Women are taught sustainable, income-generating skills that can help them build greater financial independence and provide for their families. Training opportunities include tailoring, hairdressing, cooking, adult literacy, gardening, and other practical skills.

Once a week, female volunteers, together with our MDU social worker, counsel and support a group of young women. Discussions cover a variety of important topics, including personal hygiene, women’s health, relationships, self-esteem, and other issues affecting their daily lives and futures.

The Women’s Empowerment Program provides women and girls with knowledge, practical skills, encouragement, and support to help them become more independent and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

Kisenyi Program — Mondays & Wednesday Afternoons

MDU works with street-connected children in Kisenyi, one of the largest slum communities in Kampala. According to government estimates, as many as 15,000 children between the ages of 7 and 17, mostly boys, live on the streets of Kampala.

Twice a week, MDU staff and volunteers gather a group of street-connected boys and bring them to the program site. There, the children receive counseling, a nutritious meal, medical care, and opportunities to play fun games and participate in positive activities.

Due to the difficult and often dangerous conditions in which they live, the boys frequently arrive with wounds, illnesses, and infections. MDU staff and volunteers provide treatment during the program and arrange for follow-up care at a nearby clinic when necessary.

The goal of the Kisenyi Program is resettlement and long-term safety. Whenever possible, MDU works to reconnect children with their families or identify other safe living arrangements where they can receive the care and support they need.

MDU also has a sponsorship program that provides children with the opportunity to attend school and receive an education. Education can be a powerful pathway toward breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a safer, more stable future.

School Visits, Clinic Visits, Home Visits & Excursions — Fridays

Fridays provide volunteers with opportunities to experience additional aspects of the communities we serve through school visits, clinic visits, home visits, and local excursions.

These experiences allow volunteers to gain a deeper understanding of daily life in Uganda while connecting with students, families, healthcare providers, community members, and local organizations. Each visit provides a unique opportunity to learn from the people and communities we serve.

Free Time & Excursions — Saturdays & Sundays

Weekends provide volunteers with time to relax, explore Uganda, and participate in optional excursions and cultural experiences.