OUR STORY
Who We Are
Volunteer Missions Uganda (VMU) is the volunteer placement branch of OMUTUKUVU Project, a local organization whose mission is to bring sustainable development in rural (off-grid) communities in Africa, Uganda
What We Do
Volunteer Missions Uganda recruits short-term volunteers and matches them with service-learning opportunities around Rural African communities where there is no group or organisation. VMU volunteers “work directly” in communities through practical, hands-on service.
​
Our Organization
​
In January 2016, our founder Ken Ochieng was called back to his home of Mayrinya in Uganda’s Mayuge District to help nurse his sick grandmother in her final days. Before sickness eventually took her life, she made sure her legacy would extend beyond her 88 years of life. She entrusted the five acres of land that had been in the family for 200 years to Ken on the promise that it be used to serve not just the family but the entire community. With that promise, OMUTUKUVU began to take shape.
​
With the help of volunteers from all over the world, OMUTUKUVU’s vision was built based on the most urgent needs of Mayrinya and paired with the most sustainable solutions to meet these needs. The purpose of OMUTUKUVU Project is establish of self-sustainable development in agriculture, education, energy and water to build improved, sustainable socio-economic conditions for the thousands of people in the community.
THE FARM
Our farmhouse is 50km east from Jinja, near Nankoma, in the small village of Mayirinya. Our facilities are powered by solar energy, as well as our running water being pumped by a solar pump. Bottled water is readily available for purchase in the village for drinking. We are focused on community development.
Here we run a farm house and plot of 5 acres of land, which we decided to turn into a community-based solidarity project with the intention of helping our local community by providing varied crops, support, and education. Additional priorities include education, in turn, easy access to water and renewable energy.
Empowerment through infrastructure is our passion.
Organic Farmhouse
Breakfast
Bike Rental
Pit- Toilet
LARGE camping, BBQ Area
& Fire PLACE
SEASONAL Shower
BEDS: single dorm beds, sheets and a few mosquito nets (bring your own if you want a DEET repellent one) are provided in the farmhouse. In case of a surplus of volunteers, we have space for camping – in which case we will warn you and ask you to bring a mat and tent.
FOOD: our kitchen has 4 gas rings and pots and pans. We are able to provide you with vegetables and food, some of which comes from our farm . Otherwise we invite you to contact us concerning what is currently available on the farm in cases of special diet
We are happy to teach you our language and cooking, and you may learn how mud huts are built. Our village is alive, night and day, so your cultural immersion is authentic. We believe that experience is the best teacher, and there is a lot you can learn here!
T. 123-456-7890
Mr. Ken Ochieng
Our Founders
T. 123-456-7890
Ms. Bethany G.C
Back in early 2016 Ken Ochieng (Ugand) and Bethany Crawmer (USA) founded a project that they named "Self Sustainable Earth". This was in turn developed and renamed "Omutukuvu Uganda" with the arrival of Oliver Brandenburg (Germany).
On the 20th March 2017 Omutukuvu was officially recognised as an operating NGo and Community Based Organization within the district of Mayuge with the aim to establish self sustainable livelihoods, agricultural training and safe water programmes to support the local communities and improve general health and hygiene.