Five reasons to volunteer in Uganda this year:

1.You can live in tropical paradise

No hats, no coats, no shoes - no problem. Do you like open toed shoes? Do you like the feeling of grass in between your toes? Do you like to swim in rivers, lakes and swimming pools? Do you like taking time to enjoy the view?

Uganda is full of scenic vistas and cheap fresh mangos, avocados, and pineapples. Warm days with cool breezes. Cool days with warm breezes.

2. Singing and dancing are fun

People are happy to see you - really happy. We love to sing and dance together. Life is hard. We struggle every day. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we want them to. So we never pass up an opportunity to sing, dance, and celebrate. Both traditional and modern Ugandan culture is fascinating when explored through music and dance. Each tribe has its own unique group of song and dance, each individual his or her own style. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, male or female, black or white – it doesn’t even matter if you have rhythm. All you have to do is give it a try.

3. Your comfort zone is feeling a bit stuffy

Take a break from normal life. Be your own boss for awhile. Let your imagination guide you to new adventures. Explore the opportunity to learn something new about you and others. Get hands on experience of working and living in another country. Take what you know and share with others.

4. Chatting with the people = free education

Each day brings new opportunities for growth and development. Each new conversation opens a door to a new world. Each individual gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge and learn something new. Each new friend will give you more lasting memories of your time here in Uganda

5. LonelyPlanet says Uganda is the best place to visit in 2012.

From their website: “It’s taken nasty dictatorships and a brutal civil war to keep Uganda off the tourist radar, but stability is returning and it won’t be long before visitors come flocking back. After all,this is the source of the river Nile – that mythical place explorers sought since Roman times. It’s also where savannah meets the vast lakes of East Africa, and where snow-capped mountains bear down on sprawling jungles. Not so long ago, the tyrannical dictator and ‘Last King of Scotland’ Idi Amin helped hunt Uganda’s big game to the brink of extinction, but today the wildlife is returning with a vengeance. This year Uganda also celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence; Kampala, one of Africa’s safest capital cities, is bound to see off the event with a bang. Still, Uganda still isn’t without its problems.Human rights abuses aren’t uncommon, and the country breathes a collective sigh whenever President Museveni thinks of another ruse to stay in power for a few more years. But now, as ever, explorers in search of the source of the Nile won’t leave disappointed.”