IMMERSION is an opportunity for young adults to step outside of the normal cadence of their lives in order to gain a broader picture of: 1) the world around you, 2) the way God works in that world, and 3) the value of relationships and quality service alongside people whose lives are just as valuable as your own.

Simply put, IMMERSION is about focusing on the “how we do it” of international ministry and service rather than just “what we do.” Our central focus is on the importance of authentic relationships as the keystone to healthy ministry, and engaging in what it means to truly “love our neighbor” as people of privilege in the 21st century.

Teams spend their time equally split between service opportunities, cultural immersion in the community, and relationship building with community partners and host families. This means there is plenty of space to give your time and attention to others—a necessary part of doing missions well—prioritizing people over the simply seeking out projects to complete.

What to Expect:

*Please note: IMMERSION team members are stepping into a different culture, where schedules and plans are likely to change. We expect all participants to come with flexibility and a willingness to embrace last-minute changes to schedules, ministry opportunities, and projects. That said, here are some service opportunities past volunteers have participated in:

• Engaging with kids at the children's ministry
• Working on construction/renovation projects
• Volunteering in local schools as a teacher's assistent
• Helping with extracurriculars like reading clubs and sports
• Supporting women's empowerment programs
• Helping with water initiatives
• Participating in educational workshops on hygiene and nutrition
• Working on community gardens
• Organizing a talent show or cultural event

View/Download Program Details Slideshow

Ideal Uganda IMMERSION Candidate:

• Between age 18-30
• Interested in pursuing the intersections of faith and serving others
• Willing to engage in various projects and serve the local community
• Able to adapt to a flexible schedule
• Eager to participate in conversations with locals and build relationships
• Able to do engage in physical labor (construction, farm work, painting)
• Willing to adjust and abide by the norms of a different culture
• Able to work through conflict and problem-solve well
• Willing to follow and abide by safety guidelines and expectations

Daniel & Ruth Kasozi are the founders of Another Hope Children's Ministry in the Wakiso District, in close proximity to Kampala, Uganda. They have a vision for the ministry to become self-sufficient to continue caring for children and supporting their community.

IMMERSION teams help at the children's home doing daily tasks or assisting with homework, etc. and work on the farm taking care of livestock and crops, volunteer in elementary schools as a teacher's aid and alongside young adults in a vocational school setting. Teams may also be involved in a clean water project, helping to construct water containers in the community and surrounding areas.

IMMERSION teams in Uganda stay together as a team in the guest house on Another Hope's property in Wakiso District. There are bunk beds with mosquito nets provided, bathrooms, and showers. Wifi is available but limited, so team members should plan to only communicate with friends and family back home on weekends.

Daniel and Ruth also arrange times for teams to explore the area and see more of their beautiful country. The equator is close, so you may get to stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time!

Yellow Fever vaccine is required for entry into Uganda, and Malaria prevention medication is recommended by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC.) For additional disease prevention information, please consult your personal physician and the Travel Recommendations by county at cdc.gov.

Safety is a huge priority for the IMMERSION program! We are up to date on all potential safety concerns in the countries where teams volunteer and would never send a team to a location where we have active concerns about their safety and well-being.

Experience Mission local staff and partners are experienced residents or welcome guests in the communities you are serving in, and they communicate to all team members the safest way to move about during their time on the program. Regular communication is also established between partners, team leaders, and EM U.S. Staff, allowing for quick responses to any emergencies should they arise.

For medical issues, IMMERSION team leaders are CPR/First Aid certified, and carry trauma medical kits equipped to deal with a wide range of injuries and ailments.

In the case of a larger emergency, EM staff members will support team members by helping them communicate with home and making sure they get to a place to receive care.

Often, local medical clinics are a short distance from where team members are staying. However, outside of big cities, large hospitals can often be several hours away by vehicle. Team members would not be left to do this on their own.

To ensure medical care is readily accessible, EM secures travel medical/evacuation insurance for all team members. Participants are also required to come with a Personal Emergency Fund—a debit or credit card with $1,500 available and $300 of reserve cash—in case they were to have a medical issue requiring upfront payment or need to travel home from the program unexpectedly. This amount may seem high, but it's purely a precaution. Most team members do not touch their emergency funds while on the trip.

Preventatively, during initial training, all team members are encouraged to enroll with STEP (Safe Traveler Enrollment Program) through the U.S. State Department. This allows team members and staff to receive official travel alerts if there is an issue in the region including political protests, civil unrest, increased crime, weather alerts, natural disasters, terrorism, or specific threats for foreign travelers.

An EM emergency phone line is also available to all emergency contacts.