Who we are
About Us.
The African Volunteers Association (AVA) is a non-profit making organisation which was registered in Uganda in 2001 as a company limited by guarantee without share capital.
It was started in 2001 by people who are committed to eradicate poverty of different types through voluntary service to improve the situation of those who find themselves disadvantaged in society by working with them to promote social and environmental justice, while using their resources and experiences.
Being a volunteer does not just mean working for nothing: it is a serious commitment to be in solidarity with other people, convinced that by giving we are also enriched.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- To establish institutions and platforms for empowering people to fight poverty.
- To create institutions and frameworks to facilitate the sharing of material and personal resources by using an African approach.
- To facilitate the pursuit of education, training, research and consultancy in different areas to promote social and environmental justice.
- To make known and operationalise national and international legal instruments relating to promoting social justice, and conservation of animal and plant biodiversity.
- To contribute towards promotion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals especially in relation to gender, environment, disability, employment and food security.
- To create and use international and international networks for promoting social and environmental justice, by prioritising African cultural practices.
Our background.
The African Volunteers Association (AVA) is a non-profit making organisation which was registered in Uganda in 2001 as a private company limited by guarantee without capital share. The beginning AVA is rooted in an International Conference which was organised under the heading: “The Challenge of Eradicating Poverty in the World: An African Response”, at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi, Uganda, from 7–10 September 1998. At the end of that Conference, it was resolved, that since poverty is multifaceted and multidimensional, its eradication requires full partnership with those who are disadvantaged, the marginalised, and the poor, using all possible means, organs and approaches, including NGOs, cooperatives, religious organisations and the grass-roots communities. The participants had advocated a new type of education to empower people from the start to be committed to poverty eradication in their own lives and in the lives of their families as a starting point. In 1999, a National Workshop was held at Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Nkozi, and a decision was taken to form the African Volunteers Association (AVA)
which was later registered in 2001 to put in place means of starting projects and institutions to facilitate sharing of material, personal and knowledge necessary for prosperity creation.
With time, AVA has found it necessary to revisit the concept of the “poor” to avoid creating the impression that there is a permanent class of people called the “poor”. Furthermore, AVA has found it important to refocus its objectives to include environmental justice, and to bring on board the concern for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to address unemployment, promoting food security, gender and youth issues. We have found it necessary to clarify that being a volunteer does not just mean working for nothing: it is a serious ethical commitment to be in solidarity with other people, convinced that by sharing what we are and have are also enriched.
Our Aim
The aim of AVA is to foster social and environmental justice using volunteers resources.
Contact Us
Offices:- Rubindi (Mbarara District) -Businge,Kamwenge Town, (Kamwenge district).
Telephone: +256772696032 +25677639453 +25670198086
Email: volunteersava@gmail.com