Speech Therapy | Volunteers

FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS YOU MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN SLP or SUPERVISING PROFESSOR IN ORDER TO SERVE WITH US. They must travel with you to Uganda. No unaccompanied undergraduate students will be able to serve with us by themselves. (new policy from clinical committee)
Time Commitment: minimum three weeks

Orientation & Training

Regular Intern Work – assisting in day-to-day program needs

Community Education & Outreach

Patient Evaluations and treatment (based on level of training and clinical experience)
Community outreach and education
Required training prior to arriving in Uganda to perform evaluations
Observation hours available
Post trip ambassador

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Time Commitment: minimum three weeks

Orientation & Training

Regular Intern Work – assisting in day-to-day program needs

Community Education & Outreach

Patient evaluations and treatment (based on level of training and clinical experience)
Community outreach and education
Observation and clinical hours available
SLPA practice
Evaluations and treatment are supervised by an ASHA certified clinician as per ASHA requirements for supervision
Limited CFY offered annually
Post trip ambassador

Download Form

Must hold ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
Time Commitment – minimum 10 days to allow for orientation and cultural readiness
Patient evaluations & treatment, train staff and caregivers, supervise intern evaluations and treatment, community education and outreach

Download Form

Even if you aren’t working in the field of speech pathology, we’d love to introduce you to our ministry.

Please send an email to info@joinhopespeaks.org and share your passion for ministry and how you’d like to serve with Hope Speaks.

(Subscribe to our newsletter where we post service needs, etc.) Let us know if you are exploring a possible career in speech pathology.

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2026 Summer Trip Dates/Costs

For the following trips, the first date is the date you will arrive in Uganda. The last date is the date you would fly out of Uganda. For planning purposes, you will be leaving the day before the first date, and returning the day after the last date.

A non-refundable $100 deposit is required after your application is approved and before a background check is run to secure your trip reservation.

Following background check approval, you will need to have the amount indicated below in your fundraising account page in order for flights to be booked. The balance will be due 2 weeks before your departure.

2026 Trip Dates (In Country)	Trip Deadline	Deposit Due for Flight Booking	Trip Balance & Due Date
May 15 - June 5	February 15	$2,000	$3,000 - April 30
June 12 - July 3	March 12	$2,000	$3,000 - May 28
July 10 - July 31	April 10	$2,200	$3,100 - June 25
August 7-28	May 7	$2,200	$3,100 - July 23

The cost of each of the 3-week trips for 2026 will be $5,000 for May/June trips and $5,300 for July/August trips due to increased flight prices in peak summer months. If flight costs increase beyond our budgeted range due to short-notice bookings or other factors, the volunteer is responsible to cover the difference.

Cost includes: Airfare, lodging in a beautiful guest house with 24/7 security, 2 meals/day, ground transportation while in country (either Hope Speaks vehicle or public transportation with Hope Speaks staff), travel insurance inclusive of Medevac while in country, WiFi internet, laundry, utilities, a donation to Hope Speaks programming, and processing fees.

Not included in the cost: Immunizations prior to travel to Uganda, $50 Ugandan visa (online prior to trip), phone data, snacks and dining out, souvenirs, personal expenses, and excursions (safari and other optional outings). Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

2026 Trip Information

Hope Speaks welcomes volunteers year round outside of these scheduled trip dates. If our scheduled summer trip dates do not work with your personal, work, or school schedule, we are very flexible and will try to make other arrangements so that you are able to serve with Hope Speaks when it works best for you.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SLP UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: Due to our current capacity, undergraduate students who have completed their 3rd year of a speech pathology program are welcome to join a trip, but you must be accompanied by your professor, university program, or a speech-language pathologist you know personally who can provide supervision and mentorship to you while in Uganda.

For professionals who can only volunteer for 2 weeks: the cost is reduced to $4,300. Volunteers coming for 2-week trips ideally should be able to arrive on the arrival dates listed above so that team training and orientation activities are all done together with the team at the beginning.
If you would like to join us for longer than 3 weeks: the cost is $5,000 for initial 3 weeks for the May/June trips or $5,300 for the July/August trips + $90/day for every additional day beyond the 3 weeks.
If staying longer than 3 months: the daily rate is reduced to $90/day, plus the cost of your flight and a donation to Hope Speaks for programming.

If you would like to complete your ASHA CFY with Hope Speaks, please request additional information from our U.S. volunteer coordinator, Deb Bratt at deb@joinhopespeaks.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Hope Speaks is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All money that you raise for your trip is through donation to Hope Speaks and is non-refundable. Hope Speaks is legally unable to issue refunds of tax-deductible donations if your trip is canceled.

Thank you for your interest in serving with Hope Speaks! We look forward to hearing from you! If you have any further questions, please feel free to let us know.