Undergraduate Students | Volunteer Opportunity

Undergraduates / Students

Hope Speaks offers a state of the art internship program to students seeking to expand the scope of their studies and experiences. While you get a once in a lifetime experience, Hope Speaks is able to increase their services to hard to reach communities and individuals through the work of volunteers, students and interns.

Based on experience and level of education, daily tasks may include:

Observation of evaluations
Assisting in the creation and implementation of treatment plans
Community Outreach and Education
Familiarization with reporting tools such as Fusion Web Clinic
Assisting in day-to-day program needs

On the weekends, you get to enjoy the best of what Uganda has to offer – safaris, a trip to the source of the Nile River, cultural experiences and more.

Our undergraduate program includes hands-on experience working in both our outreach programs and our private clinic setting. Students will have the opportunity to partner with a Ugandan SLP to gain a unique perspective and approach to speech therapy in a global setting.

About the Program

THE APPLICATION PROCESS CONSISTS OF SUBMITTING:

Completed volunteer application
Statement of faith
Two letters of recommendation

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.

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, 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.

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.

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)	Deposit Due for Flight Booking	Trip Balance & Due Date
May 15 – June 5	$2,000	$3,000 – April 30
June 12 – July 3	$2,000	$3,000 – May 28
July 10 – July 31	$2,200	$3,100 – June 25
August 7-28	$2,200	$3,100 – July 23

Inquire About Volunteering

Send us any questions you have.

Become a Volunteer

Fill out an application to get started.

Check out what some of our interns have been up to on past trips

“Hope Speaks is truly the embodiment of their name–they are bringers of hope. This organization is life-giving and full of contagious joy. Ben, Kari, and their team love others in a way that is so deep it can only be carried out by people who are full of hope. Getting to experience even a fraction of this love has changed my life. Everything good in this world is in Hope Speaks.”

Kayleigh with ACU

“Working with Hope Speaks was my most challenging and rewarding externship placement in grad school. I was able to truly put my clinical skills to the test, working in settings with less resources, materials, and information on each client than I was used to having. I grew in my ability to think on my feet, develop session plans in the moment, and collaborate with other SLPs to provide bilingual sessions. These skills are ones I use daily as a CF, and am grateful I got to improve while working in Uganda.”

Rachel Kathryn-Graduate Student

“Hope Speaks showed me an entirely new side of Speech Therapy. A side that the people of Uganda truly cherish. Hope Speaks mission is to bring hope and raise the voices for children with disabilities and they are doing just that every single day. I am so grateful I was able to love and be loved by the people of Uganda during the 2 months I lived there. My simple “yes” has changed my entire perspective on this profession and has equipped me to better serve my clients today! I encourage you to also say yes and see how the Lord works through you during your time there!”

Austin-ACU Graduate Student

Where We Work

Uganda has been referred to as the Pearl of Africa and for good reason. It’s home to over 40 million people. Apart from having such a large population, Uganda is a very poor nation. This has resulted in a lack of education, unclean water, and inconsistent income for its residents.

With all of these factors in play, it’s easy to see why about 19 percent of the population is living with a disability. Our speech team helps to assist these children with speech therapy and rehabilitation services. By means of a diligent work effort, we’re able to provide speech therapy in multiple locations throughout the country.

These include:

Kampala School For The Physically Handicapped
International Schools
Dawn Childrens Centre
Mukisa Foundation
Mercy Childcare Ministry
Angels Center For Children With Special Needs
Katanga Slum

Why Volunteer For Hope Speaks?

Hope Speaks is a nonprofit organization. We’re looking for undergraduate students that are looking to make a real difference in a country that will much appreciate it. By simply donating some of your time and experience, you can make a real difference in the life of children with disabilities in the Uganda region. You’ll give them a true voice that they can use to change their culture’s history going into the future.

Become A Volunteer

Serve with Hope Speaks by becoming a volunteer. Download our application to get started.

How to Contribute to Hope Speaks?

If you would like to help disabled youth in Uganda, it’s time to act. As an undergraduate student, you can apply for our intern work program. This time commitment is three weeks, at the minimum. Even if you are unable to donate your time, Hope Speaks also accepts donations. By donating, it will help us expand our outreach.