From well-worn to welcoming
- Beck Boon
- Oct 28, 2025
- 2 min read
Busubi Empowered Communities (BEC) is preparing to welcome a new volunteer from Japan!
The volunteer will be embedded within the community for two years, working alongside local leaders and teaching teams to connect with students, strengthen local skills, and foster a rewarding cultural exchange… and maybe even teach some Japanese.
To create a welcoming, functional space, BEC team are busily renovating an exisiting building on the compound (pictured above). As the new volunteer will be living on-site for the two years, BEC must offer a safe, comfortable space with access to electricity and a kitchen, adequate lighting, reliable internet, and a dedicated workspace.
With your help, Followings Foundation is raising funds to renovate an existing structure (more photos below), just beside the BEC Learning Centre, to meet these requirements.
Renovation costs AUD$4,000
Why this is important to us
The organisation sponsoring this volunteer is well respected in contributing to community development right around the world.
The volunteer will be working hands-on alongside the BEC team on tasks such as:
Financial record keeping and reporting
Teaching Japanese and English languages
Supporting fundraising and community outreach
Computer training and digital skills development
Participating in youth and community programs.
John Ssentamu, BEC Founder, shared that the presence of a skilled volunteer will expand BEC’s capacity to serve more young people, strengthen our administrative systems, and bring new perspectives to the work of empowering a rural community that is so precious to us.
"We believe that this opportunity will be a huge step forward in serving more youths and creating great impact in the community we serve."
To take up this opportunity, BEC is seeking approximately AUD $4,000Â to provide suitable accommodation for the incoming volunteer and bolster the services offered to the community.
Lauren Exton, Followings Foundation Founder, identified how valuable it will be to have a new member of the Ugandan-based team to collaborate with.
"This is such a great opportunity to have someone with a fresh perspective, new ideas and diverse experience contribute to BEC's goals and vision,"
"We can't wait to collaborate with them!"
The Renovations
By supporting this project, Followings and BEC are investing in the buildings onsite of the Learning Centre. As you can see above, the building available for renovation is in need of repair to continue supporting the Centre’s daily operations.
Renovations will include:
Repairs to the roof
Realignment of internal walls
Levelling of the floor
Repairs to external walls
Reinstallation and securing of doorways
How You Can Help
Your donations will directly fund this investment into BEC’s facilities, upgrading a multi-purpose room.
Every contribution will help ensure that BEC can meet the hosting standards and welcome the volunteer—paving the way for two years of collaboration, learning, and impact.
Join us in continuing our vision to connect the Busubi community with partners across the globe.
Hear more from Followings Founder Lauren on this new opportunity:
