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The World Heritage Volunteers (WHV) Initiative is a global program launched in 2008 by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, in collaboration with Better World. It aims to engage young people in the preservation, protection and promotion of World Heritage sites through hands-on activities and community involvement.
Since 2017, Faraja Africa Foundation has collaborated with BetterWorld, UNESCO and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to organize action camp projects at World Heritage properties in Uganda such as Rwenzori Mountains National Park in 2017 and 2024 and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 2019. These camps bring together national and international volunteers to participate in activities such as restoration and conservation work, educational workshops and awareness campaigns, community engagement and cultural exchange and environmental clean-ups and heritage walks in communities arounf the heritage sites.
The program seeks to raise awareness among young people and local communities about the importance of World Heritage, empower youth with skills in heritage conservation, foster intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding and strengthen collaboration between stakeholders involved in heritage preservation. It also seeks to establish links between the fields of heritage and volunteering by continuously working to foster a deeper understanding of heritage conservation and promotion, volunteering and sustainable utilisation of resources from Natural heritage among young people, we do this through practical hands-on projects,community engagement, digitalisation and educational activities with the aim of conservation of the World Heritage sites in Uganda.
This year’s World Heritage Volunteers 10 day youth camp will be taking place at Bwindi Impenentrable National Park from 1st to 10th September 2025 with the aim to promote the heritage site as a key platform for environmental sustainability, youth empowerment and heritage preservation. The volunteers will utilize digital tools to raise awareness about the significance of the park and its biodiversity, focusing on its role as a UNESCO World Heritage site. By engaging youth volunteers, the project will conduct tree planting campaigns, community outreach activities, and offer training on environmentally sustainable green jobs. These hands-on actions will directly contribute to the conservation of Bwindi and enhance its promotion as a national and global treasure. The project will create educational resources, enabling local communities to better understand and protect their natural heritage while fostering a new generation of eco-conscious leaders.
How to Participate
All interested applicants and volunteers must apply through the official application form, which is the only way to join the 2025 WHV camp at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Access the form here: 2025 CALL FOR WHV CAMP PARTICIPANTS.
