About us
The idea behind the organisation:
Intercultural exchange: Stays for volunteers from different cultural backgrounds in authentic environments and families. This promotes and enables immersion in and understanding of the respective culture.
“Interdependence”: Mutual sponsorship and partnership. Stays and partnerships based on “mutual dependence” offer a rich experience as a form of education.
International understanding and friendship: Respect and understanding of others or strangers as the basis for “knowledge.”
These are prerequisites for any kind of international activity. Also for any kind of international relationship.
Management of the Orutindo Organization
Chairperson/Founder: Joseline Amutuhaire
Vice Chairperson: Jurij Vasiljev
Treasurer: Tomas Ondrusek: Germany
The Orutindo project is coordinated by various volunteers:
Byamukama Innocent (Uganda), Uta-Alexandra (Germany), the Winter family (Austria), “the aunts” (Switzerland), Eric (Belgium), Jitka (Czech Republic), as well as various other friends who volunteer to coordinate or organize various activities to support the Orutindo children in Uganda.
My name is Joseline Amutuhaire-Ondrusek, founder of Orutindo.
I was born in Rushooka, Uganda, in 1983. My parents died in 1994, leaving us children completely orphaned. I moved with my two little sisters to my aunt in the village. Ivica Peric from Bosnia, a priest from our parish, took care of us like a parent and fortunately enabled me to attend school and university, where I graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in ethics and development studies. Ivica Peric taught me that it is more joyful to give than to receive.
In 2007 I also met my husband Tomas, in 2008 we got married and today we have three wonderful children. We see and know how important it is for children that their basic needs are met.
My dream was to give other children in Rushooka access to education as well. That’s how Tomas and I started to realize this project. On a property inherited from my parents, we set up a center to be used as an intercultural education and information center and handed it over to the Orutindo Association as a sponsor. We rented out my parents’ house to one of the schools in the area. Instead of charging rent for it, we can send some students to this school. Further, we have set up a small resort and campsite on Lake Bunyonyi. Every year we bring tourists there to travel around Uganda. Half of the income we earn from these travelers is used for our projects.
During our first year together in Uganda, many children came to ask for accommodation, food and school fees. Yes, this project is real and necessary to provide a home for some children who have no shelter, to host volunteers who work , for example with children and so on… In Uganda, education is very expensive, but many people have no income, and without education, people remain trapped in the cycle of poverty.
I believe in the words of Nelson Mandela: “Education is the only weapon in the fight against poverty…”“
You can read the full story of my life as a book: “Fatherless is Rootless.” Please order by e-mail for only 10 euros – the amount goes to Orutindo. Email for order: orutindoproject@gmail.com
I am Innocent Byamukama, coordinator of the ORUTINDO KIDS FOUNDATION.
I am a teacher and have a master’s degree in educational psychology.
My job is to ensure that all school programs and activities run smoothly and that the children attend school.
Amelia Niwahereza
Age 26, housemother of Orutindo. Skilled in tailoring and knitting; currently finishing secondary school. She cares for Orutindo House and the children in Orutindo. A bit of Amelia’s story: She approached Orutindo in 2019. Amelia does not know her parents. Her grandmother could not afford secondary school and asked Joselyne Amutuhaire to give her granddaughter a chance. In 2026 she will go to university and then join the St. Francis School Sisters. It is her wish to become a nun after four years. Afterwards, she will continue her studies at the university..
Robert Aguma
Age 24, reliable caretaker from Orutindo House, Aunties Resort and more. He has been in this role since 2019 and hopes for many more years.
Josephat Mugabe
Age 16, housekeeper at AUNTIES. Friendly and new in this role, doing his best to keep AUNTIES Resort clean, tidy, and cozy, so guests feel safe and secure.
“This project brings so much joy when we can put a smile on the faces of unfortunate children. We ask everyone to join us, come with us, and help us to help others. You can either support a child at school or in everyday life with food, clothing, medicine, etc., donate used laptops for our children, or volunteer at the center.”
(Joseline Amutuhaire)