Job Discussion Forums

[megs]

Does anyone have any information about the Global Volunteer Network based in Wellington, New Zealand?

http://www.volunteer.org.nz/vietnam

[sojourner]

Megs,

If I were you, I would avoid that organisation like the plague ! Did you notice that they charge very hefty fees for the privilege of volunteering ?

If you are keen to do volunteering work, do a www search for non-profit and humanitarian organisations that have orphanages, etc, in developing countries, and then ask them directly whether you could do some short-term work with them.There is definitely no need to deal with some middle man - especially if excessive fees are involved !

Should you wish to do some long-term volunteering (ie of 1 or 2 years' duration), genuine volunteer organisations may be of some assistance. With such programmes, you would probably be flown over at the organisation's expense, provided with free accommodation, paid a local salary, and possibly provided with a special allowance on your return home. Usually with such programmes, one is expected to have some relevant professional qualifications and/or work experience - I'm not sure whether ordinary TESL work would qualify.

In some of your other postings you mentioned something about short-term volunteering at orphanages in Vietnam. Go to Dave's China Forums, and do a search for "Rhonda Place", who is one of the more regular posters to those forums. Prior to getting a teaching job in China, Rhonda was in Vietnam, doing volunteer work at orphanages, I believe. For more info re Vietnam, and volunteering in that country, send a PM to Rhonda.

To summarise: Avoid middle men and their excessive "service and registration" charges. Deal with volunteer organisations only if you want to do some long-term volunteering - but make sure that they are genuine and reputable - such organisations will not charge you fees and will probably be able to arrange assignments that contain airfare, accommodation, health care, and living allowance benefits. For short-term volunteering, try dealing directly with the schools or orphanages themselves - or, possibly, with their key support organisations in the West. Rhonda should be able to give you some good advice.

Peter

[megs]

Thanks for the information Peter. I have sent a message to Rhonda and will wait to hear from her.

The Global Volunteer Network was actually one of the least expensive options I found online. Imagine that! I did find it odd that one has to pay to volunteer and am glad that you wrote there are other options available.