Job Discussion Forums

[hkgirlo]

I want to spend 6 weeks next summer doing some humanitarian aid work in Africa. After doing some research on organizations through which one can supposedly 'volunteer' , I have run into several that will charge you based upon the length of time you want to 'volunteer'. Hmmm. Is is just me or is this a little backwards. I am willing to give up my time to do some work, but certainly not going to pay someone else to let me work.... am I right out of the loop? Someone please explain this to me! I imagine the money goes to worthy causes, but really isn't volunteering ones time and expertise enough? Can anyone refer me to a good organization that might meet my needs? Thanks!

[grahamb]

Try oneworld.net

[stillnosheep]

Avoid i-to-i.

[tedkarma]

There was a long and very relevant discussion on this issue on the Thorn Tree boards a few weeks back.

The issue is - that it costs money to house and provide for foreigners to come and volunteer.

Unless you have highly needed skills there will inevitably be local people people - who often are unemployed - who could do the work. The housing that you consume - could very likely be useful to local homeless people, and the money the agency uses to provide for you might support many families. Those issues - are just a start.

We faced many of the same problems in Phuket and the tsunami area - when many people wanted to come and volunteer - but also wanted free food and housing. How was that to be provided when so many people were homeless and hungry and made unemployed by the tsunami? Wouldn't it be better to hire the local unemployed and use the funds and housing that we would use for the foreigners to pay and house them?

If you are a physician or nurse - perhaps a different story - or an infrastructure specialist or . . .

[Albulbul]

What can you usefully do in Niger or Burkina Faso for 6 weeks ? What skills do you have that might be useful ?

[roxylifer]

Its really hard to describe the poverty in Kenya, when there is such a huge bourgeoise white community on the coast, and occasionally upcountry.
Please visit www.justfriends.me.uk especially our page on Costs & Fundraising .. if we are able to raise enough funds, we can help towards the costs of flights but at the same time, this is money that could be going to sponsor a child through their entire primary education.
Primary education is funded now through the Kenyan education but if a child is in a wheelchair that the parents can't afford to buy, because it would mean selling the 4 goats they have that provide milk daily .. its tough !!
I've lived in rural China and thought that was a rough life .. but there's new money in China .. internet cafes everywhere .. rural Kenya isn't at that stage yet, they currently have a drought that the expected rains won't end.
Volunteer teachers raise awareness and bring western teachers (white or black) to give the next generation of Kenyans a glimpse of whats possible given a good education.
Yes, volunteers need to pay towards airfare, but please try to fundraise to help, and raise awareness. Join us www.justfriends.me.uk

[newnnadventuress]

I encountered a similar situation when I wanted to give of my skills during 6 months in Brazil and Peru. Only I am a born and bred South African, and realised that I could live at home, save the R8 000 ($1 000) programme fee AND give something back to my own community. As it is, I have just �given back to my community� as a teacher (English) at a local lower-middle class high school and I was quite glad to be paid for this, albeit from my parent�s taxes via the education department! Before you embark on any noble deeds in other places, consider your reasons for �giving� to another community. There may well be a worthy cause around the corner. And although the location may not be as exotic, you will still learn a lot about yourself.

This said, there is much �work� to be done even here in SA. If you are genuine, I would like to invite you to give of your skills and trust that you would be welcomed by whatever community with which you chose to work. It is probably best if you do come on a holiday visa and give of your time, unpaid and voluntarily. Try to integrate yourself into a (suburban) community and find out what opportunities may exist through church, school, community and HIV/AIDS projects. There are so many! One of the advantages here is the lack of beaurocracy. If you want to give of your skills and organise your own music project or extra-curricular literacy programme, and you have �overseas� ideas and funding, most organisations would welcome you. I know of a German physiotherapist, a Brazilian belly-dancer and a Canadian musician who have all helped out at local schools.

My request is that you treat �Africa� as you would home. Respect it. Do not patronise it. Do not allow it to take advantage of you as a �gringo�. Yes, there is much poverty and great natural beauty, but there are everyday people trying to get on with their lives and build a better future for their children. The best way for us to encounter �Northerners� and �First Worlders�, and for you to understand us, is to work and laugh together in our common humanity. These Enlightenment/ ubuntu sentiments aside, don�t forget to buy a R1 000 ($120) giraffe at the Waterfront.

(P.S. I did go enjoy a spectacular time in Brazil and Peru, but not as a volunteer.)

Try google.co.za and search �volunteer�
Look at http://volunteer.co.za/asp/default.asp and the Red Cross Children�s Hospital, Cape Town

[kuberkat]

I was surprised to find that mny charities in SA and other "exotic" developing countries run a kind of five star volunteering safari. Raising funds is good and well, but not all volunteers need silk sheets- and couldnt funds be put to better use than for luxuries?

[nickpellatt]

Reviving an old thread....but I thought I would add my experiences as well.

I have spent 16 weeks with a small CBO in Western Kenya this year, some of which was time I paid a gap year travel company too, the remainder of which I paid the CBO directly to ensure they were not losing out.

Many charities in Africa, and all over the world, are desperate for funding, so short term volunteer placements is essential for their survival due to the money they raise...and this is why they take them, as frankly, short term volunteers can often do more harm than good.

My gap year travel company, who I will not name, do take a dis-proportionate amount of funds, but it would be a very brave person who would arrive in a remote area of Africa and try to volunteer their services, so in part, you pay almost a finders fee to ensure a little safety..in addition, the organisation you work with have, in most cases, a little idea beforehand of the people they accept.

I think that just rolling up to the CBO I worked for and volunteering to help may not be welcomed, simply as they dont know who you are or what you can offer.

As previously stated, what can you offer? in fairness, very few volunteers can offer much, especially short term, as it takes a number of weeks to be aware of local issues, cultural issues and how the charity or program works...

I watched many volunteers make many mistakes, myself included...that can harm the long term goals of any organisation...this is why people like the VSO and peace corp only take long term volunteers, who have to go through a rigourous program of interviews to even qualify for the program.

It tends to be a western idea that we roll up and expect a quick fix...but my CBO, was run for the benefit of African people, and operated by African people...and although this can be frustrating...after a while you can understand....and altho well intentioned, many short term volunteers dont accept this.

In fairness, I think that most short term volunteers can only, visit, watch, observe, and make a few children smile every day...if you can do this you can fly home knowing you have done a good job...

Like everything in life, to make a real difference, requires real commitment...and often long term commitment.

I believe, that very few people, have the skills to make a difference in such a short time period...so thinking what you have to offer in terms of time and so on, is not enough to expect to be taken without offering a financial incentive to ensure the charity can keep on with their good work day in and day out.

If its any help...I can give you a contact for the CBO I was placed with...this would be a cheaper option than using a travel company...but they will ask for money for you to stay with them...this will be the same amount that they would get from the travel company should you book through them....

their site is www.omwabini.org

as stated, if you want a contact their let me know...the site shold give you an idea of what they do and who they are