While a degree of isolation may sound adventurous and exciting, Ben Donaldson, who
volunteered in Thailand, paints a rather different picture:
An emergency arose involving my mother back in England having a terrible stroke. Due
to the remoteness of my village and my not teaching for a few days, there was no easy way
of contacting me, so it was five days before I heard. It hit me very badly – she had been in
intensive care almost a week before I spoke to my father.
Even if there is access to telecommunication networks, volunteers are often left largely to
their own devices in an emergency. When volunteering in Africa, Michele Moody did not
find a telephone a very comforting replacement for personal, in-country support:
We had a satellite phone that we could use in case of emergency, but I feel that as we were
in such an isolated area, it would have been difficult to get help to us quickly. I would have
been much happier if we had an experienced member of the organisation working with us
at the project.
But don’t let such stories put you off. Most organisations do take all possible precautions,
ensuring there is first aid available on site, and that volunteers are placed within a reason-
able distance from a hospital and given a 24-hour contact number for emergencies. Most
volunteers are placed in pairs as well, and working and/or living with another volunteer of-
fers a huge amount of support. Horror stories are extremely rare, but you should still make
sure the programme offers a level of support you feel comfortable with. Once you’re in the
field, take note of any limitations in the in-country support available and be sure to have a
plan of action in case any emergencies arise.
Nayna Wood describes the in-country support available to her while volunteering
in India:
Two volunteer coordinators provide support to volunteers if needed. I found that they were
very useful, but felt that they were not equipped to deal with a couple of situations of a more
serious nature that arose. Ultimately, we dealt with these situations on our own, as if we were
independent travellers. Perhaps a more tailored package would place a greater emphasis on
the duty of care. I think that as long as volunteers are aware that they are ultimately inde-
pendent travellers with additional support, then they should be fine.
development
placements
The kinds of projects working in develop-
ment are as diverse as they are numerous.
Work in tsunami-affected regions of
Thailand; erect community buildings in
Cameroon; or teach in aboriginal communi-
ties in Canada’s arctic north. The possi-
bilities for development volunteering are
almost inexhaustible and the destinations
span the globe. This section lists some of the
most worthwhile, stimulating and exciting
projects in this field. It’s divided into sec-
tions according to the type of work involved.Overseas Organisations
Community Development
association Iko poran
rua do oriente, 280/ 201,
rio de janeiro, rj , brazil
%+55 3852 2916
fax +55 3852 2917
[email protected]
http://www.ikoporan.org
Iko poran works with local ngos to tackle
specific challenges identified by brazilian
community councils. placements are incredibly
diverse and developed according to volunteers’
abilities and interests, but one of the main
objectives is the exchange of experiences. past
volunteers have taught dance, music and circus
skills; worked in health, translation, fundraising,
business development and website
development; and trained locals in film-making
and photography. the organisation acts as a
facilitator in the placement but stresses that
volunteers must take an active role in planning
their involvement.
status: not-for-profit organisation.
timing & length of projects: three to 24
weeks. Volunteers can join projects on the
second or fourth friday of every month.
destinations: brazil.
Costs: the programme fee is about us$1100
for up to four weeks and about us$95 per
additional week, including a 20-hour intensive
portuguese course, airport pick-up, orientation
and four weeks’ lodging. approximately half of
the fee is donated to the partner organisation
with which the volunteer is working.
eligibility: the minimum age is 18 but no
specific skills or experience are required. It’srecommended that volunteers have basic
portuguese or spanish. those with physical
disabilities are welcome to apply, but all
accommodation has stairs.
groups or Individuals: You can apply in a
group of six to 30 or individually. Volunteers
share accommodation in designated houses.
annual no. of Volunteers: 500
annual projects: 40
partner programmes: 40
selection & Interview process: online
application and email discussion to agree
upon an individualised placement.
In-country support: Volunteer accommodation
is situated near the organisation’s office, with
assistance available at all times.Children walking tall
the mango house, h.no. 148/3, Karaswada,
mapusa, bardez, goa, India
%+91 9822 124 802
[email protected]
http://www.Childrenwalkingtall.com
this charity aims to help children living on
the streets and in slums in goa. It provides
outreach work, assists children to gain
access to the registered school system and
provides healthcare for up to 150 children.
It has also recently established the mango
house, a base for children to receive healthy
food, a safe and dry place to rest and a
chance to join in creative, educational play.
Volunteers help with all aspects of the project,
including sorting and distributing clothes and
maintaining the house and garden.
status: registered uK charity; registered trust
in India.
timing & length of projects: a minimum of
three months; projects start year-round.
destinations: India.
Costs: a £50 deposit is required and
refunded on request after completing the
minimum three-month duration. Volunteers
are expected to be completely self-funding,
including travel and accommodation.
eligibility: the minimum age is 18 and
volunteers need to be fit and healthy. a clear,
recent police check from the applicant’s
country of origin is required.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers can apply
either individually or as a group. all volunteers
work as a team on site.
annual no. of Volunteers: 40-100.
annual projects: 106: Structured & Self-Funding Volunteer Programmes:Development PlacementsEarthwatch volunteers helping preserve the precious coastal ecology of the BahamasPhoto: Dale Curtis/Earthwatch