selection & Interview process: applicants
send in an application form and membership
fee. they are called for an interview, after
which they decide whether to join. they
then pay a placement fee and attend a
london orientation. overseas applicants
are interviewed by phone and orientation
material is posted to them.
In-country support: In India, project visitors
are under the care and supervision of the
society for agro-Industrial education in India,
plus at least one trustee from IVCs.
mondoChallenge
town hall, market place,
newbury rg14 2Qd, uK
%+44 (0)1635 45556
fax +44 (0)1635 45596
[email protected]
http://www.mondochallenge.co.uk
mondoChallenge provides support to schools
families and vulnerable communities in
developing countries. Volunteers can teach
children or adults, work in orphanages, or
on support programmes for hIV-affected
families. Volunteers’ professional skills and
experience are matched to a local partner’s
needs, leading to placements in business,
medicine, sports, It, science or art.
status: limited Company, with a separate
registered charity, futuresense foundation.
timing & length of projects: typically from two
weeks to six months, year-round.
destinations: tanzania, India, sri lanka,
nepal, gambia, senegal, Chile, ecuador and
romania, with new projects in thailand, peru
and south africa being developed.
Costs: fees range from £450 upwards. local
support, food, accommodation and airport
pick ups are included.
eligibility: the minimum age is 18. many
volunteers are career breakers and early
retired.
groups or Individuals: both individuals
and groups, and families and friends are
particularly welcome.
annual no. of Volunteers: 200
annual projects: 50
partner programmes: 100
selection & Interview process: application
form, interview (by phone or in person) and
references are required
In-country support: In-country managers and
deputies provide support (24 hours in most
locations). local partners manage health and
safety issues.personal overseas development
formal house, 60 st george’s place,
Cheltenham, gl50 3pn uK
%+44 (0)1242 250901
[email protected]
http://www.thepodsite.co.uk
pod is a leading not-for-profit organisation
which has been sending volunteers abroad
for the last nine years. It provides worthwhile
placements that allow volunteers to make
a difference overseas, while experiencing
incredible parts of the world that are rich
in culture, variety and natural beauty. Its
placements range from marine conservation
projects in belize to teaching street children
english in Vietnam and building in tanzania.
It has an array of opportunities throughout
south america, Central america, africa and
asia.
status: not-for-profit limited company.
timing & length of projects: projects run
year-round, some with fixed departure
dates. placements are from one week to six
months.
destinations: peru, thailand, tanzania, nepal,
belize, Cambodia, Indonesia, south africa
and Vietnam.
Costs: prices start at £375. an example
project of three months in nepal would
cost £1045 – this includes training, support
and accommodation. Cost depends on the
location and duration of the project. for some
projects the cost also includes food and local
activities.
eligibility: the minimum age is 18. Volunteers
must be energetic and in good health and
have enthusiasm and a willingness to get
involved. applications from those with
disabilities are welcome and considered on a
case-by-case basis.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers work in a
group of two to 10. Volunteers can apply as
friends, partners or families, with a discount
per person for joint applications. In some
locations it is possible to travel and live
together but work on different projects.
annual no. of Volunteers: 300-400
annual projects: 28
partner programmes: 21
selection & Interview process: application
form followed by a interview. a Criminalrecords bureau check (or equivalent) may be
required.
In-country support: In-country support staff
are available 24 hours a day and live on-site
or nearby the project. each project also has
a risk-management and crisis-management
plan.Education & Training
ecologia Youth trust
66 the park, forres, moray IV36 3td, uK
%/fax +44 (0)1309 690995
[email protected]
http://www.ecologia.org.uk
ecologia Youth trust is a small charity through
which volunteers can help support Kitezh, a
self-contained rural russian community that is
home to orphaned and abandoned children.
the project is very community oriented and
in addition to teaching english volunteers can
help out with all aspects of the programme,
from childcare to construction. a second sister
community, orion, also accepts volunteers.
the two communities are closely linked and
there is a regular flow of adults and children
between them.
status: registered charity.
timing & length of projects: placements are
for two to three months and start every three
months throughout the year.
destinations: russia.
Costs: placements cost £1320 for two months,
including the necessary visa support, in-
country transport and all accommodation
and food. the fee for three months is £1450.
airfares, visa and insurance extra.
eligibility: the minimum age is 18, and while
no particular skills are required, volunteers
need to feel able to teach english. It is useful
if you have some basic russian. other useful
skills include being able to teach music or It.
groups or Individuals: there is a maximum of
six volunteers at any one time.
annual no. of Volunteers: 24
annual projects: 4
partner programmes: ecologia also runs a
volunteering programme in georgia.
selection & Interview process: applicants
complete an introductory questionnaire,
which is put before the russian community
for their approval. they then have an informal
telephone interview and are sent a booking
form.In-country support: participants live within
the community with 24-hour support from
a resident volunteers coordinator, who also
provides guidance for english teaching.
ecologia is available at all times by phone
and email.
Karen hilltribes trust
midgley house, heslington, York Yo10 5dx, uK
%+44 (0)1904 411891
fax +44 (0)1904 430580
[email protected]
http://www.karenhilltribes.org.uk
Karen hilltribes trust works with the hilltribes
in northwest thailand to help them develop
their own social, educational and economic
infrastructure. Volunteers are sent to remote
villages to teach in primary and secondary
schools, and also have the opportunity of
spending three weeks helping to install a
clean water system. Volunteers live with local
families and are completely immersed in the
local culture.
status: registered charity and limited
company.
timing & length of projects: placements are
from six to nine months, beginning mainly in
october and sometimes january. eight-week
volunteering placements are available in july
and august.
destinations: thailand.
Costs: a six-month placement is £1750,
including accommodation and food.
eligibility: the minimum age is 18, and
teaching experience or previous work with
children is desirable but not essential. people
with physical disabilities can apply, however,
the mountainous, remote location means
placement is not always possible. Volunteers
need to be motivated, self-disciplined and
flexible.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers are
generally placed in pairs. unmarried couples
cannot be placed together.
annual no. of Volunteers: 50
annual projects: 1
partner programmes: 1
selection & Interview process: application
form and then a personal interview in York.
In-country support: a Karen manager and
english member of staff are based in the area
and can be contacted at all times. Volunteers
are always placed within easy access of a
hospital.06: Structured & Self-Funding Volunteer Programmes:Development Placements