06: Structured & Self-Funding Volunteer Programmes:Skilled Volunteeringdepartment. It also receives support from
international agencies like the wwf and IwC.
selection & Interview process: send an
application form and short letter about your
motivation, along with description of related
experience or a CV and a recent passport-
sized photo.
In-country support: local staff are available
at all times for support and assistance and in
case of an emergency.
skilled Volunteering
In addition to the organisations listed here,
many of the projects in the Development
(pp157–171)) and Wildlife & Conserva-
tion (p171–182) sections are keen to accept
volunteers with relevant skills, qualifica-
tions or experience and will sometimes
tailor a placement for you.
UK Organisations
2way development
1-4 pope street, london, se 1 3pr, uK,
%+44 (0)20 7193 6167
[email protected]
http://www.2waydevelopment.com
this organisation arranges individual
volunteer placements by matching the skills
of participants with appropriate needs within
grass-roots development organisations in
the developing world. Volunteers assist with
project development, training or research.
past placements have included co-writing
a key publication for a large environmental
charity in India, setting up an accountancy
training programme for ngos in fiji, training
small-business owners in morocco, and
campaigning for changes to human rights
policy in Cambodia.
status: social enterprise.
timing & length of projects: three to 24 months
(six months average), start dates are flexible.
destinations: latin america, africa, the middle
east, asia and the south pacific.
Costs: the fee is £750, including placement
arrangement, accommodation, pre-departure
training and in-country greeting.
eligibility: the minimum age is 21. a degree
and/or two years’ work experience is
preferred. people with disabilities are
welcome to apply.
groups or Individuals: Individuals.
annual no. of Volunteers: up to 300.
annual projects: 150
partner programmes: as placements are most
often for individuals, the organisation has
as many partner programmes as projects.
2way development works closely with these
organisations to ensure that volunteers are
channelled into appropriate areas of need.
selection & Interview process: Interviews are
in person whenever possible; otherwise by
telephone.
In-country support: some projects are located
in countries where a 2way development
representative is based. for all projects, there is
a local organisation which provides professional
and personal support and which has guide-
lines to follow in emergency situations.asian foundation for philanthropy
development house, 56-64 leonard street,
london eC2a 4 lt , uK
%+44 (0)207 065 0791
fax +44 (0)20 7091 9300
[email protected]
http://www.affp.org.uk
helping british-asians to make a difference
through development work in India, afp
places volunteers in both rural villages and
cities as support teachers, research assistants,
It support assistants and so on. projects focus
on education, health, disability and income
generation. afp works with locally run, grass-
roots partners who would otherwise find it
difficult to attract international support.
status: registered charity.
timing & length of projects: placements
are for a minimum of four weeks and start
year-round.
destinations: India.
Costs: there is a £100 deposit. placements
are entirely self-funding.
eligibility: the minimum age is 18 and
applications are welcomed from recent
graduates, students, retired people
and unemployed individuals. an Indian
language is essential and relevant skills and
experience are preferred. Volunteers must
display commitment, a positive attitude,
cultural sensitivity, flexibility and an ability to
communicate effectively.
groups or Individuals: placements are
generally for individuals, however, groups will
be considered. Couples are also accepted.annual no. of Volunteers: 15-20
annual projects: 10
partner programmes: 10
selection & Interview process: after they
submit an application form, applicants are
interviewed in london.
In-country support: a member of staff
is available 24 hours a day in India. the
organisation also provides two-day in-country
support training and follows Vso evacuation
procedures.junior art Club
po box gp 1301 accra, ghana
%+233 2443 7388
[email protected]
http://www.juniorartclub.org
this organisation aims to give disadvantaged
children and youth from ghana’s urban
slums the opportunity to express themselves
creatively. Volunteers help with workshops
to guide kids in various art forms. half of
each placement is also spent collaborating
with local, skilled artists and learning a new
art form, such as carving, drumming, textile
making, basketry or bead design.
status: not-for-profit.
timing & length of projects: placements can
range from one week to a year and are open
year-round.
destinations: ghana.
Costs: the programme fee is £500 for a
month. this includes accommodation, food,
airport pick-up and daily transport to projects.
eligibility: applicants should be aged 18 to- all volunteers are expected to have some
skills in the arts. Core attributes required are
self-motivation, creativity and commitment.
groups or Individuals: both.
annual no. of Volunteers: 10
annual projects: 12
partner programmes: 5
selection & Interview process: application is
via email.
In-country support: Volunteers have 24-hour
support from the local jaC teams.
Karmi farm Clinic
c/o nomad travel store, unit 34, redburn
Industrial estate, woodall rd, enfield,
middlesex en3 4le , uK
%0845 310 4470
fax 0845 310 4475
[email protected]
http://www.karmifarm.com
this small, grass-roots clinic is set up in a
guesthouse near darjeeling, in the foothills
of the himalaya. It offers medical assistance
to local farming families – volunteers will
find themselves dealing with machete cuts,
conjunctivitis, scabies and other day-to-day
injuries or illnesses common to subsistence
farmers living in basic conditions. the clinic
is the first port of call to locals and relies on
volunteers to keep it running.
status: not-for-profit organisation.
timing & length of projects: placements are
from two weeks to two months, year-round.
destinations: India.
Costs: Volunteers pay £50 per week for food
and accommodation.
eligibility: applicants must be medically
qualified to either nurse or doctor level. there
are no other specific restrictions, however,
applicants should be aware that travel to
outreach patients is all by foot in a hilly
environment at 1200 to 1500 metres above
sea level.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers are taken
on individually and work with the local
healthcare worker. the guesthouse where
the volunteer is accommodated offers cheap
rates for board and lodging for the family or
partners of volunteers.
annual no. of Volunteers: 8
annual projects: 1
partner programmes: 0
selection & Interview process: applicants
first send a CV, which is followed up by a
telephone interview. the volunteer is then
interviewed by a previous volunteer over the
phone. It is preferable that there is some
person-to-person contact in london prior to
departure.
In-country support: the clinic is based at a
guesthouse which offers 24-hour in-country
contact.rokpa uK overseas projects
Kagyu samye ling tibetan Centre,
eskdaalemuir, langholm,
dumfriesshire dg13 0Ql, uK
%+44 (0)1387 373232, ext 230
fax +44 (0)1387 373340
[email protected]
http://www.rokpauk.org
working mainly in tibetan and nepalese
communities, rokpa is run almost entirely by
volunteers. Its soup kitchen in Kathmandu