Painted Lines
partner programmes: earthwatch works
with a large number of individuals, ngos,
government organisations and universities
worldwide.
selection & Interview process: a telephone
discussion is held with each participant
to ensure an appropriate match between
volunteers and projects.
In-country support: Volunteers are supported
by the earthwatch research team throughout
the project. a risk assessment is carried out
for each project and volunteers are given a
24-hour emergency telephone number.
greenpeace
greenpeace International, ottho
heldringstraat 5, amsterdam 1066 aZ,
the netherlands
%+31 2071 82000
[email protected]
http://www.greenpeace.org
started as a small, campaigning organisation
in Vancouver, greenpeace is now an
international organisation with offices
around the globe. Its mission has remained
unchanged: to use non-violent, creative
confrontation to expose global environmental
problems and force solutions. all offices offer
plenty of volunteering opportunities, from
stuffing envelopes to public outreach, and
from lobbying to amazon survival training.
many offices also offer intern positions to
applicants with appropriate skills. Contact the
international office for current openings or get
in touch with your local office.
status: Varies between countries.
timing & length of projects: there are various
opportunities within each country, including
short- and long-term placements.
destinations: worldwide, including aboard
greenpeace’s ships.
Costs: Varies with placements and between
countries.
eligibility: depending on the project,
volunteers can be unskilled or may need
specific training and expertise. a commitment
to the aims of greenpeace is essential.
groups or Individuals: Varies.
annual no. of Volunteers: all greenpeace
offices accept volunteers, with numbers
depending on their current projects and
needs.
annual projects: each national office
undertakes numerous projects.
partner programmes: greenpeace works
with various grass-roots ngos around the
world but does not place volunteers through
them.
selection & Interview process: the selection
process varies between countries and
depends on what the placement entails.
In-country support: this also varies between
countries and on the types of placements
concerned.willing workers on organic farms
(wwoof)
po box 2154, winslow,
buckingham, mK18 3ws, uK
http://www.wwoof.org
well respected and long standing, wwoof
organisations compile lists of organic farms
that host volunteers. placements usually
involve helping out with the farm work but can
also include working in an outdoor centre. In
winter, volunteers can prepare garden beds
and orchards, help with composting, planting
fallow crops or maintenance. the programme
largely appeals to ‘townies’ looking for a rural
experience and those interested in organic
practices.
status: Varies between countries, but most
often not-for-profit.
timing & length of projects: each placement
is unique and the duration and timing
depends on the needs of the host.
placements are year-round, although there
is less work in winter months. Volunteers
generally work four to six hours per day, six
days a week.
destinations: wwoof has organisations in 24
countries, including ghana, sweden, mexico,
Italy and Korea. they also have independent
hosts in around 50 more countries.
Costs: most wwoof organisations charge a
membership fee of about £15, which gives
you access to a host list and a membership
card. other than that, volunteers are entirely
self-funding, although room and board are
generally provided for free by the host.
eligibility: an interest in conservation,
community development or environmental
teaching.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers must be
over 18 years old.
annual no. of Volunteers: as they only provide
lists of hosts, wwoof does not record this
number.Peggy Melmoth spent three weeks in Amarpurkashi in northern India, volunteering with Indian
Volunteers for Community Service (IVCS, p167). She lived within the school compound, where she
wielded a paintbrush to create two colourful murals in the primary school that could be used for
ballgames by the kids. She also helped out with English-language conversation classes in the de-
gree college and managed to squeeze in daily yoga and Hindi classes as well. Before she left India,
Peggy captured her experience in the following poem:A Day at APK
Cold sunrise, yoga, shawls,
Mandala classroom walls,
Breathing, concentration,
Pranayama, meditation,
Nibu garum pani hai?
Semolina, sunny day,
Mud-brick oven heating water,
Must remember wear dupatta.
Bucket washing clothes and wring
It out and tie with string
To stop the monkeys stealing them.
Say Namaste to Ian again.
Assembled children, sing and pray,
School bell starts the teaching day.
Greeting children, meeting teachers,
Learning Hindi words for creatures.
English teacher going to Delhi
For a marriage celebration.
Would we teach the next three days
Of his English conversation?
Lalaji makes lunch for all,
Soneil serves it with a smile.
Sono brings the spicy veg,
Mohit brings chapatti bread.
After lunch in yard below,
School boys counting ek and do,Exercise and stand in lines,
Repeat the routine several times.
Hindi lesson starts at four,
Mukesh will teach the PVs more.
Your father’s name, name of your brother?
After forty-two thalis I can’t eat another!
At the dance competition we are
‘visiting celebrities’,
At the yoga competition we are
‘foreign dignitaries’,
And introduced to the crowd as ‘distinguished
personalities’.
Off to Bareilly to visit some galleries,
Graduate artists give a guided tour,
We join them for a picnic on the gallery floor.
We march with two thousand students to the
paper mill and back again
To raise awareness for the Eradicate
Polio Campaign.
Four men on an elephant just passing through
Need a place for the night, the schoolyard
will do.
Discussion at six with Babuji,
Development and poverty.
But what did we learn at APK?
hum India ko piyar kurte hai!
(We love India.)
Peggy Melmoth06: Structured & Self-Funding Volunteer Programmes:Painted Linescontinued on p174Photo: Rebecca MillsPhoto: Rebecca Mills