Volunteering Abroad for Transition Year.

rorrissey

My friend and I are interested in going abroad next year, to Africa or India preferably, teaching children English. We are only 16 so it's hard to find a volunteer website that brings people our age. We found one called I to I but after reading bad reviews about them we decided not to go with them.

Are there any Irish organizations who would be willing to take us? Like Concern or Trocaire? I can't find any information really so any help would be appreciated. We'd like to start fundraising as soon as possible so we really need to find a group soon.

dory

I can't think of any organization that would take 16 year olds. I-to-i cost about 1500 Euro for a two week stint so for a year it would cost an absolute bomb.

If you're serious about this you'd probably have to go it alone. Find a place that will take you (do a Google search for schools in Africa or India) and fly off, find a place to stay and all that. You could also go to Kolkata in India and work for the Missionaries of Charity. You would want to be very brave 16 year olds to go it alone though.

sarkozy

Yeah, I-to-I is a commercial organisation.

Can't think of any, either, seeing as you're minors. Tócaire, Concern ... not in a million years. Sorry.

Best thing is to wait or convince your school to organise a trip to Africa, maybe with a church and some teachers (yes, yes, the Church). I've known such trips to happen. You'd have to pay, though.

edanto

It's really great that you're interested in this. But your age makes it impractical, for now. If you go alone, you would be taking too large a risk.

I worked for an NGO called Suas for a few years that has a great summer volunteer program, which you could apply for as soon as you are 18. They look for people with experience of working as part of a team, and an interest/experience in education. (and a lot of other things). You could build up those experiences in TY.

Another way you could help schools, in India for example, would be with a little fundraising. If you give it through Suas, 100 per cent fed to the school overseas. From reading your post, I think you would be most interested in Gatoto or Vikramshila, details on suas.ie

Best of luck, and keep focussed on it!

fionabyrne

edanto is right most good volunteer abroad organisations will require you to be 18. Brilliant that you guys are thinking that way already. I volunteered to teach English for a year after I graduated from college, was the best thing I ever did. You could organise something for a charity within your school in the meantime. I know Daisy Days for Aware is coming up, looks like a really good cause!

trace51

Serve organise trips for schools, they are an excellent organisation, its worth asking your school if they would contact them

http://www.serve.ie/immersion-programmes/

It is best to go with an organisation that will provide you with development education and in country support, maybe look up comhlamh for some ideas also. supporting a charity is a really good use of your transition year, best of luck!

ciarao82

Habitat for humanity Ireland take secondary schools on trips to volunteer abroad usually during Easter hols, check out www.habitatireland.ie

contact the girls in the office for more info, details on website.