Volunteering Abroad Summer 2012

Frankiestein

Want to volunteer abroad next summer. Not sure which organisation to travel with. Have researched a few who go to different parts of Africa. They all sound good but it would be great to hear from people who have been through the experience and could recommend a good organisation to travel with. It would be preferable to be in an area where you could meet up with the other volunteers in the evening or every few days. Thanks

squigg

I haven't personally volunteered with these organisations but have met people working with them and they seemed happy with them.
ichange.ch came highly recommended from the volunteers that worked in Zambia I met. They did not have to pay the organisation to volunteer but did have to pay for their travel, accommodation and food.
fomoe.org Friends of Mangochi Orphans Education in Malawi. I visited this school and has very impressed with them.
aidcamps.org work with organisations in various countries and either individual or group projects. I met 2 of their long time co-ordinators on my travels, the organisation seems to be well run with alot of aid and assistance going to the ground level.
Please be careful about the organisation that you use as there are some that require a large donation up front and that money does not get filtered down. Best of luck

Frankiestein

Thanks Squigg,
Thats useful information - yeah the quesion of where the money goes is the big one!
Thanks again - will check out those sites

dory

The money generally goes to the company if you go with a travel company (USIT etc.) or to the running of the charity if you go with a charity (SUAS, Camara).
You're too late to apply for some programs - I think Camara are still recruiting. You'll have about €3000 to fundraise. I blogged about some routes here.

taylormoon

Frankiestein wrote: »

Want to volunteer abroad next summer. Not sure which organisation to travel with. Have researched a few who go to different parts of Africa. They all sound good but it would be great to hear from people who have been through the experience and could recommend a good organisation to travel with. It would be preferable to be in an area where you could meet up with the other volunteers in the evening or every few days. Thanks

I would reccomend...BOP...www.bop.ie
I volunteered with them before in Belarus and will again this summer
Completely voluntary charity.
AMAZING experience.

Frankiestein

Thanks guys!
Your information really helps!

Broads.ie

Why not remove the middle man and go direct to the country and look for orphanages etc. to volunteer in?

For example I know a few people who volunteered with this orphanage http://www.breedingopportunities.org/seiten/volunteering.html while staying in the tourist hostel nearby. So you can do your daily volunteering and also meet travellers in the evenings when you go back to the tourist hostel called Kampala Backpackers. I stayed in that hostel for over a month, twas great craic, and Uganda is a very safe country for independent travelers.

Don't pay thousands to the "non profit" companies in Ireland... just go direct and help out yourself.

Something like this:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1837776

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2134229

jconway

I have been volunteering with Outreach Moldova the past 3 years & love it!! I will heading back again this summer and cant wait!! Super Experience

Check out the website:

http://www.outreachmoldova.org/

Best of Luck

J

jobless

my brother volunteered with these... he loved it

http://www.childrenssurehouse.com/aboutchildrensure.htm

GMROCKS

anyone know where i could go for any kind of manual work,bricklayer by trade but any work would suit and not some of these charitys where ya need 3-5k.

dory

GMROCKS wrote: »

anyone know where i could go for any kind of manual work,bricklayer by trade but any work would suit and not some of these charitys where ya need 3-5k.

If you want a gang who need your skills and not your money then you'll have to get skills that local people don't have. Most of these 'build houses for a week' type things happen in places where they have bazillions of local people who could do the work, but the foreigners bring the cash for the supplies.

You could email a few organizations based in the countries themselves (as opposed to ones based in Ireland). They may need an extra pair of hands.

GMROCKS

dory wrote: »

If you want a gang who need your skills and not your money then you'll have to get skills that local people don't have. Most of these 'build houses for a week' type things happen in places where they have bazillions of local people who could do the work, but the foreigners bring the cash for the supplies.

You could email a few organizations based in the countries themselves (as opposed to ones based in Ireland). They may need an extra pair of hands.

will do tks, any ideas?????

dory

I'd say just Google. Look up orphanage Kenya or where ever you want to go. You should just email them all and say you want to help out. You'll still be paying flights, vaccinations, room and board and all that which won't be too much less that what a charity would ask you to fundraise.

sarkozy

OP: You're best off visiting www.volunteeringoptions.org and contacting Comhlámh (www.comhlamh.org). It's the Irish Association of Development Workers and will point you in the right direction if you want to volunteer overseas.

Volunteering is complex and comes with responsibility. It's important that the organisation you go with does things according to certain standards which Comhlámh has established; this is to make sure you get the best experience and can contribute your abilities and the host community also benefits from your contribution and are treated well by the organisation you go with.

I worked in Comhlámh, and worked in Lesotho in '09-11 so am happy to answer some questions, but Comhlámh is the best place to get advice on your search.

sparkulicous

GMROCKS wrote: »

anyone know where i could go for any kind of manual work,bricklayer by trade but any work would suit and not some of these charitys where ya need 3-5k.

I spent two and a half months with these guys in peru doing reconstruction work. www.piscosinfronteras.org .They work with the local community in all projects so it's not just building houses while the locals look on. They could use guys with building experience.
You'll have to pay for you travel out there and a small contribution towards bed and board. PM me if you want any more info.

MangoLime

I volunteered in South Africa for 2 weeks last summer with VESA (Volunteer Eco Students Abroad).

www.vesabroad.com

I had a great time with them as you got to help out the community and do some sightseeing and touring at the same time!

jaynefair

I am looking to volunteer abroad with animals for 2 weeks this Summer. Can anyone recommend a good organisation to volunteer with. Ideally somewhere where you can get a genuine hands on experience.

dory

jaynefair wrote: »

I am looking to volunteer abroad with animals for 2 weeks this Summer. Can anyone recommend a good organisation to volunteer with. Ideally somewhere where you can get a genuine hands on experience.

The best place for animals is Inti Wara Yassi in Bolivia. It's a long way to go for 2 weeks but there aren't many options that don't charge an arm and a leg.

jaynefair

Have you volunteered there yourself , if so what was it like? It's pretty difficult to get there alright but they charge very little as a donation, most of the other organisations charge anything up to over a thousand two weeks.