by Country Archives - True Travellers Society

Wahoe Education India – Low Cost Volunteering

May 5, 2013 by Dave Leave a Comment

Hi everyone,

So I have finally snapped and decided to vent my frustration at the growing number of Gap and volunteer abroad agencies charging thousands of dollars for volunteer work.

I myself am a director of a small NGO and really need to find volunteer but it is literally impossible for me to advertise for volunteers and get the help we need because the market is flooded with these volunteer agencies.

So I’m here to bust the scam wide open and give you all an opportunity to find very low cost or free volunteer opportunities abroad, and hopefully find a few volunteers for my own projects in the process.

I know there has been some posts on here before related issues but hopefully I can offer you some alternatives.

THE PROBLEM:

Volunteer middle-man companies (They are sure as hell not NGO’s) profiting from Gap year travelers who are trying to do some good and have a meaningful experience. They are literally charging thousands of dollars for this, and where are the profits going? Into their own pockets with very little of the funds actually going to the grassroots projects themselves.

Essentially you are paying for the ‘Security factor’ . You have never been to say India before and you are nervous about going there, you want your safety to be guaranteed and someone to look after you so nothing goes wrong right? But seriously, should your have to pay $500 to be picked up at the airport? It does not have to be like this.

The other problem is that these company’s are all over Google so when you try and look for or advertise volunteer opportunities abroad, you are confronted by them all and struggle to find any affordable placement.

THE SOLUTION:

Stay away from these company’s and never pay big dollars to volunteer. Obviously this will be difficult for the the naive volunteer who knows not of affordable volunteer placements abroad, this will always keep them in business.

You can find that cheap placement if you look hard enough online. These kind of forums are a good way to find such opportunities. Dig deep and find the local NGO’s themselves and you can find great opportunities.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND CHEAP AND FREE OPPORTUNITIES

Workaway.info, HelpX.net, Idealist.org and volunteersouthamerica.net are the BEST places to find affordable volunteer opportunities online. Very low cost, some are even free. These sights should become known to all so these middle men gap year company’s can no longer exist, making it fair to both travelers and NGO’s.

So now a little plug for our own NGO on here. Our organisation is called ‘Wahoe Education’, we are and education and development organisation operating in the north of India. We have several projects across 4 Indian states which you can volunteer at. We run 2 schools in Delhi, women’s empowerment programs in Jaipur and Delhi, village empowerment programs in Himachal Pradesh and an education project in Nautanwa, on the border of Nepal and India. They are really great projects.

The price of volunteering with us is $7US per day in Delhi, including food and lodging. The price for volunteering in one of our projects outside of Delhi is $10US per day, including food and lodging in a home-stay style environment. There are no hidden fees or registration fees. For more information please visit our website http://www.wahoeeducation.org/ and download our comprehensive volunteer pack. You can also send us a direct email if you are interested at wahoe.education@gmail.com

To save more money (if you are a student travelling with a credit card) check out these great tips from Kanetix.ca.

Filed Under: Children, India Tagged With: cheap travel, low cost volunteering, volunteer abroad, volunteering .

Volunteer Opportunities in Florida

May 3, 2013 by Sean 1 Comment

If you are looking to do some volunteer work, there are plenty of opportunities for you in Florida. Although there are a number of institutions that have volunteer jobs openings, here is a list of my top 5:

1. Camillus House, Miami:
Camillus house is dedicated to the service of the homeless and volunteers enrolled with it assist each other in preparing and serving food. The minimum age of volunteers is 14 years; however children younger than this age may also be allowed to do an activity that befits their age, like helping to prepare food. Children younger than 14 have a Guardian Angels program that involves them in making jelly sandwiches, peanut butter and greeting cards for the clients of the house. It is a wonderful way for the whole family to pay back and do something worthwhile for the less privileged.

2. Florida Hospital for Children, Orlando:
This hospital employs volunteers to provide care to the patients of the underprivileged community. It is recommended to go through the following checklist before going for the volunteer job:

- Do you share their vision of being the global peace setter who delivers faith based healthcare.
- Will you be able to gift as much time to the patients as the hospital demands.
- Can you remain with the mission to extend the services to children and families.

Some of the descriptions of volunteer works are:

- Artists in motion: They are entrusted with providing creative activities to patients at the bedside.
- Snack car attendant: The volunteer delivers free snacks to the patient’s family or visitors in the hospital.
- Events and Holidays assistant: Provides assistance in organizing special activities and events.

There a number of fantastic holiday destinations in the Orlando area that you should visit while there volunteering. Orlando Villas is a great travel resource and can help you plan your vacation.

3. The Mission San Luis, Tallahassee:
From 1656 to 1704, San Luis served as the principal village of the Apalachees and was the Spaniards’ westernmost military, religious, and administrative capital. The Mission allows visitors to experience the largest historic-period Indian building found in the Southeast and greet the friar at the church. The Mission San Luis always has openings for volunteer positions and these are best suited for those who love public interactions. Volunteers can also engage themselves in gardening duties and thus help the San Luis garden remain in full bloom.

4. The Ronald McDonald House Charities, Tallahassee:
This is a wonderful place to be in as a volunteer. These houses, known as “Ronald Mc Donald houses”, are a home away from home for families with children undergoing or requiring serious medical attention for illnesses or injuries. The Ronald McDonald house of Tallahassee is always open for volunteers who can help them with either donation campaigns or with activities such as housework, kitchen work or gardening.

5. SPCA Tampa Bay, Largo:
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or SPCA in Tampa Bay accepts volunteers who are 16 years or older and will be able to spare at least 3 hours per week for the organization. This society has a selection procedure for volunteers in which all teens are required to submit a 500 words essay on their eligibility as SPCA volunteers. This is followed by an interview to decide whether they will be good to serve as volunteers with the society or not. The society carries out services like pet cremation among others. The society aims at being the leader in animal advocacy by preventing cruelty on animals and promoting care and love for them.

These are five of the many volunteer opportunities in Florida. There is no better way to teach community service to your kids than encouraging them to be volunteers with one of these organizations.

Filed Under: Articles, United States

Help stray dogs in Auroville, India

April 30, 2013 by Robin Kohli Leave a Comment

This is a volunteer community project to fix, maintain and improve the “Integrated Animal Care Center, Auroville” so it can continue to care for stray dogs and other animals.

Friends of IACC is a project started by two resident volunteers, to build a volunteer community interested in animal welfare and sustainable living. Our main goal is to maintain and improve the Integrated Animal Care Center in Auroville while following sustainable practices to minimize its impact on the eco-system. Our focus is to provide a healthy & happy environment for our dogs and build a replicable volunteer, adoption, sterlization, education and financially sustainable program.

We are currently taking care of around 22 puppies and 15 adult dogs of all shapes and sizes. We need help with the daily routine, improving the grounds and with adoptions and are looking for resident as well as visiting volunteers.

You can read more about us at http://foiacc.worldlywags.org/

Filed Under: Animals, India Tagged With: animal welfare, auroville, India, stray dogs

Amazing Smile Children’s Centre – Kenya

April 25, 2013 by jared Leave a Comment

Volunteer to make a change Children in Kenya (FEE)

The main objective of Amazing smile children centre (ASCC) is to improve access to basic needs to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children and providing them with functional education, spiritual health, skills and good Medical care in order to harness their potential to live a fulfilling life of dignity and contribute to world economy.

We are seeking forward-thinking, dynamic individuals of all ages/backgrounds to contribute to our orphanage centre Kenya We offer the privilege of education and a home to those who without our organization could not reach it.

‘Volunteers teach English, computer and math classes as well as maintaining relationships with local staff and the local population at our centre. They can also teach art and music and sports if they are best talented. The relationships formed between the children and Volunteers are lasting as they remain in touch for years afterwards.

At the centres, ASCC requires its Volunteers to work at the centre, six day a week.
There is time to sightsee and tour the nation, but work remains an important priority. This is a unique position within ASCC as it allows the volunteer first hand experience in the field, also having time to explore the local area.

We are looking for people who will bring a caring and nurturing attitude with the children. Your time will be divided between the children and your own chance to visit the local tourist attractions. It is very important to adhere to the local cultural codes. Fluency in English, both written and spoken is essential.

Costs:

We are devoted to present a flexible, affordable service experience. There is no application fee, and the weekly fees for individuals are USD $150 and for couples and families only USD $250 to cover the costs for their room and board, both of which are very simple, at the centre. African dishes will also be offered In our centre and if you would to enjoy the food then they will be available for all the time you will be at our centre. Only married couples and immediate family will be allowed to share a room due to strict cultural ethics.

Our Kenya centre offers access to numerous wildlife parks and safaris, and people with rich culture like Maasai and Pokot people. Those who are secure without the comforts of home gain the most from this valuable opportunity.

Please take the time to familiarize yourself further with our organization – www.amazingsmilechildren.kbo.co.ke And to our face book page www.facebook.com/AmazingSmileChildrenCenter
If you have any questions at this time, feel free to e-mail one of our helpful volunteers -
• volunteeersascc@gmail.com

Filed Under: Children, Kenya Tagged With: help, Teach, volunteers, Voluntourist

Teach English in Peru!

April 19, 2013 by Jake Blanco Leave a Comment

The Organization

Horizon Peru is a non-profit organization in Trujillo, Peru. The mission of Horizon Peru is to educate disadvantaged individuals in English and extra-curricular activities such as music, arts, gardening and sports in order to provide the community with equal opportunity and empowerment.
Horizon Peru is based in the community of La Esperanza, just outside the centre of Trujillo. La Esperanza is known as Pueblo Joven in Spanish, which translates into shantytown emphasizing the area as underdeveloped. There are few paved roads and many people live without running water, electricity, or other amenities.

The School

We teach classes out of the Horizon Volunteer House and at the local public school. At Horizon, there are 1-4 students per class and the age of the students range from 6-55 years old. The public school classes average about 30 students per class ages 5-12. Volunteers teach solo at the Horizon Volunteer House and in in pairs at the public school. Volunteers are responsible for up to 5 hours of class instruction each day or approximately 25 hours per week. Classes are 1 hour and working hours are from 8am-7pm. There is no work on the weekend.
There is a curriculum available to guide you through your classes for each level. You will also receive training and observation time when you arrive, before you begin teaching. Previous teaching experience is not required, however, volunteers must be fluent in English. At Horizon, you will have the opportunity to develop your own teaching style and learn by experience how to conduct a class Spanish is not required, but volunteers will have the opportunity to learn the language through interacting with the local community and optional Spanish lessons.

Accommodation

All volunteer stay at the Horizon Volunteer House with fellow volunteers and staff. Staying at the Horizon Volunteer house allows you to build friendships with other volunteers from around the world, form connections with the friendly locals, and improve your Spanish skills. Volunteers stay in shared bedrooms and have access to a shared washroom that has hot water. Other amenities include a kitchen, internet/wifi, and a balcony.

Activities outside Volunteering

Volunteers will have the opportunity to go deeper into the city of Trujillo and explore popular tourist destinations nearby. If you’re interested, we can also arrange for Spanish lessons, dance lessons, Peruvian cooking lessons, and surfing and sand boarding! For all these activities we have agreements with local institutions, which offer discounts just for our volunteers.

Contribution Fee

The contribution fee goes towards accommodation costs, maintaining the house, school supplies, programs and events for the students. Because students do not pay for their classes, this fee is crucial for maintaining our program. A little money from our volunteers goes a long way in La Esperanza.
Please visit our website at www.horizonperu.com to see a complete breakdown on the contribution fees.

Contact Information

Please contact our Director, Brendan Mulcahy, at contact@horizonperu.com if you have any questions. Or check out our website at www.horizonperu.com