Children 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 .

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

Komboa Vulnerable Groups Association – Tanzania

April 3, 2013 by GHYNWINE RANDO Leave a Comment

Komboa Vulnerable Groups Association located in Iringa Town Tanzania, is looking for volunteers around the world to support in the programs of providing education,training and counseling to vulnerable groups (Youth and Children) in Iringa rural areas. The organization works with primary schools, secondary, and other institutions found in rural communities. For more information visit www.komboairinga.org

Filed Under: Children, Tanzania

Children Reach Out Program Uganda

March 27, 2013 by children reachout uganda 1 Comment

Children Reach out Program Uganda, is an organization founded in 2008 focused on empowering vulnerable children living in slum communities. We provide educational life skills, educational support, health and wellness campaigns, sports activities, and children’s rights sensitization all free of charge. In 2011, we reached out to over 2350 children around Kampala-Uganda.

With different programs for children, we aim to inspire and empower breakthrough in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives by improving their health, education, life skills and economic opportunities.

Our goal this year is to reach out to more than 2500 children annually. In order to achieve this, we are actively looking for talented, motivated individuals to join us in making a difference in the lives of Ugandan children.

Existing Projects

The existing projects are running under our 9 major programs as indicated below.
1. Life Skills Project
a) Behaviour change communication
b) Empowerment
2. Health and wellness project
a) HIV/AIDS awareness
b) Anti-Malaria campaign
c) Basic health education
d) Child therapy and counselling
e) Hygiene & sanitation
f) Stop drug abuse
3. Education support Project
a) Homework assistance and tutoring
b) Basic education
c) Free educational tours
d) Physical Education
e) Promotion of reading culture
f) Early childhood learning -developing
4. Sports Project
a) Football
b) Volleyball
c) Frisbee
5. Children’s rights Sensitization Project
a) Girl child support and empowerment
b) Child rights and protection advocacy
c) Stop child labour
d) Stop child sacrifice
6. Primary schools outreach project
7. a) sensitize children of about the benefits of education, to keep them in school through different children activities
8. Hospital visitations project
a) Free counselling to children and parents
b) Small gifts to sick children
c) Something to eat for children who are dumped in hospital
9. Babies home outreach project
a) Volunteer in doing casual work around the home
b) Teach babies how to talk ,walk ,make funny things

Volunteer Opportunities
You can visit Uganda and experience our work first hand. Visitors to Uganda are welcome and appreciated, you can also get involved in different activities in case your interested like teaching children, photographer among others, so each individual, church groups, families or organizations are all welcome.

If you would simply like to talk with us or receive more information, please contact us at childrenreachout@yahoo.com.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/childrenreach.outuganda?fref=ts
www.childrenreachout.blogspot.com

Filed Under: Children, Uganda Tagged With: any

Free Volunteering in Cusco

March 25, 2013 by Nick Dahlhoff 2 Comments

The school of Aldea Yanapay is one of those rare exceptions where words like love and peace are lived out every day. Aldea Yanapay offers free volunteering in Cusco and works to alleviate the social injustices faced by the children of Cusco. The school provides a haven of love, creativity, and learning for the youth of the city.

Students come to our after-school program from various public and private schools. In the Aldea they complete their homework, use the library and its materials, and also receive an arts-based education (theatre, music, painting, etc.) and other courses which are important in everyday life: world cultures and religions, ecology, sexual education, reading. The school is open to all forms of cultural expression, such as meditation, massage, capoeira, circus, etc. As a result, people come from all over the world, everyone with something to give.

One of our goals is self sufficiency and for that reason we founded the Cafe Restaurant Yanapay. This is a place with international food, art, couches, and occasional theatre or live music. All of the money from the restaurant goes to sustain our social projects.

We also operate a hostal (Hostal Magico) in Cusco, in which all profits fund our social projects.

Unlike many other volunteer projects, there is NO FEE to volunteer with Aldea Yanapay. We greet volunteers for any amount of time- a day or a year. If you have a skill to share or a class to teach, or you want to stay for a long time and help with future projects, please join us.