This is a great story that was on Aljazeera.

Hello, my name is Mary and I am working on a book project about the experiences of volunteer tourists. I am currently in the process of compiling an editing collection of essay (with a co-author) that shares the stories of volunteer tourists; we are also profiling some of the agencies/organizations that sponsor volunteer tourism groups.

If you have been a volunteer tourist and would like to write about your experience–contribute an essay to our book, please check out our website http://www.transformativetourism.org.

We are interested in collecting as many stories as possible and we would like to have a range of stories that relate the uplifting, challenging and life changing experiences of volunteer tourists.

It is not necessary to have a background in writing to participate in the project–-just a passion for travel and volunteerism.

Please email us if you have any questions or are interested in the project (story@transformativetourism.org).

Happy travels,

Mary

If you are looking at a long term stay in a city and need an affordable accommodation option, maybe a hostel is the option for you. I have twice stayed in hostels for 2-month periods when I was volunteering. One time I was in Argentina and the other time I was in Peru. In both cases I was able to negotiate a deal to get a discount. For me, the option was much better than looking at an apartment for two months and socially there is no comparison.

This is a really great idea. Maybe someone could hook themselves up to work with this organization. http://isanglitrongliwanag.org/

Here is a relatively new organization that looks great. Their ideals seem exactly inline with what many people who find this site are looking for, ie. a great opportunity that is reasonably priced. Check them out:

Teach Huaraz Peru is a small volunteer organization whose goal is to enrich the lives of local Peruvian people as well as international volunteers.

Teach Peru was originally established as a low cost volunteering organization with a fee structure that covered costs while providing opportunities for as many volunteers as possible to be become involved. This ethos is integral to Teach Huaraz Peru as well.

Teach Huaraz Peru specializes in creating tailored volunteering programs for English speakers to suit a wide variety of interests and skills. The tailored programs are arranged and confirmed with the volunteer prior to arriving in Huaraz and involve full support and interaction throughout the process.

Opportunities to truly immerse in the Peruvian lifestyle are available through homestay accommodation, allowing volunteers to share meals and community life with a local Huaraz family while enjoying the sanctuary of a private bedroom and bathroom facilities.

Dedicated Spanish lessons and private tuition may be arranged for all levels, from beginners interested in learning some Spanish to those of intermediate and advanced levels wanting to develop their fluency, grammar and written skills.

There are also a range of cultural activities which may be enjoyed to learn a new skill or further develop an existing talent or interest in a uniquely Peruvian way.

Soft Power Education is working with communities in Uganda to improve quality of life through education. Their funding comes from overland groups, independent travellers and sponsors from around the world. Every single penny donated to Soft Power Education goes towards refurbishing and upgrading the schools involved in the programme; the running costs of the two pre-schools; running the Amagezi Education Centre; continuing the work in Murchison; buying building materials and paying for Ugandan labour and staff.

http://softpowereducation.com

http://pepyride.org/

The following is a great “Voluntourism Self-check Guide” put together by the Pepy crew:

http://www.voluntourism101.com/guide

Camillian Social Center Chiangrai’s (CSCC) is looking for individuals to volunteer at our disadvantaged and special needs children’s (children living with disabilities) home center in Thailand, and to be friends and teachers to our children. By bringing together our children of Thailand and volunteers from across the world, there is a learning opportunity for both. As both sides discover more about each other, we hope to create a world of greater understanding and compassion.

Work

CSCC needs people with all skills. No matter your experience, CSCC needs you. At the centre, volunteers divide their time between playing with and teaching the children and working on our international projects. The centre needs your help in English classes, and the children often seek tutoring for their homework, all tasks which volunteers take part in.

The CSCC volunteer program is an intensive learning experience. It provides you with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with a Catholic, non-profit and in myriad scenes of poverty. All volunteers participate on our international task to help to promote our organization. Once at the center, CSCC requires its volunteers to work eight hours a day on at-center and international tasks, six day a week. There is time to sightsee and tour the nation, but work is always the first priority. CSCC depends on its volunteers to function and to love the children.

Upon the completion of your term of service at the center, you will receive a CSCC Certificate of Graduation from our organization. The certificate will detail your work and experiences while at the center and grade your performance.

Available To Participants: Worldwide
Participants Travel: Independently
Application Requires: Resume, application

Qualifications:

Volunteers with CSCC must speak English fluently and have a great attitude. They must also be mature, responsible, team players and interested in global change through education and service.

Most importantly, our volunteers must have an open heart and a willingness to help others and a passion to make a difference!

Mission Statement:

CSCC focuses on safe staying, educating and feeding children who come from the most marginalized and disadvantaged backgrounds. CSCC seeks to provide a way for children to get an education that they desperately desire and are not able to reach without our organization. By educating and teaching these children that they are significant and competent, we also teach them that everyone has a voice that matters. CSCC promotes self-sufficiency in the communities we work in, primarily focusing on the education, nutrition, and care of children. CSCC encourages understanding and caring between people of all nations and religions in order to better prepare the leaders of future generations.

Cost:

Upon acceptance as a Volunteer, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of USD $85 which will be credited toward your weekly fee upon arrival. Once at the center, volunteers pay only USD $85 per week for the first four weeks, and then USD $65 from the fifth week on. These costs are to cover room and board.

Please visit http://www.camillianchiangrai.org or send us an email at volunteering@camillianchiangrai.org if you want to learn more or have questions about volunteering with CSCC.

Macawproject.org

A brief description of the field work

Volunteers will be expected to have done background reading when they arrive on site. Training information will be sent to successful applicants.

The first 2 weeks are spent learning bird calls, orientating, data entry and monitoring the clay licks. This is fairly easy work, although observers need to be able to visually identify birds. The blinds or beaches from where monitoring is conducted provide a good environment during quiet times to read and study. After early mornings, most monitoring is done alone. Clay lick monitoring is conducted all day (12 hours), divided into 2 or 3 shifts.

The last week of the month is spent looking at trees to see if they have any fruit or flower. We have over 1000 trees marked, so this is a lengthy task. This is normally a team exercise that takes several days to complete.

After the first 2 weeks, training begins on parrot censuses for observers who have shown they can identify basic calls. The aim of this work is to document the relative numbers of parrots of each species in the forest to determine how this changes throughout the year and among different years.

During the wet season (Nov – Mar) volunteers will learn how to climb using single rope techiques using mechanical ascenders. This is done to check the macaw nests in the areas around Tambopata Research Center.

The daily work schedule often starts early with 4 AM trips to monitor the parrots at the clay lick or 5 AM nest climbs or walks to look for foraging parrots. Breakfast is at 7:30 AM followed by more activities from about 9 AM until lunch (about 1:30 PM). Then at about 3 PM you will usually be back out in the forest conducting parrot counts, climbing nests, looking foraging parrots, etc. As a result 10 – 12 hour days are fairly common. On rainy days we rise later and usually spend the day working on data entry, cleaning and gear maintenance in the house.

Facilities – Food and Accommodation

Project members eat with the lodge staff. Breakfast is usually around 7:30 AM. Lunch and the evening meal are generally Peruvian fare – chicken and rice. Lunch is around 13:30, after lodge guests have eaten, and dinner at 19:30. Food is prepared by the staff, although we wash up our own cutlery, and on a rota system help clean the staff dining quarters. Being a vegetarian can be difficult. It is best to remind the lodge manager and cook of any dietary requirements, but special meals are not guaranteed. Tea and coffee is available all day, as is drinking water.

Accommodation is in the researcher area in TRC. These are shared rooms with up to 3 people per room. Rooms walls are made from cane and offer no sound protection, so if you are a light sleeper, ear plugs will be essential. Bathroom facilities are communal, with separate male and female facilities. There is running water, flush toilets and cold water showers.

How to apply

Please send an email to proyectoguacamayo@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with a letter of interest explaining why you are interested in joining the project and your CV with the email addresses for at least 3 references. Please state when you will be available from and how long you can participate for.

Ideally applications should be made 4+ months of intended travel as we need to get volunteers on the research permits. Most of the work we do takes place in the Tambopata National Reserve, and as such activities are monitored by the Peruvian government (SERNANP). We are allowed 4 changes to our research permits per year. Not being on permits means that your access will be limited to Posada Amazonas, the only lodge outside the National Reserve.

The Tambopata Macaw Project is a relatively low budget research program. We recognise that our strength lies in supporting and maintaining long term Peruvian participants, and most funding that we receive goes towards that end. Our priority is quality information, and unfortunately we are not able to cover the expenses of flights or other expenses incurred by volunteers.

Cost – Peruvian volunteers can stay without expenses. For foreigner volunteers staying 2 months or more it costs 15 USD a day. This is a subsidized rate covering food, non-bar beverages, unlimited tea and coffee, accommodation (bedding is provided for and washed by the company), transport to and from the lodges from the town of Puerto Maldonado. This is paid directly to the RFE office in Puerto Maldonado. Payment needs to be made in cash. There is a cash machine in town that accepts foreign VISA cards and a bank where traveller’s cheques can be exchanged for a fee.

Travel – The major cost for most participants is the international air ticket. Unfortunately prices vary from season to season from airline to airline and country to country and we cannot give good advice on who is cheapest. The local airline LAN is associated with the One-world alliance and international bookings can be made to Puerto Maldonado with them or affiliated airlines. Otherwise you will need to get a flight to Lima and then purchase a ticket to Puerto Maldonado (around 140 USD for a one way ticket in 2010 rate). Alternatively, a bus from Lima to Cusco is about 60 Soles for a 22 hour bus ride, and about the same from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado for a trip which can last anything from 24 to 36 hours or longer depending on the state of the unpaved road. The later part of this journey is not recommended during the wet season from November to April.