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What to do if you are arrested while volunteering abroad

May 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

“You can be arrested and not charged. You can be arrested and have no right to counsel.”-
Harry Belafonte. When volunteering abroad, your biggest hope is that nothing goes wrong during your experience while in a foreign country, but as fate would have it things can often go wrong, and most likely when you least expect it. It will help you a lot if you are prepared for some likely unfortunate circumstances that you may find yourself in. Here are some guidelines in case you get arrested.

A volunteer can get arrested for a number of reasons, ranging in seriousness; one can be arrested for something as simple as a traffic offence, or something more serious like drug possession. Whatever the reason for your arrest, it helps for volunteers to try and not get arrested for blatantly breaking the law of the country you are in. While you are abroad you are subject to the laws of the country you are in, and therefore you have to obey them to the best of your ability.

There are some instances where as a volunteer you could be committing a crime and you don’t know you are breaking the law. In such cases you can’t tell the police officers that you didn’t know you are committing a crime, as ignorance of the law is not a defense. For example chewing of gum in Malaysia is a crime and the punishment is a few days in prison or a hefty fine. To avoid this from happening it is advisable to be properly oriented about the rules and regulations of a certain place. If you are not sure of the rules ask for some help from the locals who will guide you.

If you are in a country and you don’t speak the native tongue it will be hard for you to explain yourself. When you commit a crime, the police will arrest you despite of the fact that you are a foreigner and they won’t extend you the courtesy to try and speak to you in a language in which you understand. As most of the police officers won’t be able to communicate with you effectively and hence defending yourself could be an issue. In such extreme cases ask for permission to call one of the local people who is your friend and who would help with the translation.

If arrested, first thing you should do is contact your embassy or high commission office. Officers from your embassy will help get in touch with your emergency contacts, and in some instances help you get a local lawyer who understands and speaks your language. This is one of your rights, so do not be afraid to ask for legal representation. Always try and be polite and not lose your cool while dealing with the local or arresting officers, especially if you have been arrested for a minor offence, this can help you come to a speedier and simpler resolution and release, also ask if you can be released on bond while the issue is being resolved.

If arrested abroad, ensure that proper documentation is provided for all the belongings that were in your possession when arrested, make sure nothing incriminating has been added to the list of your belongings, also ensure that you thoroughly check your personal effects when released to make sure that nothing is missing.

One more thing to look out for if arrested while volunteering abroad is to make sure you do not put your signature on anything that you have not thoroughly read, and if possible gotten some legal advice on, you do not need to make things any more worse for yourself

For more free information and low cost volunteer in Africa programs visit http://www.volunteercapitalcentre.org/ghana.aspx

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Marketing volunteer needed for CBO based in Thailand

August 13, 2011 by 4 Comments

We are a grassroots CBO based on the Thai-Burma border working to bring peace and democratic change to Burma.

We are currently looking for a volunteer with a strong marketing/communications background to join our team for a minimum of 3 months, ideally 6. The position will be based in Mae Sot with some travel to the Bangkok office required.

Job description

Devise and implement with the management team, a communications plan for 2012 with the following objectives:
- Raise awareness of the work the organisation does
- Increase the number of subscribers to our newsletter
- Increase traffic to our website

Develop an advocacy strategy for the organisation as a whole but with a focus on Human rights and the impact of development projects on marginalised ethnic communities within Burma.

Work closely with the fundraiser to complete funding applications to funding bodies

Research and locate appropriate funding bodies for further funding applications

The successful volunteer will have a marketing/business background with experience of online communication and preferably knowledge of website maintenance and database management. Experience of fundraising would be advantageous but not essential.

The position is an ideal opportunity for somebody wishing to gain valuable experience in the fields of grassroots politcal change and human rights.

The position is not paid but food and accommodation (basic) can be provided.

Filed Under: Asia, Community Development, Policy, Thailand, Volunteer Tagged With: , ,

Educational Support / Income Generation at a local level – Andean Alliance – Peru

July 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Andean Alliance is a Peruvian registerd Civil Assocation  (Grassroots Organization ) that works in the Northern Andes, Huaraz area in a small rural area at 3650 mtrs. We work with Early Childhood Education , literacy and comprehension skill building in addition to the development of a local community center that will house not only the edcational rooms but areas for local guides,donkey drivers etc. to sell their services directly to tourists, a small cafe concept for women to sell to tourists in addition to handicrafts. We have been in this area since 2003 with Andean Alliance  actively working since 2005. Our goals are based in education, income generation at a local level, building bridges of communication and confidence between surrounding comunities and by actually living here it allows us to be part of the comunity. The area is home to low income rural farmers ad borders on the Huascaran National Park.

Filed Under: Children, Community Development, Environment, Peru, Sports, Teach English, Volunteer Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Impact of volunteering abroad on the community

April 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

“I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.” ~William Shakespeare. When you are volunteering abroad, you do so for several reasons, some may be personal, while some may be career oriented. However a volunteer usually has an immense impact on the local community you are working in. The impact may vary in different places, depending on the local’s attitude towards what you are doing for the community, in most cases it is a positive impact, but in some rare cases it can be negative. Here is a brief overview on some impact that your work abroad may have on the locals.

Some people volunteer in programmes meant to build infrastructure in less fortunate places like third world countries. This infrastructure may include schools, hospitals, roadwork among other buildings. In such a case then you will have a positive impact where you get to leave the locals with a form of empowerment, where they can help themselves in the future, for instance if you help build a school then you will help create generations of educated youth, who can help their community in the future, and in turn build more infrastructure in the area.

One can have some social impact on the community, you can help the locals get to understand your culture better while at the same time help them understand yours. The social impact however may turn out as a negative, in some cases your culture may clash so much with the local culture to the extent where whatever you may achieve during your volunteer period, may not have the desired impact. The same may apply for the spiritual impact that you may have on the community. If you are volunteering in a missionary capacity, you may run into a situation where your work is not appreciated, for instance if you are a woman volunteering with a community that does not allow women to do the work of a preacher or spiritual leader. So remember to do your research well before volunteering abroad, so that your work can have the desired effect.

On another level, your volunteer work can have an economic impact on the community. As before where you may have helped to put up some infrastructure for the local community, then they may use this to help them make some money, good infrastructure creates jobs for the local community, and also generates new business into the area, all leading to some economic good fortune for the locals, as they say, teach a man how to fish, and he will be able to fend for himself.

One of the impacts a foreign volunteer can have on then locals is an inspirational or motivational impact. If you have the kind of impact where you inspire one person to begin their own programme to help himself/ herself and also give back to their community. When one has such an impact on someone else then it helps the volunteer cause because once one person is inspired to give back then soon enough more people will get inspired and more good will be done in the community.

For more free information and low cost volunteer in Asia programs visit http://www.volunteercapitalcentre.org/india.aspx

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5 things to know before hosting an international volunteer

April 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

“Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” – Robert Frost quotes. There are many people out there who love meeting new friends and making connections. They don’t get satisfied with meeting only people of their area and sometimes they choose to broaden their horizons by making international friends. Becoming a host of a home stay is a one of the ways for him/her to meet people from different cultures. A home stay is a form of tourism or study abroad program whereby the host offers a bedroom(s) to foreigners who want to learn the local culture and languages. Most hosts are paid directly or indirectly by the international volunteer. Although in others, the host offers their home for free. There is a slim profit margin to be made in hosting a volunteer as such many hosts due it not to make money but to expose themselves to new cultures. The main benefits of hosting international volunteers or students are: meeting new people; experiencing and exchanging cultures; broadening world views; long term friendships and tax cuts (in the USA). Before hosting a volunteer here are a couple of things the hosts should consider:

 

 

Room

 

Most international students and volunteers expect to get a bed, table light and an electric terminal. During the winter and summer season, the volunteer will expect air conditions and room heaters. Some volunteers do not mind sharing a room with another person. The number of volunteers should be two per room. If the room is large enough to accommodate more without interfering the comfort of the volunteers, then more could share it. Some hosts go the extra mile to provide free internet, a small fridge and a television. Other amenities that could be thrown in are mosquito nets, beddings and laundry services.

 

 

Meals

 

Some hosts get intimidated by hosting foreigners and they try to make food that the international volunteers are used to. The host should cook food that they normally eat with or without the volunteer. They could make the effort of going the extra mile of cooking local delicacies that are only found in that area. However, the dietary requirements of the volunteers should be considered. There are volunteers who are vegetarians, vegans and some who don’t eat certain kinds of foods (Muslims avoid pork). They would eat the food so as not to offend the host but they will not be comfortable. From the first day, the volunteers should be made aware of what times to expect meals.

 

 

Safety

 

Safety and security are the cornerstones of homestays. When volunteers signup for a homestay they expect to be put in a safe home and they don’t want to feel insecure. Some volunteers carry expensive items with them, for example cameras, laptops, money and clothes. They would expect their belongings would be safe when they leave them in the home. As a host, s/he could provide a lockable drawer or somebody to watch over their belongings. If the host lives in high risk areas (in terms of security) they should give advice to the volunteers on how to behave so as not to compromise their safety.

 

 

Cultural exchange

 

While living with foreigners the hosts would be exposed to different cultures. They will learn how the volunteers cook, live and how they carry themselves. The volunteers too will learn the same things also from the host. The hosts’ lifestyle is what the volunteers are coming to observe and appreciate. With students and volunteers who have come to learn the language, the host should be patient and help in teaching them the language.

 

 

Risk

 

Being a host is good experience all in all. But being a host, one is exposing him /herself to some risks that they are not used to. This is especially true if the host has children and they get a volunteer who is immoral. There are also cases where the volunteer would have some habits that the hosts are not comfortable with for example drinking, smoking, drug abuse etc. to avoid these situations they have terms and conditions that the volunteers should abide too. Also before welcoming somebody to their home they should properly vet them.

For more free information and low cost volunteer in Africa programs visit http://www.volunteercapitalcentre.org

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