They involve spending time off work or in school holidays, usually abroad, instead of vacationing. A volunteer holiday is a way to be active and engage with your host country in more depth than from a conventional holiday. Volunteer holidays are popular with students on gap years, but people of all ages can take part, including families and retirees. You can go anywhere in the world, from the UK and Australia to Peru and Cambodia.

Volunteers would take trips through the 1800s to give service to those in need in the Christian tradition, which still continues today.

But volunteer holidays as we know them now came into being in the middle of the 20th century.
VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) was founded in 1958 in the UK, followed by Peace Corps in the early 60s in the USA. They took off in the 70s as activists wanted to help in the developing world in their free time.

Marketed as a way to raise money for research projects, in the 1970s people wanted to participate in projects, rather than just watching as fundraisers originally intended. More affluent travellers wanted to pay to take part in short conservation projects, and the market grew through the 1990s.
More recently, volunteer holidays have started becoming more accessible to people less well-off as an alternative travel option.

·       Domestic: volunteering in your home country. A cheaper option that allows flexibility when you have less free time, and you can volunteer close by in all kinds of roles.

·       Short-term: volunteering from a week to a month. You don’t always need specific skills for short-term programs. Plus short-term roles can fit around life and work without having to take extra time off. You might not get to see the results of your actions over a shorter time, but you’ll still be able to contribute!

·       Long-term: volunteering from a month to several years. Long-term programs might require specific skills, qualifications, or training. Often cheaper per week than short-term programs, long-term volunteering allows you to get to know your fellow volunteers, your host community, and the project itself much better.

·       Conservation: working with animals and the environment. A great option for environmentally conscious volunteers, this can involve anything from helping with turtle hatching to building eco-hotels. You might be able to see results right away, but it depends on the project.

·       Disaster relief: helping with aid and relief after disasters. Disaster relief volunteering can be emotionally taxing and you might be required to have specific skills. But it’s very rewarding and can make a difference to people’s lives in a time of crisis.

·       Cultural exchange: visiting marginalised or struggling communities. You can help give confidence to marginalised communities, and can contribute to language and cultural preservation. Great for students of certain languages, or people who don’t have the right skills for other kinds of volunteering.

·       Teaching/IT/business support: volunteer work that isn’t physically taxing. Exciting options for retirees or people on a career break, such roles can be incredibly beneficial to local communities. Whether you’re helping local businesses set up or teaching maths to children, people with experience or knowledge in academic areas make a difference.

·       Hostel work/building/farming: physical labour jobs. If a school needs renovations and local people are too busy working to take it on, volunteers can do the work. Working in a hostel – cleaning, for example – can earn you free accommodation. Farming volunteer holidays can be an opportunity to learn about organic, eco-friendly farming methods whilst experiencing beautiful countryside.

Finding a volunteer holiday is easy these days with the Internet at our fingertips. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to know which to pick. The best way forward depends on the kind of volunteer you are, and what you want your volunteer holiday to be.

Going with a volunteer-sending organisation is one option. You’ll get plenty of guidance choosing your project, with dedicated staff helping you find your flights settle in at the project site. Sometimes they can be expensive, although low-cost options do exist. Consider where your money is going, and whether they have the right projects for your skills and interests. If you’re nervous going abroad on your own, or it’s your first time volunteering, volunteer-sending organisations can be a perfect choice.

You can also find independent volunteer roles. More confident volunteers who feel at home arranging their own travel might choose this option. When you know what country you want to go to, search for projects in the area, or contact hostels to see if they need volunteers. For domestic holidays, this can be the best way to find a role. Contacting independently can show keenness to take part. But it might be hard to find projects that are not in the most popular countries for volunteering. Try websites like Workaway to find small projects all over the world.

Travel blogs can be a fantastic resource for finding projects. Travel writers will often write about projects they’ve taken part in, sometimes in places or projects you might not have considered. Take care that they haven’t been paid to write something positive about a company. You can contact them directly, usually, to ask for an honest review.

To get the most out of your holiday, know what is expected from you. Just as important is knowing what to expect: from the location, the project, and other people. Expect it to be very different from a beach holiday!

Choosing the right project for you is number one. Make sure you agree with the project’s aims, that it’s the right price point for you, and that the location is suitable for you. If you want to practice speaking Spanish, a project in South America might be ideal. If you only speak one language and don’t want to spend a lot of money, a week at a project in your home country could be better.

Be sensible with what you hope to achieve. With a short stay, you won’t always see the results during your time there, but your contribution matters. A longer stay program will allow you to see progress, but requires more commitment.

Ask about accommodation. Not all projects will have luxurious or even comfortable accommodation and it’s best to know what you’re getting in for before you get there. If you need to sleep alone to sleep well, choose a project with a private room rather than a dorm.

The volunteer programmes below provide an opportunity to take part in incredible work abroad whilst being able to take part in all the usual tourist activities between volunteering:

Thailand

Join an award-winning English teaching programme on the West coast of Thailand.

Morocco

Experience the exotic spice city of Marrakech on the edge of the Sahara and work in a group in different settings in and outside of this majestic walled city.

Ghana

Take a first step into Africa and help at poor schools in the Lake Volta region; teaching, building, in sport or at the busy state hospital close by.

Peru

Be a positive influence for children in the Incan city of Cuzco high in Andes; volunteers help with homework, games and escort children to places of interest.

Mexico

Help at a variety of unique projects and charities in and outside of the colonial city of Merida on the Caribbean coast.

Need more advice?

Contact Original Volunteers to speak to a trained projects advisor who will be happy to help with any questions on how to organise a volunteer holiday overseas.

Text name and email address to:07554 002930

Landline: 01603 280702

Email: contact@originalvolunteers.co.uk

The post Volunteer Holidays – What You Need To Know appeared first on Original Volunteers.

With some forward planning and a solid belief in your trip, there are some great scholarships and travel grants out there to help top up your funds.

We’ve rounded up 37 award bodies for travellers who are based in the UK and grouped them together in the following categories:

• General gap year/volunteering
• Health care students and professionals
• Universities
• Animal/conservation
• Adventurous expeditions
• Awards for disabled travellers (we tried to find those which support foreign travel as opposed to traditional UK based holidays)

When you apply you will be competing with everyone else so apply early and demonstrate that you are the best person to be trusted with the organisation’s money which is being kindly donated to you.

In addition to the usual application process, try to stand out from the crowd.

We’ve also included some advice on what to do when you receive your grant and an ingenious idea of how you can return the favour later.

Gap Year and Volunteer Abroad Funding

Young and volunteering abroad?
The Lions Club provide small grants to young people living in their area (look up your local branch) to volunteer abroad on community service projects usually using an organisation.
Minimum trip length should be 3 weeks. Report and presentation required after trip to share experiences. Awards vary from £50 – £250.

Other similar national organisations with local branches include The Rotary Club and Roundtable organisation.

Gap Year Funding?
The Ferguson Trust awards grants of £300 available for students embarking on a gap year alone, with friends or with an organisation.

16 years old + planning independent adventurous trip?
The Timissartok Foundation have partially funded individuals who have kayaked, cycled and rode over challenging terrain on a trip of their own creation. Apply at any time. Award up to £500. They like passionate applicants who have been inspired by famous adventurers who have gone before them.

Under 19 and joining adventurous organised trip?
Grants available from the Young Explorers Trust towards trekking and community projects.

17 – 24 and live in London?
The Lord Mayor’s 800th Anniversary Trust offers awards to young people of between £50 and £1000 for a variety of personal development experiences. Winners have taken part in adventurous travel overseas and helped the poorest at charities abroad. Applicants are expected to demonstrate they can also fundraise through their own efforts.

Do you live in Northumberland or East Scottish Borders?

The Joicey Trust offers a small number of grants to volunteers heading abroad for community development who are residents of their defined area. Apply at any time. Priority may be given to sending organisations or overseas projects which are registered in the UK. Individuals should email directly describing in full the organisation charity you will be working with, your role, your aims and dates.

Private school student?
Gap year funding is offered each year between £400 and £600 for trips lasting minimum of 3 months. 20 – 25 awards available. One hardship award of £1000 is awarded whose financial needs prevent a gap year being possible.
www.gap-year-the-bulkeley-evans.co.uk

Under 19 and planning high adrenalin or unusual trip?
Awards between £500 and £3000 by the Captain Scott Society. Trip must be character building or out of the ordinary. Apply by end of March. You will be expected to prepare a report back on your trip.

16 – 25 and live in London or Essex?
Up to £300 available from the Jack Petchey Foundation for individuals who want to volunteer abroad. Must be travelling through a UK based sending organisation. Priority may be given to applicants experiencing financial hardship.

Under 25 and travelling in Asia or Middle East?
The Sir Peter Holmes Memorial Award may be able to help. Apply by November.

Live in Norfolk or Yorkshire?
The Sir Philip Reckitt Educational Trust offers grants to help young individuals make a difference through education on and overseas projects.

16 – 25 and live in London or Essex?
Up to £300 available from the Jack Petchey Foundation for individuals who want to volunteer abroad. Must be travelling through a UK based sending organisation. Priority may be given to applicants experiencing financial hardship.

Under 25 and travelling in Asia or Middle East?
The Sir Peter Holmes Memorial Award may be able to help. Apply by November.

Live in Norfolk or Yorkshire?
The Sir Philip Reckitt Educational Trust offers grants to help young individuals make a difference through education on and overseas projects.

Long stay in Europe?
10 Awards are allocated by the Peter Kirk European Travel Scholarships Foundation each year of £2000 for young people spending between 6 weeks and 3 months in Europe in a country of their choice. Ideally two countries will be visited. Apply by November.

Sixth Form Student in UK?
Ask your head of year or deputy head about any travel grant that may be available. If there is not one already in place, why not suggest one is started. That will look good on your CV. Alternatively why not ask your sixth form to match what you can raise. They may prefer to pay a UK organisation directly so offer this an option if they prefer not to handle over cash.

Travel grants for health electives

Funding for electives for student nurses and student midwives?
The Cavell Nurses Trust offer partial awards to observe the difference in practice in developing countries. Available to both student nurses and student midwives. A student midwife visited a hospital in Ghana.

Help towards midwifery elective?
Iolanthe Midwifery Trust offer awards of up to £1000 for pre-registration student midwives. Application needs to be started in November. All destinations considered although Africa seems to dominate the winners destinations. 6 – 12 awards granted annually.

Medical or dental student needing help to travel?
Grants awarded between £500 – £1000 for any destination for anyone in need of a bursary for elective research. Apply by July. Contact the British Medical and Dental Students Trust.

Registered nurse with 2 years’ experience?
Travel scholarships are available from Florence Nightingale Foundation. Apply September for travel following year. Awards available up to £4000. Expected length of trip should be 3-4 weeks. You will be expected to submit a full report and publish an article in a professional journal within 12 months of trip. Some years priority is given to particular areas of interest.

Qualified doctor?
The British Medical Association offers humanitarian grants of up to £3000 per project.
https://www.bma.org.uk

Universities offering funding towards volunteering abroad

University anywhere in world?
Many individual departments have a travel award scheme. This could be between £250 and £500 on average. Ask a tutor or course leader. Universities may prefer to pay the organisation directly although it may be worth asking if smaller grants (for local daily expenses overseas) can be reclaimed after travel in return for receipts.

University Student in UK or overseas?

Santander Bank have been making travel grants available to students at many Universities around the world where they have branches. Find out if your University is part of the scheme. Funding is on a first-come-first –serve basis and awards of between £250 and £1000 for students are up for grabs if your degree relates to your chosen volunteer project. A case study is required at the end of your project. Your chosen destination needs to be from the following list: Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Ghana, Mexico, USA, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, UAE, Uruguay,

University of Southampton
Up to £1000 AMECA bursary grant to Southampton students in health-related disciplines to explore health systems in Africa with one of their partners.

University College London
Expedition and travel grants available to UCL students between £500 – £3000. Does not need to be related to your degree but needs to be one which provides opportunity to demonstrate organisation skills and team work. Apply by February.
www.ucl.ac.uk/expeditions

St Annes Oxford student?
70 grants are offered each year for Easter and Summer holidays for any destination although needs to be related to degree.

St Johns Cambridge student?
Travel grants available. Apply by end of February with a long description of your planned trip.

Funding and grants for adventurers and expeditions

Young, no money, want to explore?
The Alpkit foundation offers equipment and grants to individuals and groups of between £50 and £500 where it is clear that the activity would not take place without support. They particularly like to hear from people and small groups that will be experiencing the outdoors for the first time and where the trip will not be part of an organised commercial package, Previous awards have been given for a wild camp out in the UK and a self-organised trip to Iceland.

Under 26 and taking on climbing or other outdoor pursuit?
The Andy Fanshawe memorial trust offers grants of up to £500. Focus is for personal rather than professional development.

Crazy but pioneering trip with a purpose?
The Trans Globe Expedition Trust might be able to help if your trip includes an element of educational, humanitarian or scientific purpose. The trust was set up after Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ Trans Globe Trip. Apply any time.

Scaling mountains or crossing oceans and continents?
Planning something on the wild side off your own back? The Adventure Fund might be interested in hearing from you.

Cycling solo across continents or the world?
The Janapar Grant is unusual in that it offers top of the range equipment (rather than cash) and mentorship from cyclists who have gone before you. 18 – 25s only.

Grants for travellers working with animals and ecology

Do you have a Scottish connection?
And will be taking on an adventurous conservation trip? Then the John Muir Trust may be able to help you. Grants available from £200 to £2000.

Geographical fieldwork trip?
The Royal Geographical Society offers up to 20 team awards of £3000 each year. Team size should usually be 3. At least one member should be University registered and member of RGS. Must be independently organised trip, not pre-paid or organised charity or volunteering. Preference to teams with one member having connection to country to be visited.
www.rgs.org

Keen Biologist?
Five grants are awarded each year of £500 by the Royal Society of Biology. Apply between November and February with written 500 word statement describing your planned biology related trip. Basic summary and report required at end of trip.

Veterinary student?
Are you planning an independent research project abroad? Perhaps helping at an under resourced project or helping animals directly. Four awards are available annually for up to £500 from The British Veterinary Association.

Funding for disabled travellers to travel abroad

Wheelchair user seeking adventurous trip?
Grants are available from Wicked World Tours of up to £1000 towards the extra costs associated to make it possible to travel, for example accompanying carer, transport or accommodation.

British Disabled climber or mountaineer?
The BMC administrates the grants available from the Julie Tullis Memorial Award. Apply by October for expedition taking place before March, apply by February for expedition departing later.

Do you have or someone you know has Ataxia?
The Jerry Farr travel fellowship awards one winner each year up to £3500 to cover agreed costs of adventurous overseas travel. Carers costs can also be covered. Apply in February.
The Mark Dower Trust with The Ataxia website offers an annual grant of up to £3000 to support young people with Ataxia aged between 16 and 30 to pursue skills, hobbies or educational opportunities.

After you obtain your grant

Don’t forget to email or call to say thank you! These things do not go unnoticed.

Make sure you know what is expected of you in terms of reporting back after your trip. If there is no obvious instruction, call and ask if they need anything and if they can give you any examples.

You may need to keep a formal journal, collect data or provide a presentation when you return. Make sure you take plenty of photos and videos, you may need more than you think later and you won’t be able to pop back.

Make sure you include a mention of your grant on your CV even if it was only for a small amount.

Everyone knows you don’t get given money from a professional organisation or charity for nothing. Your next employer will be intrigued that you were selected. This will show organisation, determination and commitment.

When you get back

Even if your awarding organisation does not require it, let them know about your trip and ask if it is possible for a mention on their website or blog. This will add credibility to your CV and job applications if future employers can see your name and good work mentioned.

If they don’t have a section of their website with award winners listed, why not suggest one or help them to create one either on or off their site? Another great experience to add to your CV and personal development.

Advice on starting your own trust

You may have noticed doing your research there are not many organisations and individuals offering money for free, certainly not many online which is where most people start their search.

If you are in a financial position in the future to help others with a thirst for gap year adventure and expeditions abroad, why not return the favour and offer some cash for other young adventurers?

It needn’t be expensive, some of the existing trusts are offer one-off awards of £500 – £1000. If you can gather the interest of 10 friends, colleagues and an employer that would be only £83 each a year to create an award of £1000 which may help two or more individuals.

Your old school or a local charity may be able to help you source suitable candidates or you could set up a website/blog of your own.

Now, that would look impressive on your CV. How many people can add genuine philanthropy* on their CV? It would also give you and your friends a charitable excuse to meet up every once in a while to go through the applications you have received.

Feel free to tweet us with how you get on, your own ideas or any other organisations we can add here.

’Philanthropy’
The desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed by the generous donation of money to good causes.

The post Volunteer Abroad Grants & Gap Year Funding List 2019 appeared first on Original Volunteers.

Here’s some to get you started, although you might not want to ask them all at once!

Questions to ask an Organisation:

1. How long have you been running as a company?
2. What countries can I volunteer in?
3. Are all the projects available are on the website?
4. Are there any others which aren’t currently listed which might match my interests?
5. Can I combine projects?
6. Do I need to attend an interview?
7. Can I apply if I am not a resident of the volunteer organisations’ country?
8. Can I apply if I don’t have fixed dates yet?
9. Why are you cheaper/more expensive than other organisations I’ve looked at?

Questions about your Chosen Project:

10. Students want to make use of volunteering for your career, ask which is the best project on their list for your subject. Rather than choosing your favourite country. It could be a profitable decision.
11. When are the busiest and quieter times to volunteer?
12. Do I need previous experience?
13. What is the most popular project in terms of volume of volunteers?
14. What is the most popular project in terms of feedback?
15. Best project for complete beginners?
16. Best project for nervous travellers?
17. What is the cheapest project? (Don’t be afraid to ask this, everyone does!)
18. Are there any supplies which I need to take with me?
19. How long have you sent volunteers to my chosen project?
20. How long does the average volunteer stay?
21. What sort of training is there?
22. What are the hours of volunteering?
23. How many days do I volunteer?
24. What is the average age of volunteers?
25. What is the gender mix of the volunteer group?
26. Can I opt out of the weekly schedule, if I need to?
27. Is there someone who can sign off my University/Employer worksheet?
28. How close are the projects to the volunteer accommodation?
29. I want to bring donated toys/clothes/medical equipment, what is the best way?
30. Do I receive a certificate upon completion?

Questions about Flights:

31. What airport should I fly into?
32. Does it matter what airport I fly from?
33. Will I have help booking flights?
34. Who do I contact if my flight is delayed or I miss a connection?
35. When in the year are flights cheapest?
36. What is the transfer time between the airport and the project/volunteer accommodation?
37. Is there someone who will pick me up from the airport?
38. Can I still be met if my flight is delayed?
39. Are there set days which I have to arrive on?
40. How long is the flight?
41. Should I expect a stopover?
42. What is the most common route, if there are stopovers?
43. How much luggage will I need?
44. Is there anything that I need to bring which can’t be taken in hand-luggage?
45. Can you provide me with a packing list?
46. Is there anyone else who is travelling around the same time as me?
47. Can you give out my flight code for others to book onto the same flight?
48. Once I’ve booked flights, who do I send them into?
49. Are return airport transfers provided?

LQBTQ+ Questions

50. Are there any destinations I should consider avoiding?
51. Is my chosen country LGBTQ+ friendly? If not, what should I be aware of?
52. Has my chosen project hosted LGBTQ+ volunteers before?
53. Can I travel with my partner?

Questions about Visas:

54. Do I need a visa?
55. Should I apply for a tourist visa or do I need a work visa?
56. Can you help me in getting a visa?
57. Can I get a visa upon arrival or do I need to apply in advance?
58. Are electronic visas available or do I need to send my passport in the post?
59. Have any previous volunteers had problems with visas?
60. How long can I stay on my visa?
61. How far in advance do I need to apply for a visa?
62. Do I need any special documents to apply for a visa?
63. Do I need to show a bank statement?
64. Do I need a flight already to apply for a visa?
65. Will I need a return or onward flight?
66. Do I need to show proof of immunizations to obtain a visa?

Questions about Safety:

67. Is there anything I need to be aware of?
68. What is the FCO advice on this country?
69. Are there any parts of the country I shouldn’t visit during my travels?
70. Should I avoid any months because of extreme weather conditions?
71. Is there a number that I can give to my parents, if they need to get in contact with me?
72. Is there a support team which I can contact 24/7?

Questions about Accommodation:

73. Does the accommodation have free Wi-Fi?
74. How many volunteers share a room?
75. Does the room have a safe for my valuables?
76. Is it single-sex accommodation?
77. Do I need to bring a sleeping bag or pillow?
78. Is there a kitchen where I can prepare my own food?
79. Are there any kitchen utensils or should I bring my own?
80. Is there a fridge?
81. Does the bathroom have a western style toilet?
82. Is there hot water?
83. Is there more than one bathroom?
84. Are there laundry services on site?
85. What arrangements are there for couples?
86. Is there somewhere in the bedroom to store my clothes?
87. Does the bedroom have a power socket for charging gadgets?
88. For hot countries: are the windows screened, or will I need to bring a mosquito net?

Questions about the Country:

89. What language do the locals speak?
90. Do I need to speak the language to get the most out of volunteering?
91. Is there a translator nearby?
92. Are there certain clothes I shouldn’t wear in this country?
93. Are the seasons different?
94. How hot/cold will it be when I travel?
95. Does my home country have an Embassy in the country? In case I need help whilst over there.

Questions about Health:

96. Do I need any immunizations before I go?
97. Which immunizations do I need?
98. Do I need malaria tablets?
99. Is the water safe to drink? Or what do people typically drink?
100. Will a medical condition affect me volunteering?
101. Is there someone who knows what to do in a health emergency?
102. Is the project remote enough that I should take my own first aid kit?
103. Where is the nearest hospital?
104. What are the typical health complaints volunteers have experienced?
105. I am diabetic. Is there a fridge to store insulin?

Questions about Money:

106. Is insurance included in the programme fees, or do I need to buy this?
107. Is it a requirement to fundraise for my trip?
108. How much should I budget for my weekly spending?
109. Are discounts available for longer stays?
110. When are programme fees due?
111. Can I pay the programme fees in installments?
112. What currency does the country use?
113. Is it a closed currency?
114. Can I exchange money at the airport upon arrival?
115. How much money do I need to change for my first week?
116. Is there a cash machine close to the volunteer accommodation?
117. Is there a Western Union agent close by, if I need to pick up a money transfer from home?
118. Will I be expected to contribute additional donations to my projects or are they included in the programme fees?
119. What is the cancellation policy, if I need to cancel my trip at the last minute?

Questions about Friends:

120. Can I volunteer with a friend?
121. Will we be separated, or can we volunteer together?
122. Can we stay at the same accommodation?
123. Can we do things just us or do all of the volunteers go out together?

Questions about Free-time:

124. Can you tell me what the main attractions volunteers visit and the costs, if any?
125. Should I pre-book my free time tours?
126. Can I walk to town easily and safely or should I get a taxi or a bus?
127. Will someone help me with booking excursions after arrival?
128. Are there western fast food restaurants nearby?
129. Are there shops close by?
130. I’m a practising Christian/Muslim/etc. is there a place of worship close by?

Contact Us To Ask A Question

We are always to chat about any projects or volunteering in general. Call us today 01603 280702 email us at contact@originalvolunteers.co.uk or message us to get the answers you need!

The post 130 Questions To Ask A Volunteer Organisation appeared first on Original Volunteers.

It is undeniable that volunteers help the community they serve, but there are also many other reasons they choose to take on the challenge. Here are forty relatable reasons people volunteer abroad – what’s yours?

1 Discover world issues and innovate ways to help and solve them.

2 Chase the sun with your destination. There are options to volunteer everywhere around the globe.

3 Immerse yourself in another culture and learn from another way of living.

4 Get back to basics and live simply on a technology cleanse.

5 Join the likes of George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Benedict Cumberbatch and Seth Green along with many other celebrities who volunteer abroad.

6 A chance to help develop communities hands on.

7 Improve your mental health.

8 It’s not expensive! Affordable volunteering options are increasing.

9 Enjoy genuine foreign cuisine, unadulterated for Western tastes and everything tasting as it should be.

Volunteer working with women’s group in Cameroon

10 Projects are varied, there is something for everyone. From health care, building and teaching to play work, conservation, animal work and tailored projects perfectly matched to a volunteer’s skillset.

11 Meet interesting people few tourists will: Tribal heads, government officials, local journalists and celebrities.

12 Learn transferable skills such as adapting quickly to situations and confidence.

13 Capture breathtaking photos for your social media.

14 Befriend fellow volunteers, perhaps even a life partner?

15 Explore another country and be inspired by the beauty and culture abroad.

16 Meet new people, from peers to locals.

Volunteers with the Roma gypsy community in Bulgaria.

17 Volunteering abroad forces us to travel more responsibly. You may never travel in the same way again.

18 Fall in love with a new country you have never visited before.

19 To tour with new friends, volunteering isn’t a full-time commitment and free time is always available.

20 Teach others and learn from the process.

21 Reflect on what is important to you and leave with a new perspective.

22 Check volunteering abroad off your bucket list.

23 Return with a more open mind.

24 Speak the local language, learning phrases and practicing them.

25 Previous experience isn’t needed to volunteer. Anyone can do it!

26 Break the nine to five routine and mix it up.

27 Witness the difference you make with your own eyes.

Volunteers help at a dog sanctuary in Bulgaria.

28 The lush memories you will make abroad.

29 Experience the outdoors more whilst volunteering abroad.

30 Become a more interesting job applicant. Interviewers get bored of people regurgitating facts about themselves. Volunteering abroad helps applicants stand out.

31 Spend time learning new skills and enrich your career.

32 Network with other volunteers, charities and organisations.

33 Smile more. Volunteers are happier than those who don’t spend their time volunteering.

34 Exercise and get fit. Prolonged periods of standing and walking are great for health and may even help lose weight!

Volunteer teaching at a new school in Africa.

35 Enjoy it and have fun!

36 Try out new things. Activities and hobbies which you can take home too whether from the country or picked up from your fellow volunteers.

37 Attend a programme through an organisation and if you work hard, obtain a shining reference after completion.

38 Find the perfect travel buddy! You’ve already travelled and lived together you now know you’re compatible for further world adventures.

39 Get off the beaten track in a more remote part of the country. Even in cities, volunteers visit socially isolated areas few tourists see.

40 Boost your CV and change career on your return!

For further advice on how to choose the right volunteer project:

Contact Original Volunteers Today!

Call us today from the UK 01603 280702
Whatsapp/Text Us07554002930
Message us!

The post 40 Reasons To Volunteer Abroad appeared first on Original Volunteers.

Get involved in programmes across the worlds largest continent and partake in some life-changing work. African volunteer programmes popular with Canadians include teaching, building, conservation and healthcare. No matter the reason for travel, embarking on a gap year or experiencing a volunteer vacation. Projects in Africa are full of different ways to help, there is something for everyone!

It’s time to fly over to Africa! Canadian volunteers can fly from anywhere in the world, there is no need to fly back home before you travel. If you no longer live in Canada or are combining volunteering with part of a larger trip, just fly from wherever you are.

Did you know that flight prices might not be much more flying from Canada than flying from Europe? Marrakech excluded, worldwide flights are on average only £100 less from London. For such a small difference there is no excuse, if the Brits can volunteer in Africa, so can the Canadians!

Here are the top African destinations for Canadian volunteers:

• Morocco
• Kenya
• Ghana
• South Africa
• Uganda

Morocco

Geographically Morocco is located in the North of Africa. However, Morocco has a culture closer to countries found in Europe. Situated next to Spain, there are many Spanish influences which can be seen in cities and towns, especially in the north of the country.

Inside the breathtaking walled city of Marrakech, the second language is French. Many of the locals will be eager to practice with any willing French-Canadian volunteers.

The local team, in Morocco, organise a varied schedule. Mainly working with vulnerable children and socially isolated children. Volunteers usually help at a different project each day. This gives you the chance to see more of the city and meet more of the locals.

Morocco Programme Basics

Flights from Toronto to Marrakech CAN$783 GB£604
Flights from Vancouver to Marrakesh CAN$946 GB£730
Programme costs CAN$210 per week including accommodation in shared volunteer house and services of in-country team.
No visa is required for travellers with a Canadian passport entering Morocco.

Kenya

Choose from two programmes in Kenya. Volunteer at a street kids project in Mombasa. Helping to re-home and educate boys who have been living on the streets for periods of their lives. Free time is available to enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches close by.

Get back to basics in the Kenya Masai. Volunteer with a host family in complete cultural immersion. Living their way of life, helping with the families and animals in the community. Enjoy watching wildlife stroll past the village.

Kenya Village Programme Basics

Flights from Toronto to Nairobi CAN$823 GB£635
Flights from Vancouver to Nairobi CAN$1025 GB£791
Programme costs CAN$210 per week including accommodation with host family.

Electronic visas (e-visas) can be obtained online before travel. Alternatively Canadian passport holders can obtain a visa upon arrival, simply join the queue once you’ve landed.

Ghana

Volunteer with the entire community in Ghana, and combine experiences on the same trip. Build schools for a week and then swap to teaching in them the next week. The absence of a language barrier makes volunteering easy!

Make a difference to the children in Ghana, teaching a subject of choice or boosting confidence through arts and craft and playwork. The children in Ghana are all sports mad! They love football and are always keen to learn new games too.

The community is in constant need of building and maintenance work done. The majority of the community is built by volunteers, making bricks with their hands. Buildings often need repair and maintenance work done after a couple of months.

Medical electives join the Ghana programme and help in Atibie hospital. Choose which department to volunteer in. The maternity and children’s wards are most popular. Outreach days are organised to provide health checks to communities which cannot reach clinics themselves.

Ghana Programme Basics

Flights from Toronto to Accra CAN$848 GB£654
Flights from Vancouver to Accra CAN$1153 GB£889
Programme costs CAN$160 per week including accommodation with host family.
A visa is required before travel.

South Africa

A once in a lifetime experience to get close to monkeys and even have some hugs and cuddles! There are as many as 80 exotic species, including monkeys, foxes and lemurs.

Unfortunately because the animals have been in care for so long they cannot be released back into the wild. Volunteers help by coming up with new ways to keep the mentally stimulated. Such as, hiding their food in a puzzle box which they need to solve to get the food.

Situated close to Pretoria, this programme is the best of both worlds. Enjoy the peacefulness and remoteness of the sanctuary, in the middle of nowhere. Combined with the lively major city when wanted.

South Africa Programme Basics

Flights from Toronto to Johannesburg CAN$766 GB£591
Flights from Vancouver to Johannesburg CAN$1027 GB£792
Programme costs CAN$295 per week including accommodation on site at sanctuary.
No visa is required for travellers with a Canadian passport entering South Africa.

Uganda

Help at a friendly rural school in the beautiful Ugandan hills. Mix volunteering with exploring the surreal grassy hills. The hills surround the school and make for spectacular views.

Volunteers can help at the school in a variety of different ways. Through teaching a subject of their choice, or serving breakfast in the morning along with building and maintenance work.

There is also a health clinic on site where anyone with an interest in a medical career can help the local nurse. Qualified professionals looking to volunteer in a health environment can help either at the local clinic or in the hospital in Itojo, two miles away.

Uganda Programme Basics

Flights from Toronto to Entebbe CAN$810 GB£624
Flights from Vancouver to Entebbe CAN$932 GB£718
Programme costs CAN$180 per week including accommodation on site in purpose built hut and all meals.
Electronic visas (e-visas) can be obtained online before travel. Alternatively Canadian travellers can obtain one upon arrival, simply join the queue once you’ve landed.

Contact Us Today!

For further advice on how to find the right project for you:

Call us today from Canada 00 44 (0)1603 280702
From the UK 01603 280702
Whatsapp/Text Us 07554002930
Message us!

*Flight prices listed here were current on skyscanner.net as of October 23rd 2018 for return flights in June 2019.

The post How To Volunteer In Africa From Canada appeared first on Original Volunteers.

Why Are There So Few Free Volunteering Options?

Searching for ‘free volunteering abroad’ can bring up very few genuine results. Small charities and projects have much smaller advertising budgets if any at all compared to volunteer organisations which may charge thousands per week which can be found unsurprisingly all over the internet.

Here are some other reasons free programmes are hard to find:

• No Money To Host Volunteers
• Volunteers Need Adequate Support
• Flights Impossibly Expensive

Most regions of a country where volunteering is most needed are under developed and need financial aid themselves.

Quality programmes often include accommodation and a support teams’ wages and often need to be paid for throughout the year, ready to receive volunteers at any time.

Whilst it is possible on a longer stay for most people to manage with more humble accommodation and without a local guide, in fact there are year long programmes in Europe where volunteers are expected to locate the charities, introduce themselves and complete all documentation, it is not a realistic option for anyone with only a week or two spare to spend a week or more settling in.

Airfares to Africa can be anything between £400-£700. The average volunteer can only spare two weeks. A flight is a big investment for a small charity to make. In developing countries, one airfare may pay a local teacher for four months. Questions would certainly be asked if British state schools and charities paid thousands of pounds for flights for international short staying volunteers.

Understanding The Costs

To help reduce the amount spent on volunteering abroad, understanding where money is spent helps minimise the outlay. Total trip costs can be divided across the following:

• Programme Fees
• Airfare
• Miscellaneous and Hidden Costs

Reducing Programme Fees

Some programmes don’t charge programme fees but may be highly selective and require lengthy commitments of between six months to two years. These aren’t practical options for most students or anyone squeezing in volunteering on a break from work.

Short – term volunteer organised programmes, which are the most popular type of trip taken, typically charge programme fees although there are still huge variations even between low cost providers.

Low cost organisations charging fairly priced programme fees of between £50 and £100 a week do exist, you just have to look a bit harder searching, on the second or third page of search results.

Airfare Costs

International flights around the world come with a heavy cost. Here are five ways to reduce expenditure:

• Use your own air miles that you have collected over time, these can reduce the cost of your flight considerably. Friends and families can also donate.
• Ask the airline for free baggage allowance. They can say only say no. A letter from your volunteer sending organisation may help.
• Fly somewhere closer to home. You don’t need to stay in Europe, flights to Africa can be considerably less than Asia and Latin America if you fly off season.
• Travel outside of peak season when possible. Flights taken between July 20th and September 10th can double in price. If you must travel in the summer, try to arrive in June or the start of July if possible.
• Use a recommended flight provider. There may be a reason one is recommended. Even if they are not cheaper, they may be able to find a faster route with a better airline for the same price, this may actually save money as you won’t be spending money on long stopovers in airport cafes and duty free.
• Check if there is a budget airline for the region you are flying to. For example, it may be cheaper to fly to a major Asian city with one airline followed by a regional budget airline for the last short hop to your destination.

Adding Up The Hidden Costs

There will be some expenses which you may overlook as they’re not as obvious, but if forgotten they can cause budgets to soar and as there are so many, it is easy to overspend.

Decide in advance how much you can realistically afford or would like to spend. A project which offers a free stay may require more expenditure than on a programme with weekly accommodation and support fees.

Miscellaneous costs include:

• Travel Insurance. Essential for any travels abroad. Without it, expect to pay between £100 and £300 for a straightforward hospital stay.
• Immunisations. Ask your local doctor or travel clinic in advance if any vaccinations are free and those which are absolutely essential, sometimes travel nurses will suggest everything on the list even if the risk is low for the specific region visited.
• Medication. Malaria tablets can be bought over the counter at a larger chemist, ask for the cheapest options.
• Currency. Airport exchange rates are typically much lower than high street money convertors.
• Airport Drop off and Pick Up. Travelling abroad begins at your front door. Pre-arranging transportation to and from the airport in advance will lower the cost.
• Airport and Airplane food. Eating before you get to the airport and purchasing your meal when you buy your flights will be much cheaper than not planning and simply eating when you’re hungry.
• Toiletries. There is always something missing, shampoo, conditioner, sun cream, mosquito repellent. Corner shops know tourists forget these items and charge more for them. Do not be surprised to find a bottle of factor 30 suncream abroad for £40.
• Daily Expenses. Depending on the location, £5-£10 a day should be plenty for food and transport.
• An emergency fund is essential. You never know what unexpected surprises may happen just like on holiday.
• Accommodation. Trips planned through an organisation often include accommodation, either at a volunteer house or with a host family. Independent volunteers may have to account for accommodation themselves.

Volunteering Supplies

Some resources for volunteering will need to be bought in your home country and taken with you. In-country supplies may be cheaper and lower quality or more expensive because of import taxes or virtually impossible to find. Even where supplies might be bought in-country cheaply, for short stay volunteers it is not ideal to spend a day or more shopping before you can get started. This will especially be the case in Africa or remote parts of Asia.

A reputable volunteer organisation or experienced charity should be able to advise you on what you should bring from home from the experiences and recommendations of previous volunteers. Teachers should always arrive with some A4 paper, pens and felt tips. Building volunteers should bring protective gloves, strong shoes and a wider rimmed sunhat. Animal volunteers need sets of working clothes which they don’t mind getting drool on or animals ripping.

Likewise personal supplies for travelling, such as: new luggage, new clothes, new toiletries, new camera, treats and food items or a guidebook can all add up and few are really necessary.

Apply For Grants and Scholarships

Consider applying for grants to reduce costs even further. Check out our blog post on travel grants for volunteering abroad and general travel. Grants vary in prices from £50 to £1000.

Scholarships and grants are limited and highly competitive. Applications can take time to complete. Including: written proposals, personal essays, video submissions, letter of recommendations and interview.

Certain scholarship applicants have requirements post trip and ask volunteers to produce a report on their experience. Applying early for numerous options optimises your chances of obtaining funding.

Long Stay Volunteering

With any organisation, programme fees usually reduce after the first two weeks becoming considerably reasonably for stays of between 8 and 12 weeks. In addition, long stay volunteers adjust to the money and often become as frugal as the locals.

A £5 meal may seem very expensive after a couple of months. It is not uncommon for longer stay travellers staying in one place to know where to eat for less than a pound or receive free meals in return for private tuition or other favours.

If you work hard and got along with your hosts and in-country staff, a project may invite you to carry on the good work at no weekly charge. Sometimes this comes as an extension of your trip whilst other volunteers may return home and then fly out again the following year.

Help may be in the form of cleaning, cooking, administration, shopping or in a leadership and management role, perhaps organising rotas, organising new arrivals, workshops, fundraising or project and community events.

How Much Should I Expect To Pay In Total?

On affordable programmes it should be possible to cover all the essential costs: flights, programme fees, visas, insurance, transfers and personal spending for between £1000 and £1500 for a placement between 2 and 6 weeks.

Don’t let it get between you and your goal to make a difference!

Original Volunteers have programme fees starting from as little as £12.50 a week.

For further advice on how to find the right project for your budget:

Contact Us Today!

Call us today from the UK 01603 280702
Whatsapp/Text Us 07554002930
Message us!

The post How To Volunteer Abroad For Free appeared first on Original Volunteers.

Prospective volunteers will need to:

• Consider the skills they can offer
• Understand the difference between using organisations versus applying direct
• Choose a country and check it’s safe to travel
• Choose the right programme structure
• Fully understand all the costs before applying
• Start the application process
• Prepare health for travel

A Brief History 

By volunteering in Africa you will be joining many thousands who have travelled before you to help on this vast continent over the past two centuries.

International volunteering originated in the early 1800s. Wealthier young people were encouraged to explore enlightenment, education, religious instruction and help in war zones and natural disasters.

The serious scramble for Africa began in the 1870s when European countries claimed and colonised the continent. By 1914 ninety percent of Africa was under European control, the biggest share, thirty percent was under England’s control followed by France, fifteen percent.

Rich countries, such as England, sent aid to their African colonies to improve their infrastructure. Money was sent to build roads and meet people’s basic needs in health, education and sanitation.

Along with financial aid, young people started offering their time and started travelling to undeveloped countries in the south.

Service Civil international was one of the first volunteer sending organisations founded in 1934. Their aim was to reconstruct areas devastated by disaster and war.

Ever growing interest since the 1980s by governments, charities and celebrities promoting aid and volunteering generated a lot of interest for ordinary people to have the confidence to travel to Africa to do what they can.

Volunteering today is a fusion of religious and social beliefs coupled with civic service and global citizenship. These values continue to shape volunteering today. According to all the world poverty indices, help in Africa may still be more necessary than in other world regions.

Experience & Skills – How Can I Help?

Existing skills can be used to serve the community through teaching, building, animal, conservation, nursing, sports and care and many more. Many organisations and charities can make use of a wider range of skills than can ever be advertised so it is always worth asking.

If you feel you are not skilled enough for volunteering in Africa, never underestimate the skill to sit one-to-one with a child and play with them. If a skill isn’t measured or qualified in your home country, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t valuable. There is some growing criticism with the lack in freedom and low status of play in the western world.

Avoid focusing solely on qualifications rather than what you can offer as a whole person, thinking wider than your accredited qualifications. Different environments can cause unexpected culture shocks. Teachers without their usual smart boards and store cupboard may struggle more than those unqualified to teach yet are adaptable and confident to find solutions.

Using An Organisation

For novice volunteers travelling to Africa for the first time an organisation can be extremely useful. Before making any final decisions, an organisation can be more impartial and may suggest an alternative project or destination if they feel you will be better suited. The projects they recruit for will also have more experience of supporting larger numbers of novice volunteers.

Applying Direct

Applying direct to overseas projects can require a little more patience and compromise. A school or charity is more likely to:

• Focus on the work of their enterprise than on the needs of their short stay volunteers
• Expect volunteers to be professionals with relevant qualifications
• Expect volunteers to make their own independent travel and accommodation arrangements
• Respond slower to emails and may not understand all the questions a volunteer asks
• Find it difficult to advise on visas and vaccinations
• Change the volunteer role after meeting the volunteer face to face
• Have higher expectations about any promises the volunteer makes
• Expect volunteers to organise their own free time independently

Choosing A Country & Checking It’s Safe

Most volunteers find an organisation which provides multiple African destinations then decide which country or project type they like most. Final decisions are usually made after speaking to a project advisor who can hep with any questions the volunteer has. For this reason it helps if an organisation has an office in the volunteer’s home country.

Whilst it is not in an organisation’s interest to recruit volunteers for unsafe countries, when applying direct things can be different. Detailed travel safety advice can be found on official government websites. In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides updated travel guidance.

For alternative approaches to choosing a country the article Where To Volunteer In Africa may also be useful.

Costs To Volunteer In Africa

Volunteering in Africa is never free. Few organisations cover expenses made by those offering their help on a short term basis and even on ‘free’ projects, volunteers are expected to cover certain costs. Volunteers may contribute a one-off donation or weekly programme fees to cover accommodation and in-country staff. There will also be visas, immunisations and airport transfers to pay for.

Some organisations may have a kit-list or wish-list they expect volunteers to arrive with.

For a low-cost programme in Africa prospective volunteers should expect to spend between £600 and £900 for a one to two week placement including flights, visas and all other related expenses.

Expensive programmes can be double this. It does not always follow that accommodation will be better on a more expensive programme, there may be other reasons why programme costs are higher so do check.

Flights to Africa will be the biggest cost of any trip, possibly 3/4 or 4/5 of the total cost of a short trip to Africa so book early and travel as far out of peak season as you can. Flights to Africa are often more expensive compared to other countries of the same distance due to the low demand between Africa and the rest of the world. Africa only receives 1% of the world’s air traffic.

Flight price increases in Africa can also be a result of poor infrastructure, bad politics and corruption in the country. Evidence of how empty African skies are at any time can be found on the website Flightradar.

Programme Structures Explained

There are four ways volunteers are organised on volunteer programmes although there may occasionally be overlaps:

• Organised Programme
• Working With One Project Exclusively
• Formal & Informal Community Volunteering

Organised volunteering is when volunteers visit more than one setting with a schedule organised by a local volunteer-coordinator. The upsides are that coordinators are not usually working for the charities and enterprises the volunteers visit so have a little more freedom and can provide a little extra support to volunteers. Group sizes are generally larger so there can be more fun in a group and easier for first time volunteers to get involved. The main downside is that charities can cancel sessions at the last minute.

Working with one project exclusively is when volunteers work for only one charity or enterprise. Although this may be the arrangement used by some volunteer organisations at some destinations, this is the typical arrangement for anyone applying direct. The upside is that volunteers can get to know one charity inside out and offer to work less or more hours and help in all areas. The main downside may be the commitment required to one charity which might not suit.

Formal community volunteering is usually done through an organisation. The organisation plans visits to serve different communities developing them through health education, improving clean water supply and routine health checks and volunteers assist.

Informal community volunteering is done on an ad hoc basis. Volunteers may run workshops, pop in and out of different settings, visit families at home or help start enterprises or new local businesses. There may be no routine, volunteers spending their time as they choose. Volunteers may be knowledgeable or self-taught depending on the entry-level of knowledge and skills they need. This type of volunteering often requires a little support at the start for networking purposes, with volunteers working independently later.

Application Process For Volunteering in Africa

When applying direct to a project overseas, spaces can be filled up to a year in advance. This will be because of the limited number of beds available with some projects only able to accept one or two volunteers at any time.

Larger volunteer-sending organisations may have more beds available on most projects but due to higher numbers of enquiries projects fill up fast. It is not uncommon for large groups to book a whole volunteer house for two weeks right in the middle of holiday periods.
It is a good idea to find out if you can reserve a space whilst making initial preparations.

For some applications the process is similar to applying for a job. Volunteers will complete forms and wait to be accepted on to their programme. Some organisations recruit on a first-come-first-serve basis according to whether spaces are available. Should there be any reason why they feel a volunteer is unsuitable for their particular project they will contact the volunteer directly shortly after application.

Travel Health

Immunisations and malaria tablets are needed for certain countries within Africa. Detailed lists of those required can be found on the NHS Fit For Travel website. With the correct immunisations and malaria tablets travellers are unlikely to succumb to any serious health hazards.

Many vaccinations don’t take effect until two weeks after immunisation. It is suggested doctors visits are scheduled four to eight weeks prior to departure. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required upon entry for some African countries and will be checked. An International Certificate of Vaccinations is a very useful document to travel with and can be obtained from a doctor.

Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly advised when travelling abroad. African countries do not offer free health care and daily medical bills can be expensive. Comprehensive travel insurance is not expensive for the peace of mind it provides and will cover emergency transport to a hospital, treatment and repatriation back to the home country if required.

Visas

Most African countries require travellers to obtain a visa to enter the country. A visa comes in different forms but is typically a piece of paper stuck directly into a page of the passport. Some countries require passengers to have a visa before travel and airlines may refuse to board passengers without them already in place. Many African countries have arrangements for travellers to obtain visas on arrival but there can be long queues in hot immigration halls. For countries which offer travellers to obtain their visas on arrival it is worth checking if there is an E-visa service. This does not require sending off the passport to obtain the visa, and save yourself the queues on arrival.

Visa costs vary but are typically between £50 and £90. Volunteer organisations can advise on the correct visa type and any supporting documentation you may require as all countries have different requirements.

If applying for a visa before travel by traditional snail mail, allow at least 2 weeks. It is safer to apply at least 4 weeks in advance during peak travel periods to allow for potential delays. The passport will need to be sent by post, or dropped in person, so travel will not be possible whilst until the passport is returned.

For advice on all Original Volunteers programmes in Africa. Call us 01603 280702, text us 0755 400 2930 or message us.

The post How To Volunteer In Africa appeared first on Original Volunteers.

The United Nations recognise and no less than 54 countries and it is no less culturally and linguistically diverse with an estimated 1500 – 2000 languages, compared to just 24 in Europe.

Eight major physical landscapes dominate its land mass which is divided almost in half by the Equator. This can make choosing a country in Africa a challenge.

In addition there are other factors to consider when flying thousands of miles to help. Volunteers often base decisions on the following:

• Poorest Countries
• Safest Countries
• Physical Location
• Tourist Attractions

Poorest Countries Option

Some intrepid volunteers may prefer to work in the very poorest countries but they are not without their challenges.

The top 10 Poorest Countries in Africa ranked by nominal GDP:

• South Sudan
• Burindi
• Malawi
• Central African Republic
• Mozambique
• Niger
• Madagascar
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Gambia
• Sierra Leone

South Sudan and Burundi are at the top of the list where local people struggle to survive on around £250 a year. However, travel is no longer advised by Western governments due to conflict and sporadic unrest.

Safest Countries Option

Many travellers choose their destination of preference then check the country’s safety record for travellers and other potential risk factors.

The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office website provides information for travellers to make informed decisions.

Destination pages include information about what to expect and advise against travel when appropriate. Non-British nationals should follow the advice of their own country’s official advice.

Travellers following government advice should be aware that some advice may only apply to one isolated part of the country. This is usually displayed on a colour-coded map.

Safest & Poorest Countries Option

Excluding unsafe countries the four remaining countries on the top 10 poorest list include Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Gambia and Sierra Leone.

However these countries are less popular with international volunteers and fewer projects are available.

There may be recent historical conflicts or health epidemics which put travellers off, unrest in neighbouring countries, flights may be more expensive, visas more bureaucratic or simply they are not destinations which are currently being advertised and talked-about.

Poorest Region Within A Country

According to World Bank data, the number of people living in extreme poverty in Africa has decreased. However, there are still major poverty challenges remaining with a still-rising African population, especially in rural areas.

Volunteer programmes away from major cities can provide plenty of opportunities to help where needed most.

City-based programmes and charities should not necessarily be ruled out. They may cater for specific vulnerable groups such as special needs children, street kids or a marginalised city community. It is always worth asking the organisation which community is served by the programme.

English Speaking Countries

An English-speaking country will be a good starting point for anyone who speaks native or fluent English. There are more than a dozen countries on the continent where English is an official language. These are: Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Nigeria.

English will make it easier to work alongside local people, share information, give instructions, discuss, learn more and ask questions.

Volunteers in schools can teach subjects other than English, for example, Maths, Science or Health education.

According to a report by the World Linguistic Society, Uganda is the best English speaking country in Africa. Ugandan people can articulate English words more fluently than any other English speaking country in Africa.

However volunteers working in rural areas in any African country will find speakers of many other regional languages. In Uganda there are five additional languages spoken: Bantu, Central Sundanic, Nilotic or Kuliak.

A recruiting organisation can advise on any potential language challenges for a specific location. Projects and programmes where there is usually a large group of English-speaking volunteers working together should have no problems.

Physical Geography

Whilst many volunteers do not mind the location they will be working in, some people have a clear idea and have a preference between:

• City
• Coast
• Countryside

Each location has its advantages and disadvantages and for volunteering projects, extra caution should be exercised.

Cities are popular but not all cities offer tourist attractions and may suffer from petty crime.

Swimming may be impossible on coastlines with strong waves and undercurrents.

The countryside is not always clean and beautiful and may offer no public transport.

By contrast a city placement may be in a quiet and attractive residential area, there may be opportunities in the countryside to swim in rivers and lakes and the countryside may offer cheaper facilities and entertainments or the village may be closer to the city than expected.

It is worth asking an organisation about the everyday advantages and disadvantages of your project’s location. Comparisons to other locations can sometimes be helpful to weigh up your final choices.

Tourist Attractions

Each country has its top 10 list of attractions on a Tripadvisor website page. This can be one way to shortlist countries. A volunteer organisation can advise on the practicalities of visiting these and the costs.

Many volunteer organisations escort their volunteer groups to national parks which may be difficult otherwise as  natural wonders may be a full day’s travel and hard to reach with public transport.

Some activities may be eye-wateringly expensive. Gorilla trekking is one reason many volunteers choose Uganda, however permits and guides for a two day trip can cost £600. Glamorous safari lodges in prime viewing positions may charge upwards of £300 a night.

Need Advice On Choosing Your First African Project?

Call us today from the UK 01603 280702
Whatsapp/Text Us 07554002930
Message us!

The post Where Should I Volunteer In Africa? appeared first on Original Volunteers.

Christmas is a great time to escape the near-crazy levels of Christmas consumerism and lend a helping hand to others in need. Many employers are happy to extend the Christmas break with some extra days and most Western students can squeeze in a week or more around this time.

And if your workplace has an official shut down for a couple of weeks or more, you are one of the lucky ones to take advantage!

If you would like to get out of your comfort zone and volunteer abroad this Christmas, these projects below are flexible to work around your availability and offer a unique experience to do some good.

Volunteer In Marrakech! 3 Hours From London!

Help at a variety of projects in this exotic North African city. Fully escorted, the volunteer group works together each day at different charities and projects. Most work is play-based so is suitable for all ages and abilities. Younger volunteers and families welcome.

December 2018 Start dates: Any day/time of arrival throughout Christmas/New Year period.

6-7 nights is recommended to get the most out of your experience. Long stays possible. Depart home any day/time. Spaces limited. Contact us early to reserve a space.

Programme fees: £17.85 per night (includes accommodation and services of local support team who organise placements and escort your volunteer group to projects). Excludes registration, flights, transfers, insurance and personal spending.

More information

Volunteer In Ghana! Hot Winter Sun 5 Hours Away!

Did you know it’s summertime in Ghana in December? Temperatures can reach 35 Celsius. Come and help in the sun with repair work and listening to children read at the community library close to the volunteer house. All abilities welcome. Time is available for exploring Ghana’s beaches, rainforest and safari parks.

December 2018 Start dates: Thursday 20th Dec/Friday 21st Dec/Saturday 22nd Dec/Wednesday 26th Dec/Thursday 27th Dec/Friday 28th Dec/Saturday 29th Dec

8-10 Days is recommended to get the most out of the visit. Longer stays recommended. Depart home any day/time* (*except 25th December).

Programme fees: £13.57 per night (includes accommodation and services of local support team who organise placements and escorts your volunteer group to projects). Excludes registration, flights, transfers, insurance and personal spending.

More information

Volunteer In Thailand!

With an award-winning team to support you, learn how to help Thai children improve their spoken English. Full training is provided with a certificate upon completion. With little to no rain in December, the summer storms long gone and underwater visibility great, this is the best time to swim, snorkel and dive. And with day temperatures around 25 Celsius you won’t get too sweaty to run around with the children and explore! Thailand in December is a well-kept secret for Australians and Asians alike, come and join them whilst doing some good.

December 2018 Start dates: Thursday 20th Dec/Friday 21st Dec/Saturday 22nd Dec/Thursday 27th Dec/Friday 28th Dec/Saturday 29th Dec.

Two weeks is the minimum stay due to training and school timetabling. Depart home flexibly any Friday afternoon/Saturday any time/Sunday any time.

Programme fees: £195 for two weeks (includes training, accommodation first weekend and midweek and services of local support team). Excludes registration, flights, transfers, second and subsequent weekend accommodation as usually spent elsewhere on tours, insurance and personal spending.

More information

Contact Us Today!

Call us today from the UK 01603 280702
Whatsapp/Text Us 07554002930
Message us!

The post Christmas Volunteering 2018 appeared first on Original Volunteers.

Having spoken to hundreds of students from diverse health backgrounds covering nursing, health and social care and medicine and human biology we have pulled together more myths that still exist surrounding your medical or nursing elective abroad.

Contrary to popular opinion, low cost cheap medical electives are possible. You do not need to spend thousands of pounds for two weeks observation in a hospital. There are a wide range of affordable medical electives if you do your research. For example, Original Volunteers offer medical and nursing electives in Ghana £260 for 2 weeks including accommodation and supervision.

An alternative option, although possibly more time consuming, is to contact a hospital abroad directly. Do not expect the hospital to help you find a hotel or homestay though! You should make your own arrangements at least for the first couple of weeks. It will be easier to find more permanent arrangements after you have settled in and networked with staff.

Here are some more myths exposed with ideas for your medical elective abroad.

You Need To Have Experience To Be Useful

Did you know that junior nurses in southern Uganda are considered fairly well qualified if they have general school leaving certificates? This means staff may only be qualified to the equivalent of GCSEs in the UK which are taken at sixteen years old!

This means pre-University and first year nursing and medical students may find they already have plenty of knowledge and skills ready for their elective. You may even find yourself in a position to pass knowledge on to junior local staff, although you may want to exercise subtlety and diplomacy when passing your knowledge on to prevent causing offence or embarrassment.

Hands-on Opportunities Are Guaranteed

Most medical and nursing elective programmes which have been operating for awhile (ask your organisation how long they have been organising electives ) should be able to provide you with supervised patient-care experience. However, from the most expensive programmes to the free opportunities, direct patient-care may not always be offered.

Make sure you know what type of experience is offered, whether it will be mostly work shadowing a consultant on his ward rounds and sitting in on patient consultations or if you will be hands on alongside staff caring for patients. Sometimes clues can be found in the photos. Group of fresh relaxed looking students in white lab coats standing around a doctor in a ward (probably publicity shot for the company website)? Or sweaty student in scrubs smiling enthusiastically next to junior hospital staff or holding new borns?

If your organisation or hospital only offers work-shadowing on ward rounds and consultations or there is a language barrier getting in the way, ask about opportunities in the maternity unit. Maternity departments offer a wider range of experiences, are never very hands-off and language barriers less of a difficulty in the context of childbirth.

Expensive Elective Programmes Are More Ethical

Aggressively marketed organised electives in poorer countries tend to be offered in larger teaching hospitals which will be experienced in offering a timetable of work shadowing and tutorials on local health with mentoring by experienced physicians and consultants.

This does not suit everyone who may feel like they are back at University or College, distanced from patients and there may be some ethical questions to be asked about why such a structured programme is available at all when strictly speaking the staff should be by all accounts overworked and underpaid with no time to go off to run a tutorial class for voluntourists.

The availability of senior staff may be an indication that the hospital is not overstretched or that the hospital may be private. Perhaps more worryingly will be that they are willing to provide their time in return for the high fees paid by medical elective students rather than care for patients. However, a word of caution, when the average doctor’s salary in Africa is £1500 ($1700) per month, the appeal of an extra two months wages from a small group of medical elective students might be more easily understood if not agreed with.

Over-stretched under-resourced hospitals, patients lying two to a bed, staff muddling through an endless stream of patients with their foreign volunteers at their side helping with every day care as if in a disaster zone, except it isn’t, it is just a busy hospital in Africa. This is what helping should be and also where you will learn more. At the end of a two week placement you should be feeling like you have been through a six month placement.

If in doubt about any organised medical or nusring elective experience you are considering, ask to speak to previous volunteers and find out how much time was spent on the wards.

Sending Organisations Organise Visas

Your hospital or sending organisation is not generally able to apply for the visa for you, in the same way they cannot apply for a passport for you. It is also not uncommon for visa rules to change every year.

6 weeks before travel, find out what visa is currently recommended and the visa category previous volunteers have entered your destination with. Ask the Embassy or Consulate in advance if any supporting documentation is required from yourself, your organisation or the local hospital or sponsors and allow extra time for this, especially if this is needed from the hospital team.

Although you may be officially required to have the correct visa for a hospital or community placement, depending on your destination, region or hospital, a tourist visa may be acceptable if you are not receiving a wage, or officials alternatively may not check or may be prepared to turn a blind eye.

Visa costs vary between £50 and £100 and some countries require you to visit the Embassy or Consulate in person for an interview or fingerprinting before issued so budget extra for any additional trips you need to make.

You Can Only Help In A Hospital

In a developing country there will be plenty of opportunities to contribute first aid help to local people who cannot access a local nurse. Ask your elective organisation before travel what additional opportunities are available and if anyone will be able to help you to organise these.

With the smallest amount of confidence and a few first aid supplies it is straightforward to set up one-off health checks in relevant settings. Volunteers have visited poorer infant and primary schools and the tiniest of rural clinics to assist the local community nurse.

If you do not have the benefit of a local volunteer organiser to help you set this up, ask if your hospital has outreach nurses you could join, speak to your host family or visit the local free school. If you come across anyone needing to be referred to local services you might want to be aware of the cost for the patient to do this.

Many people will be too embarrassed to admit they cannot afford to visit a doctor or even if it will be free, that they know they will not afford the prescription they will be offered which could be as much as 20% of the family’s monthly income. It may be sensible to find out the fees for consultations are, the cost of a typical prescription and what wages and the cost of living is. You may like to consider offering the £5 or £20 treatment costs for any special cases you come across, it really can be that low.

You Need A Special List of What To Take

For the hospital? Take everything you can squeeze in to your luggage! It will all be used. One year in the Atibie hospital in Eastern Ghana they had one pair of rusty umbilical cord scissors for the whole maternity department. Another year there were no sterile gloves, another year no aprons.

Ask your hospital in your home country what they can spare for you to take with you, and do a little cash fundraising amongst your colleagues for the extra charge for luggage allowance.

For yourself? If you are not wearing scrubs or your uniform from home then it is essential to wear a set of clothes which will help identify yourself to patients as a uniformed member of staff. Dark office style trousers or skirt and a clean white shirt or polo shirt with a collar. A box of plastic aprons and sterile gloves essential.

Your Placement Hospital Is The Best Place If You Are Ill

Many underfunded hospitals in developing countries refuse care for their foreign staff and volunteers when they fall sick. It is not because they don’t care about you.

Some hospitals in rural Tanzania for example will turn away any volunteer without notice who shows signs of a temperature or headache in the worry their limited staff will need to care for a volunteer with malaria.

It is assumed their foreign volunteer would always have arranged medical travel insurance which will pick up the pieces for them in a private hospital elsewhere.

They will also assume the volunteer wanting to make a difference, would not want to take up a bed space in a poorer hospital of a local person who needs it more.

You Will Need To Prepare Your Own Health

Check you know what the recommended vaccinations are for the country and region visited. For example, some countries may be listed as malaria-free zones yet have border jungle areas where the risk is high. In the UK the NHS website Fit For Travel provides comprehensive jargon-free advice for travellers including at-a-glance malaria maps.
https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx

The MDU offer elective-specific advice on staying healthy including advice on malaria and HIV prevention.
https://www.themdu.com/for-students/your-elective/elective-guide/2015-elective-guide/staying-healthy

The British Medical Association have produced a leaflet on how to organise and prepare for your elective if you are organising one independently, although it contains useful advice for everyone.
https://www.medschools.ac.uk/AboutUs/Projects/Documents/BMA%20Electives%20Medical%20Students%20Nov%202009.pdf

You Can’t Bring Ideas Home

Surprisingly, elective volunteers often bring back something they can put into practice where they work at home. This could be something personal like greater patience or a particular technique. For example, whilst midwifery students in Africa may find some practices unsettling to a western eye, others could be replicated or trialled back at home.

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