Resources for Volunteers
This page contains information that might be useful to potential volunteers as they plan trip logistics. We encourage you to contact us if you know of more information that we should add to this page. Also please explore our area-specific Reading List>>
Before You Go
You should probably be able to answer the questions listed below before embarking on your trip:
What are my goals for embarking on the experience? What are my expectations and assumptions?
What sort of support will I have on site? What sort of safety and emergency support can I expect?
How do I obtain a passport and/or visa?
What special documents do I need to enter the country even if I will be there only for a short time?
What sort of medical facilities are available to me abroad and do I have insurance to cover me while I am abroad?
What are the health and safety issues I will be facing abroad?
How will I access funds abroad? Do I have a back-up plan if my wallet/purse gets lost or stolen?
How will I stay in touch with family and friends and how will they stay in touch with me?
What are the cultural issues I will be facing? Will I need to alter my dress or behavior?
What will the weather be like? How do I pack accordingly?
Is there a departure tax for this country?
Flights/Travel Assistance
International Student Travel Confederation.
STA Travel.
Travelocity.
http://http://www.travelocity.com
Travelzoo.
Kayak. http://www.kayak.com
Travel Cuts. http://www.travelcuts.com
Orbitz. http://www.orbitz.com
Courier Flights: Google “Courier Flights” for more information
Health Insurance
iNext Travel Card. Full coverage insurance offered by CIEE at a Basic or Premium level.http://www.inext.com/inextweb/guestpages/
More Information
(From The Sojourn Abroad Guide, Brown University)
Working Abroad. International jobs, internship programs, and au pair placements, teaching English opportunities. http://www.workingabroad.org/
JET Programme. Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme; grass-roots international exchange. http://www.jetprogramme.org
SIT Graduate Institute. Master’s programs in International Education, Language & Culture, NGOs and Civil Society, Peace and Conflict Transformation, Socially Responsible Management, Sustainable Development, Teacher Preparation. http://www.sit.edu/graduate.htm
Peace Corps. Volunteer organization serving in 74 countries. http://www.peacecorps.gov.
BUNAC. Short-term visas for Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, Cambodia, and others—some for working, some for volunteering, some for teaching. http://www.bunac.org
CIEE. The Council on International Educational Exchange offers teaching abroad programs in Chile, China, Spain, and Thailand. http://www.ciee.org/teach.aspx
Psychosocial.org. Action Without Borders international volunteering site. http://www.psychosocial.org/
U. S. Department of State: Careers Representing America. Foreign service careers and student programs. http://careers.state.gov/
US Department of State Student Internships
http://careers.state.gov/students/opportunities.html
EF Education (Scroll to bottom of page for link to international opportunities) http://www.eftours.com/Careers/jobs.aspx
Transitions Abroad. Website and magazine for working, studying, and living overseas. http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/index.shtml
Idealist.org. Non-profit affiliated with Action Without Borders designed for people and organizations to share ideas, look for jobs and internship opportunities. http://www.idealist.org
DIY Expat. Information on living and working in Europe, jobs, visas, EU green cards, work permits etc. Often updated, uses sources in multiple countries. More information is available as book by Joe Freeman. http://www.diyexpat.com/
Overseas Security Advisory Council. Up-to-date safety information and news regarding safety and violence around the world. http://www.osac.gov/
Monster International. Portal to job-seeker website Monster.com’s international sites. http://www.monster.com/geo/siteselection.asp
University of Michigan International Center. Information on studying, working, and traveling abroad, as well as immigration, visas, Peace Corps and other opportunities, etc. http://internationalcenter.umich.edu/swt/
Harvard Office of Career Services: Global Opportunities. Detailed site with information for students regarding going abroad, funding, opportunities, etc. http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/global-opportunities.htm
Middlebury Career Services: International & Foreign Languages. Teaching, short-term work, service organizations, graduate schools, internships, and more overseas. http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/cso/careerlibrary/foreign.htm
Wesleyan Career Resource Center: International Resources. Job opportunity links organized by continent or region. http://www.wesleyan.edu/crc/explore/international.html
GoingGlobal.com. International career guides, job/internship listings, networking, employers, country guides. http://online.goinglobal.com/
OverseasJobs.com. International job search engine and recruiting site. http://www.overseasjobs.com/
CIA World Factbook. Detailed reference information (maps, flags, profiles, various ranking critera) of every country. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
Expatriate Websites. A long list of useful sites for those living abroad.
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/resources/expatriatewebsites.shtml
WorkPermit.com. Global immigration advice site. http://www.workpermit.com/
Brown University Sojourn Abroad Guide. http://www.brown.edu/Administration/OIP/sojourn/
Globally Engaged. Information from the University of Maryland on working, interning, teaching, and volunteering abroad, as well as resources and advice. http://www.international.umd.edu/ge/
Electronic Embassy. http://www.embassy.org
Articles & Books
Monster.com Work Abroad Articles. Advice and information on finding work abroad, moving abroad to work, international careers, etc. http://international.monster.com/workabroad/articles/
Idealist Guide to Non-Profit Careers. Book available as .pdf download. http://www.idealist.org/en/career/guide/index.html
Work Abroad: The Complete Guide to Finding a Job Overseas.
“Europe Wants You: Opportunities for Working in Europe are Expanding for Non European Citizens.” Joe Freeman.
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/articles/working_in_europe_new_opportunities.shtml
Work Abroad Articles. A variety of interviews and articles on working, studying, interning, and volunteering abroad. http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/index.shtml#work_abroad_overview
Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers. Available to order or as a free .pdf download. http://www.idealist.org/en/career/guide/firsttime/fullbook.html
“Ask the Expat Q & A: Finding Work Overseas.” Volker Poelzl. Advice from someone who has lived and worked in ten countries on the best ways to find and keep different types of work overseas. http://www.transitionsabroad.com/tazine/0808/finding_work_overseas.shtml
“Ask the Expat: The Visa Challenge.” Volker Poelzl.” Overview of types of visas available and required in different countries or regions. http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0707/ask_the_expat_the_visa_challenge.shtml
Study Abroad Providers
These providers and programs may offer internships or job opportunities.
CIEE http://www.ciee.org
Arcadia http://www.arcadia.edu.abroad
IFSA-Butler http://www.ifsa-butler.org
School for Field Studies http://www.fieldstudies.org
IES https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/home.html
Disclaimer
The information on this website is being provided as a general resource for individuals planning to travel and volunteer abroad. The Omprakash Foundation and/or its representatives assume no liability based on the information contained herein in the event of accident or illness, or for damage or injury to person or property of any nature whatsoever.
Volunteer Grant Recipients
Below please find a list of recent volunteer grant recipients. To read more about their individual experiences, please visit the message board. Message Board>>
Vance Walstra from Portland, OR graduated from University of Montana with a degree in Anthropology. He will be volunteering with Helping Hands in Cusco, Peru in winter of 2009. In preparation for his trip, Vance has already collected shoes and medical supplies to be sent to Cusco. He also organized a benefit concert that raised over $1200 for Helping Hands. In addition, he has begun to help Omprakash build new partnerships with other Peruvian organizations. Vance received $1000 from Omprakash. To learn more about Vance and his trip to Peru, check out the message board.
Learn more about Helping Hands, Cusco>>
Sarah Adamak is from Stevens Point, WI and recently graduated from University of Wisconsin. She received $2000 from Omprakash to volunteer with Development and Education Program for Daughters and Community (DEPDC) in Mae Sai, Thailand. This is her second time working with DEPDC. Learn more about DEPDC>>
Sarah Zellweger is from Rye, NY and is a graduate of Pitzer College. She is currently volunteering with Nepal Children’s Organization in Kathmandu. This is her second time volunteering in Nepal. She received $1000 from Omprakash.
Ian Pounds is a former Professor and Crisis Counselor from Vermont. His extensive experiences working with troubled youths, students, and writers around the world will undoubtedly be useful as he volunteers with RAWA in Kabul, Afghanistan. Learn more about RAWA>>
Volunteer in Afghanistan
RAWA
RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of hte Women of Afghanistan, runs a number of schools and orphanages in Pakistan. RAWA is eager to host volunteers who can offer their help in any way. We strongly believe that supporting education and cross-cultural contact in this part of the world is a critical step towards undermining some of the roots of hate and prejudice. Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering with RAWA. Learn more about our partnership with RAWA>>
Circle of Women
Circle of Women is looking for volunteers who are interested in its cause and who looking to help add momentum to the organization and its goals. Volunteers can get involved through the Circumference Program by starting a new Circle of Women project, starting a Circle of Women branch, or supporting Circle of Women’s existing programs. You can support an existing program by volunteering your time, sharing your network, or by sharing your ideas, expertises, or resouces. If you are interested joining the circle, please contact info@circleofwomen.org to learn more about its Circumference Program. Learn more about our partnership with Circle of Women>>
Partnership with RAWA
Project Profile
The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan runs a number of schools and orphanages in Afghanistan and Pakistan. RAWA is eager to host volunteers who can offer their help in any way. We strongly believe that supporting education and cross-cultural contact in this part of the world is a critical step towards undermining some of the roots of hatred and prejudice. Visit www.rawa.org to learn more.
Partnership History
-In June, 2007, we donated $5,010 to support some of RAWA’s education initiatives in Pakistan and Afghanistan. These funds paid for one year’s stationery and reference books for the 445 children at RAWA’s nine orphanages in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and one year’s worth of stationery, reference books, and textbooks for 58 students at RAWA’s school for Afghan refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Partnership with Yachay Wasi Intercultural Community Education Center
Project Profile
Located in Quito, Ecuador, Yachay Wasi is a community school that provides local indigenous youth a full academic education including a multi-disciplinary education in the history, language, traditions, culture, and cosmovision of the Andean-Amazonian indigenous peoples. Yachay Wasi educates over 80 students that range in age from 5 (kindergarten level) to 13 (7th grade). The cost to attend the school is highly subsidized for all students, and is based on the financial situation of each family. Almost all students pay less than $6 dollars monthly, with many students paying nothing at all.
Through limited assistance from the Ecuadorian government (one of the few sources of aid the school receives), the school offers both a healthy snack and a large lunch. At Yachay Wasi, education is not limited to what is gained through books and lessons but 
includes all inputs in one’s life, including food. Therefore, the students are prepared traditional Kichwa food and all the vegetables and fruit are fresh and organic, and much of the produce is provided by the school’s own large chakra, or garden, where students and community members, grow traditional Andean crops such as maize, squash, beans, and potatoes. Chickens are raised on premise, and the school recently received a donation of three llamas that will be raised to give wool for artisan weaving.
Besides serving as a formal school for kindergarten-7th grade, Yachay Wasi serves the role of a community center for the local indigenous population, many of whom are recent immigrants from outlying rural communities. Yachay Wasi hosts community celebrations and social events, an after-school program for high-school students that includes natural medicine classes and English classes, and an adult literacy/alphabetization class at night for illiterate adults.
Mission of Yachay Wasi Intercultural Education Center:
Besides offering a heavily-subsidized education to humble indigenous youth, the mission of the school is to teach students and local community members to be in harmony with nature. As part of this, Yachay Wasi emphasizes the importance of biodiversity of animals and plants, conservation, sustainability, and organic farming/consumption practices. Both traditional Andean practices and modern conceptions of conservation are incorporated.
Secondly, Yachay Wasi strives to promote and revitalize the indigenous Kichwa culture, wisdom, and language. The Kichwa language is taught to all students, and the school follows the Kichwa calendar, including celebrations and agricultural planting dates. The school believes that educating Kichwa youth and their families about their identity is important for the validation of and pride for this historically marginalized and subjugated culture. Within the present socio-political situation, indigenous people along with Afro-Ecuadorians make up an overwhelming percentage of Ecuadorians that live in poverty, and extreme poverty. Many lack access to basic resources such as food, safe water, health and education. Through education, organizations like Yachay Wasi have made significant progress in making changes to social and political structures in 
Ecuador. Yachay Wasi is a positive source of inspiration and validation of the beauty that is the Kichwa nation and its culture. Yachay Wasi is one of the many players working toward the dream of a future, diverse society that considers a variety of ways to see the world.
Need for Volunteers:
Yachay Wasi welcomes volunteers who have an interest in helping out with the activities and classes of the school. Teachers from various countries have come to teach classes or share their culture and world visions. Having a degree or teaching experience is not necessary. Rather, what is more important is an interest in making a positive impact on the lives of children eager to learn all types of knowledge. Many of the teachers have been college students, who before, did not have experience nor formalized training in primary education.
Members of other cultural groups and/or indigenous tribes, speakers of different languages, artists/artisans, musicians, scientists, and social scientists could lead exceptional classes on their knowledge. Recently, Yachay Wasi has been fortunate to have regular English classes from a native speaker, a program the school would like to continue year round. There are also general service and maintenance projects such as helping out in the kitchen, farming, being a teaching assistant, leading sports, and repairing infrastructure that volunteers could help with. If you are studying abroad, living in Ecuador, visiting for more than a few weeks, or interested in working on service projects abroad where you will develop your Spanish speaking capabilities, Yachay Wasi would love to have your presence at the school. You will learn about a new culture and become part of the Kichwa-Ecuadorian community.
Sister School Initiative:
Yachay Wasi also is interested in developing partnerships with other schools throughout the world. As sister schools, Yachay Wasi and its partner schools would 
exchange letters, photos, artesania (or art), updates about the schools, and didactic materials. In the letter exchange, non-native Spanish speakers could write in Spanish, improving their Spanish language fluency, while Yachay Wasi students could respond in Spanish or English (or another language if the students have developed a capacity in that language). Although it is certainly not necessary nor required of this partnership, if a partner school was interested in donating monetary funds for the school, school supplies, textbooks, sports equipment, used computers, or used electronic devices such as radios/cd players schools, Yachay Wasi would be grateful for the support and solidarity.
Need for Material Resources
The school relies completely on donations from private individuals and indigenous organizations in Ecuador for the majority of its costs, which include but are not limited to: teacher salaries, books, school supplies, and sports equipment. The money used from student matriculation fees is only enough to cover the electricity, water, and toilet paper for students.
Yachay Wasi would be grateful to receive any kind of monetary donation or donation of school supplies, books, and athletic equipment. A little goes a long way for the students and their families who do not have the financial ability to pay more than a few dollars a month on education costs.
“Sponsor-a-Machi” Program-“Machi” is the Kichwa word for friend/companion and is the word used to refer to both the teachers and students. “Sponsor-a-Machi” is a program that would provide funding to sponsor a student’s entire education costs. This small donation of $10 a month would allow one student to continue to attend Yachay Wasi for free.
Contact Information:
1. Laura Santilian-Director of the School
Address: Laura Santillan
Escuela Yachay Wasi
Francisco Matiz E 14 265 y Jose Xironza
El Barrio San Jose de Monjas de Puengasi, sector: La Arboleda
Quito, Ecuador
Phone number: (593) 02 3 194-529
e-mail address: sinchiachik@yahoo.es
2. Adam Weiss-Student Volunteer/English teacher
Address: Adam Weiss
1105 Briarcliff Drive
Arlington, TX 76012
Phone number (U.S. Phone number): cell (817) 287-1653
Home (817) 795-2529
e-mail address: adam.h.weiss@duke.edu
Partnership with Seeds of Hope
Project Profile
The mission of Seeds of Hope is to support all the children who live in extreme poverty in Peru and to provide vocational training for those without economic means. We aim to achieve this through the objectives below:
- Provide the children with a strong education, founded on the values and principles which will improve their prospects for the future
- Aid them with medical assistance as required (in conjunction with other organizations)
- Teach them to practice personal hygiene.
- Provide them with clothes, shoes and school equipment.
- Give them the emotional support they need whilst they are part of the organization.
- Fight for the rights of the children and provide them and their families with legal assistance where needed
We currently operate from 2 centers: Huaraz (March 2006) and Cusco (October 2007).
Our website: http://www.peruseeds.org.
We recently opened the Seeds café and agency (http://www.peruseedsadventures.org/) in order to generate a more stable income for the Seeds children.
Read the Seeds of Hope October 2008 Newsletter>>
Partnership History
Seeds of Hope has been an Omprakash partner since November, 2008.
Need for Material Resources
- We want to provide the children on a regular basis with:
Clothes, shoes and school equipment for 1 child (per year): 250 us dollars
Food (daily contribution towards a balanced diet) for 1 child (per year): 120 us dollars
- We organize fundraisers for specific projects (mainly from our network of ex volunteers), for instance:
Building basic housing for 1 family 1500 us dollars
- We have a sponsorship program where one kid throughout the year receives help with school material, uniforms, and school fees.
Sponsor a child (per year): 300 us dollars
To learn more about our current projects or the sponsorship program, mail to seedsofhoperu@hotmail.com
Need for Volunteers 
We welcome international volunteers from all backgrounds and with a positive outlook and enthusiasm to work in our projects. Our previous international volunteers have come from the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Belgium and Japan and are usually professionally trained in a variety of areas from teaching to engineering. They usually come to us whilst travelling in Peru, on a gap year, during retirement or simply for a working holiday.
We have opportunities working with the children or behind the scenes and currently need teachers, social workers, psychologists, project co-ordinations, medically trained people, language professionals, marketing and fundraising professionals.
The time volunteering depends on the volunteer: we have had people volunteering from anything between 2 weeks up to 2 years.
We ask for a monthly fee for volunteers choosing to live in the Seeds of Hope house to cover your accommodation and food, also included are Spanish classes. The fee is used to cover basic costs for the center first, everything after that goes directly to the children (food, school material, specific projects).
Alternatively, if you have your own lodging and food covered, we ask a contribution –as you see fit- into a current project.
Read the Seeds of Hope Huaraz Volunteer Booklet 2008>> 
Some of the daily activities we conduct are:
- Helping children with their homework and ensuring it is completed by the end of the session.
- Working with children to build up their basic reading, writing and arithmetic to a level appropriate for their age, so they can enter school.
- Ensuring all children understand the importance of personal hygiene, including brushing their teeth, and washing their face and hands, especially after using the bathroom.
When needed, we also bring in trained professionals for other matters, including:
- Sexual education, with the aim of reducing teenage pregnancies and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV and AIDS.
- Legal advice to protect the rights and integrity of children and their families.
- Psychological support for children that come from broken families with a high incidence of violence and/or parental negligence, often due to economic conditions or alcoholism.
In the future we also hope to be able to offer workshops which will teach knitting, t-shirt printing, card making and ceramics so that we can start micro-businesses including the exportation of goods, creating jobs and providing income now and in the future.
Partnership with Expand Peru
Expand Peru (www.expandperu.org) operates multiple education and community-development projects in the city of Huancayo, about 350 kilometers outside of Lima. Please download the files below to learn more about four of Expand Peru’s projects:
Escuelas Rurales- Volunteers are needed to teach computer, art, and English classes in formal schools. Learn more about Escuelas Rurales>>
Hogar de Bebes- These centers offer special care and developmental support to poor children between the ages of six months and three years, and also offer services to their mothers. Volunteers are needed to assist in all programs. Learn more about Hogar de Bebes>>
Proyecto Especial- This project offers informal education and other forms of support to families living in extreme poverty, focusing especially on children between six and twelve years of age. Learn more about Proyecto Especial>>
Manual Orfanatos y Aldeas- This project consists of a chain of orphanages offering residence, nutrition, education, and general support to abandoned children and adolescents. Volunteers are needed to help teach and mentor these children. Learn more about Manual Orfanatos y Aldeas>>
Volunteer in Nicaragua
Hospital Escuela
Located in Leon, Nicaragua’s second-largest city, this hospital is in need of volunteers with some background in Spanish and the practice of medicine. Learn more>>
Partnership with Hospital Escuela
Project Profile
The Nicaraguan government constructed the Hospital Escuela Dr. Oscar Danilo Rosales Arguello in 1979. The hospital’s staff strives to assist the ~200,000 people living in the Léon (the nation’s second largest city), as well as the surrounding communities. The hospital is also partnered with the nation’s largest medical school, so it also aims to educate Nicaragua’s future doctors. The hospital deals with all aspects of medicine, with two notable exceptions: cancer specialties and advanced radiography (the hospital only has an x-ray machine). Although the hospital’s doctors all work incredibly hard, a continuous lack of medical supplies, current medical technologies, and training in new techniques and technologies make standard patient care difficult.
The hospital does not have a website, though the affiliated medical school does have a page: http://www.unanleon.edu.ni/ .
Need for Material Resources
There is an overwhelming need for both daily medical supplies as well as long-term items, however the following is a list of critical items:
-Antibiotics (typically prescribed for ~1 week)— $4 buys a 30-day supply (enough to treat four patients with bacterial infections)
-Multivitamins (for children, pregnant women, and the elderly)— $5 buys a three-month supply
-Glucose Monitors—$13 buys a glucose monitor that will help the hospital’s doctors to quickly identify, monitor, and treat patients with diabetes.
-Pediatric Ventilator—$450 buys one machine (these machines are essential for pre-mature babies)
-Non-Electric Operating Room Table—$3,500 buys one table (Note: the hospital’s OR tables all do not currently function properly and a non-electrical tables is needed as ).
The hospital also gladly accepts all medical equipment and supplies that are no longer in use at other hospitals or medical practices. Please note, however, that the equipment should be in usable condition, as the shipping costs are quite expensive.
Need for Volunteers
The hospital needs volunteers (preferably, fully trained nurses or doctors) from all medical specialties to help with daily work. Because the hospital lacks many new medical technologies, the hospital especially needs doctors who own medical instruments and can use these tools to help patients as well as educate the hospital’s current doctors.
Spanish proficiency is highly recommended, as it will make patient care and professional interactions easier, however, many of the hospital’s doctors do speak some English and translators are available for any kind of training that a volunteer may want to provide in English.
Stays of longer than 2 weeks are preferred, however any help that can be given is greatly appreciated. In Léon, homestays are very easy to find, as the city is rife with people who want to rent rooms within their homes (~$60/month). Cheap hotels are also easy to find (~$10/night for a decent room) as well as apartments (rates vary according to accommodations). The organization may help you to find rooming accommodations, upon request.
Partnership with Voluntario Global
Asociación Civil Voluntario Global
Personería jurídica Número 0000 515-
REPUBLICA ARGENTINA
Project Profile:
Voluntario Global is grass roots organization working directly with and in impoverished districts and shanty towns in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Within the community centres that we use we know each and every person and their specific needs. This is our greatest asset, our greatest strength.
Our programmes are especially for those people looking to see, from the inside, the other side of Buenos Aires, what social exclusion really is, and those seeking to initiate change.
Our main objective is to promote a lasting change in the lives of the families that live there. Voluntario Global creates volunteer work programmes that match the skills and interests of volunteers to the local social organizations like us. We are an investor in people and their training, and we also communicate and join forces with other organizations so that we can create appropriate volunteering programmes. We always start by getting to know personally the people from each organization with which we operate, and with that knowledge and understanding we are able to improve and focus our programmes.
Longer stay volunteers choose from a variety of programs depending on their level of interest, available time and language level. Spanish fluency isn’t required in order to volunteer but certainly a rudimentary knowledge of the Spanish language is helpful.
Some programmes:
Computer Class: Adult Continuing Education.
Communication and Media: adult continuing education.
English Class and tutoring: elementary and secondary school children and adolescents.
Radio Broadcasting: Assist at a community radio station located.
Culinary Arts: Assist in the community centre kitchen, preparing traditional meals for students and staff.
Clinical Assistance Health: Working with local hospitals will serve the poor residents of communities by providing preventive health care and education.
Contact: Valeria Gracia (Coordinator)
Email: info@voluntarioglobal.com.ar
Website: www.voluntarioglobal.org.ar
Phone: 0054 – 911 – 6206 - 9639
Need for Material Resources
Voluntario Global can only survive by means of private monetary donations from the volunteers who work with us. The donations are used for administration, promotion and to purchase necessary equipment for the programmes and the community centres out of which we operate. Furthermore, a percentage of the money collected contributes to a “Banco Solidario” (a small no-interest loan fund for individuals in the communities we serve to access).
Low donations:
4 week: 150 American Dollars
2 months: 200 American Dollars
3 months: 250 American Dollars
After 3 months helping and working with us, volunteers will not be required to make further donations. You can continue helping with your time and your presence as your availability permits.
Partnership with Intag
Project Profile
The eco/agro-tourism Project of San Antonio comunity, Intag, was formed in December 2007. Our mission is to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of San Antonio, while conserving the delicate cloud forest ecosystem in which we are privileged to live. We aim to provide a safe, comfortable and friendly environment in which tourist, students, scientists and volunteers can enjoy the experience of visiting a remote cloud forest community. Our website is www.intagtour.com
Contact us at contacto@intagtour.com.
Mas informacion sobre Intag en Espanol>>
Need for Material Resources
We would like to construct at least one refuge for visitors within the Nature Reserve that borders our community. We need funds to buy 1200 roofing tiles, cost $180 approx, and to purchase basic furniture and equipment for the refuge. For example, rubber boots ($ 7 a pair), Waterproof ponchos ($10 each), Blackboard, table and chairs ($ 150 approx), gas stove ($ 55), educational materials such as bird and plant identification books etc.
Need for Volunteers
We would like to received volunteers able to help in the following areas.
A) To help develop the community´s ability to received tourist and other visitors. For example, we need training as guides, cooks and hosts adequate to the needs of national and international visitors.
B) To help teach English to the children of the community.
C) To participate in small-scale sustainable agriculture, and to give and receive knowledge of that subject.
D) To carry out plant and/or animal surveys in the community cloud-forest and in the edge of the nature reserve.
Volunteers would require a good basic command of Spanish and the ability to cope in an isolated, rural community. It is anticipated that volunteers would stay initially in the community guest-house , and once ready, would stay with a local family. There is no minimum length of stay. Help with Spanish is available.
Partnership with SMILE
Project Profile
SMILE is a registered charitable organization founded in the year 1997. SMILE works with three target groups children women and senior citizens. SMILE’s mission statement is caring enough to share what surplus or little we may have with the deprived and encouraging others to do the same. SMILE’s most eminent project is the children ‘s project focusing on the education upto graduation and post graduation level, health and all round development of the child. For the women we run vocational training classes in addition to monthly programmes on awareness and medical camps. For the senior citizens we have launched a mobile van service titled ‘SMILE at Every Mile’. This project for senior citizens is gaining momentum. The senior citizens have expressed joy at the thought of having SMILE start a project specially catering to their problems of loneliness and frustration. Please visit www.smile-ngo.org to learn more.
Need for Financial Resources
|
Expense Type |
5 yrs. |
10 yrs. |
15 yrs. |
Graduation - 16 to 20 yrs. |
|
Accommodation |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Food |
15,000 |
17,000 |
20,000 |
Nil |
|
Clothing |
700 |
700 |
700 |
5,000 |
|
Books & Stationery |
1,000 |
1,500 |
3,000 |
5,000 |
|
School Fees |
9,000 |
9,000 |
9,000 |
8,000 |
|
Travel |
2,400 |
2,500 |
2,500 |
2,500 |
|
Medical attention |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
|
Other (rationing, computer course, outside exposure) |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
|
Total |
31,600 |
34,200 |
38,700 |
24,000 |
Partnership with Theo Welfare Trust
Theo Welfare Trust Bio
Katie and I spent our 2004 honeymoon in South India. We were visiting the main temple in the city of Madurai (state of Tamil Nadu, South East India), where we had the pleasure of meeting Brother Edwin Issac.
He told us of an orphanage (ISA Children’s Home) he had founded, and was currently running on the outskirts of the city. He invited us to visit, but I was ill and we declined his offer.
Exchanging addresses, we parted ways.
Upon our return to California, we sent a care package to ISA (clothes, school supplies, ect.), later receiving heart-felt photos of the items donated, as well as the people who had so benefited from them. The light bulb went off: It is possible to make a difference. Thus began our desire to work on-going w/ Brother Edwin.
All sharing a passion to contribute, we created a Trust to formalize our relationship; Katie Welfare Trust was established in 2006.
The Trust’s Mission:
To make a positive impact on the tribes of Thandikudi, located within the mountains of Kodaikanal, 125km Northwest of Madurai (see map below). We are in the process of purchasing a parcel of land (approximately 2 acres) in the area, where we plan on building an orphanage with corresponding school (nursery and primary, with a focus on English language acquisition), a home for the elderly and handicapped, as well as a center for women’s reproductive health.
We recently registered the Trust in the U.S. to enable those who donate to receive a tax deduction. We are being sponsored by a wonderful organization, Omprakash Foundation (www.omprakash.org), and are confident our 501© (3) status will increase our ability to fund raise, and empower the Trust to make a bigger impact on the tribes.
When donating, please make the check payable to, “Omprakash Foundation”; in the memo area of the check, please write, “Theo Welfare Trust”, and send donations to:
Theo Welfare Trust
c/o Jason M. Beck
4 Mallory Lane
Redding, CT 06896
We will deposit the funds in the Trust’s bank account in the U.S., and wire the donations to our Trust headquarters in Marurai. Please provide us with a mailing address; we will send a receipt which can be utilized for your tax deduction.
Any donations, however small, will make a fundamental difference in the lives of these people.
In Humble Service,
Katherine T. Sadowski & Jason M. Beck
Theo Welfare Trust
Partnership with BECC
Vision
“To build a community based on the values of Love, Justice, Equality and Peace”
Mission
“To help the marginalized and needy improve their quality of life by providing financial, educational and life skills inputs”.
Project profile
Located in Mumbai (Bombay), Maharashtra, Bandra East Community Centre (BECC), established in 1st September 1974, is a registered voluntary social work organization (NGO, Regd No: BOM-42/76 GBBSD) catering to the socio-economic development of the slums and pavement dwellers. This centre has three storeyed infrastructures with 25 staff and more than 15 volunteers. The activities reach out to street children project, handicapped programmes, community development programmes, clinic for poor slum dwellers, Senior citizens programmes, educational trade courses for the slum youths, nursing room for the street and handicapped children etc.
Web site and contact info: www.beccindia.org ; beccdirector@yahoo.co.in
About the Project
Over the period, the street children project arbitrates to tackle the issues of streets children in Mumbai City with an Integrated Programme. In 1991 an Integrated Programme for Street Children started, under this project it runs 24 hours drop-in shelters and provide food, clothing, shelter, non-formal education, recreation, counseling, and guidance and referral services for children. The other components of the programmme include enrollment in schools, vocational training, occupational placement etc. At present the project look after about 55 street children in BECC shelter home. We work to ensure that every street child is entitled to adequate nutrition, medical care, education, housing, and recreation and is to be protected from all forms of negligence and cruelty from hardened exploiters for their selfish gains.
Need for Volunteers
1. This could be an exchange programme with our staffs and the volunteers. Perhaps volunteers may be get inspire to do more work and also our staff may benefit by exchanging views.
2. We have number of children they can take classes for them. I am also worried these children from the road and don’t have proper upbringing as a result qualified volunteers may find it difficult to go to their level.
3. Most of the time children are occupied because children are going regular classes.
4. As you are aware each child has it own back ground and story to tell each child should be handled accordingly.
5. Five children are mentally or disable children.
6. We have senior citizen/drop out school girl under our guidance and care it would be nice to listen to them but volunteers may have language problem.
6, To stay a great problem we do not have rooms. If they are willing to stay with the children we can accommodate for two week maximum. Again volunteers may not like the set up.
Partnership with Asha Darshan
We are proud to be working with Asha Darshan, a community-based organization working in Assam in NE India. Learn more about Asha Darshan or check back soon for more information!
Volunteer in Pakistan
RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (www.rawa.org), runs a number of schools and orphanages in Pakistan. As demonstrated by the email excerpts below, RAWA is eager to host volunteers who can offer their help in any way. We strongly believe that supporting education and cross-cultural contact in this part of the world is a critical step towards undermining some of the roots of hatred and prejudice. Please contact us or RAWA(Andeisha@rawa.org) if you are interested in this volunteering opportunity.
Letters
We invite you to browse through our archive of past newsletters.
April, 2008– Letter to Webb School
Volunteer in Uganda
-SOVHEN Uganda is looking for volunteers to help them with nutrition and enviromental health education. The volunteers work with 29 staff members (2 fulltime and 27 part-time) and a pool of an additional 120 volunteers (35% out-of-school and 65% in-school) and live together in the rural areas of Mpigi, Masaka and Rakai and in the urban slum areas of Kampala. Learn more about our partnership with SOVHEN Uganda>>
-Youth Vision Uganda is currently accepting application letters from creative, talented, passionate and innovative youth to work with orphaned vulnerable children under its early childhood development education model centre of Bright Destiny Academy or its Sports for Development program. Learn more about our partnership with Youth Vision Uganda>>
Partnership with SOVHEN Uganda
Project Profile
Supporting Orphans & Vulnerable for Better Health, Education and Nutrition in Uganda (SOVHEN Uganda) is a student founded legally registered Voluntary Not For Profit and Non Governmental Community based Organization, founded on 15th August 2001 to organize orphans and other vulnerable groups living in difficult circumstances in urban slum and rural areas of Uganda, build solidarity and cooperation among the target group, promote their economic and social development and improve their organizational ability.
Our mission is to struggle for a better quality of life and increased life expectancy for orphans and other vulnerable groups living in difficult circumstances. We will serve in purpose through community dialogue with the rights holders/claimers and duty bearers at individual, household, community, government, local government, religious, higher institutions of learning, private sector, media and international level building on existing community channels, their structures and networks, their resources and opportunities. Contact sovhenuganda@gmail.com to learn more.
Partner History
SOVHEN has been an Omprakash partner since summer 2008.
Need for Material Resources
Institutional building: USD $ 6,000 is needed to purchase a truck for transport of SOVHEN Uganda duty bearers in our 4 districts of service for rights holders/claimers group formation, village organization and creation of a federation through community dialogue.(hiring is not cost effective)
The objectives of institutional building programme are to: create solidarity and cooperation among duty bearers and rights holders/claimers with particularly emphasis on orphans and their households participation: build the capacity of group members for sustainable development: encourage groups towards collective action to use natural resources for income generation, support individual groups in conflict resolution, problem solving and development so that groups can manage their activities independently, and enable the orphans and their households to participate in the national development process.
Eduaction:
- Adult literacy program: $1000 per year fully sponsors Adult literacy program
The objectives of the Adult literacy program (ALP) are to provide surviving parents and other orphan care caregivers in their groups with an opportunity to: learn how to read and write their names and addresses: understand group dynamism; understand the importance of child education and help their children in basic education.
- Non Formal Pre- Primary Education: for $15 per month you can sponsor an orphan living in difficult circumstances in households: separated from their siblings, widow and child headed, impoverished and abusive, institutional care, old and frail grand parents, orphans who have become children street children, refugees or internally displaced, HIV+ orphans, orphans who are being used as child laborers by meeting his/her pre primary education, scholastic materials, feeding, clothing, medical care and other essentials. What is required is a start up fee of $50 and then a monthly support fee of $15 thereafter. Detailed information, photographs and background of the boy/girl pr child will be provided to his/her sponsor
-Non Formal Post Primary Education: for $30 per month you can sponsor an orphan living in difficult circumstances in households: separated from their siblings, widow and child headed, impoverished and abusive, institutional care, old and frail grand parents, orphans who have become children street children, refugees or internally displaced, HIV+ orphans, orphans who are being used as child laborers by meeting his/her post primary education, scholastic materials, feeding, clothing, medical care and other essentials. What is required is a start up fee of $100 and then a monthly support fee of $30 thereafter. Detailed information, photographs and background of the boy/girl per child will be provided to his/her sponsor
Books: SOVHEN Uganda is in constant need for books for our mobile reading tent with an aim to develop life long reading skills and culture and to encourage literacy. The mobile reading tent targets less advantaged children in our rural and urban slum areas of service in order to inculcate the reading culture and introduce them to libraries at an early age.
Clothing: We are in constant need of clothing to improve on the health and well being of the rights holders that we serve. They are 400 children below 18 years who have lost one both parents. Their numbers include orphans in households: separated from their siblings, widow and child headed, impoverished and abusive, institutional care, old and frail grand parents, orphans who have become children street children, refugees or internally displaced, HIV+ orphans, orphans who are being used as child laborers.
Shelter: For $6000 we can have a home for the suffering hard to place children who include orphans who have-not been successfully traced, handicapped children, and groups of siblings. The home will enable us create a safe loving and nurturing environment for these rights holders/claimers as we plan to accommodate more. They will be provided with health diet and good education while in the home. While in the home, these children will undergo discipline and behavior change before they are released back into the community. In the long run, we shall have these children growing up as God fearing and as the future generation of leaders who will have a value system that stops war and prevents diseases. When they are released back into the community as health, educated and well-adjusted adults they will surely play their part in re-building their country into a positive and prosperous nation.
Need for Volunteers
As duty bearers entrusted by society to fulfill the human rights of rights holders/claimers namely orphans, persons with disability, elderly, women, children) living in difficult circumstances in urban slum and rural areas of Uganda, we are in constant need of volunteers ( individuals and institutions ) both formal and informal from other countries to jointly play our parts as duty bearers with a responsibility of ensuring that the rights of orphans and other members of the society, especially those most vulnerable are attained.
Together with the volunteers we will build on existing community channels (groups and organizations), their structures and networks, their resources (manpower, funds, materials and structures) and opportunities in addressing prioritized issues of concerns for the rights holders/claimers in the areas of Institution building: Self Generating Fund: Education and Awareness Raising: Environmental health and nutrition.
The volunteers in collaboration with our 29 staff members (2 fulltime and 27 part-time) and our pool of 120 volunteers (35% out-of-school and 65% in-school) will live together with the rights holders/claimers and their surviving duty bearers in our villages of service in the rural areas of Mpigi, Masaka and Rakai and in the urban slum areas of Kampala. This arrangement provides another opportunity for the volunteers to assimilate the foreign culture and is important for their integration into the local community. The host family provides support, a sense of belonging and serves as a reference point to help orient the volunteers in their foreign environment.
Volunteer in Nigeria
CHRIFACAF is seeking short-term volunteers to make an impact on the lives of their community. They accept volunteers with various backgrounds and skills. The volunteer would spend one to three months with CHRIFACAF and there would be available accommodation with the host communities or inns nearby. Learn more about our partnership with CHRIFACAF>>
Partnership with Nigerian Christian Fellowship and Care Foundation
Project Profile
The Nigerian Christian Fellowship and Care Foundation (CHRIFACAF) is a non-profit humanitarian organization whose primary focus is to provide free health care and humanitarian services to the surrounding rural communities and beyond. To liaise and partner with local and international humanitari