Volunteering ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Volunteering

Replies: 28 - Last Post: 28-Aug-2007 12:01 Last Post By: lab_rats

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Posted
10-Jan-2007 08:11
by: Jameswimbledon

Posts: 154
Registered: 06/01/06

Volunteering

Hello persons of conscience,

Help!

IS ANYONE AWARE OF CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER PROJECTS THAT DO NOT COST THE VOLUNTEER HIS/HER LIFE SAVINGS?

Why is volunteering so goddamned expensive? I've looked at a few but they all seem to work out at a minimum of £500 a week just to be there. This seems ridiculous to me and I am rather perturbed by it. Are only the wealthy allowed to give their time to good causes?

I thought that volunteering would be a good wqy to spend my time over the coming year but even if I could afford those charges I would not do it out of principle. The entire volunteer workforce must stem from Ivy league Universities! heh

IS ANYONE AWARE OF CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER PROJECTS THAT DO NOT COST THE VOLUNTEER HIS/HER LIFE SAVINGS?

James

Posted
15-Jan-2007 02:07
by: mugu2

Posts: 28
Registered: 14/01/07

1

Try Ripple Africa, which has education, healthcare and environmental projects along the lakeshore in Malawi, Africa. I have just noticed the cost is about £600 for up to 8 weeks. While this still isn't cheap, this money definitley goes toward sustaining the projects as well as toward volunteer accommodation -- which is very nice!

There are lot of volunteer projects and placement-type agencies out there whose ethics vary greatly but I know this organisation personally and you can be sure all of the money volunteers contribute goes toward the community and projects in the community!

You might also want to try Idealist or just go ... there are literally thousands of grassroots projects that could probably use your help (provided you are not a financial burden or resource drain) but which don't have the means or accessibility to recruit volunteers from overseas or to hook up with one of the companies or agencies that charge volunteers a fortune!

I agree, it's extortionate but even the smallest proejcts do have operational costs and need to be sustainable.

Good luck.

Posted
15-Jan-2007 03:52
by: Kat_M

Posts: 7
Registered: 03/01/07

2

I know what you mean, I was looking for some projects to do after my graduation, but most things I just can't afford.
If you like work with animals check out: click here. I spent 3 months there, and they don't charge you anything. You just pay your flight to Vancouver and get free accommodation and food.

Posted
16-Jan-2007 21:00
by: Miaow

Posts: 13
Registered: 07/06/01

3

a good way to start is to volunteer in your own country first.

The organisation may be able to advise you of similar operations in countries you wish to visit, and help you with contacts and info. Also it will give you an idea of what to expect.

You'll find that if you can commit to longer periods of time - 3 months and up, there are far more opportunities. Often the cost to the organisation to show you the ropes will only be worth the investment if you're sticking around for a while.

Posted
17-Jan-2007 08:45
by: tsunamihavenprojects

Posts: 4
Registered: 03/01/07

4

Can you deliver school supplies to Sri Lanka kids?

We have 10 fully loaded (69 pound) hockey bags on wheels ready to go thru customs and be delivered to our contacts in Sri Lanka.
Some go to the Budhist community, some to Muslim, some to Tamil. Check with your airlines for max allowance...and take one of our bags
from Vancouver BC to Colombo ! We are also looking for volunteers to work on our projects. Need english teachers, teacher teachers,
and someone to set up a computer lab in a very isolated (non internet) area. Check out our website: www.tsunamihaven.org
be sure to read the BLOG ! contact: info@tusnamihaven.org or 1-250-757-8977 Thank you ! Namaste ! Len

heading back to sri lanka to help our friends. anyone else want to assist? no problem. the more the better we can help. we have great contact there both south and east.
the real point is to share peace and love; nothing else matters.
walker.len@gmail.com please; we need volunteers to assist with our projects. if you can get to Negumbo we can keep you busy and fed and housed ! happy too!
Namaste !
Len

Posted
17-Jan-2007 11:04
by: austingirl

Posts: 11,168
Registered: 08/05/02

5

You should do a search about this, we've talked about this a lot in the past. A lot of programs cost money because they provide you with training, support, meals, housing, etc. Those things aren't free.

Posted
19-Jan-2007 19:48
by: retsbew

Posts: 931
Registered: 14/07/06

6

Conservation Volunteers Australia programs cost nothing if you don't need accomodation, and are really cheap otherwise.

Posted
22-Jan-2007 16:57
by: Satchie

Posts: 750
Registered: 31/03/05

7

The large organizations with websites have a fairly complex infrastructure to handle large numbers of volunteers smoothly and that costs money.

There are volunteer opportunities with small organizations, they do not appear in a google search though. Perhaps decide where you want to go and then get, for eg, the latest Lonely Planet guidebook which will identify some of the local organizations. You will have to contact them and make all the arrangements yourself.

Here's one I've recently come across in Guatemala

Also check the job listings for organizations such as, in the US, Society for conservation biologists, they advertise unpaid work.

Posted
25-Jan-2007 09:37
by: treetraveller

Posts: 48
Registered: 07/04/02

8

Though not really conservation projects, you might wish to look into opportunities provided by Help Exchange www.helpx.net Its free to join and you can upgrade for all information for a very small fee.

Posted
28-Jan-2007 08:55
by: Stevemc

Posts: 81
Registered: 19/12/04

9

Try here: www.volunteersouthamerica.net

Support free Volunteering: www.volunteersouthamerica.net

Posted
28-Jan-2007 22:41
by: jeremy81

Posts: 34
Registered: 26/01/07

10

This is a really good one : www.helpx.net

Not all of it is coservation, but alot of rural and hands on work, etc. and they will feed you and house you.

Posted
29-Jan-2007 20:24
by: dawnteele

Posts: 62
Registered: 14/08/06

11

working in tsunami villages in kuraburi, thailand. costs cover housing and food (which is fair for the villagers) the admin costs are covered by tsunami grants:

www.andamandiscoveries.com voluntourism

www.northandamantsunamirelief.com tsunami organization

Posted
01-Feb-2007 01:53
by: benheron

Posts: 1
Registered: 23/01/07

12

If anyone is interested in planting trees in and around a beautiful forest in Karnataka in June / July (2007) I know of a project that is looking for volunteers... contact me on benheron@ecosse.net

Otherwise, i can suggest looking at www.workingabroad.com - they have a huge database of voluntary work projects all over the world.

Ben

Posted
02-Feb-2007 04:27
by: Giggleloop

Posts: 6
Registered: 26/01/07

13

Try www.volunteerlatinamerica.com a group that have started a volunteer network purely because they were sick of the ridiculous fee's that other agencies were trying to charge people to volunteer.

You can volunteer with conservation or in orphanages or health. DEFINITALEY WORTH A LOOK!!!

Posted
04-Feb-2007 02:16
by: missy73

Posts: 24
Registered: 30/11/03

14

Hello, I understand where you're coming from, but as one who organises, recruits and leads such trips (contributing days and weeks of my own time whilst actually paying myself to be a part of the group) there is a lot to it that you might not be aware of.

I've worked through large NGO's where there's always a bit of administrative costs (I personally ensure it's an absolute minimum of the 'donation' part of the cost, which is only a part of the T&E budget), however, there's typically a governing volunteer board that oversees finances and general corporate governance.

Smaller NGO's can be more affordable, but they don't have the checks and balances in place and you're more at the mercy of the ethics and individuals who run them. Not that you aren't with large NGO's, however, in many developing countries small and local NGO's can be the quickest way for someone to get a Toyota or a new house themselves. Getting a grant or a bit donation for an NGO is akin to winning the lottery, and people spend the money similarly. That said, there are amazing small groups around the world who do so much with so little, and it's fantastic to support them when you can identify them.

There's also a big big difference between long-term projects and short-term projects. There are many long-term opportunities that many point out that have lower cost structures than short term projects where there is transport, insurance, training, and so much more to consider.

If you're seriously interested in learning more about it, PM me and I'll be happy to share a few trip budgets and show you exactly where the money goes. As someone who spends her spare time as a volunteer organising opportunities for people to do short-term work (including haggling at every step along the way), I can assure you £500 in some destinations, depending on what's included, in some cases airfare, is not unreasonable.

All that said, yes, there are people out there making money off of such projects (i.e. playing a travel agent instead of a volunteer coordinator, and being misleading) and schemes and it's important to know where your fees are going.

Hope that helps.

www.givingbackglobally.com

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