Planning a volunteer holiday

eileenfromplaistow

The Guardian did a feature about volunteering last Saturday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jun/26/paying-price-gap-year-adventure?page=all

Makes an interesting read

lily_the_pink

gentlepurr wrote: »

Thanks l the p, i hear what you are saying, but i do think they have their place. I am travelling alone and want more than to lie on a beach all day, cos i get fed up. I like to "get under the skin" of the place i am at, so the way i see it, volunteering does tick some boxes for me, even if i do have to pay to do it, even if, as you say, volunteering has very little practical impact. Im sure you are right with regard to the chaos some people leave behind, and i do wonder myself how much of the volunteer projects are dreamt up as a money spinner, but then thats down to me to sort the wheat from the chaff, and thats where i could do with some direction.

gp xx

Can't give you much direction on the volunteering thing - however 2/3 weeks is as another poster put not much time (and I echo the thing about travelling and getting under the skin of a place without going near a beach).

In terms of location, Ecuador is lovely - there were loads of volunteer programs there when I was travelling through a long long time ago. (A lot of USA students on placements). I stayed at a fab eco complex on the coast there (cannot find as cannot even remember where!) - it was linked to an archeological dig. I also found the following (and it might be worth contacting the owners to see if they know of any volunteering opps close to their hotel - they are advertising for medical volunteers but still worth asking):
http://www.blacksheepinn.com/

I also found these but no idea if any good:
http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/ecuador/

http://www.volunteerhq.org/IVHQ-Ecuador-volunteer-program.html


As a single female travelling alone (and a lot younger than I am now), Ecuador was a much more pleasant place to be on the whole than Peru - also loads of other back packers. If you want to volunteer, get it in place before you go though as if you leave it until you get there 2 weeks not enough time to find something when you are there.

Boozer

gentlepurr wrote: »

Also Boozer and laurissa, ive looked on i to i, did they help you sort your flights? It just seems like a chicken and egg conundrum with what to book first, or did you volunteer as part of other travelling?

gp xx

I just sat with a notepad and saw the project i was interested in and the dates, then went onto opodo and confirmed i could get flights in and out no problem, once i saw there were plenty of flights i went ahead.

I was living in Thailand at the time, so Sri Lanka was not all that far away.

p.s it was the hardest work i have ever done in my life, digging a ditch outside in the 35+ heat, we could only work for about 10 minutes max before needing to rest a bit.

xxlaurissaxx

gentlepurr wrote: »

Also Boozer and laurissa, ive looked on i to i, did they help you sort your flights? It just seems like a chicken and egg conundrum with what to book first, or did you volunteer as part of other travelling?

gp xx

They put me intouch with Flight Centre who booked my flights for me. The best thing is to decide where you want to go, book then book flights. It was my first time travelling by myself and I must admit it was really easy to organise. xx

Incapuppy

May I suggest the OP take a look at the Millennium Elephant Foundation in Sri Lanka?

http://www.millenniumelephantfoundation.com/

Details re: volunteering can be found on the website; this does mention that volunteers usually do a minimum of one month but I know for a fact that applications are considered and accepted for those wishing to volunteer for a shorter period.

It is an amazing organisation situated in glorious surroundings and (aside from a small contribution for bed and full board) every single penny paid for the volunteer experience goes directly into the charity to feed and provide care and vetinerary care for the elephants at the Foundation. This is not the case with some volunteer work organised by some agencies, whereby up to 90% of the volunteer fees can be swallowed up by 'admin fees, etc.' for the agency instead of going directly to the charitable organisation concerned.

Aside from actually looking after the elephants there are other activities for volunteers including helping with an associated charity, The Dogstar Foundation which feeds, cares for, neuters, vaccinates and rehomes Sri Lankan street dogs, teaching English to Sri Lankan schoolchildren and ecological gardening and care of the reserve in which MEF is situated.

I can highly recommend the volunteer experience to be had at MEF, to be in such close contact: feeding, bathing etc. these magnificent creatures is something so special it really cannot be put into words!

If anyone would like any further information or has any questions, please do not hesitate to PM me.

gentlepurr

Thank you all so much for your help, advice and inspiration, i am so chuffed to have had such a great response, i'm just busy checking everything out and spending some time reflecting on the right way to jump.

Much as i would love to work with the animals (and scrubbing those elephants just sounds incredible!) I still have a weak leg from an injury i suffered last year, so i have been thinking more along the lines of teaching English (and the post re the English village in Spain looks very interesting for that ) or getting involved with the local community on some sort of practical level.

Thanks again all, will post back when ive got an update

gp xx

gentlepurr

eileenfromplaistow wrote: »

The Guardian did a feature about volunteering last Saturday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jun/26/paying-price-gap-year-adventure?page=all

Makes an interesting read

Thank you Eileen, thats a brilliant link, theres loads of info and practical links on there, guess what im going to be doing this weekend, lol!

xx

redpete

My daughter's been advised to look for opportunities once she arrives in the country , this is meant to be much cheaper than arranging it beforehand. It would work for her as she's travelling for an extended period and is flexible about where and when.

PolishBigSpender

pandora205 wrote: »

This is what I'm volunteering to do this summer (well for a week) as recommended by another MSEr

http://www.morethanenglish.com/anglos/index.asp

Sorry, but you're being exploited. I can't be bothered to go into the ins and outs - but needless to say, they'll be making good money from you. Paying to be an English teacher is beyond madness - you can easily do exactly the same job in summer camps throughout Europe - and you'll be paid a fair wage for doing so!

gentlepurr

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Sorry, but you're being exploited. I can't be bothered to go into the ins and outs - but needless to say, they'll be making good money from you. Paying to be an English teacher is beyond madness - you can easily do exactly the same job in summer camps throughout Europe - and you'll be paid a fair wage for doing so!

some links would be helpful then please pbs :A