volunteering for no-cost, suggestions please

Hairy_Phil

Short version: Does anyone know of any international humanitarian organisations that take volunteers on a WWOOF basis?

Long version: Hi. I abandoned my computing career a couple of years ago to become a full-time volunteer. Now I earn no income, instead I work around 25 hours a week in return for food and a bed. My only expense is the train ticket to my next project, so I'm able to live off my life savings.

I work with several schemes including WWOOF, HelpX, and Workaway, as well as independent hosts such as temples. Mainly I've been learning about organic agriculture and ecological construction. Currently I'm living in a cave in La Palma doing some gardening and painting. I'm interested to move in to humanitarian work, building schools in Africa, helping flood victims, that sort of thing.

To my surprise, all the organisations I've found on the web want me to pay them hundreds of pounds for fortnight-long projects. I object to the idea of doing hard manual labour in the middle of a war zone, climbing in to my sleeping bag on the floor of a local church, and then being asked to pay for the privilege.

I understand these are charities but it's simply unsustainable. With no income while volunteering I can't afford to pay a daily fee. I don't mind paying for things that I can use for multiple projects, things like membership fees, vaccinations, and insurance. I am used to limited comfort and facilities. I have time and experience to offer, and I think asking only for local food (not steak and chips) in return seems like a better deal than they'd get elsewhere. I've read that in some circumstances payment would be required for clean water or armed guards, but is that the majority of cases?

The United Nations is the one organisation I've found that will pay for room and board. I've signed up with them, but they warn that the chance of being selected for service is 4%.

All the big names I could think of are out. Peace Corps - US citizens only. Red Cross - must pay. Oxfam, UNICEF, and Amnesty International don't give any volunteering details. Many schemes are government funded but only for 16-25 year olds. I'm 33.

There must be projects out there. Can anyone direct me to them?

Mojisola

Vso? ............

PlutoinCapricorn

Phil, unfortunately there are many young people who want to work for an overseas NGO and who have parents who are rich enough to be able to pay the required fee, or to support them while they do unpaid internships. It is a case of supply and demand.

None of the aid agencies I have worked for would consider sending volunteers overseas. We used to refer people to the following organisation, which is not just for Christians:

http://www.cabroad.org.uk/volunteering

WolfSong2000

There are a number of reasons why companies charge for voluntary work. The two main ones are:

1. Turning a profit - as Pluto mentioned, there are rich kids out there who will pay to do it for a jolly and some student travel companies know that they can get a profit out of offering such trips. The kids who go on them rarely actually do anything useful, but it's an ego-trip for them and they can say they "worked" in an orphanage in Africa, or whatever the heck it was.

2. Babysitting - a lot of volunteers don't actually possess any useful skills, so they essentially have to be "babysat" to ensure their own safety whilst doing basic jobs, etc. Charities appreciate volunteers, but looking after them costs the charities money and they tend to pass this cost on to the volunteers.

If you are seriously interested in working in Africa, I know of a vacant position going as a sort of project manager for a small animal charity in the Gambia - PM me if it's of interest. Also know of a WWOOFING type position going in England, so again, if interested, drop me a message.

Also, just to add, if you *do* possess useful skills which charitable organisations can put to use then defnitely approach organisations such as VSO.

paddyrg

VSO generally want people later in life, once they have the experience and gravity to provide skills for 2 years, not just labour for a couple of weeks.

Hairy_Phil

Mojisola, thanks for the suggestion. VSO's website says they want £985 minimum.

PlutoinCapricorn, what you say makes sense, so maybe I'm stuck. Christians Abroad's website says their standard fee is £1,850.

WolfSong, thanks for the offer, but I don't think that sounds right for me.

I have certainly needed babysitting while I got used to the different lifestyle. The trick was to keep reminding myself that I'm not a tourist and to choose hosts based on what skills they could teach, not on how much fun they seemed.

It's starting to sound like the answer may be to apply for actual paid jobs rather than look for volunteer placements.

gillpb

My daughter has just spent her placement year at traveller not tourist in Peru - she was their first intern. They are now looking for another but you need some Spanish. Could can also work as a volunteer, there is a small admin fee. Accommodation is $65 PW. She had an amazing experience.

Another organisation is sustainable Bolivia who are much bigger and very well organised.

Both run orphanages