Description

Each volunteer is an individual, and each volunteer placement is created individually.

Our goal is to put the right people in the right places you have skills, interests and experience; the projects have needs. Our role is to make the right match so that we create mutually-beneficial volunteer placements 'win-win' situations!

And how do we do that? To start with, by exchanging a lot of information with you and with our local partners... which begins from the moment you complete your free registration! Then we begin to work with you to identify the right project for you a project where your placement will be challenging, rewarding, part of long-term development and safe for you and the local community.

We'll put you in touch with previous and co-volunteers well before you travel. You can share thoughts and ideas, and will be continuing to build on the work already achieved.

You will work with local people not instead of them sharing each other's lives and skills.

And you will know how and where your money is used at least 80% of the costs go direct to our local partners and your hosts, not even crossing our desks here in the UK.

Qualifications

The projects where we work welcome skilled and experienced volunteers educators, health care workers, business people, craftsmen and women, trades people but formal qualifications are not essential.

Each individual volunteer has their own skills and experience people and places matches these skills and experience to the particular needs of an individual project and volunteer placement.

Each volunteer is required to provide the following for the matching process and for their placement to be confirmed:

* Full CV - details of personal & professional abilities etc
* 2 references - we write personally and privately to referees, specific to the project
* Criminal records screening
* Acceptance of the project's volunteer code of conduct & child protection policy
* Appropriate medical declaration - fit to travel & work, acknowledgement of extant medical conditions, appropriate medication
* Adequate insurance policy - to specifically include cover for time at work
* Emergency contact details
* Own travel arrangements to destination point of contact

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

c.1900 - for 4 wks, depending on project

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

* Each project is costed individually - there are real costs involved, and as a responsible organisation, we believe that it's wrong to expect economically poor communities to subsidise volunteers in any way.
* Many volunteer recruitment organisations demand that communities subsidise volunteers because 'after all, you're getting their time for free.'
* This is unacceptable to us.
* Providing volunteers with what they need costs money - a safe environment, 24-hour emergency contacts, a place to stay, food to eat, tools or equipment to complete their roles - all this has to be paid for.
* Neither people and places nor the projects themselves are funded through government or a big NGO. Without volunteers being self-funding, the projects themselves would simply not exist.
* People and places commits to economic clarity - at least 80% of your money is paid to the host country, adn stays there!

Salary/Pay

The true benefits are benefits in kind for volunteers and projects - mutual gains and mutual benefits through sharing work and lives.

Experience Required

yes

Because of the holistic way we work with entire communities, all kinds of skills and experience can be of use - professional or paractical, life skills ... We match each volunteer's skills and abilities to the specific needs of each project.

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

While we acknowledge and welcome the individuality of each volunteer, there are some general approcahes to volunteer placements which will help volunteers to have the best possible experience: * You will need to be flexible and adaptable * Non-judgemental * Observant * Willing to listen and learn * Communicative * Pro-active * Think on your feet * A team player... You will be helped by a healthy dose of stamina and a sense of humor!

Age Range

individuals must have reached the age of majority

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Guest House
• Home-stays
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Scholarships are Available

There are some bursaries / scholarships available for appropriate voluntreers in some of the projects we work with in India, Peru, Saint Lucia.

Application Process Involves

• Disciplinary Clearance Form
• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Phone/Video Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume

Typically The Application Process Time is

3 months

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

People and Places - Responsible Volunteering's Mission Statement

We are committed to equitable business practises, harnessing the power of volunteering to benefit local people.

Year Founded

2005