Why pay to Volunteer?

I love being asked this question as it gives me another opportunity to stand on my soapbox!

You're right, why should you pay to give up your time volunteering? On the face of it, surely it’s like paying to help with meals on wheels or help in your local Red Cross… 

However volunteering overseas isn’t that easy and the costs asked of you quite simply cover:

• US: who provide the support, contacts, organisation, administration and research involved to make sure your time and energy are put to good use.
• Them: we need to cover your costs incountry so that we do not financially burden already impoverished communities who are kind enough to have you live amongst them.

Contacts
To find a project: It takes years to find legitimate and organised projects overseas.  One can’t just drop into a country and think I fancy teaching in an orphanage, there is always red tape involved, embassies and officials to chat up and crucially the local community with the right attitude to overseas involment to find.  Please read our Responsible Travel Policy for further information.

As a small company we choose to work with a limited number of communities in each country and ensure that where possible we send groups four times a year so project work is continual.

To manage the project: In many places the monthly wage can be as little as £35.  On a typical team placement (one group in one country) with a group size of 20 the approximate amount we would pay our in-country manager to look after the group (food, accommodation, staff, transport, fuel and cover project materials etc) = £35,000…Now that is a lot of money to be managed and so we employ  reliable in-country managers to co-ordinate this money and your placement making sure there is a long-term strategy for everyone involved.

Safety
Many of our projects are completely off the beaten track and we have done our research to put safety systems in place.  For example where to go if you get ill or how to get you out should you need evacuating.

Clearly a poor community cannot be expected to provide emergency vehicles and communication systems, safety precautions, three meals a day, trained project leaders and so on, which is obviously part of what your money covers.

Your Experience
Now this one often goes unmentioned and actually I think it's the most important… it’s all very well thinking that your gap year is all about volunteering to change the lives of those you meet, but lets be a little selfish for one moment.  It is after all your time and looking back on my gap year and career break it's got to feel good on every level - its got to be a Big Adventure...

Over the years of doing this we have listened to your feedback and we believe we provide a really fulfilling experience.  With us you’ll experience different projects in different locations so if you're heading off to Kenya, you’ll see and experience Kenya, you won’t be trapped in one place for the entirety of your stay…   

A refresher: The cost breakdown
On average approximately 60% of the cost of your scheme (Team Placements) is spent in-country amongst the community.  Last year we spent over £280,000 overseas. The remainder covers amongst others: our professional and caring organisation of your placement from start to finish, selection and briefing on all aspects of the scheme and 24/7 (including weekends) management and support by our friendly and knowledgeable UK and in-country teams including emergency back-up.

Our ethos is to employ as many local people as we can to help us facilitate the projects recognising that an employed individual in the developing world tends to support a much larger extended family.

We include a donation in the cost of our team placements to help fund community or conservation projects specifically chosen by our you. We are proud of the fact that we have spent over £96,000 helping in a number of ways - building new classrooms, sponsoring kids through school and improving water to mention a few.

In a nutshell, you're in safe hands.

MIlly