About Village Volunteers

»  When was Village Volunteers established?

»  Is Village Volunteers a registered non-profit?

»  What is the philosophy behind Village Volunteers?

»  Is Village Volunteers just a volunteer organization?

»  How do Village Volunteers' partners benefit?

»  Who are Village Volunteers' partner organizations?

»  How does Village Volunteers select its partner organizations?

»  Does Village Volunteers give out grants?

»  Does Village Volunteers accept in-kind donations for the partner organizations?

»  How can I donate to Village Volunteers?

Volunteer Program

Placement

»  How will you determine my volunteer placement?

»  I don't feel I have any skills. How can I make a difference?

»  What types of projects do you have available?

»  Will I have a specific placement for my volunteer work?

»  How can I learn more about volunteering in Kenya, Ghana, India, Nepal, or Belize?

Policies

»  What is your age policy?

»  What is your conduct and dress code policy?

»  Is travel health insurance required?

»  Do you welcome volunteers who are not from the US?

»  What is your language policy?

»  What is your deposit refund policy?

»  What is your cancellation policy?

Application Process

»  How far in advance do I need to apply for a program?

»  Once I have been accepted as a volunteer, how long do I have to submit my deposit?

Orientation

»  What kind of orientation is offered before my departure?

»  Where are the Travel Preparation Documents?

Fee

»  Why am I paying to volunteer?

»  How do the VV partner organizations benefit?

»  What is not included in the volunteer program fee?

»  When is my final payment due?

»  Is the volunteer program fee tax-deductible?

»  How much money should I bring with me?

»  I have more questions.

Glossary of Terms

»  Sustainable Community Development

»  Micro-credit and Micro-enterprise

»  Memory Box Project

»  Permaculture

»  Ethno-botany

»  Appropriate Technology

»  Integrative Health Care

»  Homeopathy

»  GROW BIOINTENSIVE® Sustainable Farming

About Village Volunteers

Village Volunteers was established as a non-profit organization in October 2003.

Yes, Village Volunteers is registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, EIN 20-0342079. Village Volunteers is also registered in Washington State as a nonprofit corporation, UBI #602-334-972.

Village Volunteers is not registered in any country outside of the United States.

Village Volunteers was founded in the belief that partnership is a key factor in the renewal and healing of areas plagued by poverty and disease. Committed to preserving autonomy and cultural heritage, Village Volunteers works in collaboration with village non-governmental and community-based organizations to support the achievement of their goals and objectives by integrating international volunteerism, sustainable community development projects, and program assistance.

Learn more about our philosophy and who we are.

No, Village Volunteers is much more than just an organization which provides volunteer opportunities overseas. The mission of Village Volunteers - to work in partnership with rural village and capacity-building programs to support the development of sustainable solutions for community survival, education, and growth - is a holistic mission. Village Volunteers carries out this mission and supports the work of partner organizations by:

• facilitating donations and fundraising events
• managing orphan support and educational sponsorships
• funding community development workshops - e.g. organic farming, briquetting, etc.
• providing grant writing and review services
• supplying international volunteers
• providing access to an advisory board of experts

How do Village Volunteers' partners benefit?

You can learn more about how our partners benefit by clicking here.

Village Volunteers currently partners with non-governmental and community-based organizations in Kenya, Ghana, India, Nepal, and Belize.

• View our partners in Kenya
• View our partners in Ghana
• View our partners in India
• View our partner in Nepal
• View our partner in Belize

How does Village Volunteers select its partner organizations?

Village Volunteers carefully selects each of its partner organizations. Potential partners typically come through referrals from other organizations and are invited to complete Village Volunteers' partner organization application. Partners are selected based on their ethical philosophies, well-respected leadership, and sound program management.

Because Village Volunteers is not a foundation, we unfortunately do not have the resources to provide funding for individuals or non-partner organizations.

Instead, Village Volunteers facilitates donations, funds community development workshops, and provides grant writing and review services for our partner organizations. Village Volunteers operates under the belief that we can make the greatest impact by focusing our efforts on supporting the work of those organizations with which we have an established relationship.

Village Volunteers is happy to collect the following in-kind

• medicine that has not expired
• laptops

Unfortunately, Village Volunteers cannot accept used clothing, toys, or large or heavy items.

Village Volunteers typically transports donated items by sending them with volunteers who are going overseas.

How can I donate to Village Volunteers?

You can make a donation via check, draft, wire transfer, or securely online by PayPal. Donate now!

Volunteer Program

After you complete your application, Village Volunteers staff will work with you to identify a placement that best fits your interests and goals for your trip.

Joshua Machinga, Director of Common Ground Program, recommends the following for volunteers: "Leave your material possessions at home. You will need very little of them here. What you will need is natural curiosity, a positive attitude, plenty of patience and a willingness to help those in need."

Regardless of your skill level, your participation in a village program will have a meaningful impact. Your very presence is treasured and valued. When you arrive in the village, the director or volunteer coordinator will work with you to identify appropriate volunteer activities. Also, some possible volunteer projects can be found in the Sustainable Village Library.

The areas in which you participate will depend on your interests, skills, abilities and the needs of the community. Even if you are a teacher or medical professional, we suggest you work in several areas to get a well rounded view of working in a village.

You will work with your village director or volunteer coordinator who will assist you in finding ways to contribute effectively. We ask that all volunteers be flexible and willing to pitch in where needed.

We also have FAQs about volunteering in Kenya, Ghana, India, Nepal, and Belize. Click the below links to learn more:

Volunteers who are 17-years-old or less must be accompanied by a parent, a legal guardian, or a person appointed by that parent or guardian and must take full responsibility.

Families with small children, as young as 5-years-old, are welcome to apply and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please keep in mind that extreme weather conditions and lack of basic facilities - such as plumbing and electricity - in some villages may be difficult for young children. Also, please note that childcare is not available for volunteers.

There is no upper age limit.  Our eldest volunteer to date was 81-years-old.

Please refer to our Cultural Sensitivity Policy for our policy on conduct and attire.

Is travel health insurance required?

Yes. Traveling abroad is exciting, but like life, it is uncertain. For this reason, travel health insurance is required for all volunteers. Volunteers should submit proof of travel health insurance coverage to the Village Volunteers office 3 weeks prior to departure from their home country.

Volunteers are recommended to first check with their current health care provider to see if overseas coverage is available and what procedures one must follow if medical care is needed.

If you do need to purchase travel insurance, consider contacting Micki Anderson, a VV alumni and travel agent. Micki can coordinate policies for travel health and trip interruption coverage; email Micki at: travel@bisouxtravel.com.

In addition, there are many companies that offer health coverage as part of a larger travel insurance policy. Here are a few examples:

Do you welcome volunteers who are not from the US?

Yes. In addition to our volunteers from the US, we also have a number of volunteers from Canada, many parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

What is your language policy?

All volunteers must be fluent in conversational English.

What is your deposit refund policy?

50% of a Volunteer Program deposit is refundable within 90 days of receiving the deposit. After 90 days it becomes non-refundable.  

Refunds will be processed within 14 days of Village Volunteers' receipt of the refund request.

If a volunteer would like to postpone his/her Volunteer Program, the deposit can be applied to a Volunteer Program that starts within 1 year of the original scheduled Volunteer Program.

What is your cancellation policy?

A cancellation charge of 100% of the program fee will be assessed for a cancellation (or changing to a program of shorter duration) made 21 days or less prior to the start of a Volunteer Program.

A cancellation charge of 50% of the Volunteer Program fee will be assessed for cancellations made 22 to 30 days prior to the start of a Volunteer Program.

Refunds will be processed within 14 days of Village Volunteers' receipt of the refund request.

Participants who depart a Volunteer Program early forfeit the program fee for the time not spent in the Volunteer Program.

It is highly recommended that you apply for a program at least 60 days before your anticipated departure to ensure that space is available in the program of your choice, you have time to prepare, and you have obtained the necessary immunizations, visas and a passport.

If you register less than 60 days prior to the desired departure date, and space is available in the village placement of your choice, then arrangements can be made. You must consider, however, the time needed for immunizations and the extra fees for expediting your passport and/or visa.

To reserve your placement, your $100 USD deposit should be submitted within 60 days of receiving your acceptance letter by email. Once your acceptance has expired, we can no longer reserve your place in our volunteer program.

If you would like to request an extension beyond 60 days, feel free to contact our team.

To thoroughly prepare you for travel, Village Volunteers provides comprehensive informational documents and personalized travel guidance, including:

Where are the Travel Preparation Documents?

The Travel Preparation Documents are accessed from the My Village section of our website. Before you can access the documents, you must have submitted a Volunteer Application, been accepted to our Volunteer Program, and have submitted a $100 USD deposit. Below are the instructions for reaching the Travel Preparation Documents:

1. Go to My Village.
2. Log in with your email address and password.
3. Scroll to the Travel Preparations Documents section and select the link for the country in which you will be volunteering.

What is not included in the program fee?

Please refer to our Volunteer Program Fee page for a summary of expenses that are not covered.

After you submit your flight information to our office, you will receive an invoice for your Volunteer Program. Your final payment must be received by our office at least 3 weeks prior to your departure from your home country. If payment is not received by this time, you will not be admitted to our Volunteer Program as there will not have been adequate time to process your payment and send the funds to your volunteer destination. A $40 USD fee is assessed for late payments.

Contributions made to Village Volunteers, for humanitarian purposes, are typically tax-deductible; however, be sure to consult your tax advisor to determine any eligible tax deductions. Our US tax identification number is 20-0342079.

Please note that Village Volunteers provides tax receipt letters for contributions of $100 USD and above. For contributions totaling less than $100 USD, a receipt from PayPal or copy of a cancelled check, noting Village Volunteers' tax identification number, are sufficient proof of a contribution.

Please also note that money paid through Village Volunteers for safaris, excursions, or other tourist activities are separate from the Volunteer Program fee.

You may want to consider changing $100 - 200 USD into the local currency prior to your departure. We do not recommend taking travelers checks. While overseas, you will have periodic access to banks and ATMs in towns and major cities.

If you think you may be interested in purchasing crafts while in the rural areas, ensure that you visit an ATM or bank prior to departing for the village. Simply notify your director, volunteer coordinator, or in-country coordinator (if in Kenya) and they will assist you in locating an ATM or bank.

Prior to departing for your Volunteer Program, be sure to notify your bank that you will be using your credit or debit card overseas. Depending on your bank and the country you are in, you may still need to call your bank to "unlock" your account, but it is always best to notify your bank in advance.

Please note that in Ghana, VISA is the most commonly accepted credit card, and only VISA debit cards will work in the ATMs.  You can access funds with a MASTERCARD debit card, but you will have to enter the bank and show your passport in order to withdraw money.

Glossary of Terms

Sustainable community development occurs when functions and processes of an ecosystem are maintained for the common good; it requires an increased awareness of the value of community and of our place in the natural environment. Sustainability is derived from a greater sense of personal and community responsibility.

"A sustainable society satisfies its needs without diminishing the prospects of future generations."
    Lester R. Brown, Founder and President, Worldwatch Institute

"Sustainability is the long-term economic, ecological, and social health and vitality of our community."
Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment

Micro-lending funds give credit to women who have no collateral or access to credit. Access to credit allows women to start or expand their businesses, gain financial independence, and thereby improve their status in the community. Micro-credit is far superior to direct aid grants as it opens doors for sustainable economic development: grant and aid funds are short term and quickly become depleted, sometimes without achieving their project goals.

Without the opportunity to start or expand their businesses, women and girls are sometimes forced by poverty to engage in prostitution in order to survive, placing them at risk of contracting HIV in a community with infection rates around 25%. In gaining financial independence, these women will in turn gain mental independence, and thereby avoid abuse that results from their financially subordinate positions. Click here to read about women's issues.

Memory Box Project

When children lose their parents at a young age, it is often difficult for them to preserve the memory of their parents. The Memory Project memorializes parents who are HIV+ and provides a means for these parents to pass personal stories, wisdom, guidance, and hopes on to their children. The object of the project, as coordinated by a memory facilitator, is to support the remembering of these invaluable people, and acknowledge their importance to the family.

Permaculture

Bill Molison from Tasmania began the Permaculture movement in 1974. Permaculture, from PERManent agriCULTURE, is a practical system of ecological design and stewardship integrating natural surroundings, people and appropriate technologies, to provide suitable shelter, energy and other needs in a sustainable way. Permaculture promotes connected and productive communities and beneficial relationships with the natural world.

Ethno-botany

Ethno-botany is the knowledge of local, medicinal plants used in traditional healing. Traditional healing provides remedies for illnesses such as fever, diarrhea, toothaches, sore throats, sinus problems, intestinal worms, respiratory problems, earaches, skin conditions, menstrual problems, infertility, broken bones, wounds, burns, etc. These healing practices not only provide remedies for common ailments, but they also demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the environment and concern for the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants.

The art of traditional healing suffers from the global emphasis on Western culture and the younger generations' disinterest in traditional knowledge and practices. The wealth of knowledge held by traditional healers is in danger of dying with current generations.

Throughout history, traditional healers have been highly respected community experts. Their techniques have evolved over centuries of trial and error, and have been refined through generations of family apprenticeship. Unfortunately, the traditional practices are no longer being passed down through society and a whole volume of cultural heritage is in danger of being lost forever. This chance to study and document the cultural and traditional knowledge of these last experts is an irretrievable opportunity to preserve the knowledge and experience of a culture struggling with the influence of modernization.

Appropriate Technology

Appropriate technology is that which is sustainable, clean, and can be derived from local resources. Examples of appropriate technology include solar and wind power generators, rainwater harvesting systems, solar cookers, and solar food dehydrators.

Integrative Health Care

Integrative healthcare is the use of several healing modalities to maintain health and combat disease. It combines allopathic (mainstream) medicine with natural healing practices, such as naturopathic medicine, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, and traditional healing.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy has been considered effective in acute, chronic, traumatic, epidemic, and endemic diseases. Homeopathic treatment has proven to be safe, free of side effects, affordable to the poorest people of the world, and can be implemented in situations with very little infrastructure. In places where medical care is a two-days walk, a simple homeopathic self-help kit is a lifeline.

Homeopathy Around the World*

There are more than 100,000 practitioners of homeopathy worldwide, and approximately 500 million people receiving treatment. There are over 12,000 medical doctors and licensed healthcare practitioners who administer homeopathic treatment in the UK, France, and Germany. The UK has five homeopathic hospitals and many regional clinics where treatment is funded by the National Health Service.

Homeopathy has been used in India since the middle of the 19th century, and is widely practiced and officially recognized. India has the largest homeopathic infrastructure in the world, with 300,000 qualified homeopaths, 180 colleges, 7500 government clinics, and 307 hospitals.

In Mexico, the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) has had a School of Homeopathy since 1936. This school has both bachelor and master degrees.

* Reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy#_note-1, February 2006.

GROW BIOINTENSIVE^® Sustainable Farming Methods

GROW BIOINTENSIVE^® Sustainable Mini-Farming is a whole system of food security that nurtures soil, produces high yields, conserves resources and can be used successfully by almost everyone. It has been very effective in combating the abuse from soil depleting mono-cropping, and over-use of pesticides. The system includes: composting; companion planting; double-dug raised beds; growing foods like grains and seeds that also have a lot of carbonaceous materials for composting; planting 30% of the foods in high calorie crops like potatoes; and, the use of open pollinated seeds to maintain bio-diversity. For more information, visit www.growbiointensive.org.

I have more questions.

If you have additional questions about the volunteer program - e.g. volunteer accommodations, how long you can volunteer, whether you need a visa, which airport you should fly to, who will meet you at the airport, or whether you will have internet access - be sure to read our specific FAQs about volunteering in Kenya, Ghana, India, Nepal, or Belize.

For more assistance, please contact our team at info@villagevolunteers.org.