Getting away from it all...
Discussion
...is what I'm thinking of doing, but need some ideas.
I have already travelled the states after 3 summers as a counsellor on a summer camp for yank kids a decade ago. And loved it.
But need some new ideas. Anyone know of any volountary organisations abroad (europe,asia,anywhere) where you can spend as little or as much time as you like?
Already have experience working with difficult kids, and have done volountary work on a couple of occasions for 'Crisis'(homeless people).
Also great places to travel to and live for a while.
As many ideas/stories/experiences as possible would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Cad
I have already travelled the states after 3 summers as a counsellor on a summer camp for yank kids a decade ago. And loved it.
But need some new ideas. Anyone know of any volountary organisations abroad (europe,asia,anywhere) where you can spend as little or as much time as you like?
Already have experience working with difficult kids, and have done volountary work on a couple of occasions for 'Crisis'(homeless people).
Also great places to travel to and live for a while.
As many ideas/stories/experiences as possible would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Cad
A couple of colleagues have worked with this organization www.vso.org.uk/volunteering/
but it does not seem as flexible a programme as what you may be looking for. It was a lifechanging experience for one of my colleagues, the other had a number of funny anecdotes including a weird bug nesting in his foot... that happens when you dig up holes in Africa to build a school
The European office of the volunteer has got some info that may be of use. See the listings on www.cev.be/volunteeropportunities_en.htm
but it does not seem as flexible a programme as what you may be looking for. It was a lifechanging experience for one of my colleagues, the other had a number of funny anecdotes including a weird bug nesting in his foot... that happens when you dig up holes in Africa to build a school
The European office of the volunteer has got some info that may be of use. See the listings on www.cev.be/volunteeropportunities_en.htm
This one is mainly aimed at US college students but its open to everyone. There are plenty of others just do a google search.
www.goabroad.com/
www.goabroad.com/
I did some teaching in Tanzania.
Make sure you fully check out any organisation that you go with - ie. get opinions from people who have already done it. My organisation would not be appropriate for you as I was a student
at the time, but I had terrible problems with them pooling charity money and leaving me stranded.
Once I found my feet in Tanzania I left them and went solo.
East Africa is a great place to go, very beautiful and extremely varied. But if you go deeper into the rural depths like I did, don't expect the greatest of receptions from the people. Some are genuinely scared of white people, and those who do know who white people are see them as a source of money alone. You are begged at continuously. Kids used to throw stones at me.
Then there's the malaria and other nice diseases.
But in all honesty I spent nine months there and it was the most challenging and uplifting experience I have ever gone through and would thoroughly recommend it. If you have the money to do it properly then it is wise - Tanzania offers so much - Kilimanjaro, Ngorogoro crater, the serengeti and Zanziba just off the coast of Dar is a beautiful island.
The country is a mixture, but full of delights. That's where I would send you.
Make sure you fully check out any organisation that you go with - ie. get opinions from people who have already done it. My organisation would not be appropriate for you as I was a student
at the time, but I had terrible problems with them pooling charity money and leaving me stranded. Once I found my feet in Tanzania I left them and went solo.
East Africa is a great place to go, very beautiful and extremely varied. But if you go deeper into the rural depths like I did, don't expect the greatest of receptions from the people. Some are genuinely scared of white people, and those who do know who white people are see them as a source of money alone. You are begged at continuously. Kids used to throw stones at me.
Then there's the malaria and other nice diseases.
But in all honesty I spent nine months there and it was the most challenging and uplifting experience I have ever gone through and would thoroughly recommend it. If you have the money to do it properly then it is wise - Tanzania offers so much - Kilimanjaro, Ngorogoro crater, the serengeti and Zanziba just off the coast of Dar is a beautiful island.
The country is a mixture, but full of delights. That's where I would send you.
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