As published in The Vancouver Sun
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Byline: Judy Lees, Special to the Sun
Volunteering does not come cheap. My fee was about $2,400 US with some discounts. This covers accommodation, meals (including the weekend you are not actually working) and ground transportation. Our home away from home was Hostal Torreblanca, a charming three-star in a safe area. We dined as a group, experiencing wonderful restaurants. The weekend allows time to sightsee; some volunteers went to Machu Picchu during those two days. We stayed on another two weeks, flying to Cuzco, taking the train to Machu Picchu, busing to Lake Titicaca and flying back to Lima. It all worked well. For information: www.globalvolunteers.org; 1-800-487-1074.
The facts
Of the amount each volunteer pays, 15 per cent is for general administration and 86 per cent goes toward ensuring the "quality of the program." Bud Philbrook, CEO and co-founder of Global Volunteers, says this amount is directed towards everything from marketing costs to coordinating the volunteer program. "Our goal with respect to finances is to keep our costs as low as possible. The lower our costs the more people can volunteer. Some years we produce a small reserve and some years we are in the red. We play it very close." The Minnesota-based organization has a worldwide staff of 70. About three per cent of their volunteers are from Canada but they hope to increase this. They are working with Merit Travel in Toronto. (www.globalvolunteerscanada.ca; 1-866-202-1622).
Other options for volunteering abroad:
Habitat for Humanity
Founded in 1976, there are now branches in 90 countries. Volunteers build homes for the unsheltered in Canadian communities or, under the Global Village Program, in world destinations. Trip costs are in the $1,200 to $2,000 Cdn range, plus your airfare. Charitable donation receipts are issued.
CUSO
The Canadian University Service Overseas began in 1961. Its projects are Canadian and worldwide, sending technical and professional assistance for stints of up to two years. It is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) as well as donations.
Canadian Executive Service Organization
Business and professional people can share their expertise in some 600 places in 16 countries. Trips are two to six weeks duration and expenses are paid by CESO or the client or government at the location.
Sleeping Children Around the World
Founded in the 1970s by the father of Ken Dryden (MP and hockey great), this non-profit supplies bed kits to street kids in third world countries. Volunteers pay travel expenses and tax receipts are not available.
African Children's Book Box Society
This charity that supports literacy began when B.C. teacher Anne Pearson visited African schools and villages in 1990. Today, volunteers donate time and money to a program that supplies boxes of African-published books to schools. Tax receipts are available.
Earthwatch
Volunteers work along with scientists and other experts on environmental research and educational projects.
You may count turtles, band penguins or assist in needy communities in 50 countries. Costs vary from $446 to $4,746 US. Roughly 50 per cent of it goes to field costs, 34 per cent to planning and recruitment, and 16 per cent to administration costs.
