Frequently Asked Questions
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I get a lot of email from this site, mostly from people wanting to know more about IVHQ and the South African volunteer programs. Please read the following before emailing me. :)
What will I get out of volunteering?
Well, a lot of this depends on if you are 'volunteer minded' or 'vacation minded.'
"Those that are ‘volunteer minded’ are more likely to have a positive impact on the destination as they are more interested in the ‘volunteer’ side of the holiday. Whereas those who are ‘vacation minded’ are more interested in the ‘vacation’ side of the holiday and likely to cause more harm than good. Tourists may participate in volunteer tourism purely for selfish reasons such as improving their CV to make themselves more attractive to employers (Ramrayka, 2001) or being more ‘vacation minded’ and wanting to participate more for the ‘vacation’ than the ‘volunteering’. (Tamara Heal)
I saw some of both kinds of people on my volunteer experience. Some people were clearly there to party. They were away from home (often for the first time) and cared very little about anything other than themselves. On the other hand, most of the people I met were there to lend a hand and make a small difference.
I would also encourage you to consider if you have any skills that might be valuable. Are you trained in medicine, education, construction, science, etc.? How will you use those skills? If all you are looking for is a cool holiday, I suggest just travelling as a tourist.
Well, a lot of this depends on if you are 'volunteer minded' or 'vacation minded.'
"Those that are ‘volunteer minded’ are more likely to have a positive impact on the destination as they are more interested in the ‘volunteer’ side of the holiday. Whereas those who are ‘vacation minded’ are more interested in the ‘vacation’ side of the holiday and likely to cause more harm than good. Tourists may participate in volunteer tourism purely for selfish reasons such as improving their CV to make themselves more attractive to employers (Ramrayka, 2001) or being more ‘vacation minded’ and wanting to participate more for the ‘vacation’ than the ‘volunteering’. (Tamara Heal)
I saw some of both kinds of people on my volunteer experience. Some people were clearly there to party. They were away from home (often for the first time) and cared very little about anything other than themselves. On the other hand, most of the people I met were there to lend a hand and make a small difference.
I would also encourage you to consider if you have any skills that might be valuable. Are you trained in medicine, education, construction, science, etc.? How will you use those skills? If all you are looking for is a cool holiday, I suggest just travelling as a tourist.
Is it safe?
IVHQ takes volunteer safety pretty seriously. However, there are generally more risks in many of the places you are volunteering than at home. Volunteers tend work in some of the poorest areas and there are safety concerns that go along with that.
In addition to the normal safety precautions you should exercise when travelling (see below), there was some additional, specific advice given. We were strongly advised to be inside before dark, or to walk in large groups if we felt we needed to go out. We were also advised on our orientation to avoid certain areas of Cape Town, again particularly after dark. Women walking alone during the day were told to keep their eyes downcast as a way of preventing unwanted attention. And it was strongly suggested that we keep things like phones and cameras tucked away.
There were some incidences while I was there, but they were preventable and both involved alcohol and ignoring the safety suggestions. The week before I arrived, a young woman had gone into Cape Town for a night out and separated from the group. She was intoxicated and alone and was raped. While I was there, we also had two young men robbed at knife point. They were out quite late and had been drinking heavily.
In India the near constant harassment of women is cultural and something that you just need to cope with. Men will photograph you, video tape you, stare at you, touch you, etc. Unfortunately, the chance of experiencing sexual harassment and assault is much higher in many parts of the world, so I would urge anyone to be prepared and to take their own safety seriously.
While IVHQ cares about your safety, they can't and don't babysit you.
Try these sites for some basic travelling safety advice:
IVHQ takes volunteer safety pretty seriously. However, there are generally more risks in many of the places you are volunteering than at home. Volunteers tend work in some of the poorest areas and there are safety concerns that go along with that.
In addition to the normal safety precautions you should exercise when travelling (see below), there was some additional, specific advice given. We were strongly advised to be inside before dark, or to walk in large groups if we felt we needed to go out. We were also advised on our orientation to avoid certain areas of Cape Town, again particularly after dark. Women walking alone during the day were told to keep their eyes downcast as a way of preventing unwanted attention. And it was strongly suggested that we keep things like phones and cameras tucked away.
There were some incidences while I was there, but they were preventable and both involved alcohol and ignoring the safety suggestions. The week before I arrived, a young woman had gone into Cape Town for a night out and separated from the group. She was intoxicated and alone and was raped. While I was there, we also had two young men robbed at knife point. They were out quite late and had been drinking heavily.
In India the near constant harassment of women is cultural and something that you just need to cope with. Men will photograph you, video tape you, stare at you, touch you, etc. Unfortunately, the chance of experiencing sexual harassment and assault is much higher in many parts of the world, so I would urge anyone to be prepared and to take their own safety seriously.
While IVHQ cares about your safety, they can't and don't babysit you.
Try these sites for some basic travelling safety advice:
What were your accommodations like?
You can see pictures of where I stayed at the bottom of this blog entry.
I stayed in one of three volunteer houses on my placement. It was basically a large apartment that consisted of three shared rooms (two for girls and one for boys). There were 8 beds in the room I was in. There was also one bathroom, a small kitchen and a living room area. There was a cook who came in Monday to Friday as well as someone who came in to clean.
One complaint that was heard frequently from the volunteers was that there was no way of securing any valuables such as passports, cameras, laptops, etc. I don't recall anyone ever having anything stolen, but this did bother me and is something to keep in mind when you are deciding what to bring.
While the apartment itself was secure, requiring a key to both the gate and the apartment, we did have some issues with volunteers letting in people who shouldn't have been there. Nothing ever happened, but it did make me a little uncomfortable at times.
Please keep in mind my experience in South Africa was from July, 2010, and things may have changed.
You can see pictures of where I stayed at the bottom of this blog entry.
I stayed in one of three volunteer houses on my placement. It was basically a large apartment that consisted of three shared rooms (two for girls and one for boys). There were 8 beds in the room I was in. There was also one bathroom, a small kitchen and a living room area. There was a cook who came in Monday to Friday as well as someone who came in to clean.
One complaint that was heard frequently from the volunteers was that there was no way of securing any valuables such as passports, cameras, laptops, etc. I don't recall anyone ever having anything stolen, but this did bother me and is something to keep in mind when you are deciding what to bring.
While the apartment itself was secure, requiring a key to both the gate and the apartment, we did have some issues with volunteers letting in people who shouldn't have been there. Nothing ever happened, but it did make me a little uncomfortable at times.
Please keep in mind my experience in South Africa was from July, 2010, and things may have changed.
How long will I be volunteering each day?
I volunteered for 1/2 a day, Monday to Friday, from about 9am to 1pm. We also had a 45 minute walk from our residence to the school and then back each day. However, this varies with each placement and I encourage you to check the IVHQ website for the specific program you are interested in.
I volunteered for 1/2 a day, Monday to Friday, from about 9am to 1pm. We also had a 45 minute walk from our residence to the school and then back each day. However, this varies with each placement and I encourage you to check the IVHQ website for the specific program you are interested in.
What did you do each day when you were volunteering?
Have you checked out my blog? I go into a lot of detail about my time there.
Have you checked out my blog? I go into a lot of detail about my time there.
What about internet access and calling home?
There was an internet cafe less than 5 minutes from the volunteer house and they had phones you could use to make international calls. In addition, cheap phones and sim cards were readily available, just make sure you take your passport with you when you go to get them.
At the time, I bought a cheap phone to make local calls on and to text home. Now I would take my unlocked phone and iPad and get sim cards. What a difference a few years makes when it comes to technology!
There was an internet cafe less than 5 minutes from the volunteer house and they had phones you could use to make international calls. In addition, cheap phones and sim cards were readily available, just make sure you take your passport with you when you go to get them.
At the time, I bought a cheap phone to make local calls on and to text home. Now I would take my unlocked phone and iPad and get sim cards. What a difference a few years makes when it comes to technology!
How much did it cost?
You can find a break down of costs in the relevant sections of my blogs.
You can find a break down of costs in the relevant sections of my blogs.
How old were the volunteers?
There is a very large range in the age of people who volunteer. There were a lot of young people (18 to early 20's) but also university students, a few people in their 30's (like me) and even some folks who had kids or even grandkids back home. That said, it does tend to skew younger.
I think if you're anywhere near 30 or older, you need to be prepared to get along with young adults (and possibly put up with some very young adults...) This usually isn't an issue, as for the most part it's lovely people who get out there to volunteer regardless of their age, but may be something to think about if you're going for a longer term placement.
There is a very large range in the age of people who volunteer. There were a lot of young people (18 to early 20's) but also university students, a few people in their 30's (like me) and even some folks who had kids or even grandkids back home. That said, it does tend to skew younger.
I think if you're anywhere near 30 or older, you need to be prepared to get along with young adults (and possibly put up with some very young adults...) This usually isn't an issue, as for the most part it's lovely people who get out there to volunteer regardless of their age, but may be something to think about if you're going for a longer term placement.
What medications should I bring?
Well, most things you can probably buy when you're there. But depending on where you are travelling counterfeit, out-of-date or poorly stored medication may be an issue.
Here's a good list of things you might consider bringing with you. It seems like a lot, but it will all fit into a small travel kit. If you're struggling with space issues in your pack, try removing things from the boxes (keep the dosage instructions!) and store them in zippered snack bags.
Well, most things you can probably buy when you're there. But depending on where you are travelling counterfeit, out-of-date or poorly stored medication may be an issue.
Here's a good list of things you might consider bringing with you. It seems like a lot, but it will all fit into a small travel kit. If you're struggling with space issues in your pack, try removing things from the boxes (keep the dosage instructions!) and store them in zippered snack bags.
- Antibacterial cream, eg Muciprocin
- Antibiotics for diarrhoea include Norfloxacin or Ciprofloxacin; for bacterial diarrhoea Azithromycin; for giardia or amoebic dysentery Tinidazole
- Antifungal cream, eg Clotrimazole
- Antihistamine – there are many options, eg Cetrizine for daytime and Promethazine for night
- Antiseptic, eg Betadine
- Antispasmodic for stomach cramps, eg Buscopa
- Contraceptive method
- Decongestant, eg Pseudoephedrine
- DEET-based insect repellent
- Diarrhoea – consider an oral rehydration solution (eg Gastrolyte), diarrhoea ‘stopper’ (eg Loperamide) and anti-nausea medication (eg Prochlorperazine)
- First-aid items such as scissors, medicated plasters, bandages, gauze, thermometer (but not mercury), sterile needles and syringes, safety pins and tweezers
- Ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory
- Indigestion tablets, eg Mylanta or Quick Eze
- Laxative, eg Coloxyl
- Permethrin to impregnate clothing and mosquito nets
- Steroid cream for allergic/itchy rashes, eg 1% to 2% hydrocortisone
- Sunscreen and hat
- Throat lozenges
- Thrush (vaginal yeast infection) treatment, eg Clotrimazole pessaries or Diflucan tablet if prone
- Ural or equivalent if prone to urinary tract infections
Any other advice?
"Don't let the kids get too attached to you. Please explain to them you are here to help, but you will leave. Never leave without saying goodbye."
We need to remember that these children are emotionally vulnerable. They have been abandoned and many abused; they want someone they can trust, but they will exponentially demand any kind of attention given and feel as if they were let down once again if things are not clear. If this relation is well managed, it can even become a good way for the children to understand that, at times, people will come and go into their lives, and that their leaving has nothing to do with something the child did wrong. This needs to be explained to upcoming volunteers and monitored throughout their stay, or they will do more harm than good.
Source: http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/12-05/voluntourism-from-an-insider.html
"Don't let the kids get too attached to you. Please explain to them you are here to help, but you will leave. Never leave without saying goodbye."
We need to remember that these children are emotionally vulnerable. They have been abandoned and many abused; they want someone they can trust, but they will exponentially demand any kind of attention given and feel as if they were let down once again if things are not clear. If this relation is well managed, it can even become a good way for the children to understand that, at times, people will come and go into their lives, and that their leaving has nothing to do with something the child did wrong. This needs to be explained to upcoming volunteers and monitored throughout their stay, or they will do more harm than good.
Source: http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/12-05/voluntourism-from-an-insider.html
Can you help me plan my trip?
No, sorry. You'll have to do that your own. I urge you to contact IVHQ directly with any questions about planning your adventure.
No, sorry. You'll have to do that your own. I urge you to contact IVHQ directly with any questions about planning your adventure.
My son/daughter is going on an IVHQ volunteer experience, can you help me plan their trip?
IVHQ regulations states that volunteers must be at least 18. While I am happy to answer some specific questions from volunteers, I must admit that I strongly feel that if you're old enough to volunteer internationally, you're old enough to do your own planning.
IVHQ regulations states that volunteers must be at least 18. While I am happy to answer some specific questions from volunteers, I must admit that I strongly feel that if you're old enough to volunteer internationally, you're old enough to do your own planning.