Why volunteer?
You are sitting at home in the couch watching TV, drinking a cup of tea and scoffing biscuit number three when an ad comes on. BANG! You are hit with the reality that there is actually a world outside your living room. A very big world. There are people out there that are not as fortunate as you are. There are children who have nobody to care for them. There are animals that have suffered neglect and cruelty. There are entire communities that are suffering from yet another natural disaster that has wiped out their homes and livelihoods. And what are you doing about it? You CAN make a difference, get off the couch!
Join teams of volunteers from all over the world and be extra-ordinary. Whether it is working as a teaching assistant in the classroom in a school in Fiji; volunteering at the Ludotecas (Toy Libraries) to help protect children in Mexico that have been affected by abuse, abandonment or the drugs trade or assisting with the rehabilitation of elephants in Thailand that might have once been used for street-begging, in circuses or in trekking camps or even tracking and monitoring lions in South Africa – your volunteering WILL have an impact.
Equipeople Ltd. currently offers eleven volunteer projects in several locations over the world. There is something for everybody and no matter what you choose to do, it will be a once in a lifetime experience. Not only do you get to do something selfless and let’s face it, quite remarkable, you also get to experience a new culture, discover a country from an insider’s point of view and get to meet the most amazing like-minded people.
How long can I go for?
Volunteers can take part in projects from 2 weeks up to a year; it all depends on what resources you have and how much time you can spend abroad. For those wishing to take part in long-term volunteering or internships, just ask as these options are available.
Why do I need to pay to volunteer?
Though some of the fees do go towards administration and agency fees, the bulk of your payment goes directly into the project you are applying for, whether it is teaching resources for the schools, survey tools for the wildlife expeditions or the bed you will sleep in and food you will eat on base. Equipeople work through a partner agency that has its own field staff on every site to ensure that the projects are safe for all volunteers, that there is support when you need it and most importantly to provide sustainable, long-term beneficial work to the community.
Fundraising ideas
Not all of us are lucky enough to live off the “Bank of Mum and Dad”, some of us don’t want to and when you have tried scratch card number 5 and still not won the €1 million jackpot, maybe you could consider a different way of saving up for this trip. Why not try fundraising?
Think of what you are good at and then see if you could do something with that talent. Good at baking or cooking, why not hold a bake sale or open a pop-up restaurant in your living room for your family and friends? Good at DIY or outdoorsy things, get out there and start mowing lawns for the neighbours, weeding granny’s flowerbeds, painting fences, washing cars … Brush up your childminding skills and get babysitting, organise a pub quiz, fun run, BBQ … you get the picture!
Social Media has taken over the world, with websites such as www.volunteerforever.com or www.gofundme.com you can post your volunteering project online, share it on your Facebook or Twitter page and have friends and family donate directly to your fund. Just make sure you read the Terms & Conditions before signing up to make sure you are fully aware of commission and such things.
If you need any more help or tips, just give us a call.
OK, I’m doing this, how do I start?
Easy – contact us. We will go through the programmes with you and tell you all you need to know about the various options available to you.
Our coordinator here at Equipeople will meet with you to discuss visa requirements, flights, costs, programme details and anything else you need to know.