What is up with having to pay for volunteer work?

inferno · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:23

I have no problem paying for travel, food and accomodation. No problem at all, but I don't want to be ripped off.

4T5 · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:25

How does it work then ? Are there like middle men agency type bods banging a commision on or something :confused:

Nauggie · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:34

I think the whole concept is flawed. They can hire local people to build houses. Unless your an engineer your not going to do anything they can't do themselves.

I think this type of charity work is abit of a scam.

Clearly this is more of a tourist thing as you would want to go for at least 6 months to achieve something.

pitchfork · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:40

I am from England and have a well educated background

Sorry but I just laughed at that, don't put it on a job application thats for sure.

To cover costs of living and probably materials and such as has been said before though.

dboundy · 21 Jul 2007 at 14:21

BallisticJack said:
No...but the Charity should front the costs. It would then be up to the Charity to ensure that any applicants are committed to doing a good job whilst they are out there.

Better idea, what about you front the costs but then the chairty refund you upon completion of the work.

Works much better if you ask me as it means you can't just turn up and expect it to be a free holiday.

You go home early or don't work you don't get the money back. Simple.

[DOD]Asprilla · 21 Jul 2007 at 15:13

dboundy said:
Better idea, what about you front the costs but then the charity refund you upon completion of the work.

Why should they refund you?

Unless you are a qualified tradesman (chippy, spark or bricklayer) or an irrigation / sanitation specialist you aren't really offering skills they can't get locally and so you should pay for the experience.

Bes · 21 Jul 2007 at 17:05

In Thailand I had to pay a fee + airfare, accommodation, etc to be able to go and build houses for the poor locals who lost everything in the Tsunami. Seems reasonable to me, as the charity have to cover their costs somehow, plus you are not really bringing a real 'skill', just pure manpower. (i.e. I was digging foundations and pouring concrete most of the time

)

Vonhelmet · 21 Jul 2007 at 17:29

Some of you people responding to this thread are scum.

[DOD]Asprilla · 21 Jul 2007 at 17:31

vonhelmet said:
Some of you people responding to this thread are scum.

Any chance you can help out with which are which as it's a bit of an open statement.

cleanbluesky · 21 Jul 2007 at 17:33

vonhelmet said:
Some of you people responding to this thread are scum.

I think the same could be said of any thread

Darren1987 · 21 Jul 2007 at 17:35

Moses99p said:
thats something i didn't mention above, doh.

You can do ANYTHING for sponsorship, these projects are about helping people but also about you growing up and learning new things. When my brother went to southern Africa to do a uni development project with 3 mates he dressed up as a woman and went around Sheffield with a bucket, organised a dinner (charge loads and make a massive profit ;D), etc.

Use your imagination.

Also, getting onto NGO or UN projects is almost impossible :\

You aren't getting ripped off, ask them for a breakdown of the costs - it WILL add up.

omg

Edit :: its about HELPING people, not getting a freebie thing to put on your CV

Best post yet

inferno · 21 Jul 2007 at 17:53

Well I emailed the UN in Kyrgyzstan. Doubt the response will be a positive one, but its worth a try!

geeza · 21 Jul 2007 at 18:11

wouldnt it be easier to pay your own fare to get there then work building huts for a set wage?

or just not volunteer in the first place!

cleanbluesky · 21 Jul 2007 at 18:12

Wouldn't it be easier to go out there, and just sit down? Or look at tigers and lions?

georges · 21 Jul 2007 at 19:33

Why don't you do local charity work, instead of something glamorous to bolster your UCAS application. This will still show you are dedicated and hopefully persuade a university that you are helpful etc..

inferno · 25 Jul 2007 at 20:41

I did actually get in touch with the UN and got a very positive response. The UN said they would be happy for me to come and join them in their operations. Only catch was the minimum time was a month! Considering my summer holiday is only 6 weeks I couldn't do it! I'll do it next year though when I have a few months off.

Dave M · 25 Jul 2007 at 20:50

inferno said:
I did actually get in touch with the UN and got a very positive response. The UN said they would be happy for me to come and join them in their operations. Only catch was the minimum time was a month! Considering my summer holiday is only 6 weeks I couldn't do it! I'll do it next year though when I have a few months off.

6 weeks is over a month.

NiccoLau · 25 Jul 2007 at 20:52

Telescopi said:
6 weeks is over a month.

I guess he probably meant from this day now. Which is less than a month before school opens.

Dave M · 25 Jul 2007 at 20:59

Oh it's for this summer? Nothing like planning ahead is there

So he has no special trade they'd want and is offended that they expect him to pay his way (what with being from england and well educated) and has just thought about this now once holidays have already started?

Why is he bothering? Does making the post make him feel better as I really don't believe he is in the slightest bit serious about this.

Here's a hint - if you want to volunteer ring your local council, or visit the local library and ask about local groups you can help out in the summer. If you don't want to volunteer keep on as you are.

inferno · 25 Jul 2007 at 21:00

Telescopi said:
6 weeks is over a month.

I have other commitments like my pilots license and exam results smack bang in the middle of August. And I am serious about it, if I had been able to go I would have helped the people contact the various embassies and NGOs within the country.

I have actually been trying to arrange something for quite a while now, contacted a lot of the embassies abroad, but most said the summer was a bad time since people were on holiday or it was too dangerous. The reason I posted this thread was because I actually have a placement in Ghana for the end of this summer, but would have preferred to something more physical, like helping with construction.

And the post I made to bring this thread back up was to inform people that working with the UN is possible.....