Why pay to volunteer?
All short term volunteer programmes have a programme fee which covers the expenses of operating the programme. Below is an excerpt from a book on international volunteering that helps to explain the necessity of a fee.
How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Joseph Collins, Stefano Dezerega and Zahara Heckscher, published by Penguin Putnan, Inc., 2002.
‘Prospective volunteers are surprised to learn that many programs charge their volunteers a fee to participate. At first this can seem ridiculous - why should you pay money to work for free? Aren’t you already forgoing income you could be making? Here are a few things to keep in mind while trying to understand why the vast majority of programs charge volunteer fees.
‘The local organizations and projects with which you volunteer overseas have limited resources and are seldom able to subsidize your trip or cover the cost of hosting you. (These costs include housing, feeding, transport, developing web sites, re-entry assistance, answering emails). If they did have financial resources to pay an international volunteer, it would almost certainly be more beneficial and cost-effective to hire a local person instead. Someone who already knows the language and culture is likely to stick around.’
Green Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation with no government or religious affiliation, relying on payment from volunteers to run its different projects.
Green Foundation accepts volunteers for different durations, serving shorter term 2-week programmes to longer 12-week periods. Wherever possible the volunteer’s programme service preference will be taken into consideration.
Included in the cost:
• Transport from / to the airport
• Food and mineral water
• Housing at / transport to volunteer programme location
• Orientation course and programme training;
• Dedicated staff guidance
• Excursion to nearby Arusha National Park
• Certificate of completion of volunteer programme
Not included:
• Costs incurred obtaining visas, flights and immunisation
• Laundry & health services
Registration is advised to be 1 to 3 months before departure from your country.
