Volunteering holidays
How about offering volunteering 'holidays'?
People from richer countries could be offered accomodation in a home, perhaps paying a little to cover their meals, and then spend their time sewing up blankets with others. Also perhaps they could be taken round places to see what goes on and why this work is so necessary. I don't mean like a guided tour, I just mean they would join in with whatever you are doing as it arises.
These people would then go back to their own countries even more enthusiastic and maybe prepared to do some fundraising?
Rob :-)
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Harrison's mom on -
Great idea, if I could afford the airfare I would be there.
Jeni -
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Permalink Reply by Robert Hoddy on
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Well yes, me too of course!!
Rob :-) -
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Permalink Reply by Sylvia Vannelli on -
My cousin's daughter went on a volunteer holiday with her school to help out in an orphanage in Thailand. Each student had to raise their own fare through fund raising events. Laura ran coffee mornings, raffle's, made and sold cakes and other craft items, bought stationary and made up interesting packs herself to sell at craft stalls etc. Her mother acted as her book keeper and counted profit only (after expenses for materials, fuel etc had been deducted.) Laura raised her fare within six months. Since then she has been back to Thailand again, under her steam, and continues to raise money and awareness for her 'adopted' orphanage.
Robert I'm sure a volunteer programme could be made to work and would offer benefits all round. Could it be included in the schools programme? Or perhaps knitting circles, church groups and any other group of people could get together to raise funds to sponser a volunteer.
Sylvia -
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Thanks for the ideas about fund-raising for air-fares!
I think the main thing would be the availability of people in South Africa willing to accomodate the volunteers for a week or two. The idea doesn't get off the ground without that. Any comment from you lovely people in SA ?
Also I think the visiting volunteers should be fully adult and able to just pitch in. If they were too young then the residents would end up spending too much of their own time chaperoning the volunteers.
Rob :-) -
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McDonald on -
Hi Robert, lovely to have your input here and a great idea it is too.
We have certainly considered a volunteer program and had hoped that we may receive sufficient funding to keep Cressida employed, even part time to implement it and as part of the schools program. Like all these ideas, especially when we involve young people coming to South Africa, some structure would have to be put around it. A risk assessment first perhaps and consideration of appropriate insurance, accommodation would probably be the easier part, well in the first instance when it was perhaps piece-meal. Although after a while if it was a regular event, then we could have a register in South Africa of people who would billet the volunteers.
Now I don't say any of this to be negative, just as the reality of the work involved. And perhaps now more than ever is the time to think laterally and work out ways that our members could take a hand in some of the work.
How exactly is a bit beyond me at present! But I would love this thread, as with Sylvia's fund-raising thread to act as a sounding board, a cyber brainstorming session as doubtless a great theme will emerge that we can sensibly act on.
Thank you very much for starting it. Sandy -
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Permalink Reply by Sandy McDonald on
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Oh and I should add that we could also discuss ways here in which local South Africans (perhaps homeless woman) could be involved. Not an easy topic for those not living in South Africa, but worthy of consideration.
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Um, certainly helping homeless women is a great idea, but I'm not sure it fits under the heading of "Volunteering Holidays". Perhaps in another thread?
Rob :-) -
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Permalink Reply by Dawne Smith-Sliming on -
Chiming in with my own two cents.
Successful voluntourism programs cannot happen without structure. I believe that there is a lot that homeless women can do when KAS is ready to go in this direction. They can give language lessons - even informally through songs and storytelling and they can help with cooking, perhaps.
The amount it would cost me to 'hire' one of these women for a few hours to learn a bit of one of the many languages of SA wouldn't be a hardship. That small amount of money from my North American perspective could be of vital assistance to a homeless SA.
In order to best support the children of any country it is the women we must first invest in; women carry the burden in times of peace and suffer even more in times of conflict or war. The stronger the women of SA are the better the future for SA's forgotten citizens. This is not merely my own thinking but is mirrored in the words of Zanib Salbi, founder of Women for Women International - "Stronger women lead to stronger nations".
This is not to minimize the importance of good men or of working together for the greater good. I'm just acknowledging that the fate of children - their care and upbringing - falls heavily on the women. Given the way that many women become pregnant in developing nations it is especially true that an investment in women (education, job training) will trickle down to the children. -
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Oh good, I'm glad that was useful idea! And no, I wouldn't take any of your remarks negatively. I've conceived and organised a lot of things in my time so I'm very aware that the main organisers are the people who see the whole picture, and who often lose a lot of time in dealing with well-meaning people who only see a small part of the picture. The forum is a useful way to help everybody see the sheer scope of what you are doing and to offer suggestions, but as far as I'm concerned you and Rhonda and your immediate helpers are best placed to see the way forward as KAS grows!
Rob :-) -
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Permalink Reply by P. Jeanne Haessler on -
I think this is a superb idea. I really do. :)
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Permalink Reply by Mary Kristel Lokken on -
I would love to do this, but would stay in a low-cost hotel rather than stay with hosts - I simply feel more comfortable on my own, and am always concerned that I'm putting people out. But, the highlight of the trip for me would be helping out... I'm pretty strong and could make trips to the post office, unpack boxes, sew squares together, sew felted squares... I could definitely imagine dedicating 10 days in South Africa to KAS. Perhaps Ronda or Erin know of an economic hotel in their area where it would be convenient to stay while helping out...
I think this could be done in an informal way, eliminating insurance concerns, etc.
This year the world football/soccer championships will be in South Africa, which may cause the airfare to be higher for the season... and, I personally would opt for South Africa's summer, which would by my next winter...!
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Permalink Reply by Sue Gillman on -
I am like you I would want to be independent but would love to help out some time ... in the future. My wish for KAS is that we can get Cressida employed. Sandy I had an idea. Do you think it would be possible to make a CD of the women and children's singing that you put on the vidoes sometimes. I for one love African music and a CD might make good Christmas presents and raise a bit at the same time.
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