This placement is truly is 'where love resides'.

I was surprised at how clean and well run the place is and how much love, care and attention is shown to the children, volunteers and all who are with the organisation.

Our day would begin at 7am helping the younger children get ready for school (most of the kids have been up for an hour, doing karate classes, cleaning or doing some extra homework), we would then head downstairs to help bath, dress and feed the physically disabled children.  We would feed the children with our hands, some we need to get into their specially made cots with them and lay them in our lap to feed.  It does take a bit to get used to feeding by hand like this but after a while you naturally bond with the children you feed regularly.  I regularly feed a beautiful little girl Jerline, who had Cerebral Palsy and had been abandoned in a blanket near a temple, she had the most beautiful eyes and always wanted me to be looking directly at her.  I also kept an eye on three other children Mari, Sumadi and Sindyl, Mari was definitely a hand full as he is hyperkinetic but he is one of the children I miss the most.

The food is healthy, clean traditional Indian food.  The women who work in the kitchen are just amazing with the amount and quality of food they prepare each and every day (They would even do special requests for the volunteers). The children also get a dose of Vitamins every day to make sure they are not missing out on anything.

After breakfast is cleaned up we would carry the children to the physiotherapy room.  Each child gets physio 5 days a week and some of the children have made great improvements in their mobility, co-ordination and strength.

When lunch is finished for the children (some of the school children come home for lunch, others take a packed lunch), the workers would gather in the dining room for lunch (no tables and chairs here, the marble floors are cool, comfortable and make for a relaxed atmosphere).  This was when we got to know some of the other women who work and live at the house.  Some have children who need the care the organisation provides, some have horror stories of the other places they have worked.

In between meals we would entertain the children waiting for physio, spend time colouring in or just playing with the mentally disabled children.  There are also plenty of other things to assist with such as cleaning and helping in the kitchen, making the trip to do the weekly shopping at the fruit and vegetable market is definitely worth it.  The staff also realise that the Indian heat, humidity and food can take a bit to get used to and they are more then understanding if you need to take it easy some days.

When the children get home from school they have some playtime then it's homework time.  The older children have more formal classes with a teacher which some of the village children attend, so our attention was on the younger children, helping them with maths and english but mainly just trying to keep them focused (some of the kids are masters at being cute and getting you to play with them).  They also have Tamil homework, which needless to say, is hard to help them with when you don't understand it at all.

After feeding the disabled children and ourselves dinner, we were usually just ready to crash.  But some nights we managed to watch a little Indian TV, which was another communal time in the dining room.  Although surprisingly a lot of the kids weren't that interested in just sitting and watching TV.

The rooms we were staying in onsite were quite comfy with our own fridge, air-con and bathroom.  The children accepted this was our space and would only come in if invited and leave when asked.  In general the children are very well behaved and quite loving and sweet.

The weekends were very relaxed with older children around and willing to help pitch in with a lot of the jobs.  We also had the opportunity to do some travelling (French Pondicherry and Mammallapuram are definitely worth visiting).  The staff happily organised auto-rickshaws and gave us travel advice.  They also took us sari shopping one day, which was a fantastic day out, we would have never found that shop without their guidance.

My time at this placement is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.  The children were so beautiful and sweet, it is hard to believe some one could have abandoned them.  The women are an inspiration, they work so hard, yet are still so loving and attentive to the children and do what ever they can to help the volunteers.  Thank-you to everyone at INI022 for all their love and friendship and thanks to Involvement Volunteers for finding such a place.

TR07032, KNI022 - 3 weeks in January, 2007

I arrived home on Monday 19th Feb...still trying to settle back into things - will get there eventually.
Just letting you know my experience was totally amazing! I met the other IVI volunteer there- she's absolutely lovely.
I am hoping to return at the end of the year..I feel I've developed a real connection with the children and members of the organisation. I had the opportunity to teach English/Maths to Standard 1,2 and 3 which was great!! I also had the opportunity to facilitate a workshop (for the widows in the community) on goal setting, budgeting and creating opportunities to generate income etc. The children living in the orphanage are absolutely adorable.
The Director is a lovely lady...she was very open to feedback and new ideas. I'm hoping to continue with fundraising for the orphanage and the local youth soccer team from here...fingers crossed hope all goes well!!
Thank you so much for giving me this extraordinary opportunity.

CN06076, BLI002 – 4 weeks in July.

I was met with no problems by the host at the airport and she is very friendly and good fun. The volunteers live in the hosts house and is only a 20 minute walk from the centre but there are plenty of cheap buses and taxis. The house is very nice and I had my own bedroom, although some other volunteers there at the time shared rooms. All meals were prepared for the volunteers and laundry could be done for a small fee.

On the first day I was accompanied to my placement and introduced to people. There was no real organized structure for what they wanted me to do as a volunteer at the project, however they seemed happy to let me watch the therapists at work and then later for me to treat some of the babies by myself so they could see more at the same time. At quiet times I would help out in the classrooms with the older children with their literacy or help in the ceramic workshop painting things that they sell for funds. I think all the projects suit people who have a good level of Spanish, as in order to get the most out of it you have to organise things to do yourself.

We were left to decide our own hours of work. I generally worked from 8am till 12 and had my afternoons free. However in the afternoons I often visited the other projects and helped out a bit there.

The host is great fun, she is certainly a party animal and Im not sure that this would suit every potential volunteer. People need to be happy with parties in the house and being encouraged to go out a lot at the weekends! Weekends were free and the host is good at organising fun things for us to do.

Of the other projects on offer, the zoo project is certainly one that would be great to encourage people to do as the director is very keen for people to get involved and there is lots of new renovations and changes happening. Again, this needs people who speak at least a basic level of Spanish as there are limited English speakers there.

SK06101 – UGI008 – 1st of May to the 20th of July, 2006.

If I look back through the last month of my life, i'm sad to be back to Germany.

I stayed together with the director of the organisation in a house deep in the forest, the house was really nice, the people are more than friendly and work is wonderful.  Sometimes I worked together with other volunteers, but some of them where just there for 1 month, so I saw some people coming and going.

I gave computer lessons all the time and I also worked in the communities in luwero, on 3 islands in lake Victoria and some villages around the area where I lived. I worked with orphans, I profiled people (their problems and needs) and I worked with HIV+ people. I gave HIV-education in the villages where that I visited and I also assisted in the testing of people for the disease. Every day after my work I went to the people around the area and I did a lot of home visits. I went to a wedding (to the typical introduction ceremony and the part in the church) but I also went to 3 burials.

On the Islands I slept also in a mudhouse :) and sometimes we didn't have normal latrines. It was really good to have taken my sleeping bag and my mosquito net. I didn't do any private travel there (like a tourist) because I went there with a minimum of money - and it was perfect like this, because I was so much closer to the people. I made a lot of friends in Uganda, not just the other volunteers.  A problem is that in the countryside there is no stable electricity, so it can be that you don't have power for 3 days. So during this time just made theoretical things with my students. Sometimes they could not come because of problems at home, so I went direct to them and taught them at home. In the office is just one computer (plans to get more) for the training, but it is possible to teach between 5 and 7 people. The organisation is expanding the whole time, so it looks positive for the future. I will try to help them from Europe and I will continue to work for them, until I go back to Uganda.

HK06007, Germany, A nine month volunteering expedition around Australia and New Zealand, 2006.


NZI051: Looking back on my 2 weeks volunteering in this camp, I find that I have made valuable experiences, despite this short period of time.

Just after I arrived, the Camp Manager showed me around. He lives on site with his wife, and 2 further couples who assist in administration, catering, instructing and maintenance.  The camp, located in a national park near Hunua, is quite huge and provides all sorts of leisure facilities: high and low ropes, a gym, an archery field…and there are many activities offered, to help the children to develop social and personal skills.  Accommodation for the children is provided by cabins, which are grouped in 3 ‘villages’ around a lawn each. I also stayed in a cabin, together with the camp’s nurse, who was volunteering, too.

The instructors arrived a couple of days after me. Their job was to supervise, entertain and run the whole group of children, which was booked in for the following week. The instructors, who have been specially educated in this field, were a lively and cheerful bunch of young people aged 18 to 26. We have had a whole lot of fun!

The first group to arrive were 90 Korean children, aged 6 to 14. They barely spoke English!  Fortunately, they brought 4 interpreters with them, who would also make sure that the kids go to bed and wake up in time. Now, the camp wasn’t calm any more, the air was filled with laughter and foreign words, and the instructors did their best to sort the kids into 7 groups and explain the camp rules.

Seven days filled with loads of work, fun and challenges, followed. The day started at 7 a.m., when we – the instructors and I – met in the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the kids. Meals were given out and taken in the large communal hall. This involved teaching the children some discipline when lining up or sitting at the tables, whilst they turned out to be polite and quite easy to handle, which is surely a cultural feature. The two caterers prepared lunch and dinner – a busy task which they managed greatly. Each instructor had his group of children. The mornings and afternoons were filled with activities, according to a timetable established by the two leading instructors. As a volunteer, I was ‘floating’, i. e. helping out in the groups where needs be.  At nights, the instructors and I sat together to discuss the day and suggest things to improve. The translators assisted the instructors in explaining the days’ activities. In the meantime though, the kids taught us some striking Korean expressions like ‘sit down’, ‘be quiet’ or ‘come here’, which eased communication.

Some activities were quite challenging. I remember a small girl, who was afraid of climbing the high ropes, where she was to balance on a wooden, horizontal stem in 10 m height (harnessed, of course).  She was crying, but would not stop trying. Climbing up the vertical stem, tears on her face, she was supported by the other children, the instructor and me to go on. And she went on, and there she stood in 10 m height, still crying, but starting to walk. It was so great to see that proud expression on her face, when she finally got her feet back on the ground! So in these few days, I noticed that most of the children made some vital proceedings in their personal development.  And it was sad to say good-bye to them after that week!

The next group were 60 New Zealand kids, arriving without any adult, so that we had to do everything from waking them up in the mornings, preparing breakfast, giving out lunch and dinner, running the activities and bringing them to bed at night, and make sure that they were quiet and sleep. Therefore, and as some children showed a behaviour disorder, this group was much more demanding. The nurse, whose help had already been quite needed by the first group, was now even busier. There were no serious injuries, but some children almost constantly needed pampering.

Again, the kids were challenged. One day, I went on an overnight tramp with two instructors and the eldest children (12-16 years). Strolling through high grass, we arrived at a creek – but there was no bridge. The kid’s task was to build a bridge by means of some basic material that we had brought (ropes, sticks, tires). They were divided in three groups and had to discuss solutions. This was to enhance their communication skills. Every group presented their solutions, bringing out interesting constructions, but just one was stable enough to carry both people and gear across the creek. And on we went. At night, we sat at the bonfire, roasting marshmallows and chatting away, after the kids were given huge plastic foils and ropes to build ‘tents’ for the night. Another challenge!  The next day started rainy, and it wouldn’t end for three days. Despite their soaking wet clothes and the long walk back, which led us through dense and steep forests, the children arrived at the camp happily and filled with new experiences.

Then, after one week, it was time to say good-bye; again, it was sad, but good to see that the kids enjoyed their stay and increased their self-confidence.

At the end we have had an intensive party where we had loads of fun!  The camp staff and the instructors, they all are really nice people and I was sad to leave.

As I have sad, I made some valuable experiences during these two weeks. I learned to speak up in front of others, make others listen to me, learned to handle ‘not-so-easy-going’ children and as a result, increased my self-confidence. An experience that you should not miss!


AUI025: Three weeks of a new challenge, where I was to do and see things that I have never done and seen before, lay in front of me, when I arrived on the sheep farm outside Winchelsea. 3000 sheep and this woman, who dedicates a whole lot of her energy to these animals, awaited me. It is amazing what she does, and from day to day, as I got more and more into it, I realized what a huge efforts she makes. She is being supported by her partner, but as he has got a job which takes him all around Australia, he cannot be there the whole time. Fortunately, there is also an older man helping out if needs be. Along with the sheep, there are three border collies living with on the huge premises.

As the grass on the paddocks was brown from the drought, we had to feed the sheep. I was given some old working clothing, and off we went…
The woman loaded bales of silage and hay on the ute’s table by means of a tractor. Then, I drove the ute to the paddocks, kept it running, jumped off and we tore silage and hay off the bales and threw it on the ground. Soon, we were followed by some hundreds of hungry sheep. This procedure was repeated after all sheep were fed, and we reloaded the table several times. Then, we coupled a trailer to the ute and filled it with oats, which were brought to the paddocks, too.  

Each paddock held a certain type of sheep, like merinos, e.g., and females were separated from males. To keep these groups of sheep ‘clean’, and as some were due to be sold, we had to sort them from time to time. So we went into the paddocks on a quad motorbike – the woman was driving, and I was sitting behind her together with one or two of the dogs, and on a fast and furious ride over rough ground. We chased the sheep through the gate, led them to the yards, where they would be sorted (this involved opening and closing the right gates to lead them into the runs and from there into two different yards for the readily sorted sheep).  My task was to run after the sheep and chase them into the run, screaming ‘run run run run run hey hey ho ho hooo!’, jumping over fences, pushing and pulling stubborn sheep. 

In order to support the sheep’s health, we had to drench them: giving them mineral and anti-worm injections into their mouths. We did this in 2 or 3 days on some 1500 sheep. Carrying a container with liquid medicine on our backs, holding a pistol in our hand, which was connected with the container through a pipeline, we stood pressed amongst 20 sheep in a run.  Firstly, it took me a real effort to get the medicine into the sheep’s mouth, I struggled with them, some lay on the ground, apparently hoping I would not see them. The second run was easier, as I already knew better how to handle the sheep.  There were also some ‘non-sheep’ tasks to be done, like cutting weed, planting daffodils, and housework.

On the weekends, I was mainly free to do whatever I wanted. So I spent a couple of days in Melbourne, on another weekend I had a whale of a time with the children of a friend of the host.

Looking back on my time on the sheep farm, I can say that I worked hard! Nevertheless, it was a good time. I learned teamwork: communicating with the person I work with, making sure that we both have the same objectives, and never loosing the will to carry on, as it has to be done, whatever comes. This made me tough, and I realized that I can do much more than I ever thought.  And, supporting the person I work with, i.e. noticing what has to be done and then doing it, in order to achieve the common aim. I learned to make others listen to me – even if it was just sheep!  Guiding them into the direction I wanted them to go, and never letting go.

I will be able to transfer the things that I have learned to different situations in my life, and I will look back on this time very often, of this I am sure.


AUI036: The tiny, former goldmining town and is very close to Leonora, a small ‘outback town’. The vastness of the outback landscape was very unusual for me as a German. The Museum is run by a very passionate man and his partner. They live, together with his partners’ daughter, on site, just next to the open pit which is still in operation.  The town is actually a ghost town:  a number of old, deserted dwellings are spread around the foot of the hill.

I stayed in the Manager’s private home and the four of us spent three weeks together, where we got to know each other and our culture, and we have had good fun! I also accompanied them to go shopping, taking their daughter to school, and exploring the surrounding outback.  As I was there in winter, it got very cold during both day and night, so warm clothing is essential!

The Manager’s aim is to register the former gold miners’ personal and professional items exhibited in the museum. In a collection audit, we went through this huge number of items and marked them in a list. Some items that I came to know, were, to me, strange – items, that the gold miners and their families used in their lives.
As I am a translator, I was also occupied with translating the museum’s self-guided tour into German.  By this, I learned about the museum’s history, which is very interesting.

I was so lucky to stay at the museum’s at the time when the famous ‘Golden Gift’ was held. This is a sportive event, where many athletes from all over Australia arrive in Leonora to compete in a city run. On the Sunday of that week, a big breakfast was offered for everybody. Around 200 people arrived, and we, together with a chef and a kitchen hand, prepared the ‘big feed’ from 5 a.m. and were very, very busy serving the buffet. I enjoyed being ‘one of the crew’, far away from home in this remote Australian town.

There are a few people still living in the ‘ghost town’. There is a very nice, elderly couple, who dedicate their whole life and love to the kangaroos: sharing their home and garden with them, they rescue, raise, foster and keep these animals. I spent one day with them to help cleaning the pens and giving milk to the joeys. This was wonderful!  I very much enjoyed my stay here, as this was a very different lifestyle to me. I met wonderful people and I am grateful to the Manager and his family, as they accommodated me like a close friend and shared their all-day life with me.


AUI014: Surrounded by rain forest trees, there is the house of this passionate woman, a former nurse, who takes care of round 30 flying foxes in an aviary, some microbats, possums, sugar gliders etc. I spent one week with her – a short time, but I learnt a lot!

My task was to clean the cages of those flying foxes, who spent the nights in there due to medical reasons. This involved removing the paper on the ground, putting in fresh paper, and washing the feeding buckets. I also cleaned the cages of the possum and the sugar gliders, and collected some flowers for them.
I was not allowed to handle the flying foxes, as there is a possibility they could carry rabies, which I was not vaccinated against. In the afternoon, two volunteers arrived, and we cut apples and other fruits for the animals, putting them into the about 30 buckets that I had cleaned. They took great care in providing the perfect diet for the relevant animals.

The Bat Station is open to visitors for some four hours a day. The ‘bat woman’ then explains all about the flying foxes and the other animals in a very nice way, and answers questions of the guests, who are standing behind a fence, so that the animals are not disturbed. Entry is free, but donations are welcome. 

During my stay, there was Rosy, a 3-month-old ringtail-possum living in a cage in the woman’s house. I took care of her by preparing her bottle three times a day, feeding her, cleaning her cage and ‘entertaining’ her in the evenings.  The woman is very much into the animals, and does everything to assure that they get all they need. In the evenings, she hand-feeded three microbats with worms, and took special care of two orphan baby stripe-possums, who had been injured by a dog. She even got up at nights to give the bottle to them. I admire her for her extraordinary compassion.

KP06080 - VNI007, June to July, 2006.

I have just recently returned from a life changing experience in Vietnam. The country and the people are both extremely confronting, yet enormously comforting, warm and welcoming. I spent my time in an orphanage just outside of Ho Chi Minh City. There were about 200 children ranging from an angelic girl who was 2 months of age, and energetic teens up to about 16 years. Communication was difficult at times as I only learnt a few Vietnamese words, which I often confused or pronounced incorrectly. But at least I was a good laugh for everyone! The women who worked at the orphanage spoke only very basic English but we had fun communicating through body language and facial expressions, which I believe can tell a thousand words!

I stayed in a hotel which the placement coordinator in Vietnam, chose for me. His brother drove me to the orphanage and back every day for only a small fee. Why would you catch a taxi when there is so much fun to be had on crazy scooters?! Sometimes you just have to close your eyes, hang on, and put all your trust in the driver!

The Placement coordinator was always there to offer me support and show me the sights of his beloved country. He welcomed me into his home to share in meals and long discussions with his family. They were so happy to have me in their home and I was equally pleased.

I can’t even begin to describe how amazing the children at the orphanage were. I wanted to pack them all up in my suitcase and carry them with me forever! They were so full of joy, of energy and of love. I will never forget the hugs I used to receive every morning from all of them. They have filled me with love for the rest of my life!

The women who worked at the orphanage were so surprised at how much I wanted to get involved. From sweeping the floors, to changing nappies, to mopping corridors, to playing, to feeding... I wanted to do it all. But there is nothing like having a little baby stare straight into your eyes during feeding times. It's like they are telling you all their thoughts, their dreams, their feelings... I would love to go back to the orphanage in a few years time to see how they have all changed, grown and developed into the amazing adults that I know they will become.

I cannot thank IVI enough for all their support and assistance leading up to the placement in Vietnam. No question was ever too small or too silly for them to respond to! I am equally grateful for the experiences, the life lessons and the amazing people that I met whilst on my journey, because all have had such a remarkable impact on my life.

DC06056 - THI001, June to July, 2006.

Well, my last day at school yesterday totally blew me away. They held a ceremony to wish the new teachers (Ue and myself) good luck. It was absolutely beautiful. All the students and teachers had presents for me and the school had organised a big sheet of material for all the students to write messages to me on. It is the sweeetest thing ever. I spent about 3 hours crying and hugging all the students and it was incredible to see so much emotion released just because of my departure. Even the poorest of kids had gone to the effort of making me something special. It has really touched my spirit to think that they cared that much about me. My favourite teacher gave a very tearful speech thanking me for making the effort to come all the way out into the mountains to teacher at their little school. They were so grateful because no one has ever done that before. I am just so glad that I choose to do this because yesterday showed me just how much one person can do to help this world. At the end of the ceremony the students didn’t want to let me go. They were all crowed around me and I must have signed at least 30 school books with little goodbye notes. I was autographing everything like a celebrity. Some students even asked me to write on their arms! As I was driving out of the school it was like a scene from a movie as all the kids came running towards the car and waving goodbye. They were reaching out to touch my hand and I couldn’t help but cry so hard it was unbelievable.
That evening the teachers held a little party for me at a lovely restaurant and they insisted on getting me thoroughly drunk. I am just so thankful to all of them for their generosity and kindness, it really is amazing how quickly you can feel like one of the family. Also my host family doesn’t want me to leave. I feel awash with emotions at the moment and I cant find the right words to describe how amazing this experience has been. I hope that when I get home I can express just some of the incredible things I have been part of. (0608)

KV05116 – KNI008, December 2004 to January 2005.

Habari everyone!!!
AFRICA IS AWESOME!!!!!! There is so much that is so incredibly different and amazing, I can’t tell you it all, but I’ll try and tell you the major points!
Almost everyone speaks English, and ALL the signs are in English, which was a godsend, unlike Thailand which was way too hard to try and get around when I couldn’t read ANY of the signs. :P I also went to the education centre that has been started, it is pretty awesome, it is basically to teach non formal education - basic literacy, English, health care, legal rights, and how to look after themselves and encourage them to help others to move forward. They also have support for people with HIV/AIDS, and also working in prevention, which i will also be involved with.

Habari everyone!!!
I have been working in the medical clinic every day, I see a lot of people with Malaria, Typhoid and AIDS, and quite a few with pneumonia and TB.
I bought $240 worth of supplies, which I didn’t think would buy much, but I was given a huge box full of meds. it has given them enough for a month. Or more. Its incredible how far a little money can go here. Its a great learning experience, because with every new patient the doctor
will bring me in, and tell me their symptoms, get me to listen to their lungs, bowel, and heart and ask me what my diagnosis would be.. He's taught me the slight differences in the two major diseases here, malaria and typhoid, and i usually get it right now :P
The kids here are SO CUTE!!!! They run out of their houses, sometimes to just stare as I walk past, but most yell out "how are you?". I honestly think its all most of them know, because when I reply some just smile at me but have no clue, but most of them just burst into giggles! Adorable :)

Merembe everyone!!
The younger kids in the family i am staying with, most nights in the last week or two, especially while I was sick, were putting on concerts for me. They would sing either traditional Kenyan songs, or just popular songs on the radio (also in Swahili)
At the clinic, when i have been there, its been quiet some days and crazy others, we still have the multitudes of people with bronchitis, malaria, and typhoid.

Bushere! (ok that’s not technically correct because that’s a morning greeting, but I’m running out of new greetings!!!)
I only have 4 full days left in Shikunga! its very sad :(.. I then have 4 days in Nairobi, where i will have electricity at my disposal! how strange!!!! :)
Tomorrow i am visiting people who have AIDS, which will be sad, but i am looking forward to talking with them.
I don’t know if I’ve said this already, but there are 5 million people living in slums in Kenya. That’s almost twice the population in Melbourne living in extremely poor conditions. and also there is a huge famine and drought in the north of Kenya at the moment, killing lots of people.
Everything here is so quiet, and so relaxed. Its so different to Melbourne, I think I am going to miss it when i leave. At first I found the quiet unnerving, but now its great sitting outside on a mat, with the kids playing soccer with their ball made of plastic bags all rolled up, just doing nothing except reading when i have spare time. There is nowhere in Australia where there is no distractions - no cars, no TV.. it’s beautiful!

Habari!
Last Thursday I had the best experience of my time here, i went with a bag full of medicines to visit five people who were HIV positive and treat them. It was sad, because they were all very young, in their 20's and 30's, and are in the relatively early stages of the disease (they are not bed ridden or extremely sick, they could walk to the education centre where i met them, about 1 km), but they have all given up on life. The stigma here is so bad, that they think that they are about to die. It was hard to talk to them, because only one spoke English so it all had to go through a translator, but i tried to explain to them that just because they are positive, doesn’t mean they cant live for many many years. I don’t think they fully believed me, but it was worth trying. I think they also expected me not to talk to them much, and they were surprised when i shook their hand. They seem to believe that a white person wouldn’t touch them, from what i got from the translator, because they had HIV. Its sad the stigma here - that is probably the biggest challenge, apart from prevention, is reversing the stigma in this country, especially the rural areas.
Sunday, i went to the clinic for the last time! Took lots of pics, said goodbye to some of the regular patients, I had lots of goodbyes, and Jackie cooked an absolute feast for me that night! (0607)

SL05008 – September 2005 to April 2006. A volunteering trip around Australia.

AUI040: A joyful experience, it was so much fun to be looking after 20 or more dogs everyday. I was able to learn about the management side of things as well as the caring, responsibility side too. The hosts were exceedingly kind people who out of the kindness of their hearts, introduced me to and educated me about the native animals that live in New South Wales as well.

AUI012: An unforgettable experience. To spend each day with a different keeper, aiding and learning about the animals on their round was a unique experience. To look after and feed both native and foreign animals, as well as learning the differences and similarities in terms of caring for them and their adaptations to the world in which they live. This job really brings to light, how high a percentage is looking after the animals and cleaning their habitats rather than simply interacting with them – an important lesson to be learnt if considering this field of work. A great job to do if thinking about animal conservation.

AUI002: It was an honour to work as a volunteer for an establishment run by a government conservation organisaion. The educational benefit it brought to me, and the passion with which the rangers do their job is inspirational. The interaction with the dolphins is beyond words and it is this unique situation that enables the rangers to educate the public about wild dolphins and the dangers of too much wrongful interaction with them. A fountain of knowledge, I was always learning when working alongside the rangers.

AUI039: Set in the outback of Australia, thirty minutes from the town of Broome, the work involves a lot of manual labour when not helping on tours looking for birds. The array of birdlife in Broome is astounding, as are the clientele that visit from around the world to see such diversity of wildlife. Constantly working outdoors, the work was never boring and the staff ever friendly. The wildlife, both winged and earthbound, are astounding and are known in detail by all the staff who clearly have a passion for studying wildlife. The research done in Broome is magnificent and extends to help those in other countries where the birds visit in certain seasons. The research techniques I learnt there are priceless, especially when I intend to study zoology at university.

AUI014: Bat rescue and research: A village in a rainforest. North Queensland is a setting for amazing wildlife, including many species of bats – the main focus at the rescue centre, possums and sugar gliders. The centre was set up by a remarkable woman to look after orphaned animals, mainly bats of the spectacled and black flying foxes but also possums and gliders which are hand raised by herself and the volunteers. The work is hard and can be 18 hours a day, but the interaction with the animals and good work you are doing erases this minor detail. A month at this place working closely with orphaned wildlife, caring, feeding and cleaning these babies in order for release, was too short a time. I could have happily stayed there for many more months. The passion for this work given off by the host is infectious and you leave with a new found sense of animal conservation and the importance of such a job.

EC06067 - AUI038.  March/April, 2006

I suppose it would make sense to start this off by discussing the Sanctuary itself.  It was really very nice.  They have a very extensive collection everything from Snakes and Birds to Kangaroos and Crocodiles.  The whole place is very well laid out, and attractive to the eye.  You stay in excellent accommodation--essentially converted hotel rooms, with a personal refrigerator and pool literally just outside your room.  The food is all provided by the hosts, and is really pretty good.
 Jobs really vary a great deal, and are different for male and female volunteers.  Personally, I spent most of my time cutting weeds, shovelling dirt or gravel, or carrying heavy logs around.  I would certainly say that anyone coming would need to be prepared to really work.  The good news is that the work doesn't last that long: 7am to 1pm with long breaks in the middle (roughly 45 minutes at around 9:30), with 1 day off a week.
 There is internet and a beach within walking, or biking distance at a local hotel/bar.  That being said, the pub is a nice place to spend a few hours after work.  You can usually also get the host to take you into Mossman, which is the nearest town, a few days a week.  On top of that, the hosts will also take occasional excursions about the area, which is full of things to see.  Another perk of being there is a discounted rate on a local tours from various tour operators.
The host is a very interesting and intelligent person, and clearly knows a great deal about animals.
For myself, I am very glad to have had this experience.  It is the kind that no amount of money spent on tours or tour guides can really give you.  As I was advised beforehand, Gil is the kind of person you remember your whole life.

This is certainly an experience that you won't soon forget.

JK06055 - KNI012. January to March, 2006.

When I first got there I was just glad to see someone there waiting for me.  What a relief.  We traveled to the village....which I was not expecting whatsoever.  i thought I would be living in a rural suburb or something.  I was so excited at the shock of living in a mud hut with no electricity or running water.  The family was amazing and very giving.

The host did not really have a plan for me while I was there except to help fund and start a non-formal school in a nearby village. Two doctors from Australia actually showed up after i had been there for 3 or 4 days.  They had plans for medical camps etc.  I was their tag along for about 2 weeks.  During the free medical camps I acted as a sort of coordinator and as a counselor for patients referred to me by the doctors. 

After the medical camps, I started getting serious about the school.  I brought desks and chairs and books etc.  We had many meetings with the village counselors in order to get the school approved. .  There are about 24 students right now, there were only 15 when I left.  It is exciting because its only the third of its kind in all of Kenya.  The students don’t pay tuition and uniforms are not required.  NON FORMAL!  I will be trying to help fund the school until I return.  I plan on returning next year.  it was the time of my life and I cry every time I talk about my experience there.  I have great pictures!  The shock and awe was major when i got there at first though.  I was expecting something much bigger (ngo).  I really liked the newness of the organization though and wouldn't change a thing.  I was lucky to be involved with the school from the very beginning.

KP06015 - BRI003 - January - March, 2006.

The hosts own a big house. It´s not really an orphanage, but a children's shelter. They have two biological daughters, and over 70 adopted kids. I am living across the road to their house and it's very safe and clean. The shelter is very basic. They are not rich or anything but the kids are just amazing. They range from a few months all the way up to adults. The kids here are wonderful and so genuine. It's a little bit hard as I don't know any Portuguese and they have little English. Nonetheless, we get along fantastic and the kids really brighten up my life. They are so kind and are always trying to make sure I feel comfortable and happy. They even got nicknames for me – Kim-possible, Kimbo, etc… They are so cute.. everyday they tell me that I´m beautiful. Hehehe…

I,m really amazed by the kids. Everyone has their own chores here, whether it be helping to prepare the food, washing the dishes, cleaning up, sweeping the floor, looking after the babies, watering the garden, etc, etc. and these kids are as little as 7-8 years old. It really amazes me. Theres this one girl, Amanda. Shes 8 or something like that. She full on looks after this disabled girl, Stephanie.. its really sweet. I see the way she feeds her and does her hair and everything. And then theres all the cooking they do. Everyone helps out. The other day I was helping out in the kitchen. These kids know how to use a knife better than I can. They can cut and peel faster than me. They make me feel so guilty… then afterwards, they all wash up and then dry the dishes.. no one ever complains.. everyone just does it likes it’s a part of their daily things they do. When I compare it to the Australian kids, we all grew up with everything we wanted.. playstations, PSPs, computers, the net, mobile phones, t.v…. the kids are content with what they have.. But its funny because its not like these kids don’t know how to have fun, because they do! When it comes to chores and everything, they don’t complain because they have been brought up like this… they laugh and know how to have fun… but also know when its time to do their chores. Every day, a chore is assigned to someone.

I have also been playing lots of sport here with them – volleyball, table tennis, basketball and even Soccer. Everyone loves soccer over here. It's their sport. Hehe. I´ve also been eating lots of Brazilian food. It's very different. Everyday I have rice with about 3-4 other dishes. Corns, black beans, potatoes, vegetables, beetroot, etc… Their fruits are also different to ours. Most of them are sweeter and taste nicer! Hehe. I have also been learning to speak Portuguese – the kids love teaching me, especially the not-so-good words like you're crazy, monkey, etc, etc… It's quite funny and it cracks them up when I say it. I have also been getting to know each of them separately. You get the quiet ones and then the crazy ones (hehe). They love to play with my hair (they love my hair for some reason) and they have painted my nails PINK! Hehe. They also love to dance and sing. As well as loving music, they love to learn!!! Ive been teaching them piano!! Its sooo cute. They sit there until they know the song back to front. When I was small, I hated to practice… but they just sit there and play and play until they know it. I´ve been teaching them this one piece. They love to learn and then afterwards, love to show-off to the adults. They also love me playing the piano to them, especially Pocahontas. They love to sing along.

All week I have been at the orphanage, helping out whenever and wherever I can. Some interesting things I have done is have a chilli eating comp with Luiz (16 y.o teenager boy)... It was funny because he chickened out at two chillis and I was dancing around like a chicken and teasing him. Another two street children have been accepted into the family. We also had many visitors this week; people coming in to see the children. We were also on t.v. which was pretty exciting for the kids. It's been a fun week - getting to know the kids more and getting closer to all the teenagers. I know I will miss them all when I go. I´m already thinking of presents to give them before I leave.

Proof of a volunteers job well done from the host of KNI004 - January, 2006

(Ed Note: Involvement Volunteers sent 3 volunteers at intersecting times in the month of January to KNI004. They managed, with direction from the host, to utalise their skills to assist the community.  Ryan and friend are final year Medical students and Jessica is a qualified Social Worker)

"Thank you very much for your email and concerns you have for the people of Kakamega.  We have been busy for the last two and a half weeks conducting free medical camps with Ryan and his friends.  We were able to treat more than five hundred poor people in the communities.  Ms Jessica has been very instrumental in helping to organize, counsel and directing people within the camps.  In the next few weeks, she will be helping us in mobilizing children and youths in our non – formal secondary school."

JW05059 - MNI001- September to October, 2005.

I'm back home now and just wanted to thank you for all your support and efforts in organising my placement in Mongolia. I had a really wonderful time with my placement and the staff and children. I was placed in a Community Based Centre in a ger district of Ulaanbaatar, I caught the bus to work everyday with the locals which really gave me a sense of belonging to the Mongolian community. As I am half Asian I seemed to blend in with the locals easily, almost everyday I was approached at the bus stop and talked to in Mongolian, it was very amusing. I would recommend Mongolia to anyone.

DC05034 - INI016 - September to November, 2005.

I am really enjoying my time here. The orphanage is a very nice place to stay at as the city itself is of course very crowded and noisy. All the people here are caring very well for me and it almost feels like home here :) The work with the children is not very easy, but after the 1st week I have started to give computer and drawing lessons and now I really like to spend my free time with them dancing and singing.   I very happy to be here and I would never want to miss the experience of volunteering here. I am planning to visit again in a few years or just between my studies.

ZL05080 - INI009- June to August, 2005.

I found myself teaching English grammar to standard 4 to 12 students (aged 7-18).  I also taught drawing, PT, general knowledge and Indian History, but the time spent playing sport with the kids, chatting at lunchtime or visiting them after school was where the real value was. Most importantly however, I think that the volunteer activities at the organisation also have an impact in broadening the family, teachers and students minds than anything else. My skin is fair and I have quite a few freckles!  For the first month, I had the kids asking the teachers if I had a disease, once they figured out I was ok, their hands would sneak up and touch my arms when I was talking to someone else, or little kids sitting on the floor would touch my feet as I would be writing on the board.  Apart from what we look like - what we wear, how we dress, the difference in the structure of our names, what we eat etc. was all so interesting for them.  When not at school I would eat with the family, sing and dance to Tamil music with the family and enjoy outings with them on the weekends

I found India pretty hard sometimes.  I had a joke with a Japanese friend, who was also a volunteer at the school, that 'IST' was not Indian Standard Time, but Indian Stretchable Time.  Everything they think and do is thought and done the opposite in Australia.  At the start I kept stories of boyfriends, social drinking and youthful independence to myself nut in the end my Aussie openness broke through and although my lifestyle and choices sometimes shocked them (no one I met could grasp the fact that a 22 year old unmarried girl would be traveling around the world on her own by her own means).  They appreciated my honesty and openness and there were always a great many laughs and jokes among the family especially at all our differences. I made some truly great friends.

The day I left I have never been so overwhelmed in my life.  My fingers were full of kids rings, my bags full of their precious pens that they usually spent their time asking me for!, scrappy notes saying 'I love you Zoe' handed to me with both hands as a sign of respect.  It was truly beautiful and I realised that kids everywhere deserve a chance.  The experience really did teach me a huge amount, it wasn't easy that's for sure, but they touched my heart and it made every tough moment worthwhile.

A little insight to future volunteers &endash; living and eating with an Indian family really means sitting on the floor eating with you hands, a small rural Indian community means that everyone knows everything about you and that they think you are quite strange and there is little communication with the outside world. … but it was the most incredible experience.  I wholeheartedly recommend it!

ZL05080 - Mercy Mission Delivery Placement - May 2005.

I have just had the most incredible month in Southern Africa. Thank you so very much for your suggestion of this trip and your organisational support. The hosts are amazingly interesting people with such a beautiful desire to share everything they know about African life, animals and culture. We left for Botswana to stay at the most amazing off the beaten track places - saw huge array of animals everyday for four days through Botswana and Namibia into Zambia. Spent a very fun few days in Livingstone exploring the Falls and the town, then left for Mwandi - the mission village. We spent time in the hospital and preschool as well as painting the new playground for the orphans and Vulnerable Children program and their new feeding centre and preschool. We met the most incredibly beautiful people in a village that is suffering hugely from AIDS, malaria, TB, starvation and child prostitution - a vicious cycle with sights that broke all of our hearts. It was truely an amazing and humbling experience.

For a more indept quote of this placement, please follow this link to the placement description on the South Africa page.

From S. Binder who completed a placement in a National Park in Argentina.

I did a volunteer program with IVI in Argentina this time last year. After much research I came to the conclusion that your org. was the best one to go with, as it seemed to be less exploitive than some of the others, in terms of profit. However I just wanted to let you know that I had the time of my life. I have heard/read testimonies in the past and thought whilst inspirational they sounded somewhat sensationalised but now I must forgive myself for being so wrong. I had one of the most special times of my life. Keep up the good work, and I hope to do another stint elsewhere sometime.

From AB05039 (Australia) -6 weeks teaching spoken English in Chiang Mai Thailand.

After quite a lot of research, I settled on making an application with IVI because they seemed so openly and passionately concerned with their work. Of course the opportunity for travel and adventure were at the front of my mind and so, when offered a placement to teach spoken English in Chiang Mai, I quickly accepted and both of these I most definitely got.

The actual teaching is really what you make of it. You will be a distinct novelty amongst the students so be prepared for lots of waving and saying 'hello' about 50 times a day! At the end of the day the students simply want to improve their English and if you can help them with this then they are truly grateful. . If its fun and it helps the students with their English it will always be a winner. Students love to play games and will take ANY opportunity to sing to you, so let them show their talents and their nerves will fade away. They have great English skills and in actual fact want to show them off, they just need the right climate. The teachers made every effort to put me at ease, often going out of their way to show me local sights and delights to ensure I got the most out of my time there. If you are open minded and accept all of Thailand like a sponge it will change you forever. It's an amazing place and I can truly never once felt uncomfortable or homesick. In a nutshell the most amazing thing about an IVI experience is that it gives ordinary people the capacity to do rather extraordinary things. Thailand takes a hold of you and you won't want to leave! I never thought it possible that I'd be teaching kids to tell the time, or acting as the responsible teacher on a school camp, or travelling to an 800 year old city on school excursion, or simply being in the incredible situation where a school full of children actually look forward to your lessons (even encouraging their regular teacher to make themselves absent!)

It has been an amazing experience amongst some amazing people, who have touched me deeply. Their warmth and generosity is incredibly humbling. For me, it has been the most amazing experience of my life in large part because I loved what I was doing over there. I believed in it even though in some senses it was thrust upon me and this is what an IVI experience does. It can be challenging and you must be open minded and adaptable, but you can't help but take these people to heart when you are over there if you embrace them for all they can offer - its indescribable. (Recieved May 2005)

From DW04006 (Australia) - who completed several placements with children in South America over 9 months:

I just wanted to get in contact with you also to let you know how proud i am to say im doing volunteer work with IVI. I have had an amazing time in South America due to you and your association. I have had nothing but support and help (which is really important when you are travelling alone). THANK YOU!!!!!! (Recieved March 2005)

From FE03110 (Australia) - 2nd program with IVI, this time a four week placement in Fiji

In all, I helped look after about 40 children aged between 3-5 who came from very poor homes. If it weren't for the centre, many of these children would have been left in their villages alone all day while their parents worked in factories, sugar mills etc. It wasn't like a normal day care centre - we taught the kids basic reading and writing, and life-skills such as teeth brushing and table manners! Being able to stay with a local family really made the trip for me and taught me so much about the Fijian culture. In addition to this, not only were staff at the day care centre so thankful to me, but so too was the family I stayed with. I had the most amazing time ever. I'd highly recommend doing one of the placements - in fact I am currently trying to save up for another one! (Recieved March 2005)

From JB05021 (USA), who completed a three week placement in Lebanon:

What an experience!!! I know now why my father talked so much about Beirut, the people there made me feel really welcomed. The host is a beautiful man that also made me feel so welcomed. I had a blast working with the kids, I call them kids even though some of them are only a few years younger than me. I was able to visit South Lebanon, that was beautiful. I went to the Bekaa Valley and visited the sea a lot. I loved the food!!. I want to thank Involvement Volunteers for giving me this awesome experience and the opportunity to make friends for life. (Recieved Feb 2005)

From BG04165 & MB04166 -(Australia), who completed a one month placement in Ecuador:

Our volunteer placements were very rewarding and we felt that we contributed to the local community, particularly in the school. It was also a rewarding experience to work with the animals. The accomodation was great and the staff was lovely. Speaking Spanish would have been an advantage but we got by as the staff were patient and helped us to learn the basics. It is a beautiful area and there was plenty to do in our spare time, exploring the jungle, visiting Indian communities, playing football with the locals, canoeing and swimming. We would recommend volunteering here to other people. Many thanks to the Foundation and IVI for organising it for us. (Recieved Feb 2005)

From CH04052 (England), who completed a two month placement in rural Kenya:

"I met some amazing people and they welcomed me into their family and I had such a great time. The placement that Mrs M. organised for me in Embu was fantastic even though it wasn't for long and because I was there alone they really included me in everything. I think I benefited a lot from being on an individual placement." (Recieved Sep 2004)

A Volunteer's Experience:

"IMAGINE a job tailor-made to your interest that allows you to travel the world, with accommodation and food provided, has no requirements of experience, age or education and allows you as much time off as you want.

If it sounds like a dream come true there is one important thing to be considered - you won't be paid a cent.

The job is volunteering and despite the lack of financial recompenses, it was one of the most rewarding and personally fulfilling things I have ever done and I can't wait to do it again.

The friendships made the huge variety of experience and memories are beyond anything that money could buy.

In 12 months I helped the cultural practices of the indigenous people of Borneo, taught English at a technical School for boys in Thailand, worked as a recycler and organic farm hand in England, was a general farm hand in Bavaria and a field worker for the Sea Turtles Protection Society of Greece.

I was blessed by the high priestesses of the Kadazan and learned to cook Bornean food in a long house: I climbed over stiles in the Kent Downs and drank ale in a 500-year-old pub. I swam with sea turtles and helped prepare for the local Assumption church service on a Greek beach. I met people who earned their living harvesting birds nests for Chinese soup and went carolling through the suburban streets of Chiang Mai on Christmas Eve. I helped in a chicken slaughter house and planted a field of potatoes.

The concept of volunteering and working overseas had appealed to me for a long time, but I was not willing to sign up for a minimum of two years in a third-world country as required by some volunteer organisations.

What if I hated it from the first day ? I'd be stuck.

I was looking for something more flexible . I wanted to travel and visit several countries in one year. I also wanted a fair bit of time to play tourist and do my own thing. After all, what's a year off work if you never get a holiday?

But I wanted to do more than just backpack around the world and be a traveller. I wanted to see more of the places I was visiting than just the inside of the local youth hostel and the attractions. I liked the idea of working with local people on worthwhile projects. Learning about their customs, understanding some of their cultures and living a small part of their life. I wanted to give something to the places I visited instead of just taking.

For me the answer was short-term volunteering.

In one year I worked on five different projects around the world in East Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Greece and Germany. I also had enough time off to get a paid job in Poland for a month and tour the USA for two months, as well as sight seeing around the countries where I volunteered.

Involvement Volunteers Association Inc (IVI) based in Melbourne was the organisation that made it all possible. The organisation offers placements in more than a hundred projects in a growing list of countries worldwide, including Australia.

Most of IVI placements are for a minimum 2 weeks, which means you can still try volunteering in normal annual leave without giving up your job or your life back home.

You'll still be going to the unknown, but at least you know if you really don't like it, it's not going to be forever.

Many volunteers projects run year round, and generally you may arrange to volunteer for as long as you wish.

You choose the countries that you wish to visit, the types of projects you want to join, when you want to volunteer and when you want time off.

IVI will write a program to suit you and adjust it until you are satisfied

Projects available include archaeology, conservation, education, historical, social service and community non-government agencies with options for rural or urban preferences and field or laboratory work where applicable.

Not all projects can provide full room and board, although most will provide accommodation. Some will require you to buy your own food, but in many you will be hosted with a local family, living and eating as they do. In other places you may be given your own flat or share accommodation with other volunteers.

Where meals and accommodation are not supplied . IVI provides an estimate of how much money you'll be likely to need each week.

You can choose projects where you work with other volunteers or projects as an individual volunteer. Both have their advantages. In group placements you will never be short of friends who live and share the adventure with you.

As an individual volunteer you will still be working with others , but they will most likely be paid workers, who will generally make a big fuss of you. Many of the paid colleagues believe that anyone would willingly work for no money and they insisted on paying for me whenever we went out.

Before listing any project on its books, IVI checks that their volunteers will not be paid employment from local people. That ensures when you volunteer you will be an extra pair of hands not scab labour.

While most people who undertake short-term volunteer projects travel as individuals, it is possible to volunteer and travel with one or more friends or even you whole family. However, this may restrict the kind of projects you can do.

And there is no upper age limit, although volunteers must be at least 17 years old. At 30 I wondered before setting out whether I shouldn't have made my trip several years earlier, but I soon realised that attitude is more important than age.

The youngest volunteers I worked with were 18 and the oldest was 72

Naturally flexibility helps and not everything will be guaranteed to go to plan. A week before I was to join a farm in Poland my placement was cancelled. With a non-refundable ticket and a month before I was due in England. I decided I might as well visit Warsaw. Making the most of my empty itinerary. I was lucky enough to get a well-paid temporary job, which boosted my budget, helped fill in my time and brought me into contact with many more local people.

The down-side of short-term volunteering is that the time to move on comes around fast. You've just began to talk the language, work out the bus timetable, master some of the basic rules of etiquette and make new friends when it's time to leave - just when you were in the swing of things and starting to really relax."

Lessons Learned by LM01062 (Canada), who spent a month in Ecuador:

...that I'm not half as patient and tolerant as I thought I was before I came on this trip.

...that no matter where you're from, if you're travelling in a group you're always going to be obnoxious.

...not to fuss or squabble over a price that's non-negotiable.

...that a smile and a sense of humour can soften an official.

...how blessed and rich I am to have such wonderful people in my life.

...that unlike at home, you can't always surround yourself with agreeable and like-minded people.

...that if you meet someone and travel with them for about four days without wanting to wring their neck, you'll be friends for life.

...that you not only have to adapt to the cultures of the countries you visit, but you also have to adapt to the behaviours of your fellow world travellers.

...that there exist in this world both inherently wonderful as well as inherently nasty people.

...never to take my safety and security for granted and never let my guard down, no matter where I am.

...that anything in life is a risk.

...that travelling can really put your life into perspective.

...that real poverty primarily exists in the big cities; the people that live in the country off the land in a one-room shack, are richer than they think.

...that potential thieves sense weakness and ignorance from a mile away.

...that altitude is the great physical equalizer.

...that I would rather struggle with altitude in the mountains than mosquitoes in the jungle.

...that if given a waiting time, the correct one is usually three times longer.

...why God gave me these big hips. One word - SAMBA!

...that I lose my will to live on night buses.

...that I formed the same relationship with my Lonely Planet guide as with a dental examination - you hate it, but you need it.

...to get used to throwing toilet paper in the wastebaskets rather than the toilet in some places.

...the true value of Peanut Butter.