How can I contact ANYONE in Equatorial Guinea before going there to volunteer?

Question

I am 18, male, American. I speak Spanish (the national language), and I've already volunteered in Panama for over two months. I am pretty independent; I just don't want to step off a plane in Africa and not know where I am going to eat and sleep.

I've contacted the US Embassy there and the Equatoguinean Embassy in D.C., neither are helpful AT ALL.

I know that the current president (dictator) is really trying to court the Americans, so I'm sure I would be wanted by the government.

I am interested in teaching, community development, and even attending the local university in Malabo.

Does anyone know of any way in which I can get a hold of anyone of any importance?

Answer 1

Post this in the travel section,you'd likely get some responses.

Answer 2

The Embassies have not been helpful... but you never say here what it is you are looking for. Were you looking for NGO recommendations? What information/support were you seeking?

Embassies are overwhelmed with all sorts of requests, many of which have *nothing* to do with the work of embassies. If you ask for something that is not within their mandate, then they aren't going to be able to help you.

Try contacting the local offices there, if there is such, for:

USAID

UNDP

UNIFEM

UNICEF

OxFam

CARE International

Also, look on the Development Gateway for papers that discuss Equatorial Guinea, and read them to find names of NGOs and aid workers that are there/have been there, then use the Internet to try to track down contact info for such:

http://www.developmentgateway.org

Also try contacting the university on Malabo.

When you write, remember that your email will be in a sea of emails that are from scammers, disturbed people, misguided people, and people looking for income. So make sure you write clearly and professionally and it's perfectly obvious what it is you want and what you offer.