How can I help a humanitarian cause in Africa?

Question

I would like to go to Africa or some other country to help out with a volunteer humanitarian cause but don't know how. Are their any groups I could get involved with that would pay for the flight their and back and any other major expenses, because I don't really have the money to spare.What are the general requirements?

Answer 1

Join the Peace Corp. You must be a really generous person to this. Good luck!!!

Answer 2

Organizations that don't charge fees for volunteering, such as VSO Canada, UN Volunteers and the PeaceCorps are looking for people who can work (read, write and speak) in a language other than English, who have skills and experience that can lead to local people generating income, better feeding their families, improving children's health, etc., or that can lead to the transformation of key institutions, such as government, universities/schools or NGOs. They are looking for people who can commit to a two-year assignment, who have experience working with under-served communities, or who have a lot of experience in very diverse or religiously-conservative communities. The average age of volunteers in these organizations is over 30 (for UNVs, it's 38) and most not only have degrees, they also have grad degrees.

The goal is to give local people jobs and to keep money local, not to give Westerners a feel-good vacation -- hence why short-term placement agencies charge volunteers, or require these volunteers to pay their own way (flights, in-country transportation, health insurance, accommodation, food, security, translators, training, staff to supervise and support them in their service, liaisons with the police and local officials, etc.).

Here is a web site that can help you learn more about the skills and experience desired by long-term placement organizations, and how you can gain that experience locally.

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volu...

There is a listing of the more-than-30 member organizations of the International Volunteers Program Association (IVPA) that is a good place to find reputable volunteer-for-a-fee programs -- programs where you don't need to have much experience in order to participate, and the placements are just for a few weeks or months:

http://www.volunteerinternational.org/

Answer 3

donate and help

Answer 4

Nick  I am glad to hear of your willingness  to help. I  am  trying to collect  used books and set up libraries in rural kenya. I know this won't give you an  opportunity to travel but at least gives you a chance to participate in a humanitarian effort. let me know if you are interested.