Volunteering

I've been looking at the VSO website today, and thinking...

International volunteering

• Ecotrackers Network
  International volunteer work in Ecuador protecting cultural and biological diversity the development of indigenous community ecotourism projects.
  
  http://www.ecotrackers.com/
  
• Gapadvice.org
  Gapadvice.org provides independent advice on gap years, for people of all ages as well as for companies.
  
  http://www.gapadvice.org
  
• Habitat for Humanity International Volunteer Program
  This new programme is designed to engage people in the international movement for simple, decent housing and empower volunteers to have a meaningful experience while living abroad.
  
  http://www.habitat.org/ivp/
  
• Idealist.org
  'Action without borders'.
  
  http://www.idealist.org/
  
• nGoAbroad
  A volunteer clearing house and referral service that custom fits peoples' skills, interests and goals to humanitarian needs abroad.
  
  http://www.ngoabroad.com
  
• Volunteer Latin America
  Volunteer Latin America is a small, independent organisation offering environmental and humanitarian volunteer work in Mexico, Central and South America.
  
  http://www.volunteerlatinamerica.com
  
• Working Abroad
  Working Abroad (formerly VWIS - Voluntary Work Information Service) is an international networking service for volunteers, workers and travellers on volunteer projects in over 150 countries worldwide.
  
  http://www.workingabroad.com/
  
  
• World Service Enquiry
  Information and advice about volunteering or working overseas in the developing world.
  
  http://www.wse.org.uk/       

UK volunteering

• Jamyang Buddhist Centre
  Jamyang is a centre for meditation and the study of Tibetan Buddhism in the heart of London. There are many opportunities to spend time working as a volunteer there, from a couple of hours to three months working in the centre's hospitality team.
  
  http://www.jamyang.co.uk/
  
• Reach
  Reach matches the skills of experienced people to the needs of voluntary organisations.
  
  http://www.reach-online.org.uk/
  
• Time Bank
  Time Bank is a national campaign inspiring and connecting people to share and give time.
  
  http://www.timebank.org.uk/
  
• Volunteering England
  Volunteering England works to promote volunteering as a powerful force for change, both for those who volunteer and for the wider community.
  
  http://www.volunteering.org.uk/

Youth volunteering

• Global Development Links
  GDL is a charity run by students for students to facilitate volunteering in UK and international development projects.
  
  http://www.gdl.org.uk/
  
• Year Out Group
  Find out how to plan your year out and choose the gap year or career break programme which best suits your needs and aspirations.
  
  http://www.yearoutgroup.org/
  
• Worldwide Volunteering
  A unique 'search-and-match' database with nearly 1,000 volunteer organisations, 300,000 placements throughout the UK and in 214 countries worldwide.
  
  http://www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk/

Volunteering

Volunteering in Russia: Yaroslavl

I lived in Yaroslavl for the first term of my year abroad. I liked it there.

( About placements )

I also have working in a Romanian orphanage children's home¹, for handicapped children most summers from the age of 14-18.

However, this pisses me off:

( Read more... )

It's so expensive! I know it costs to run these programmes, but that is ridiculously expensive when you are working for free at the other end...!

( Read more... )

1 - Many, if not all, of the children were abandoned, not orphaned, so it wasn't really an orphanage. With my sister, Claudia, we generally just use the Romanian term 'Camin'

More links

http://www.payaway.co.uk/dirvol.shtml

http://www.thecareerbreaksite.com/what-to-do/Short-term-career-breaks.php

http://www.seasonworkers.com/fe/

http://www.wwv.org.uk/

http://www.gapadvice.org/directories.htm

http://www.ecotrackers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=187