waltzvolunteer.org

Youth Ministry volunteer team

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:40:54 +0000

The inspiration for a new name for our youth group’s adult volunteer team.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

US Peace Corps Volunteers Thailand Group 114 10 wk Training

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:16:42 +0000

In this video I try to express the feeling of what it may be like to be in Peace Corps. This video was filmed during the training and home stay before actually becoming volunteers. You get an intensive training for 3-4 months. Learning customs, culture and language. You have a home stay experience for over 6 weeks. Somtimes these people become very good friends in the future. Then you get assigned and move to a new location after training. You do your job whatever field it is in. Many of us were English Teachers and local community Trainers. Also many are involved in community work. You also become good friends with many of the volunteer you meet in your group. We had a special bond with each of the volunteers we lived near. You may see them often as they may live near you or you may never see them again after training if you are far apart. You complete your service in two years and then return home to share your experience. Its hard but interesting and amazing, things you never would get to do see and eat! Skills you pickup and trades you learn.Helping others the whole time. Plus it’s awesome to learn new cultures and languages. Full immersion makes it easy too! I have been a Peace Corps volunteer twice. It is amazing! you make no money but have an amazing experience. Its something you can’t expect and its hard but fun and feels good to help other people. The work with community groups is some of the most rewarding. Tree planting, reforestation and recycling. Aids work …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Lynyrd Skynyrd at CDB Volunteer Jam V Freebird part 2

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 22:26:54 +0000

My friend Pat Adams from www.tennesseeconconcerts.com recorded this on his vcr when it came on tv that year….thanks Pat for letting me put this up and letting the Skynyrd fans see some great history.

Recorded live at the Blues Garage in Isernhagen/Germany on December 26, 2006

Volunteering (In Your Pants)

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:24:18 +0000

Join me in supporting The Book Wish Foundation: www.bookwish.org Become a video volunteer www.youtube.com In which John Green discusses the paucity of books (in your pants) in the refugee camps of Chad.

David’s House Volunteer Slideshow

Volunteer South Africa

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:34:34 +0000

www.volunteerabroad.ie Volunteer South Africa A short orientation video introducing the volunteering projects you could become involved with in South Africa. Volunteer Abroad and SASTS offer a range of educational, environmental, health and social projects where you can make a real difference both to the lives of others and your own. For more information please see: Volunteer Abroad ( www.volunteerabroad.ie ), SASTS ( www.sasts.org.za ), and Volunteers for International Partnership ( www.partnershipvolunteers.org ).
Video Rating: 4 / 5

A promotional video.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Volunteer abroad cons

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:34:55 +0000

Combining volunteering and tourism to have voluntourism gives a traveler to enjoy their holiday longer and make it more fruitful. Traditional tourism is where a tourist or a traveler goes to a beach, safari, and hotel. Volunteering abroad involves going to another country to help the local communities by working on worthwhile projects and programs. Volunteering abroad or voluntourism is new and exciting adventure that many people are getting to. Volunteering abroad is getting more popular with many travelers they are shifting from traditional tourism. As a result many organizations and companies are jumping into this new industry. The problems come in as the industry is not regulated as traditional tourism. There is no body that reviews the volunteer service organizations that provide the volunteer abroad programs. There are also no rules or guidelines that have been set to regulate the industry. Apart from lack of regulations there are other problems in the volunteering abroad industry:

Not for profit vs. For profit organization.

Not for profit and for profit organizations basically provide the same services. They both have local and grassroots organizations that they are supporting. They both provide the same programs i.e. volunteer abroad teaching, health work; orphanage work; community work and conservation projects. The problem comes in choosing which organization to use. There are some which are affordable while there are others which are expensive. Both types of organizations could charge as much as $ 4,000 and as low as $ 1,100 for a month. These prices make it difficult to decide which companies are in it for the money or for helping the societies. It also hard to find out which of these organizations help the local communities or they help themselves with the money you pay them.

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Volunteer abroad programs

One of the main problems is matching the volunteer abroad program with the volunteer. There are volunteers who come back after their volunteer work and they are inspired and changed for life. But there are others who come back without any benefit. Time should be taken on both sides to find programs that they will benefit both parties the volunteer and the organization. The structure of the programs is important. The programs should be setup by the local organization and should be made in order to meet the goals of the society. The programs should be made to meet the needs of the society. Other problems with the programs are that they are not sustainable. In that they sometimes lack continuity in that the work started by one group of volunteer stops when they leave. The work stops because there is no one to continue. For example building projects could be stalled when the volunteers leave. Programs should be made in such a way that they are effective, and are sustainable with or without volunteers.

Jobs

Another issue to be addressed is that are international volunteers taking jobs away from the local people. The work the volunteer does can usually be done by a local individual faster and cheaper. Many local organizations look for international volunteers to fill up staff positions in order not to pay them. They have the capacity to hire local people but they choose to take volunteers. This reduces the effectiveness of the volunteer work and deprives the local job market.

Expectations

The international volunteers many times do not know what they are getting into. They are not properly prepared by the volunteer service organization on what to expect when they volunteer abroad. When they arrive at the project location they are shocked and disappointed at the conditions. As they are not properly informed on the situation on the ground they don’t know whether to accept things or complain to someone. Before they get into a contract with the organizations volunteers should know what they are getting into and be fully informed.

Zablon Mukuba is the Director of Volunteer Capital Centre the leading provider of quality and affordable volunteer abroad work programs in third world countries. For more information and great deals on volunteering abroad visit http://www.volunteercapitalcentre.org and http://www.squidoo.com/volunteer-abroad-group-volunteering

Article from articlesbase.com

How to overcome home sickness while volunteering abroad

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:47:37 +0000

Home sickness is defined as distress caused by separation from a specific home environment. Students who join universities and colleges or those who go abroad are affected by homesickness. As they are exposed to different environments and new people they are sometimes overcome by homesickness. Some students don’t get homesick, but there are others who are overwhelmed by the new experience. The main signs and symptoms of homesickness are: Nostalgia, grief, depression, anxiety, topophilia, adjustment disorders, withdrawal, sadness, claustrophobia, and agoraphobia. Homesickness is felt more by the people who are furthest from home for example international volunteers, international students, international workers and expats. Homesickness can strike at any moment, one week into the volunteer abroad work or a month later. It’s natural for volunteers to become homesick as they are many miles away from home and they can’t go back as soon as they want. Here are a couple of remedies to homesickness: Keep in touch Keeping in touch with family and old friends who are at home, is one of way of keeping homesickness at bay. The volunteers can use the following to keep in touch: emails, Skype, Facebook, Tweeter, calling and texting. Most of these resources are available in many parts of the world unless the volunteer is in remote areas. The quality of the resources varies depending on the location of the volunteer for example the speed and availability of internet. When feeling lonely and homesick the volunteer could try and communicate with those who are back at home. Talking to them will lift up the spirits of the volunteers. Finding out things that are going on at home will help the volunteer feel connected to their families. Although talking to family and friends is great it should be done to a minimum as too much communication with them will lead the volunteer to feel more homesick. Keeping in touch should be done less and less until the volunteer is used to the new place. Carry something from home Carrying something from home could help the volunteer overcome homesickness. Carry things that have some sentimental value and could remind the volunteer of home. The volunteer can carry developed photos, a pillow from home, perfume or cologne of a loved one, favorite movies, music, stuffed animals and an old scrapbook. Having these familiar things will make the place where the volunteer is staying more comfortable. These small mementos remind the volunteers about home and make him or her happy. Make friends Making new friends is a great way to get over homesickness. While the volunteer is abroad, s/he should make friends with the local people and other volunteers. As there will be other volunteers working with them, they will help to adjust to the new environment. The other volunteers will help to form a support network whereby they will help solve common problems. The volunteer will be able to talk about his or her feelings about missing home and the others will help them. The other volunteers will cheer up the homesick volunteer. Constantly meeting new people will take the volunteers mind away from home and help to embrace the new environment. Meeting new people will help to fit into the new culture. Spending time with other people cures homesickness. Keep busy Volunteers feel homesick the most when they are idle. When they feel homesick the volunteer should look for activities to keep their minds engaged. The volunteers should focus on the volunteer abroad work and look for ways to be more productive. They could stick to a schedule that keeps their minds occupied. When the volunteers are not working, they look for other interests and hobbies that will keep them busy. They should try to keep up with their hobbies while they are abroad. They should take this opportunity to make the most of their stay by visiting new places and finding out new experiences. The busier the volunteer is the less time s/he will be feel homesick.

Zablon Mukuba is the Director of Volunteer Capital Centre (VCC) the leading provider of quality and affordable volunteer abroad work programs and opportunities in third world countries. For more information and great deals on volunteering abroad visit http://www.volunteercapitalcentre.org.

Article from articlesbase.com

GOOD: Get Your Volunteer On

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:46:37 +0000

www.good.is Frustrated by the state of the world? Feeling powerless, but wish you could do something to help? There are numerous worthy non-profits, both in the United States and abroad, in need of energetic volunteers. Consider logging some hours with any of the fine organizations highlighted in our latest Transparency.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

2010 International Volunteer Day

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:48:24 +0000

Francisco “Tachi” Cazal, President and CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs greets all AFS Volunteers around the world for the 2010 International Volunteer Day.

Volunteer abroad scams

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:55:11 +0000

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”
~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteers who are abroad like other travelers are bound to fall victim of scams. There are people who are out there looking for ways to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers. They come up with lies and scams to steal money from volunteers who are abroad. As an international volunteer it is wise to be aware of the scams are out there and to avoid them. This article is to help current and potential volunteers to avoid being scammed or taken advantage of while they are abroad. Here are common scams and how to avoid them when the volunteers are going abroad:

Volunteer service organizations

Volunteer service organizations; companies; ethical travel companies; travel agents are all great organizations that help individuals to go to volunteer abroad. They take care of everything for the volunteers, from accommodation, meals to the project they will be working in. For the volunteers who agree to use these organizations should be cautious as there are organizations out there that run scams. These organizations come up with volunteer programs or projects that have no value to the volunteers. They charge volunteers high fees and they leave the volunteer to take care of themselves. The volunteers find themselves in a host country without any support, poor services and dealing with unprofessionalism. To avoid such scams, the volunteers should vet each organization that they choose to use carefully, talk to past volunteers and listen to other peoples recommendations.

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Taxi scams

Every traveler has fallen victim to this scam. This scam is common because many of the volunteers are new to the country and they are not aware of the fares. This normally happens when they board a taxi and they are overcharged by the driver. The common lies the taxi driver tells volunteers are the meter is broken; doesn’t take the volunteer to his destination claiming that they have forgotten where the place is; and they inflate the taxi fare. To avoid these scams: use a reputable company; use taxi stands; go by the meter; ask a tourist or a hotel, hostel for fares and recommendations; get the price upfront before boarding; and carry small bills. Apart from taxi scams, volunteers might have problems paying for fares in public or private buses. The conductors and the drivers conspire to overcharge the volunteers. To avoid this before the volunteers boards the bus they should find out how much it costs and carry small bills only.

Credit card scams

This happens everywhere but it is more common in Europe. These scams occur when the volunteer swipes his credit card on a tiny machine which records information from the cards magnetic strip. These machines are cheap and easy to buy. With the volunteers’ information fraudsters or scammers wait for a couple of months and they start swindling money from the volunteers or in some cases they start swindling money as soon as possible. The people who are behind the scams are waiters and shopkeepers. Other ways of credit card scams are through: stolen credit cards, ATMs which swallow credit cards; and fraudulent people who stand by ATMs claiming to be bank officials. To avoid being scammed this way, the volunteers should use credit cards as opposed to debit cards because it is easier to recover the money that has been lost. In addition, the volunteers should immediately report any stolen cards and suspicious activity of their bank accounts.

Negotiate

When the volunteer is about to buy an item they should realize that the seller will try to take advantage for them because they are foreigners. The shopkeepers normally inflate the price up to four times because they know the volunteers do not know the actual price. As a result the volunteers should always haggle or negotiate to get the best price. As a principle the volunteers should ask for a quarter of the asking price this way the seller will know they are not new to that place. Also the volunteer should say they have been to that country a number of times and that they are new to the area.

Article from articlesbase.com

The mission of VTS: It is our goal to increase public awareness and support by telling the stories of these brave men and women. We want to make a difference in each and every volunteer fire/ems house in the world. Wether it means increased donations or just shifting the public paridigm, our purpose is to see volunteer… houses thrive, decrease LODD’s and see that ALL volunteer companys have the funding to continue to properly support the communities they serve. If we can make a difference in just one volunteer fire/ems house, we will have been succesful! Dropping Plates Studio Presents: A series documenting the heroes at your local Volunteer Fire Department. The series will highlight the danger of being a firefighter and the personal lives of these individuals who volunteer to be in harms way to save our lives. Meet them, see them responding to dangerous situations, hear there stories! Volunteers : The Series — Coming Soon! Shot in HD and with Helmet Cameras for 1st person perspective during real life situations. All Real, All Volunteer! Thanks to the Purcellville Volunteer Fire Department & ALL Volunteer Firefighters for everything you do… for all of us! To find out more about Volunteering for Fire & EMS in Purcellville VA. visit www.purcellvillefire.org To find out more about Volunteering for Fire & EMS in Loudoun County VA visit www.answerthecall.info © Copyright 2009 Dropping Plates Inc.
Video Rating: 4 / 5