FAQ Individual Projects

A volunteer is someone who commits their time and energy working alongside people from local community on projects which are beneficial to the community. Examples of Volunteering with Voluntary Horizons include working in education, environmental projects and helping reconstruct community buildings which were damaged by the earthquake in 2010.

A volunteer should be willing to undertake their work freely without any financial gain. It is voluntary but not optional. It is all about being motivated to help and work towards a project or cause that you are interested in.

You should not expect that you will change the world in just a couple of weeks, however volunteering gives you the opportunity to make an impact on people’s lives including your own. You can make small changes that are long lasting.

 

2. What is the average age of volunteers?

The average age of our individual volunteers is between 18 and 25.

 

3. Is there a minimum age for participating on one of your programs?

For the individual programs the minimum age is 18 years old. 16 – 18 year olds will be considered on special conditions.

 

4. Is there a maximum age for participating on one of your programs?

There is no maximum age for participating on one of our programs.

 

5. In which countries is it possible to volunteer?

Our volunteer programs for individuals are currently  in Chile and Bolivia. We are testing programs in  Brasil – please ask for more information if you are interested in this country.

 

6. Is it easy to come in contact with other travelers/volunteers?

It is really easy to make contact and friends when travelling or volunteering. It is also the best way to experience the real way of life and customs of the country and the best way to meet the local people. If you are going to take Spanish lessons before your volunteer work begins then you will meet a lot of new people many of whom will be doing similar things to you.

 

7. I  only  have a short time available, is it still possible to participate?

You can volunteer for a minimum of 2 weeks.

 

8. What is the maximum length of stay of volunteering?

There is no maximum length of stay when volunteering with Voluntary Horizons.

 

9. Why should I pay for volunteering?

Volunteering in another country requires a lot of resources and preparation. Volunteers need accommodation, food, transportation, local coordination and orientation to ensure their safety. We also include an administration fee as we spend a lot of time coordinating work plans and developing specific objectives to ensure the project is well organized. A VH staff member will always have been to site to carry out a pre-visit to ensure that everything is set up, a risk assessment has been undertaken, and to ensure that as a volunteer you will use your time most effectively in order to really meet your project objectives. There are also costs associated with materials and tools for the project.

 

10. Which costs are not included?

The costs that are not included, are different for every program.  Meals and accommodation are often included if you are staying with a Homestay family but it differs when you are staying on your own. You should at least consider the following extras:

• Costs of your flights
• Any visa fees
• Costs of travel insurance
• Costs of any vaccinations
• Spending money

 

11. Is the airport transfer included?

Yes.

 

12. Do I need to speak Spanish or Portuguese for volunteering in Latin America?

No it is not necessary. You can take Spanish/Portuguese lesson before volunteering.

 

13. Where will I stay during my Spanish course?

During you Spanish course you will be living with a Homestay family where you will experience the local food and their way of living.

 

14. Where do you stay during your volunteer work?

During your volunteer work you will generally be staying with a Homestay family. On occasions it is also possible that you may stay in a hostal or locally run, basic accommodation.

 

15. Is it possible to extend my Spanish school?

Yes, it is really simple to extend your Spanish school. You can choose whether you would like to extend with one, two or more weeks.  This should be done with us at the Voluntary Horizons office.

 

16. I would prefer not to stay within a Homestay family, are there alternatives?

We strongly recommend that you stay with a homestay family as it will change your experience. There is no better way of experiencing the culture, food and way of living. They also love to help you to learn the language.

If you don’t wish to do this, it is possible to stay in other accommodation on request.

 

17. Which vaccinations do I need?

This depends on which country you are planning to go to. For the majority of the countries you will need vaccinations. For more information, please contact http://www.cdc.gov/Features/TravelProtection/

 

18. Do you have any recommendations for insurance?

It is really important that you have travel insurance when you travel. Insurance protects travelers when unforeseen circumstances occur, after they have booked and paid for their trip. If you need to cancel your flight for any reason it will be covered. It will also cover any medical emergencies, accidents and treatment that may occur on a trip to a foreign country. For any recommendations, please contact us.

 

19. Can you book my flight?

Yes, we can! If you would like help with booking your flight, or if you would like us to book your flight we can help. We charge USD$30 per flight we book, per person.

 

20. What if there are any problems with your Homestay family?

If any problems occur with your Homestay family, we can assure you that we will work to solve the problem as soon as possible.

 

21. Is the company  available 24hours?

Yes, the company is 24 hours, 7 days per week available for our volunteers. We feel responsible for our volunteers and therefore we are always there.

 

22. Is it safe to travel and volunteer alone?

We would consider the countries that we offer are safe to travel in; however of course everywhere you will travel or volunteer to have their risks and local situations can change. You can check the foreign office recommendations on travel in different Latin American countries at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/

One of the benefit of volunteering through Voluntary Horizons is that you have an extra point of local contact who is there to give you support through any problems or difficulties you may have. In the even of any difficult situations arising we are an extra point of contact for you, but also if you family or school should need to get a message to you urgently and are finding difficulties contacting you.

 

23. Are you volunteering with other people?

Generally yes, however this depends on the country and what kind of program you will be doing and the dates you will be there.

 

This post is also available in: Spanish