Current Volunteer Work - Summer 08 - Fall 08

 As a volunteer this summer and fall '08, below is the kind of work you are most likely to get involved with:

• Hope Academy High school: You can teach high school classes during the day for senior one to three equivalent of grade 8-10. Volunteers may also help distribute lunch.
• After-school program: Helping/tutoring kids in the after-school program.  Students from neighboring villages drop in to get help on homework or review material covered in class for that day. The program runs between 4 - 7pm. Students grades range from elementary through high school. Ages between 4 - 22. There are local volunteers working with international volunteers. See after school program page
• Sports, music, dance and drama activities for children and youth in the after-school. These extra-curricular activities are planned for weekends.
• Family outreach program: Volunteers visit families of the students participating in the after-school program to understand the situation at home and find ways to best serve the student needs.
• Construction site assistance. You will have the opportunity to help with any work available at the school construction site.
• Nazareth Children's home: Two volunteers are usually placed at the orphanage. We try to shuffle volunteers between the orphanage and the Academy to get chance to work at both sites. Kids attend different school during the week. Work may involve hand crafts, daily chores and helping with home work. Please note that the orphanage is not on the same sight as the school and host family. In a taxi, it takes about 50 minutes to travel to the orphanage and about $5 round trip. Some two volunteers are stationed at the orphanage and others travel there for weekends.
• Women and HIV outreach program: It involves seminars, family visits, support to child-headed families, local school visits. special events, etc.
• Feeding animals and chickens. There is a piggery project at the orphanage and a students' poultry project at the Academy. You may help with distributing feeds or cleaning the pig pen or chicken coop.
• Landscaping: We need to do some landscaping at the school. When it starts raining, they will be planting trees, flowers, and leveling the school yard.
• Gardenning. Some days may be spent working in the banana plantation, passion fruit garden, etc. PS. These sites are abo ut 1.5 hours from the host family and about 40 minutes from the orphanage.
• Computer Center: Volunteers help teach computer skills or just monitor student use of the computer center equipment. 
• Working with the youth. There is a youth group that you may want to get involved with. You may give a seminar presentation on a range of relevant topics. There will be projects with the youth involving helping the elderly in the villages.
• Teaching at a nearby high school and primary school. These are both in 15 minutes walking distance. You will most likely teach English but can teach other classes if you prefer. You would be working with a local teacher. It will be a one or two days assignment a week.

Volunteer Personal Financial Contribution to Community Projects

URF NEITHER requests nor expects volunteers to make financial contribution on any projects. If one wishes to do so, it's simply out their personal initiative. However, some volunteers have been able to use their personal funds or money raised from family and friends to initiate projects or contribute to existing projects. But it's not URF asking them to do so. It's their own initiative. Please do not feel pressured to make financial contribution just because others are doing so. If you wish to help out, it's okay, you can fundraise before you come and use your funds on desired projects. Some people can afford this and others can not. URF only expects you come with an open heart and passion to serve on existing project.

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