How to Find a Volunteer Position in Haiti

Brian McElroy, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Mar 1, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Haiti used to be a desirable tourist destination, famous for its unique culture, beautiful beaches, and tropical temperatures. Today, with the security situation changing constantly, it can be difficult just to find a way to visit the country.

Because it is the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, and located just a 90 minute flight from Miami, many Americans seek ways to contribute to Haiti's development in whatever way they can. While there is a demand for volunteer programs that would take Americans and place them in local organizations and communities to participate in development efforts, the supply of such programs is still quite low.

What this means for people who want to volunteer in Haiti, as I was seeking to do two years ago, is that you have to do a lot of the footwork yourself. While other countries have a plethora of programs to choose from and you just have to fill out an application, Haiti makes you jump through a few more hoops.

Some organizations in Haiti do accept international volunteers and employees. They range in size from tiny Non-Governmental Organizations with one foreign staffer to the United Nations, which has thousands of foreigners on its payroll in Haiti at any given time. The best thing to do is to narrow this down by deciding where your efforts would have the most impact.

It is advisable to have a position already set up before arriving in the country, because making your way around without a guide is next to impossible (and quite dangerous). With a good guide (or host organization), however, you can easily avoid the worst parts of Port-au-Prince and arrive in a safe area with little trouble.

One of the best places to start looking for a position is to ask around to see what other people have done. For example, I lived in the small community of Fondwa, in the South, and worked at the university there. They are always looking for volunteers, so when people ask me how I got to Haiti, I'm able to point them in the right direction.

Even if you don't have personal friends who have volunteered in Haiti, it's not too tough to come across people who have. Check out blogs written from Haiti (yes, they exist!), email Haitian organizations in the United States, and you will quickly come across people who have just the information you're looking for.

Since few organizations have established programs in Haiti, it can be a challenge to come up with financing for your volunteer period. You should remember that living in Haiti (especially in a rural area) is extremely cheap, somewhere along the lines of $200 per month in the case of Fondwa (for room, board, and transportation).

You can do any number of fundraising activities to offset these costs. For example, I ran a 10k in my hometown and asked friends and family (and a few complete strangers!) to sponsor me a few dollars. It worked like a charm, and easily covered my plane ticket. People are happy to help out, as long as you're up for asking them.

Even if there aren't many organizations that specifically fund volunteer positions in Haiti, there are a number that fund such ventures in general. If you are a graduating student, your schools career center or grant and fellowship office is a great place to start. If not, local churches, civic organizations, and even businesses can all contribute to your goal. If you pick up a bit here and there, your whole trip will be covered before long.

I did just that when planning my trip, scraping together small donations from various places, and it covered everything I needed (with much more left over to contribute to the university). Creativity will take you a long way, and dedication even further. It has been worth everything I put into it, and I'm sure it would be for you, too.

Published by Brian McElroy

Brian McElroy is a world traveler and internet marketer currently residing in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. View profile

Resources

www.PIPHaiti.org

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How to Find a Volunteer Position in Haiti

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