Vereinigung Junger Freiwilliger

 UVIKIUTA

Achtung, Extra fees! siehe Punkt 7

1.1 What is International Volunteer project?

International Volunteer Projects (IVPs) involve individuals and groups of people who volunteer and live together on a project identified by a local community, or a project working with that community. This is a personal development experience, a journey not only through the geography of our planet, but also a journey through several of the cultures of our world; a self-discovering journey.  The program aims at bringing people from different cultures and backgrounds together, promoting mutual understanding and lasting peace through practical actions.  IVPs are practical tools to demonstrate that; living, working and sharing knowledge together is not only possible but rewarding.  In the IVPs we see the possibility of people to exchange experiences and to learn more about other social, cultural, political, and living conditions.

1.2 Our Philosophy

International Volunteer projects seek to provide an experience that connects service and culture with professional and personal growth. While the service we offer does improve the quality of life for others, it is equally important as a time to reflect on our own lives. The significance of what we do is more than social charity; it is also an encounter with real people in the real world. Projects go beyond the familiar road of commercial society, taking us outside of our comfort zones to experience life in someone else's shoes. By working with people in various cultures we learn to recognize the world we all share.  We realize that our lives are interconnected and that our stories have common threads. Moreover, by serving others we discover ourselves and come to understand our own values and responsibilities as global citizens better.

1.3 What you should expect from International volunteer projects?

IVPs are organized to be very simple but sufficiently comfortable.  While most projects are not extremely difficult, positive attitudes, flexibility, and openness to new experiences are essential for every volunteer.

 Volunteers who enjoy the projects the most are those who can most successfully adapt to their surroundings. Although the projects and living conditions are different for each project, they all share some basic universals.  One can expect to eat, to sleep, to shower, to play, to do useful volunteering in the community, and most importantly to have fun!  At the project one will get to meet and volunteer with l people from the community and from all over the world, cultivating friendships that last much longer than just the time spent on the project.

1.4 Who Can Participate? And what are the general qualifications

International volunteers’ projects are open to all volunteers regardless of their Nationalities, gender, race etc. However below are some of the minimum requirements:-

1.4.1 Age limit: Be at least 18 years old. (No maximum). We invite younger volunteer’s even kids provided that they are accompanied by their parents or guardians

1.4.2 Language: English and Kiswahili are official languages for communication. However you do not have to be fluently unless you are coming as English teacher

1.4.3 Best motivation for the volunteer work (special skills and power are not necessary)

1.4.4 Responsibility to keep program rules and policies of UVIKIUTA and the partners and cooperation to run the projects

1.4.5 Best efforts to understand and respect cultures both of the hosts and other volunteers

1.4.6 Open mind to make friends with trying to speak English (in the groups) and the Local language.

1.4.7 To adapt and enjoying simple conditions o the living such as food and accommodation

1.4.8 Flexible, proactive and healthy

1.4.9 Recommended by sending/ sponsoring organization in the country of origin (no direct applications)

1.4.10 Application procedures

§          Volunteers should use the application forms provided by our partner organizations in their home countries.

§          We accept volunteers any time provided that there is free placement. However a project which has duration of more than 4 weeks, application should be sent at least two months in advance for immigration clearance.

§          Motivation letter is required for all the projects taking over one month.

2.0     Program Objectives:

2.1      International volunteer’s projects are organized to meet the following objectives.

2.1.1            To create an increased awareness, understanding and appreciation of the socio-economic realities of the volunteer’s home country and of the host country.

2.1.2              To foster a greater understanding between volunteers and communities as a basis for meaningful collaboration in local and international development.

2.1.3              To instill a sense of mutual responsibility and commitment to the resolution of social and economic problems.

2.1.4              To engender the conviction that one can contribute to development by drawing on one’s own resources and local traditions.

2.1.5              To foster the understanding among volunteers and community members that they are part of an interdependent world.

2.1.6              To promote the acquisition of skills, among volunteers and the host community, which are necessary for effective involvement in community development.

2.1 Means of realization: 

Volunteers participate in various activities to realize these objectives, such as:

2.1.1            The experience of the host community.

2.1.2            Involvement in local activities.

2.1.3            Social interaction with a broad spectrum of society to enable them to learn from the local social milieu.

2.1.4            Practical work experience in projects relevant to the host community’s development objectives.

3. 0  Duration

3.1 Short term volunteer Projects (Work camps)

Short term projects are organised for the period of 2-3 weeks. Volunteers are expected to arrive on time and stay till the end of the project.

3.2 Medium and Long term projects

Medium and long term project lasts for duration of minimum one month and 12 months maximum. Volunteer can apply any time; indicating duration of his/her choice.

4.  Projects Hosting

4.1 Host community

The volunteers contribute to the development of the community through volunteer work placements, and learn about sustainable development from the initiatives undertaken by the community.

4.2 Volunteer projects

Options for volunteer work will vary depending on the needs of the community, the duration of the program, and the availability of materials.

 In the last seventeen  years projects have included the construction of school class rooms, health centres, tree planting, environmental cleaning, sports, arts, teaching language, organising activities for youth and children, or a combination of many of these for short term projects. Volunteers work for 4-6 hours a day for five days a week.  Each project has its own description sheet.

4.3 Educational Activities (Study Part)

Depending on the theme of the particular project, volunteers will participate in various educational activities organised within and outside of the community to enable them to understand social, political and economic realities of the area.  Examples include study tours to various organisations in the area, debates/dialogues/discussions with focus groups in the community, cultural presentations, family visits, workshops on different development issues (such as HIV/AIDS, unemployment, fair trade, globalisation, democracy, human rights, gender equality, etc.), and more. Volunteers will enjoy the opportunity to be involved in a family and community activities – such as religious, social, cultural and sporting events – in order to learn more about the community. 

4.4 Tourism and Free Time Activities:

 Volunteers will have an opportunity to participate in some tourism activities during their volunteering program. These activities are organized on weekends during the project or sometimes before or after the project, depending on volunteers’ availability and financial position. Options include safaris to view wild animals in the National Parks, mountain climbing, hiking, agro-tourism, historical sites, museums, beach holidays (Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, Bagamoyo and others), and eco and cultural tourism.  Interested volunteers will be provided with more detailed descriptions.

4.5 Food and Accommodation:

Depending on the host community arrangements, volunteers might be accommodated in a youth hostel, a guest house, tents, school dormitories, class rooms or with local host families.  Each project is different. In most cases long term and medium term volunteers will be hosted in the host families.

Food is provided and in most cases they will be special person to prepare meals for the volunteers.

4.6 Orientation and evaluation

On arrival volunteers will receive orientation to enable them to become familiar with the culture of the community, understand various policies governing the program, share fears and expectations, participate in team building activities, and more.  At the end of the project volunteers are expected to participate in an evaluation which is organised in a participatory way, such as open discussion and the filling questionnaires.

5. Statement of Values

We believe that everyone is capable of learning and changing, and that people of different backgrounds and cultures can learn to understand and respect one another.  Our image of a true development process is one which ensures all youth the right and opportunity to play active roles, promotes the full and equal participation of both genders, is inclusive of people in all of their diversities, and which respects cultures and local realities.  It is one which affirms the universal declaration of human rights, builds sustainable social and economic lives to meets everyone's basic needs, respects the environment, and which creates greater peace, justice, dignity and equality for all human beings.

6. Arrival and Departure Information

Volunteers are expected to arrive the afternoon of fist day indicated in the information and depart the morning of the date indicated in the information.

6.1 Terminal

Julius Kambarage International Airport- Dar es Salaam is recommended to be the airport of first entry for all volunteers joining our projects in Tanzania. There is variety of International flights landing here at least every day.

6.2 Meeting point:

Volunteers are always picked up at the common place on the first day of the project at 14:00 hours. Pick up and drop ups service for volunteers to and from Dar es Salaam International Airport is available provided that we are informed in advance. The service is available for extra charge of €…. to be paid to the office on arrival. The common place is Luther house hostel/Restaurant located along Sokoine drive, Dar es Salaam just opposite to The New Africa Hotel.

7.0 Program cost

There is a cost to be paid by volunteers to support the program activities:

7.1 Short term volunteer projects (2-3 weeks): € 200.00

7.2 Medium and long term projects: € 250.00 for the first month then € 50.00 for each extra week.

7.3 The feed indicated above does not cover the cost of volunteer’s transport  from their home communities to the project site, vaccination, medical expenses during the project, visas/immigration papers,  pocket money, free time/leisure activities, and meals and accommodation expenses outside of the host community / program activities.

7.4 Means of payments:  volunteers will the applicable cost on their arrival, preferably in € cash. Payment can also be paid in Tanzanian shillings or US$, using the prevailing exchange rate of the day. Traveler cheques are strictly not accepted.

7.5 Currency tips: Be advised that when coming to Tanzania with United States of America currency you will have to bring bills issued since the year 2000, other bills are sometimes refused by our banks.

7.6 Refund Policy: Since the program budgets are based on the number of registrations, there will be no refunds for cancellations, terminations, or change in the duration of your stay after arrival.

8: O Changes and Cancellation of Projects

Most of the project are organized either in collaboration with other local agency or just take place at UVIKIUTA owns projects. In some cases there has been factors which are beyond our control and it has been affecting projects in terms of change of activities and locations. The factors includes change of weather, health risks, availability of basic need like water at that time during the project, cancellation of some volunteers, availability of material etc. However at any means they will be an alternative project activities or location, and there will be no total cancellation unless a

LIST OF MEDIUM AND LONG TERM VOLUNTEER PROJECT APRIL TO DECEMBER 2010

Note: Individual project detailed description are available.