What is Volunteerism or Volunteer Vacations?
Volunteerism, (traveling as a short-term volunteer), is different from adventure travel and cultural immersion experiences. A "volunteer vacation" is a working vacation where you serve, and learn first-hand about the host community and its people It is an opportunity to build skills and talents to benefit others in a community requesting outside help.
Who are the volunteers?
Volunteer travel is geared to individuals, couples, families, religious congregations and groups of all backgrounds and ages. Volunteers typically share the traits of flexibility, compassion, a sense of adventure and the desire to work with and learn from local people in the host community. Volunteers are drawn from all occupations and backgrounds.
Who is the Program Director?
Patricia Vile has been traveling and exploring the world for over 40 years. After volunteering in Africa and Central America, she was overwhelmed by the need for help from citizens in the US. After a fact finding trip to New Orleans in 2006, Patricia organized her first service trip or volunteer vacation to New Orleans in 2007. Currently, she is designing volunteer vacations for groups throughout the US. Her trips have touched the lives of hundreds of volunteers and citizens of New Orleans.
Before initiating volunteer vacations and creating Volunteer Expeditions, Patricia worked in health care. She continued various volunteer activities in Chicago not-for-profit organizations through out her career.
What will I gain by volunteering?
Traveling as a volunteer can be a life-changing experience where you can make a difference. You will:
- Broaden your perspective
- Give back to society in a practical, compassionate way
- Share insights with like-minded people
- Learn first-hand about poverty and homelessness, joys, struggles, hopes and dreams of the people you serve.
- Add to the contributions of local development work.
- Develop new skills and talents in an unconventional setting
Will this experience be right for me?
Volunteer Expeditions places emphasis on the service and learning components of the volunteer program. If you're open to new challenges and enjoy working with and learning from local people, you can contribute to and benefit from a Volunteer Expedition. Flexibility, patience, a spirit of adventure, and a sense of humor also go a long way.
Why do I have to pay to volunteer?
As a private organization that is independent from governmental and religious funding, Volunteer Expedition programs are financed almost entirely by volunteer contributions. Since 2007, we have worked with primarily economically impoverished communities, who cannot afford to pay for the services we provide. Our paying volunteers provide important support to the communities we visit.
The service program fee pays your costs for food, lodging, work site transportation, program materials, the services of a trip leader, and administrative costs. In addition, we provide financial help to meet our host's many, on-going and special needs.
You benefit as well: If you join as a congregation or not-for-profit group and are a U.S. taxpayer, you receive the benefit of a 501-C3 status. This means you can deduct the cost of your service program fee from your taxes.
What is the cost of a Volunteer Expedition?
Depending on the size of your group, where you go and how long you stay, volunteer vacation programs range from $500 to $3,000+. Most programs last up to one week and cost approximately $650. When you sign up for a trip a $250 deposit is required.
Who Do I Contact to Join a Volunteer Expedition?
Choosing a volunteer vacation takes time. Often people joining the program do not know each other. It is important to ask questions and learn as much as possible before participating in a volunteer vacation. If you have question or want to know more, please call Patricia Vile or email your questions to us.
What organizations does Volunteer Expeditions work with?
We work with many agencies providing relief and service delivery to people in need. In New Orleans we work with local schools, AmeriCorps, Beacon Of Hope, Habitat For Humanity, Second Harvest Food Bank and UMCOR, among other agencies. In Mexico we work Southern Exposure Immersions.
What if I need to Cancel?
If you need to cancel your service program, you must notify Volunteer Expeditions in writing 30 days prior to departure.
Please note that any airfare or airfare penalties charged by the airlines or travel agent are not included in the service program fee.
