St. Paul, Minn. (January 29) Global Volunteers, the nation’s long-standing “volunteer vacation” leader, will inaugurate a new international service opportunity in South Africa beginning July, 2008. During 2007, Global Volunteers mobilized some 2,300 volunteers on over 185 teams to work on genuine development projects in 20 countries on six continents.
This new development partnership is with leaders of Malungeni, a small rural community in the Ngqeleni Disrict about a three-hour drive northeast of the coastal city of East London. Malungeni is an impoverished agricultural community of about 5,000. Education, labor projects and capacity building are the foundational elements of the ongoing relationship.
Educational assignments include primary school, preschool and after school instruction at a nearby orphanage to make a significant difference in the children’s otherwise regimented and predictable lives. Trained elementary educators are especially needed although most volunteers, regardless of background, can teach conversational English. The main labor project is renovating the community center inside and out. It’s not difficult work, and most anyone handy with a hammer or paint brush will be of service. Volunteers with micro-business skills can immediately and directly contribute to several exciting economic development projects such as brick making, poultry farming, forestry, baking and catering.
Service programs dates are: Jul. 12 – Jul. 26, 2008, Sept.6 – 20, 2008, Nov. 8 - 22, 2008, Jan. 31 – Feb. 14, 2009, March 14 – April 4, 2009, May 2 – 23, 2009 and July 18 – Aug. 8, 2009. The service program fee is $2,095 for a one-week program, $2,395 for a two-week program; and $2,695 for a three-week program, after an internet discount. Additional discounts are available for former volunteers, students and groups. The service program fee covers all meals, lodging, ground transportation, emergency medical evacuation insurance, team leader services and other project expenses. Airfare is extra although all project-related expenses, including airfare, are tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers.
Global Volunteers, a private nonprofit, nonsectarian international development organization based in St. Paul, Minn., is in its 25th year of worldwide service. For details, call 800-487-1074 or visit www.globalvolunteers.org.
