August 2017 - Affordable Volunteer Abroad

Volunteering Program in Arusha Tanzania

I personaly taught English, Math, Music and dances, in several grades (2 to 7th)
I had a very good relations with all the school personel and the kids.
The satisfaction of helping the school is very good.
The children need a lot of love, help and support and give you their love back…
The school needs more volunteers and also financial support in order to improve its conditions.

How can this program be improved?

The preparation before arrival in order to meet expectation of all sides (the volunteers, the organization arranging the program and the organization receiving the volunteers)

Yair from Israel, Air Force Institute of Technology

Volunteers make the world a better place - Ratner family in Uganda

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

Sustainable Tourism, Volunteering

Volunteers make the world a better place

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Young children need love. Leopards need shelter A community in Uganda needs water. Since there is help needed in so many cases, put hands on, and make the world a better place. Moreover, volunteering abroad is a form of sustainable tourism, too.

Share Love and Joy – Travel to Fifteen Awesome Destinations

Travel to 15 awsome directions. Iko Poran, a volunteer, non-profit organization in Rio de Janeiro, organizes volunteer trips to 15 countries. Within the destinations are Brazil, South Africa, Uganda, Peru, Nepal and many more.

Speical Thanks to Ratner Family

We would like to Ratner family from Israel who have been volunteering in Uganda and sent us clips from their volunteer trips. On the videos, you can see them dancing and singing with the children and working on the construction of a pit latrine.

Find the testimonial of Ratner Family in Uganda here.

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

Carnival, Child Care, Volunteer in Rio de Janeiro

Volunteering with Children in Rio – Lucy

Iko Poran was value for money and I received ongoing support from Felipe, the project co-ordinator. I took part in 3 programmes, 2 with children and 1 helping prepare for carnaval; it was great for me as I expressed my interests and skills and the programmes were then matched to my specification.

The cultural change and language difference, can at first be daunting, but if you are willing to take advantage of the language lessons you receive as part of the programme and you embrace the culture, I believe you will get so much more out of the projects.

Warmth and Positivity of the Children and Workers

The children and workers I worked alongside were amazing and I was humbled by the warmth and positivity they showed, despite having very little material possessions.

Explore the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro

As you are not working every day, you have the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro and learn about the cultures of others. For me, Brazil is an amazing country and I hope to return, to see more.

The accommodation provided is basic, but the staff were friendly and so helpful that after 5-months, they became like family.

If you go with an open mind, respect the cultural differences and put in what you get out, I can assure you, you will have the time of your life. I didn’t want to leave, but I have amazing memories and friends for life.

Go for it, I say!

Lucy Foreman

Childcare volunteer in Cambodia - Albane

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

Child Care, Childcare Volunteer, Phnom Penh, Volunteer in Cambodia

A two-weeks program in a day care center in Cambodia – Albane

I spent two weeks (I know, definitely too short) in a day care center in Phnom Penh in Cambodia thanks to Iko Poran association. And it was such a wonderful experience!
I took care of a class of 7 children (5-6years old) from 9:00a.m to 4:00 p.m, from Monday to Friday. Sometimes I picked them up in their shanty towns at 8 a.m with the staff. It was very hard and sad to see where they live and in such poor conditions, but it was part of the experience and I simply loved their face, their excitation when the association bus (that we used to pick them up at Home) arrived in front of their living place (we can’t call it “a house”).

A Day in The Life of a Childcare Volunteer in Cambodia

When they arrive at the day Care center around 9 a.m, they sing and pray with a Kmer teacher. This was so cute to see them so happy to be there and to take pleasure to sing and pray (even if they lost sometimes their concentration rapidly when they saw the volunteers next to them and they guessed that they will play games after ahah).
After that, it was “shower time” for all children. So we had to make them take a shower, put soap on their body, shampoo on their haïr, and dress them up with the association “uniform” (too cute).
Then, I taught them English until lunch time (around 11 a.m). As school facilities, I had a board, some books, pens, and thats it. I regretted not to have brought with me school support for the class when I see how much they were happy to learn. Some days, when they were very excited, I had time to do some games (often drawings) after the lesson and before the lunch time. When they ate, I helped to clean the dishes, and other little tasks to help the staff. From noon to 2p.m, it was rest time for children, so we could take our lunch break and even also take a nap ahah. When they woke up, we make them take a new shower, before starting the afternoon games. I was completely free to choose wich games I wanted to do with them. They loved dancing (I learned them how to dance Macarena, it was so funny), but they were satisfied whatever the game was. Sometimes I made them watch some Disney videos on my phone (like Frozen, or Mickey) and they became focused and quiet during a short moment which allowed me to recover from the dancing time !

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

A brief, life changing teaching gig in Rio

In June of 2017, I was given the opportunity to teach English as a volunteer in a community outside of Rio de Janeiro. Unfamiliar with Portuguese and inexperienced in teaching, I was very nervous to enter this new environment in an attempt to make a difference in the students’ lives. I was unsure if I could singlehandedly make a change for the better, given I did not speak Portuguese and had never taught English as a second language to others. However, my initial unsettledness proved to be misplaced. I left the program with my desire to teach reaffirmed, some new friends, and very fulfilled. Despite the language barrier between me and the staff at the placement and some of the students, I was proud of reaching them and teaching them English, be it simply introducing themselves or having a complex discussion. Most importantly, however, I forged relationships with some of my students who I know I will never forget and who I promised I will visit on my next trip to Brazil. I strongly recommend the trip to anyone who hopes to teach at some point in their lives and to anyone who wants to work with people in a meaningful way.

Nate, Kenyon College

Find out more about volunteering in Rio de Janeiro

The Ratner family finishes the construction of a water fountain in Uganda

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

Volunteer in Uganda – Videos

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The Ratner family finishes the construction of a water fountain in Uganda.
Thank you very much!! People like you make us believe that another world is possible!!

Football Coahcing - Sports Develpment Programme in Rio

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

Portuguese

Learn Portuguese before coming to Rio?

Should I learn Portuguese before arriving in Rio de Janeiro? The question comes around, when planning to volunteer in Rio. While not obligatory, some words of Portuguese will open doors, and make people happy. However, if you are going to a four weeks or longer trip, Portuguese lessons are included in the program. Let’s listen to some alumni, what they think:

I would advise future participants to try and learn as much Portuguese as possible before coming to Rio to give you a head start on being able to communicate with the locals. Don’t assume that they may speak some English, because many of the locals don’t and it will go a long way to show you have made the effort to learn their language. However, you will have lessons from a great teacher who is really patient and friendly. She will help you a lot with whatever level of Portuguese you are currently at and help you improve quickly. I learned a lot from her and really grateful for her time. – Afonso, 31 years, from London

Try to get some basics in Portuguese, I could already understand and speak a little bit, but sometimes it was very hard because not everyone speaks English and they really do appreciate it if you try. – Katrijn

I was accepted and treated with extreme kindness even though there was a language barrier. I made some amazing friends with the students who taught me so much about Brazilian culture. – Jissaura

I didn’t struggle to communicate with the locals as I already had quite an extensive knowledge and practice of Portuguese. Sometimes there would be a problem with the accents of the different people, especially those from the various states of Brazil, but it wasn’t a big hindrance. – Savannah Peiser

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

Construction, family volunteering, Pit Latrine, Volunteer in Uganda, Water Well

Building a Water Well and Pit Latrine in Uganda – Ratner Family from Israel

The Ratner family finishes the construction of a water well and pit latrine in Uganda.
Thank you very much!! People like you make us believe that another world is possible!!

As a family of 5 people, kids ages are 25,22 and 19 years old we went to Uganda to build a water well and pit latrine for the Kahangi village near Fort Portal for two weeks. The application/bureaucratic/fundraising/decision making process was intense, but worth it. We had an amazing time. We felt completely taken care of before and during our entire trip. We worked with Africa Sustainable Tourism and they also organized with our input a 10 day touring trip for after our volunteer period. The country is beautiful and offers a rich variety of activities. The people were extremely grateful, helpful and kind. Our special dietary needs were accommodated too. We will never forget our experience and the relationships that we made during our Uganda trip. It was a life changing experience. Iko Poran prepared us and Africa Sustainable Tourism took care of us. We highly recommend this kind of cultural/volunteer/tour experience. – Ratner Family from Israel

Ratner family dancing with children after building a water fountain and teaching in the school.

Building a water well and pit latrine for the Kahangi village:

Want to volunteer in Uganda?

Find the complete information about volunteering in Uganda here and proceed to the sign up form.

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

Animal Conservation Volunteer, Big Five, Volunteer in South Africa

Big Five Monitoring in South Africa: Buffalos

Volunteer in South Africa with Big Five monitoring – lions, elephants, buffalos, white & black rhino, and hyenas. You will be heavily involved in important conservation work to make sure the animals are healthy and the land is well balanced.

Your days will be spent tracking, spotting, recording and observing the movements and behavior of these African animals. The data you collect will be used to create files on the animals and monthly reports which will be analyzed and monitored by the park coordinators.

This project is responsible for all the conservation work and record keeping for the National Park Section, and the volunteers it receives provide its only source of income. Your participation is so important for the long term success of this project. Like your memories, your contribution will last for a long time.

If you have always dreamt of experiencing the wilderness of the African plains and you love animals, this project is for you.

ByAffordable Volunteer Abroad

Volunteering with Iko Poran – Review

Founded in 2002, Iko Poran is a wonderful choice for travelers looking to make a positive difference for communities around the globe. With trips to Africa, Asia, and Latin America, you can get involved in children’s development, teaching, sports, community development, NGO support, and much more.

Iko Poran also is fantastic for travelers on a budget – volunteer trips start from only $175 for your first week abroad. And this organization has a great track record, having been featured as a success case in volunteerism at a UN World Summit, being highlighted as a Public Interest Organization by the Brazilian Ministry of Justice since 2007, and earning other international recognition for work accomplished worldwide.

Volunteer in Nepal

Iko Poran offers several different volunteer placements in Nepal, including childcare, teaching in schools or a Buddhist monastery, medical care, and an elephant experience. If you’re looking for a unique travel experience, volunteering in the monastery may be the perfect choice: on this program, you’ll teach English to local monks while learning about Buddhism and their way of life.

If you have medical training, you’re invited to take part in Iko Poran’s pediatric hospital placement in Kathmandu city, where you will have the chance to practice non-intrusive care to patients, under the supervision of local professionals. Volunteering in Nepal with Iko Poran starts from only $280 for one week, and you can apply year-round. Learn more here!

Volunteer in Uganda

For an African adventure, check out Iko Poran’s volunteer trips throughout Uganda, where you can travel to the Fort Portal Town, Jinja Town, and Kamuli Town to work in teaching, sports, medical and health promotion, construction, environment protection, or even take on special projects such as a microfinance internship or women and girls’ empowerment workshops.

A few ways you can help include coaching sports in a youth club, building and repairing houses and schools, and teaching in a local school. Volunteering in Uganda starts from $250 for one week, and includes airport pickup, orientation and city tour, housing, and much more. Click here to learn more and apply!

Sarah Vandenberg

Monthly Archive August 2017