Guidelines for
Volunteers and Visitors
Our organization is a relatively small one in the process of
being rebuilt after destruction during the war. Volunteers contribute a great
deal to our organization, and in return are given a rich experience of learning about a fascinating
part of the world, making it a mutually enriching experience. Because we are still in the process of rebuilding, the best support a volunteer can offer is to help us raise funds to construct the cdpeace development and peace education centre, enabling us to implement solid on-the-ground programming for the long-term. For program partner volunteers who work in Sierra Leone, cdpeace has a modest guesthouse in Mayagba (our home-base
village), in Makonkorie (a programming site two hours from our
home-base) and at Mapaki, chiefdom headquarter
village nine miles from Mayagba. Volunteers
working will have moderate access to the internet in Mapaki. cdpeace will
assign a suitable
person resident in Sierra Leone to serve as host professional, and will
also provide a letter of invitation on cdpeace letterhead to support a
visa application. Our volunteers must help us meet a specific identified
organizational need and we hope that volunteers will continue to support the goals and work of cdpeace on their return to their home country. Currently we are looking for volunteers who can help us
establish the infrastructure of a rural-based adult education teaching and
learning complex, especially in the areas of fund-raising, technology
(computers and alternative energy), publishing, and research. Volunteers also support our work in peace and social justice education developed through partnerships with Peaceful Schools International
and the Faculty of Education, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. Once the cdpeace centre is established, we will be better placed to welcome and accommodate volunteers to support other programming initiatives. Our volunteers require considerable initiative and independence to develop and implement ideas and action plans in challenging
circumstances (limited budget or infrastructure, transportation challenges,
basic living accommodations). There are risks to traveling and working in a tropical,
developing country and we ask volunteers to research the necessary health
precautions. Potential volunteers may want to visit the blog of our current resident volunteer.
Costs
As cdpeace does not yet have the capacity to cover costs for volunteers, we ask that visitors and volunteers cover their own cost of travel and food, visa, vaccinations, medication, and health insurance (approximately $3,500). The cost of airport pick-up and transport from Freetown to Mapaki is about approximately $200 (gas and car ferry) each way, which can be shared if more than one person arrives. For a one week visit we also suggest a personal budget of about $250. This would include approximately $100 for lodging in a community-run guest house, $50 for contribution to food costs (prepared by local families), approximately $50 for local travel (motorbike hire or contribution to fuel costs), and $50 for incidentals. If you sleep over in Freetown, budget about $75 per night for hotel costs. For program partners, cdpeace will provide lodging. cdpeace also provides logistical support (makes arrangements, offers staff and volunteer time to organize and coordinate visits, etc.). If possible, we encourage volunteers and visitors to make a small contribution to help with local cdpeace organizational and/or programming costs.
Sources of information on travel to Sierra Leone
If you are traveling to Sierra Leone, please check Canada’s
Travel Report for Sierra Leone for updated information or see the U.K.
Travel Report, which is more thorough and more frequently updated. See also
Sierra
Leone’s London Embassy page travel advice. For daily updated health
information, see MD
Travel Health. Euro
Assist also provides basic health precautions. To counter the many
precautions you will encounter in your research, please read “Paradise
Regained”, a March ’08 article in the U.K. Guardian on positive aspects of
travel in Sierra Leone. You may also want to borrow a copy of a travel guide to West
Africa from your local library or check some of the many internet
information sources such as:
If you are still interested in volunteering with cdpeace, please answer the following questions and e-mail your response with a copy of your resume. We will reply as soon as possible. On returning home we ask that volunteers send a letter of appreciation to their chiefdom hosts. Volunteers who travel to Sierra Leone help us in various ways upon their return, such as incorporating their new knowledge in teaching and solidarity work, providing continued financial support and/or helping with fund-raising and organization, sharing stories with others who in turn become involved in solidarity work and/or become donors, etc.
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Age:
Have you read every section of the cdpeace web site? Also, it would be useful if you read everything you can about Sierra Leone. Do you have you any comments?
Explain why you wish to volunteer with cdpeace.
What period of time do you have available and when?
Describe the skills you can contribute to our program and any experience you have that is applicable to our program.
Describe any previous educational and professional qualifications and their applicability to our program.
Describe in detail any previous volunteer experience you have had.
Describe the possible follow-up work you could do on your return to your home country.
Have you ever worked or lived in a developing country? Where? For how long and in what capacity?
Describe your personal level of comfort with very basic living conditions, such as lack of electricity or running water, outdoor toilets, transportation difficulties and unfamiliar foods. Do you recognize the health risks you face working in a developing country?
Do you understand the financial commitment necessary to volunteer with cdpeace? Are you able to provide or raise these funds?
Are you willing to sign a waiver to absolve cdpeace of all responsibility in the case of accident or illness? You will also be asked to fill out an emergency medical information form.
Please provide the names, phone numbers, emails of two references who would be helpful to assess your suitability to embark on such a venture.
Please email your volunteer application to tmt_at_cdpeace.com or mary_at_cdpeace.com. Thank you!