Volunteering Planning with support until you return home
Reasons to Choose GAFV
Our excellent reviews reveal a range of motivational reasons for volunteering, doing electives, taking gap years, and doing so with Give A Fig Volunteering. Most wish to expand their view of the world (we offer projects in a 5 devloping countries), with a desire to do something new, and a hope to make some difference, with professional development and to boost their CV.
When deciding who to go with, they want to know that the volunteering opportunities will be safe, well organized, the visas will be correct, and they get value for money. Parent reviews (1) (2, 3) show that they are equally happy with us for the support we give from the time you first enquire to the time you return home.
Discussions can also involve deciding on Gap Year payment plans, so the volunteers don’t have to commit until they have spent a month with us, and are happy with the experience. I am delighted to say that they stay, and some even come back!
Alice recommends GAFV [56 secs]), as do others for many reasons, including after researching the possibilities, we had offered the most affordable transparent prices, and well organised and clear projects. Alice [120 secs]), and Mark, SYCT youth leader, chose GAFV for these reasons.
We never ask for any money until we have discussed with you what you want to do, and until we are mutually happy that those aims can be fulfilled. We also identify for you any additional costs before taking any payments, and we take active responsibility for our volunteers until you return from the project.
We know each of our projects, as well as our country partners, as we are not resellers of other people’s projects. You won’t be disappointed choosing us.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild, and precious life?”
- Mary Jane Oliver -
help to plan your volunteering - this page
| Category | Page | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | this page) | Links, FAQs, and info to support your volunteering planning |
| ײ | Projects | 50+ projects, listed by type and alphabetically |
| ײ | Prices | Transparent pricing with what's included |
| ײ | Reviews | Read the amazing things our volunteers say about us |
| ײ | global-info | websites supporting a global understanding |
| ײ | Blog | News from our project countries |
Links to our Project Categories
| Category | Info |
|---|---|
| Countries | Read about our project Countries our project partners there and what to expect |
| Volunteer | Discover volunteering projects by type |
| Teach | Discover volunteer teaching opportunities in Africa and Asia |
| Dental | Discover our range of dental volunteering opportunities in Sri Lanka, and Ghana |
| Medical | Discover our range of medical volunteering opportunities in Sri Lanka, and Africa |
| Nursing | Discover our range of nurse volunteering opportunities in Sri Lanka, and Ghana |
| Psychiatry | Discover our range of psychiatry volunteering opportunities in Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Ghana |
| Soc(ial) Science | Discover our range of social science volunteering opportunities in Sri Lanka, and Uganda for NGO Internships and placements in psychology social work and youth work |
| Gap Year | Discover our Gap Years and join us in one or more countries, as you decide |
| Connect | Contact us; enquire today |
Plan your Volunteering
There is no rush to pay a deposit.
Advice #1: Don’t rushing into paying deposits
Advice #2: Are the people you are speaking with knowledgeable?
Advice #3: Is there a non-refundable admin fee?
Today, with the internet, reviews, and Chat GBT, there is no reason to leap into the unknown, and pay out any money until you are as happy as you can be with the volunteering organisation that you are thinking of paying money to. You will only be 100% happy (or unhappy if you have not asked the questions) after you have arrived and experienced the placement
There are thousands of volunteering and elective opportunities, so there is no rush to ‘pay now’, or ‘decide today’ when booking a volunteering project, elective or Gap Year. If you do, once you have paid, you may not get your money back as happened to me when I paid for my son to volunteer and circumstances led to him changing his mind a year before. Someone I knew who volunteered with the same company, found that the projects were simply ways to make money, not deliver any benefits to the community.
Download your Free Volunteering Planning Guide
(coming soon)
Ask yourself and others questions about the projects
Advice #4: Read the Reviews
Advice #5: Is the visa correct for the country and the project?
Advice #6 What is included? Are there hidden costs?
Advice #7: What are the living conditions; what food is included?
Advice #8: Are the reviews comprehensive, and do they provide an accurate picture of the experience?
Advice #9: is there 24/7 support and management
Advice #10: Ask for examples of what can go wrong, and how the company responds to rectify that when you are there?
Advice #10: Will you be doing what the project type suggests, and for how much of the time.
A turtle project we work with told us how their photos were used by a western volunteer seller, and volunteers paid US $2,000 to go, and then turned up at the turtle project without prior knowledge or agreement with the company. Once there, the volunteers had to pay again for food, and the organisation’s time, as the ‘volunteering company’ paid the project nothing. The majority of volunteering in Sri Lanka is offered on a tourist visa (and through big names too), and it is illegal to volunteer on these visas. (A question to Chat GBT about the country and the visa will flag a warning for you). This places you on the wrong side of the law, and invalidates your insurance cover. You may be deported, or if you have any problems in the country, you may find that no authorities can or will help you.
Volunteering is offered by type, and when you arrive, this may not be fulfilled. For example, you may sign up for a psychology placement, and end up teaching English to children and adults with SEN, with a nod to psychology with a lecture given by a psychologist. Some have spoken of being in a ‘homestay’, with 16 others and no privacy, and having to vacate every weekend (because the homestay was only 5 nights) and had to book in to a hotel. This hidden cost could add on over $400 over 4 weeks with hotel and food.