FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
NB: These questions relate only to Option 1: Volunteering Programme
1. What countries do you operate in? When do the projects take place? How long do the placements last? How much does it cost?
2012 Prices outlined below. (Prices, dates and duration may fluctuate but this is a general overview). . Summer placements take place in June, July and August.
* The cost includes the price of your flight and associated taxes, travel insurance, your attendance at the SERVE “Next Step” Weekend following your return to Ireland, and a contribution towards food, accommodation and transport within the country. It does not include the cost of your vaccinations, any day-to-day spending money, or any activities undertaken on time off at the end of the project. You are not entitled to fundraise for these elements.
Fundraising group targets will then be set for each country group to reach, as a donation to go towards the projects with which you will be working. Fundraising targets for 2012 will be outlined at the open days (www.serve.ie/open-days).
** Visas for these countries are not required to be obtained before departure but may need to be obtained on arrival in the destination airport. All visas to be obtained will be at each individual's expense.
2. Do I need vaccinations?
Short answer, Yes. Vaccinations vary from country to country and person to person. All information relating to vaccinations are covered on the first volunteer training day by a professional from the Tropical Medical Bureau (www.tmb.ie), yet it is the sole responsibility of the volunteer to get his/her own medication based on their own medical history.
3. How much do I have to fundraise?
You are firstly required to pay the cost of your flight, (See the Prices above). Based on fundraising from the 2011 groups the total raised was €121,377 between 80 volunteers, an average of just over €1500 per volunteer. Fundraising targets for the upcoming summer projects will be confirmed at the Open days each November.
4. How much spending money should I bring?
This is an individual decision. However, as meals and accommodation while on placement are covered by SERVE, personal spending is light, such as buying cups of coffee etc. From previous volunteers experiences they have spent between €300 and €1200. (We know that there is quite a big difference in these two figures. It just suggests that a small budget can be worked on, but there is also an opportunity to spend money too if you so wish.)
5. Is there an age limit?
SERVE maintains a volunteer age profile of 20 to 40 years. This is for reasons of group dynamics and because SERVE's thematic focus is children and young people. However, this age profile is not set in stone and SERVE is open to accepting volunteers under the age of 20 and over the age of 40. All SERVE volunteers must be over the age of 18.
6. What project placements are available?
The projects will vary, depending on the countrydestination. However most projects fall under the umbrella of
- Street Children’s projects and orphanages
- Construction and renovation work
- Teaching various subjects (English, Computer skills, Design)
- Speech and language therapy
- Mental and Physical disabilities
- Skills training
- Youth empowerment
- Community development
- Income generation projects
7. Do I need to have a specific skill / background to apply?
Some specialist professions are sought and will be beneficial but application is open to all skill levels and backgrounds.
8. What can I fundraise for?
SERVE requires volunteers to contribute a minimum of €500 of their own personal money towards the cost of the programme. Should the volunteer not have the means to pay for the full amount themselves SERVE permits its volunteers to fundraise for the remainder of the progrmme costs. Volunteers should be open and transparent about what the money raised is going towards. If people are then still happy to give (e.g. towards volunteer flight costs) then that is their decision, but volunteers should not mislead the public into thinking that all funds raised will go directly to a project and community if this is not the case.
Any money over and above the cost of the flight will be donated fully and directly to the projects in the country that the volunteer is based in. i.e. money raised from the India group will only be spent on projects in India and not elsewhere.
SERVE does not support the fundraising of money to cover the cost of personal spending money or the cost of vaccinations etc.
9. Deposit:
Only Volunteers that are offered and subsequently accept their placement with SERVE are requested to pay an initial non-refundable deposit of €200 or £200, by the second Friday of January. This amount is taken off the cost of the programme and the remainder of the cost is split into two equal instalments (1st Instalment: end of March, 2nd instalment: start of May). All final fundraising amounts due for the projects should be lodged by the start of June.
10. How do I apply?
You must attend a SERVE Open Day presentation at a venue near you during the months of October/November. The dates and venues of these Open Days will be announced on the SERVE website (How to Get Involved) each October. Attendance is required at an Open Day in order to obtain an application form. As places are limited, a sorting process will occur and those successful will be contacted to attend an interview in December.
In the past Open Day presentations have taken place in the colleges below:
Cork (CIT, UCC), Waterford (WIT), Dublin (Trinity, DCU), Dundalk (DKIT), Limerick (Mary I, UL, LIT), Galway (NUI, GMIT), Mayo (GMIT), Sligo (ITSligo), Belfast (Queens).
11. Why do you recruit in November for placements in June, July and August?
SERVE volunteers, on selection, commit to attending all three pre-departure training days in Dublin between January and June. This will give them every opportunity to be well prepared before their departure and also gives them the opportunity to meet with the volunteers that they will be travelling with. In the past few years these training days have taken place on the first Saturday in February, the last Saturday in March and the second Saturday in June – each day running from 10am to 6pm. Attendance at all three training days is a requirement of being a SERVE volunteer.
12. Is it safe?
Safety is our priority and we ensure all placements are safe for the volunteers. At least two Irish leaders will accompany the group to and from the country and also supervise them and support them in any way during the placement. A 24-hour helpline is also available to be used by our group leaders while on placement. SERVE covers a Health, Safety and Security workshop during the pre-departure training. Volunteers should be well vaccinated and prepared before departing.
13. Can I stay on in the country after my placement ends to do my own travelling / sightseeing?
SERVE volunteers agree to travel out with the group and travel home with the group. SERVE is not in a position to allow for volunteers to do their own independent travelling at the end of a project.
14. What is accommodation like?
Accommodation can vary from placement to placement. Some projects include staying with host families during the duration of the project. On other placements volunteers can expect to be staying in group dormitories or in accommodation provided by the host community. All of our accommodation is ensured to be safe and clean for volunteers.
15. What is covered on the SERVE pre-departure training days and is attendance necessary?
Attendance at all three training days is a compulsory requirement of being a SERVE volunteer.
Information covered on the training days includes:
- Introduction to SERVE’s work
- Vaccinations seminar
- Health and Safety
- Fundraising information and tips
- Development Education workshops
- Country and placement information
- Cultural Workshops
- Volunteer rights and responsibilities
- Volunteer expectations
- Child protection information session
- Group dynamics
- Stress management / self care
- Practical group activities
16. Will I get my first choice of project country destination?
We cannot guarantee that a volunteer will get their first choice. Due to the amount that apply and limited places, coupled with qualified volunteers for certain positions it is not always possible to place a volunteer where they want to go. We ask all applicants to be flexible in their choice but we will do our best to match you with your preferred country or placement.
If you have any questions not answered in this section please contact a member of the SERVE team on the contact form on the side bar of this page.