The South Pacific: Volunteer in the Cook Islands

  Cook Islands

Rarotonga

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: year round

Description: You're needed to assist with a wide variety of community service work projects on this captivating South Pacific island!

* Literacy
Various professionals and generalists are needed to tutor students on phonetics and reading skills. Teachers, parents, employers and the students themselves have identified tutoring in reading as vital to procuring a job and advancing in the workforce. A structured phonetics program, written especially for Cook Islanders, is in place.

* History
Volunteers also are needed in several libraries on Rarotonga, including the National Library, the Cook Islands' Library Museum Society and school libraries. Projects range from routine cleaning and straightening of shelves to protecting and filing archival documents.

* Environment
Are you a trailblazer' You'll enjoy working part time in the heights and depths of the remote interior helping to preserve the habitat of the rare Kakerori bird. You can also assist at the Whale Center during particular times of year.

* Elder Care
Are you especially good in working with seniors' Mamas and papas (respectful names for senior citizens) are well cared for, usually by their families, so there is little need for institutionalization. A senior citizens' center helps with mobility and activities. Volunteers visit with the mamas and papas, getting a firsthand glimpse of how they lived and worked and raised their families a generation ago. Please contact our volunteer coordination staff for more details.

Highlights: Experience this exotic South Pacific culture and locale while working one-on-one with youth, seniors and families striving to improve their futures on education, social service and conservation projects!

Qualifications: If you have energy, an open mind and are willing to serve as part of a team and take direction from local leaders, you will make a positive contribution to this exciting volunteer program.

Cost in US$: USD1,995 to USD2,595

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Our volunteers are culturally curious and open-minded people looking to contribute to a community development project and to improve their understanding of different ways of life and the social struggles in developing communities. They are all ages, from various ethnic backgrounds and of all different professions, such as educators, students, laborers, medical professionals, full-time parents, computer professionals, artists, lawyers and the like.

Age Range: anyone above age 15

This Program is open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Cook Islands Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 15

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Global Volunteers's Mission Statement: "Partners in Development". Founded to help advance peace, rehabilitate improverished communities, and promote mutual international understanding between peoples of diverse cultures through short-term volunteer service on long-term community development programs. We maintain on-going partnerships with local leaders and indigenous host organizations worldwide. Each year, we mobilize up to 300 teams of volunteers to work alongside local people on work projects central to their advancement. We also raise funds to support our international and domestic partners and to provide child sponsorships for educational, social and medical assistance. Global Volunteers is in special consultative status with the United Nations and UNICEF.

Year Founded: 1984