Volunteer Care Work in Jamaica with Projects Abroad

  Jamaica

Mandeville

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: Year Round / Rolling Starts

Description: At Projects Abroad we work with orphanages and children's homes in and around Mandeville, St. Anns Bay and Junction. Though we don't pretend that we can solve all the social problems affecting modern day Jamaica, we can work to make a difference to the prospects of a large number of children and underprivileged individuals. But we cannot do this without the help of our volunteers.

As a volunteer on a Care project in Jamaica you have an important role to play, whether you are a trained professional offering us the benefit of your experience or on a gap year or career break looking for some experience of development work. Everybody is welcomed, provided they are willing to work hard and be committed to the role, their work-colleagues and the children they are there to help.

** Voluntary work with orphans and the elderly with Projects Abroad

In whichever volunteer care project you find yourself, you need to be ready for a challenge. Many of the children have had very difficult lives and may be desperate for attention. There are likely to be some who have health problems or who require special attention due to disabilities or those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. Your job is to help improve their lives in whatever way possible. This will be quite varied; it may involve playing games and sports with the children or helping with their homework. You may even want to take a group out on a trip. Projects Abroad will support you in any way that we can.

Helping with basic education is also important as many of the children arrive at the homes after being orphaned, abandoned or placed there by the courts and have received no previous formal education. Volunteers can teach in pre-school or special needs schools located at the orphanage or at a special needs school for children with mental, physical and learning disabilities. Volunteers at these placements assist with interactive activities that enhance the growth and development of the children.

Volunteers also help to provide vital information about nutrition and some of the homes we work with have their own small farms on site. As the children in the homes get older volunteers are also needed to help teach the children trades like catering, farming, woodwork, music, tailoring and printing.

The elderly need your attention as well. By working with the elderly you provide assistance to individuals who have been neglected or abandoned by their families or who are in need of support at this stage in their lives. The objective is to provide adequate, needs-based and efficient care to these individuals. Volunteers can assist on this project by helping to feed and groom the elderly as well as reading to them, taking them for a walk around the compound and engaging them in wholesome activities that will stimulate them mentally, physically and socially. This is a chance to get really creative and help to touch the lives of the elderly in a meaningful way.

** Volunteering Abroad on a Care Project in Jamaica

In addition to working in an orphanage, childrens home or home for the elderly, volunteers can work on three specific care projects; the Childrens Advocacy Project, Parenting Project and the Community Literacy Project. These projects are particularly good for volunteers with experience in social work, psychology, sociology, family life education or counseling. However, volunteers who have a general interest in these areas can also take part.

* The Children Advocacy Project includes psycho-social and psycho-educational assessment and treatment for at least 200 children. The project also creates adolescent and parent support groups. Volunteers work at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center, Community Counseling and Restorative Justice Center or Department of Behavioral Sciences. Volunteers help with needs assessments, preparing documents for workshops and seminars, designing brochures, assisting in psycho-educational assessments and working with children in play therapy. Volunteers can also help with homework and after school activities.

* The Parenting Project is designed to allow volunteers to work with 4 to 5 families in a specific community. At times parents do not have the skills or resources to help their children in productive ways. Projects Abroad Jamaica is partnering with the Rural Family Support Organization to expand their Roving Care Givers Program. This program provides rural home visits designed to provide support and enrichment to young children and their parents. Volunteers create activities for the children, use educational toys to develop their skills, have talks with parents on topics such as communication, nutrition and proper discipline and also plan workshops and seminars on parenting. All volunteers undergo a two day training workshop prior to commencement of their work.

* The Community Literacy Project provides volunteers with an opportunity to offer adult literacy education program. Volunteers work with individuals and small groups of no more than 10 to 15 adults in an assigned community. Community based literacy program and one-on-one interaction are known to improve literacy levels. It is with this in mind that the community literacy project is being promoted. Volunteers are provided with materials used by agencies that offer adult literacy education program.

Highlights: Volunteers in Jamaica are spoilt for choice in terms of travel opportunities, both at the weekends or after volunteering. The Milk River Bath is a popular day trip from Mandeville, this natural hot spring is renowned for its healing powers, and is a relaxing way to spend the day after a busy week at work.
Jamaican beach

Further a field literally hundreds of paradise beaches await, with added attractions at places like Ocho Rios, home to the aptly named Eden Falls, where you can tube or raft down the river. Water sports like diving and snorkeling are popular around the entire coast or lie back in a hammock and sample a classic Jamaican rum cocktail.

Finally, no experience of Jamaica is complete without experiencing the vibrant music scene. Strains of Jamaica's most famous citizen, Bob Marley will undoubtedly follow you everywhere on the island and spectacular music festivals take place throughout the year.

All accommodation is organized, paid for and monitored by Projects Abroad. All project placements are regularly visited and checked. We require high standards of supervision and accommodation, which are verified before you arrive in Jamaica.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: none

Cost in US$: From USD 2,895 and Up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open minded with a willingness to travel.

Age Range: 16-80

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Jamaica Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-5

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference

Post-Program Services Include:

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

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992