“Volunteers are not paid — not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.”
~ Unknown
The concept of paying to volunteer becomes clear when explained. Volunteers do not pay to work. Responsible volunteer sending organisations supply opportunities and services to assist with the objectives of a specific organisation or project.
It is advantageous to both the volunteer and the project as both benefit from the use of a good volunteer program. The volunteer is able to offer assistance, share skills, learn from project partners and enjoy the many benefits of volunteering without having to worry about the logistical difficulties of self-travel in what is often a remote area of a developing nation.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and non-profit (NFP) organisations are able to achieve objectives that would otherwise not be possible given that resources and funding is such a challenge. Chances are, the organisation you will be working with has precious few resources and is not in a position to cover the costs of hosting you.
Most NGOs and NFPs are not prepared to deal with the logistics that come with having a formal volunteer program. It takes time to communicate with volunteers and to help them prepare their trip. Costs such as food, housing, supervision and transport for volunteers can also add up quickly. Projects would be better utilised in caring and feeding the animals. They would also like to create employment for local workers who have relevant language skills and longer term availability. Yet, they desperately need more helping hands and the support they bring. Intermediaries, such as O2E bridge this gap and do the work for them.
So where does your money go?
Your money pays for the cost of your housing, food and transport, as well as your training, preparation and supervision on the project. The project decides how best to use the money.
