"I loved every single activity and all of the service we gave! Even when I was not particularly knowlegable in a certain area, it was great to learn more and help everyone else on their projects. I discovered talents and interests that I had no idea I had before. Every single moment was so great. I loved it!"
-Jessica Reeves, Uganda 2007
"Once anyone allows themselves to let go of the walls they have created, and allow their true heart to be exposed, the joy and the growth both for the giver and the receiver is unequal to anything else. While in Guatemala, I was able to experience honest love between me and the people I was serving. Never have I been apart of something so pure and beautiful. I thank HELP International for the opportunity to change my life, and in the process, bless others. I shall never forget the lessons learned and the experiences had while in Guatemala."
If you still have questions about participating with HELP International after reviewing the information on our website, please contact our staff by email at recruiting@help-international.
HELP International matches the individual skills of our participants with the needs of our local partner Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to create meaningful service opportunities for participants, and measurable impacts in the lives of those we serve.
Activities range from general volunteer work at existing organizations, doing manual labor alongside local natives, or designing and implementing new development projects with local NGOs to meet a specific community need. Some activities past participants have done include building and repairing water systems, volunteering with local orphanages and hospitals, and teaching basic business classes. Regardless of which activity a participant chooses, each teaches the nuances of the native culture, the essential principles involved in collaborating with local leaders, and how to implement meaningful solutions to fight poverty.
To prepare participants with the tools necessary to contribute to sustainable development projects, participants receive training in the following areas:
Safety and security
Introduction to development
Intercultural communication
Using yourself as an instrument for change
Teaching English as a second language
Orphanage activities and recreational therapy
Square foot gardening & stove building
Business training & microentrepreneurship basics
Community and public health in the developing world
Literacy for social change
Action research design and research proposal preparation
HELP International is committed to training participants to contribute meaningfully to the community, while having a life-changing experience themselves. The most effective development projects are initiated and embraced by the local community and thus lead to changes which benefit the local population for years after the HELP International participants return home. Likewise, the best experience a participant can have is to learn how be actively involved in social change and poverty alleviation for the rest of their lives.
Read the handbook and submit all paperwork required
Be prepared for and attend trainings (3 mandatory, 2 optional)
Work with country directors on project ideas and areas of interest
Be in contact with members of your team (trainings, team activities, blogs, etc.)
Learn about your country and international development
Set up a checkout appointment with a member of the HELP staff
In-Country
Participate in individual and team projects
Be prepared for classes that you are teaching or projects you are in charge of
Maintain a positive relationship with your Country Directors and fellow participants
Take initiative to assure that you are working on projects that are of interest to you
If asked to be a project lead, fulfill your duties and work with Country Directors manage all aspects of the project, partner relations, and other participants
Attend weekly meetings set by Country Directors
Adhere to the HELP International Code of Conduct
Attend in-country trainings set up by Country Directors or fellow participants
Make sure that the projects you initiate are sustainable, appropriate, and meaningful for the people you are serving
Get to know the local people and the culture
Be vigilant, smart and use common sense in all situations
Remember that you are a representative of HELP International and Americans when you are working, traveling and vacationing
Post-experience
Complete the participant exit survey (Available online, more information given when you return)
Turn in at least three high-quality photos or an approved multimedia piece of project work
Take time to journal about your experience
Invite parents and friends to attend annual HELP reunion with you
Share your experience with others!
Stay involved with HELP: help with the reunion, stay in touch with your teammates, donate to the alumni fund, let us quote or film you talking about your experience, help with next year's training and participant prep
HELP International participants can serve for six weeks up to four months. We send participants in three waves, each lasting six weeks.
Wave 1: May 5th - June 16th
Wave 2: June 9th -July 21st
Wave 3: July 14th - August 25th.
Participants can choose to stay for as many waves as they wish. The program cost is the same regardless of how long participants decide to stay in-country. There are also opportunities in Fall and Winter with Hogar del Niño Orphanage.
Wave I: The HELP International program has a unique take on development in the sense that the country directors as well as the participants get to initiate all aspects of the development process. The country directors are in country a week earlier than the rest of the participants, but have a lot to accomplish. They find housing, they get used to bus routes, they take care of eating arrangements, they introduce themselves to the partner organizations, among other things. Because HELP emphasizes the idea of participants helping out with the creation of the program, participants provide input and initiate the projects. Some projects only require a limited amount of planning and scheduling (such as Habitat for Humanity) and the participants can start working right away. Other projects require more extensive scheduling, planning, and multiple meetings with the partner organization to work out the goals of the partner organization, as well as how the HELP participants are best able to work with them. Participants become project leaders and start creating specific activities based on their areas interest and "expertise," as well as on what the partner organizations are looking for.
Wave II: As HELP participants spend more time in country, a balance is created. Most projects have a specific schedule and the participants have more of a defined role with these organizations. Expectations on both sides are clearer and, with some participants staying over between waves, transitioning the new participants in the projects goes relatively smoothly. There is a concentration on developing and beginning "larger" projects as the participants continue to work.
Wave III : In the third wave, new participants have a little bit of a different adjustment as other participants have "established" themselves in projects and partner organizations have more specific expectations since they have been working with the participants for over two months by this point. Some of the larger projects terminate in the second wave but there are still others, based on the needs of the partner organizations, that will be done during the third wave. During the last two weeks or so where there will be a concentration on closing out the projects. In the third wave, the time seems to fly by the fastest. Before you even realize it there will only be the last few weeks left and at times there may feel like there is a scramble to accomplish some of the goals set earlier on. There will be time spent saying goodbyes, a lot of partner organizations will want to do special "thank you ceremonies" or have specific closing items to be taken care of before the participants leave. The participants will be expected to help close the house, meaning packing and cleaning will need to be done, as well as distributing the remainder of the contributed items to the partner organizations. It is a fun but difficult time as participants are saying their goodbyes and trying to finish all the goals they set for themselves and for HELP International participants in their country.
When is the best time to turn in an application if I'm planning on going in summer 2010?
APPLY NOW! Early applicants have a better chance of being accepted, and have a longer time to fundraise and prepare. Applicants who apply before January 1 recieve $250 off their program fee.
Would you be willing to work with me to fulfill my internship requirement?
We encourage all prospective country directors and participants to coordinate getting credit for their internship with their departments. We'll work with you and are happy to fill out any forms or provide any documentation upon request. We will also meet with you individually to tailor your in-country experience to your needs. Country Directors will regularly meet with interns in-country to provide support for internship amd academic assignments.
HELP International requires all participants to fundraise or contribute the program cost of $2,750 + airfare. Participants may plan or participate in various fundraising activities in the months preceding their service to assist with this cost. HELP International offers individualized mentoring and assistance with fundraising. With this help, many participants are able to raise a substantial portion of the required program cost to offset out-of-pocket expenses. In the past, participants have coordinated their efforts and had great success in raising funds. Learn more about program cost and fundraising.
What does a typical day as a HELP participant consist of?
Participants live together in the same building with their country directors. Hot evening meals are provided either through a restaurant or a local cook. Breakfast and lunch are eaten at the work site or at home. Although no day is exactly the same, participants spend their mornings and afternoons working on specific development projects in their area of choosing. Some evenings are spent working and preparing for projects, while others are reserved for fun events and activities which introduce participants to the local cultural traditions and practices.
The primary purpose of a HELP International participant's time is to serve the members of the local communities. However, while this is the main focus of each participant's time, there are ample opportunities for sight seeing and to have fun with other participants and local community members.
What do participants do in their spare time in the country?
We recommend you get involved with the local people. Participate in local traditions and celebrations; learn how to cook local foods, etc. You'll also have time for reading, traveling, hanging out with other participants, etc. There are lots of options for what to do in your spare time.
Do participants have the opportunity to attend religious services?
HELP International is nondenominational and participants are not required to attend religious services. However, for those who wish to worship, country teams are expected to make every reasonable effort to accommodate their needs. Participants have the weekends off and are free to attend religious services if they choose.
Dinners are provided by HELP International. Country directors hire a cook that will make balanced meals using local ingredients. Participants are responsible to take care of his/her own breakfast, lunch, and vacation meals. Each participant is given a modest stipend which is calculated to cover the basic food costs of for these meals and transportation to and from the projects. Each participant is responsible for managing his or her own stipend. Additional expenses such as souvenirs, internet café time, calling cards, vacations, etc. are not included in the stipend.
Participants are strongly advised not to drink tap water in any of the countries we work in, and country director funds are budgeted for basic water needs for the team. Part of the safety training, which is mandatory for all participants, outlines which foods are safe to each and which to avoid. Participants can use water to cook, but it must be filtered or boiled for at least seven minutes.
What are the housing arrangements like in-country?
Participants all live together in the same house, and we require that males and females have separate bedrooms. The primary reason for combined living is safety. Houses are always in upscale neighborhoods and have security measures such as a high fence, barbed wire, or a guard. Participants also live in the same house is for logistical reasons and cost effectiveness. Coordinating projects, schedules, lesson plans, vacation time, etc., is easier when all the participants are together. Living in the same house also builds solidarity among the team members.
Houses are selected by the country directors one week preceding the arrival of the first wave of participants. The country directors negotiate a summer-long contract to rent a home they deem fit. We ensure that housing includes basic amenities such as electricity, running water, flushing toilets, a stove, refrigerator, and basic furniture. However, these residences typically do not have hot water heaters. Although beds are provided by HELP, participants are responsible for their own bedding. Clothes can be washed by hand and air dried or laundry can be sent out.
