Support and Responsibilities

 

Responsibilities of AJWS:

  • Arrange volunteer’s placement with NGO
  • Provide International SOS emergency evacuation assistance and medical referrals
  • Pay for plane ticket
  • Evaluate volunteers’ applications for funding for room and board
  • Ensure volunteers’ housing and airport pickup
  • Provide orientation to all volunteers
  • Offer support and assistance throughout the volunteer assignment

Responsibilities of partner NGOs:

  • Develop a workplan for the volunteer
  • Assign the volunteer a supervisor and a counterpart
  • Meet volunteer at the airport
  • Help volunteer find housing
  • Assist volunteer with initial orientation to location of service (such as figuring out local transportation)

Responsibilities of volunteers:

  • Make travel arrangements
  • Obtain immunizations, medications and health insurance at own expense
  • Obtain visa at own expense
  • Pay for in-country living costs (with possible financial support from AJWS)

Arranging the Volunteer Assignment

Following acceptance to the program, AJWS staff matches each volunteer with a partner NGO whose needs match that volunteer’s skill-set. The partner NGO proposes a workplan, which the volunteer, the AJWS Program Officer and an NGO staff member then discuss over the phone. AJWS creates a Memorandum of Understanding for all the parties to sign. Two weeks after the volunteer arrives, s/he and her/his supervisor update the workplan.

Costs

AJWS pays for the lowest available roundtrip airfare between the volunteer’s home city and his or her volunteer assignment location. AJWS also provides emergency evacuation assistance and medical referrals to all volunteers through International SOS for the duration of the work assignment. International SOS does not cover the cost of treatment while overseas.

Volunteers are generally responsible for all in-country living expenses, such as room, board and local transportation. Volunteers are also responsible for all pre-departure expenses, such as visas, immunizations, medications and health insurance.

Funding is available to volunteers who lack the financial resources to fully cover the room and board expenses of an overseas volunteer assignment. The amount of funding awarded to each volunteer is determined on a case-by-case basis. There is an application for this funding, which AJWS staff can provide after the location of service has been determined.

Housing

AJWS asks NGOs to assist volunteers in locating and securing housing. AJWS country representatives may also assist in this process. Usually volunteers live in rented apartments with running water and electricity; sometimes accommodation may be in hotels, hostels, as a boarder in a family’s home or in a home stay. Air-conditioning may be available. In some cases, a volunteer’s accommodation may be secured before s/he arrives, and in other cases, a volunteer may stay in a guest house or hotel for a few days while choosing where s/he would like to live. AJWS staff will help to ensure that these arrangements are made. Volunteers are responsible for all costs related to their housing.

Plane Tickets

AJWS pays for the lowest available roundtrip airfare between the volunteer’s home city and volunteer assignment location for an itinerary based on the start and end dates of the volunteer assignment. Volunteers arrange their own travel plans, through AJWS’ travel agent or on their own. NGO staff and/or AJWS country representatives meet volunteers at the airport upon arrival.

Visa


Volunteers are responsible for obtaining a visa to their country of service if one is required and are financially responsible for any visa fees.

Medical Preparation

Volunteers are responsible for speaking to their doctors regarding any preliminary medical treatments necessary and are financially responsible for these costs.

Health Insurance

All AJWS volunteers receive emergency evacuation assistance and medical referrals through International SOS. Volunteers must have their own health insurance that covers the cost of treatment while overseas, as International SOS does not pay for the cost of medical care.

Orientation

AJWS provides country-specific pre-departure materials and conducts orientation sessions for all volunteers.

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