I am often asked for
'recommendations' for volunteering organisations. It is impossible for
me to offer a robust exhaustive list of all the good (and bad)
organisations out there. But what a I can offer is a biased selection
of organisations that i have encountered and for various reasons feel
offer quality placements of one sort or another.
So if you are Using this list still ask
the hard questions, still look at others and make you own mind up. And
if you have organisations that you would like to recommend (and for
whom
you don't work!) then get in touch
2
Way development This is a small social enterprise based in
the UK. They focus on providing placements for skilled volunteers they
have a great ethic and a proper understanding of international
development issues. Their web site isn't great but in this industry
that is a good sighn! This is an organisation for those who are looking
for more than swanky marketing.
Quest
Overseas Quest are gap year specialists who
mainly run group based volunteer placements and expeditions. What makes
them special is that they have long running relationships with their
community partners, this means they know their partners well, the
project have been created locally and there is a real investment in the
communities they work within.
Challenges World Wide
Based in Edinburgh these folk focus on providing placements for skilled
professional volunteers. They are a social enterprise (a business that
trades for a social purpose) and though their web site looks a bit old
and not too flashy they know what they are doing and are worth
calling up directly.
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