Frequently Asked Questions on Volunteering for Mothers Without Borders
Q. Where can I volunteer for Mothers Without Borders?
A. In Zambia.
Q. Who can volunteer?
A. Our volunteers range in age from 12-72! They have been students, doctors, teachers, moms, dads, boy scouts, social workers, nurses, mechanics, librarians, grandmothers and dentists. And many more too numerous to mention! If you are under the age of 18, you will need to have a parent accompany you; this is a great experience for families!
Q. What type of volunteer opportunities do you offer?
A. We offer Service Expeditions. They are 15 days in length and the dates are determined by MWB. Team members are selected by our Expedition Leaders. A team is typically made up of 15-20 men, women and teenagers. Expeditions travel together, work together, stay in a boarding house or in a dorm at one of our program sites and share meals together. The team is led by experienced Team Leaders. We arrange travel, housing, meals and work sites. For more details, download "Volunteer Info (PDF)".
Q. How much does it cost to participate in an expedition?
A. $2500 PLUS the cost of airfare, (which varies throughout the year). Your $2500 program fee will cover your lodging, food, water, ground transportation and work supplies. You may elect to add on an adventure experience such as a safari or trip to Victoria Falls at the end of your trip at your own expense. We can offer suggestions and contacts so you can make arrangements before you leave the US.
Q. What other expenses will I incur that are NOT covered in the $2500 program fee?
A. Passport, visa, shots, travel medications, souvenirs, leisure travel at the end of the expedition, laundry, sodas, tips.
Q. How do I apply to be a team member?
A. You can apply by downloading an application - Application for Volunteer (PDF). After you complete the application, mail it to our American Fork headquarters. All applications are reviewed monthly and you will be contacted by a team leader, usually within 30 days of our receipt of your application. Bear in mind that in the summer we are all in Zambia, so if we receive your application between May-July, you may not hear from us until September.
Q. Is there a deadline for submitting applications?
A. Not really, but the teams fill up quickly so don't delay. Usually the summer teams are full by January, but sometimes a spot opens up as late as April.
Q. How often do you schedule expeditions?
A. Typically we offer one or two trips in the late spring and three to four in the summer. The schedule varies from year to year, based on demand so please check the website for current postings.
Q. What types of things will I be doing on an expedition?
A. Some activities our volunteers have participated in include:
- Teaching music, art, recreation, hygiene, first aid, and HIV/AIDS
- awareness/prevention to children
- Simple construction projects like building a one room school
- Building raised gardens and teaching square foot gardening, food preservation and nutrition to women in villages
- Assisting villagers with agriculture, painting, plumbing, and simple household repairs
- Holding, feeding and caring for preemie babies in the hospital
- Training village members in water & sanitation, literacy, sewing, knitting, crocheting, small business and retail opportunities
Volunteer tasks are matched with the interests and expertise of team members so each expedition may have a slightly different focus.
Q. How do I raise money for my volunteer experience?
A. We can provide a sponsor letter which you can give to friends, family, businesses and co-workers. MWB is a 501 (c) 3, non-profit corporation. All donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. 100% of the money raised in your behalf goes towards your trip costs. Some volunteers have held garage sales, car washes, service auctions, and fun runs to cover trip costs. Others have received funds from local Rotary, Lions, Kiwanas and other service clubs.
For more information, please email mail@motherswithoutborders.org
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