Many organisations will pay for the cost of a volunteer’s ______ to Africa. [br

Presenter: Good morning, everybody. I’m Jane Winter and I’m here to
tell you a little about the possibility of volunteer work in Africa. If you’re
looking for volunteer work in Africa there are plenty of opportunities available.
Let’s look at the different types of volunteer opportunities available in
Africa, what to expect when volunteering in Africa and stories from volunteers
who have worked in Africa. Volunteering means something different to
almost every organisation you come across. Some agencies will cover your         Q31
flight and cost of living while you are working and some are tree "volunteer"
projects and expect you to cover all costs for the privilege of the experience.
If you are looking for a more meaningful way to spend a few months in Africa         Q32
than simply travelling around, volunteering is a wonderful way to spend
your time. Most jobs that last less than a year or so are going to be the ones
you have to pay for. Jobs that require a commitment of more than a year will       Q33
often offer a basic stipend to cover some of your costs.
    Whether you get paid and how much you get paid will also depend on
your skills and how much they are in demand. Most paid volunteer opportunities
in Africa are available to those who have a university education and/or
a practical skill. Engineers, doctors, nurses, environmentalists, emergency
relief personnel and teachers are among the most asked for by volunteer
agencies. If an organisation doesn’t require you to have specific skills then          Q34
you will usually have to pay your own expenses as a volunteer. In general              Q35
most organisations working in Africa try and recruit as many local people as
possible rather than foreigners, since the projects should continue long after
you have returned home. So don’t take it personally if your intention to help
people in Africa is rejected, it may just be that a local person is better suited
to do the job.
   What should you expect when you volunteer to work in Africa? Conditions
are usually basic. Most volunteer opportunities take place in rural
areas where you may not have ready access to running water and electricity.           Q36
Housing can be very basic and you will likely be staying with local families.
A word about cultural adaptability. As in most countries in the world rural           Q37
communities are usually more traditional than urban centres. As you will be
working closely with the local population you will have to dress and behave
in accordance with what is acceptable locally. General pace of life and work
is much slower than in the west. Don’t expect any organisation to run efficiently
and without glitches. Getting sick can be a problem. If you’re spending
more than just a few weeks in Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, your
chances of getting malaria or bilharzia will also increase. Make sure you take
all the medicine and precautions you need. The organisation you work with
should brief you about health issues and don’t forget that local nurses and
doctors will have plenty of experience with these common afflictions—probalby
more than your doctor at home. Initially you may also have some problems           Q38
getting used to different food and water.
  Anyone who has volunteered in Africa will probably tell you that the
biggest impact their project had was not on the community but on themselves.
Spending time immersed in another culture will change the way you
look at life and is part of the appeal of volunteering. Before you decide to
volunteer in Africa you may be interested to learn what the typical experiences
are of people already in the field. Later, we’ll look at a selection of volunteer
stories and experiences from Africa. There are many volunteers and                  Q39
travellers who keep online diaries of their experiences. These contain some
excellent tips about working, travelling and living in Africa. Before that, just
a quick word about work permits in Africa. Many people who travel around
Africa may wish to stay and work. But just as in Europe or the US, every African     Q40
country will require you to get an official work permit. In most cases
these laws exist to stop foreigners getting jobs that local people may be qualified
for. Unemployment is bad enough throughout Africa so don’t take a job
that a local person could do. Now, let’s look at a few people’s experiences ...