Program Photos

The South Pacific: Volunteer in the Cook Islands

Location: Cook Islands: Rarotonga

Program Duration: 2-4 weeks

Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Dates: Year-round

Global Volunteers

http://www.globalvolunteers.org

375 E. Little Canada Rd. St. Paul, MN 55117 United States

Call Us

Phone: 800-487-1074

Fax: 651-482-0915

Description

We have a great volunteer place for you! Provide a genuine service while learning about this captivating South Pacific culture. Our NGO host partner on the main island of Rarotonga directs our work to help bolster literacy, elder care and social services in several settings. Your "helping hands" help deliver essential services to the island's youth and adults!

Global Volunteers has over 29 years experience managing volunteers and providing direct community development assistance. Here's where you can help:

* Literacy
Various professionals and generalists are needed to tutor students on phonetics and reading skills. Library projects range from routine cleaning and straightening of shelves to protecting and filing archival documents.

* Environment
Are you a trailblazer? You'll enjoy working part time in the heights and depths of the remote interior helping to preserve the habitat of the rare Kakerori bird. You can also assist at the Whale Center during particular times of year.

* Elder Care
Are you especially good in working with seniors? A senior citizens' center helps with mobility and activities. Volunteers visit with the "mamas" to stimulate and converse with them.

Highlights

Experience this exotic South Pacific culture and locale while working one-on-one with youth, seniors and families striving to improve their futures on education, social service and conservation projects!

You'll stay in a beautiful, sea-side resort motel and enjoy fresh meals prepared by local cooks and in island restaurants. Fresh fruits, seafoods and exotic vegetables are typical fare.

After the work day and on the weekend, you can engage in all manner of island recreation: snorkeling, kayaking, biking, swimming, shopping and enjoying the small museums and markets. This is an island service paradise!

Qualifications

Join us! Pack your open mind and cultural curiosity and make a positive contribution to this exciting volunteer program!

Languages
  • English

Cost in US$:

USD 1,995 to USD 2,595

Cost Include Description:

These costs support the community's on-going development program and also cover your meals, lodging, transportation within the work site, project expenses, administrative costs and the services of a trained team leader. The service program cost does not cover free-time expenses, or your airfare or other travel to the host community. All costs, including airfare, are tax-deductible for U.S. tax-payers.

Credit Available

yes

Volunteer Types
  • Adult Education
  • Appropriate Technology
  • Childcare/children
  • Clerical And Office Work
  • Community Centers
  • Community Development
  • Community Health
  • Computer Training
  • Culture
  • Curriculum Planning
  • Digging
  • Eco-tourism
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Elderly
  • Grassroots Organization
  • Health Care
  • Home Visit
  • Indigenous Issues
  • Literacy
  • Marketing
  • Natural Resources
  • Office Work
  • Painting
  • Parks
  • Peace
  • Planting
  • Professional Services
  • Recreation
  • Renovation
  • Repairs
  • Restoration
  • Secretarial
  • Self Help
  • Social Services, Social Work
  • Trail Building
  • Tree Planting
  • Tutor
  • Women
  • Youth
  • Youth Development
Typical Volunteer
Our volunteers are culturally curious and open-minded people looking to contribute to a community development project and to improve their understanding of different ways of life and the social struggles in developing communities. They are all ages, from various ethnic backgrounds and of all different professions, such as educators, students, laborers, medical professionals, full-time parents, computer professionals, artists, lawyers and the like.
Age Range
anyone above age 15
This Program is open to

Worldwide Participant. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Apartment/Flat
  • Other

Participants Travel to Cook Islands

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves
  • Letters of Reference
  • Phone/Video Interview
  • Written Application
Typically The Application Process Time is
12 hours
Post Services Include
  • Alumni Network
  • Exit Debriefing Abroad
  • Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
Global Volunteers's Mission Statement

Global Volunteers is a private, non-profit (501C-3) tax-exempt organization in consultative status with the United Nations working at the invitation and under the direction of local leaders to deliver the 12 Essential Services to partner communities worldwide. We engage short-term volunteers on long-term development projects to create, nurture and sustain the wellbeing of the world's children - so they can realize the full promise of their human potential. Each year, we mobilize up to 300 teams of volunteers to work alongside local people on work projects central to their advancement. We also raise funds to support our international and domestic partners and to provide sponsorships for educational, social and medical assistance.

Year Founded

1984

GoAbroad.com