Voluteering in the Philippines - Please help!

[Philip5705]

Hello Everyone
I hope that someone might be able to help me with a personal request. I am a 46 year old UK citizen who has visited the Philippines on a number of occasions in recent years. Having seen first hand some of the problems in the Philippines I would really like to work over there as a volunteer helping in social or in educational projects.
I have extensive work experience in commercial management gained over 25 years with blue chip companies in the UK. Additionally I also have a CELTA teaching qualification and have recently taught English as a second language in China for some eighteen months.
I am now looking to find a voluntary position in the Philippines and wish to commence with this in September 2012. Of course I am financially independent and self sufficient, and therefore expect to pay for my own accommodation and living expenses.
There are many organisations advertising placements on the internet but from what I can determine it seems that most of these are geared towards casual volunteers who wish to take a short career break for just a few weeks. I wish to volunteer for 3-6 months.
I am therefore asking whether you can advise me of any possible organisations, or contacts based in the Philippines who might be seeking volunteers.
I really thank you for your consideration and hope that you are able to help me in my search.
Sincerely

Philip

[CBM]

Could you perhaps narrow things down a bit?

First, would you be more interested in working in the cities or in the countryside?

Next, bearing in mind this is the Philppines, how do you feel about the Catholic Church? Voluntary organisations tend to be lined up either "under" the Church or"against" the Church. (I am no Catholic, but I do greatly admire the Don Bosco organisation in Manila, and I am sure there are many others.)

[lastlid]

Yes. And are you more interested in working with people or the land / sea etc?

[RickyR]

If your Christian, I could certainly put you in touch with the Don Bosco Youth Centres in the Philippines, who take children from the poorest areas and push them to achieve something in life, and often get them sponsored through college.
Alternatively the Philippine Community Fund is an excellent charity who would welcome your help, we've been upto the site in Tondo (Manila), and have to say the charity is doing amazing work considering the awful situation. www.p-c-f.org/

[Rosie1958]

Hi Philip

You may be interested in some of the information I posted at the end of last year about the work carried out by Jigsaw Ministries:-

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread.php/35255-The-Street-Children-of-Manila?highlight=

Good luck with your search, I'd love to be in a position to do something like this myself :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Rosie :)

[Terpe]

Volunteer For The Visayans (http://www.visayans.org)

Cerv Philippines (http://www.volunteerphilippines.com)

[Rosie1958]

If your Christian, I could certainly put you in touch with the Don Bosco Youth Centres in the Philippines, who take children from the poorest areas and push them to achieve something in life, and often get them sponsored through college.
Alternatively the Philippine Community Fund is an excellent charity who would welcome your help, we've been upto the site in Tondo (Manila), and have to say the charity is doing amazing work considering the awful situation. www.p-c-f.org/

I've just checked out PC Fund website and noticed that they also encourage child sponsorship. What a great idea and one that I am going to pursue :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[lastlid]

You may prefer to volunteer by working with the environment. There have been some colossal environmental issues in the Philippines which of course affects the people of the Philippines, on a large scale. Dealing with such issues is a key to the countries future. These people, in the links below, seek to address these issues in the most appropriate way. Teaching and enlightenment is one of the tools used by this group.

You could find work with this group highly enjoyable and satisfying.

http://savephilippineseas.com/
http://savephilippineseas.com/volunteer/

https://www.facebook.com/savephilippineseas

[ReemaOwens]

Just recently( This March) my bro-in-law volunteered also in True Manila organization.He enjoyed his experience in this organization and plans to volunteer again. Here's the link you may try to see it! http://www.truemanila.com/

[Rosie1958]

I've just checked out PC Fund website and noticed that they also encourage child sponsorship. What a great idea and one that I am going to pursue :xxgrinning--00xx3:

I've just become the proud sponsor of a lovely 7 year old little girl who lives on the Tondo Dumpsite in Manila. Joan has 4 brothers and sisters and I am so happy to be able to help with her education, medical care, etc through PCF. The family are living in poverty/squalor and I have just sent them a food parcel. I hope one day to be able to go over to Philippines with my partner and PCF to meet Joan. :xxgrinning--00xx3:

[deeen]

I heard you need a work permit even for volunteering in the Philippines.

Never doen it, so I might be wrong, but worth checking out before you start maybe?

[irishman12]

deeen -it might depend how long and what organization that you would volunteer but for short term volunteer -tourist visa would suffice ,i know a guy from uk -he is currently in cagayan de oro with allhands http://hands.org/2012/07/09/project-cdo-has-been-extended-volunteer-applications-now-being-accepted/ -message me on ym @rosie 1958 -i have a contact from usa who is also sponsoring a child in manila and he went there to visit last year -if u have need any info about manila -maybe we can get in touch in the future but as of now i guess sending pm isnt possible

[Rosie1958]

deeen -it might depend how long and what organization that you would volunteer but for short term volunteer -tourist visa would suffice ,i know a guy from uk -he is currently in cagayan de oro with allhands http://hands.org/2012/07/09/project-cdo-has-been-extended-volunteer-applications-now-being-accepted/ -message me on ym @rosie 1958 -i have a contact from usa who is also sponsoring a child in manila and he went there to visit last year -if u have need any info about manila -maybe we can get in touch in the future but as of now i guess sending pm isnt possible

Hi Irishman12,

I'm not sure whether you can receive messages via PM as you might need to be a respected member (time served) to do that. Anyway, thanks for your reply, it's great to hear that you have a friend that also sponsors a child. I did a fair bit of research before signing up with PCF and I am aware that visiting a sponsor child in Philippines is something that the charity is able to arrange, so I will definitely do this at some point in the future. If I win the next euro-millions lottery, it will be sooner rather than later as I will build my own school there (!)

I have been to Manila 4 times but can't recall seeing Smokey Mountain and from what has been said about it, it's not a place that is easily forgotten. I have already written to my sponsor child and sent her family a gift and I am looking forward to hearing about her progress at school in October. I do hope that your friend is enjoying the experience of being able to help :xxgrinning--00xx3:

Best wishes
Rosie :)