Banana Island - Volunteer Position AvailableWe are a community-based eco-tourism project located on a small island off the coast of Sierra Leone, West Africa. The project was begun in March 2006, the physical infrastructure is now substantially complete and the guest house is open, operating and covering its basic costs. To ensure its sustainability, to optimize its positive environmental impact and ensure a maximum poverty-reduction effect, we are seeking a volunteer or volunteer couple for at least one year (two years preferred) to live and work on the island with the local community. We can provide a furnished one-bedroom residence with a living room, kitchen, bathroom and home office area, with modern plumbing, piped water from our well, generator-provided electricity in the evenings and a veranda. The volunteers can eat at no cost with our staff (fish with rice and sauce on most days) and/or cook in their own residence with food they would purchase for themselves. Fresh fish and lobster are abundant and cheap on and near the island. Other items can be purchased in Freetown, the capital city. We can also provide a basic living allowance of US$100 per month which will cover local transport, toiletries and other small items. Transport to/from the island is in our own boat so there is no cost getting to/from the mainland. The volunteer(s) will need to find funds for airfare and must purchase a medical evacuation policy and have health insurance. We need this assistance as soon as possible. Finally, we should emphasize that we are located in Sierra Leone which, according to UN statistics, has world's worst poverty with about 80% of the population living on less than a dollar a day. It is imperative that the volunteer(s) be prepared to deal with poverty, a different culture, a different sense of time, little understanding of concepts like productivity and be prepared to learn the local vernacular language, Krio. The country is at peace, it has a democratically-elected government, it is physically beautiful with wonderful beaches and sunsets, friendly and outgoing people and has enormous potential. We need a volunteer who is culturally flexible, very patient, well-organized with good communication skills and a sense of humour. The volunteers will be backstopped by a local committee of well-educated people who can help guide this effort but the volunteer(s) must be self-starters and highly-motivated. Please share this with anyone you wish. Thank you. Gary Walker Gary A. Walker Principal Office Address for Associates for Global Change (AGC) 7525 Blair Road, Suite 11 |
|
|
|||||||||
| Home | Contacts | Projects | Advocacy | Newsletters | Images | Membership | Press | About | ||
This page last updated on 28 Apr 2008. check