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Philippines - FAQTell me more about the PhilippinesWhat is the climate like in the Philippines? What kind of volunteer work is available? When will I know specific details about my placement? Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer? What immunizations/vaccines will I need? When do I need to arrive in the Philippines? What are the living arrangements when volunteering? Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering? Are there more expenses once I arrive? How safe is it to volunteer in the Philippines? How many volunteers are there on site at the same time? What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own? Can you tell me more about your partner in the Philippines? What is the course content of the training? Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement? What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Are there any times of the year that I cannot volunteer? How do I pay my program fee? ------ Tell me more about the Philippines Situated on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines claims title to the second-largest archipelago on the planet, with over 7,100 individual islands within its borders. For hundreds of years the Philippines were a Spanish colony that was eventually given to the U.S. in 1898, following the Spanish-American War. In 1946, at the end of World War II, it finally attained total independence. Since the end of the dictatorial government of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, the Philippines has been plagued by electoral presidential problems and internal struggles with Muslims in the South. The Philippines is one of the major crossroads in the eastern hemisphere, as it's home to over 100 ethnic groups and hundreds of language dialects. Tourism is not a major industry, although resorts on some of the smaller islands, as well as rain forest tours remain popular. For more information I suggest you purchase the Lonely Planet's guide to Philippines. What is the climate like in the Philippines? The Philippines climate is tropical marine with hot and humid whether all year round. Although there are many regional variations the country can be divided into two seasons: a rainy season and a dry season. The summer monsoon (May to October) delivers heavy rains to most of the archipelagos, while the winter monsoon (November to April) brings cool and dry air. Temperatures rarely rise above 37C with the average temperatures sitting at 20 to 32C. Mean annual sea-level temperatures rarely fall below 27C. Annual rainfall measures as much as 5,000 millimeters in the mountainous east coast section of the country, but less than 1,000 millimeters in some of the sheltered valleys. What kind of volunteer work is available? The volunteer opportunities are in Teaching Programs (Day Care, Elementary and High School), Environment Programs (Reforestation, Rehabilitation and Advocacy), Health Program, Cultural Exchange, School Building and Maintenance Program. Your placement will be tailored according to individual requirements of the program and volunteers. When will I know specific details about my placement? Placements are determined during your training under consultation with the program manager so that requests and specific needs can be met with regards to both the volunteer and the needs of the community. As the situation in the country may at times change it is best to discuss your placement preferences during your training period. Do I need to speak English to become a volunteer? Yes, it would be helpful if you speak English. You may have English as your second language and that is also fine. When arriving in the Philippines you are placed into a training program that includes an intensive language course on basic Filipino phrases that you may need while volunteering. What immunizations/vaccines will I need? This is a suggestion of what may be needed - please consult with your medical professional or travel specialist for more details.
When do I need to arrive in the Philippines? In the Philippines the training begins on 1st and 20th of each month so it would be good if you could arrive at least one day before the date you are due to start volunteering. However you may like to arrive earlier to settle yourself before training begins. Accommodation can be arranged for you if you arrive earlier than when the training begins. You will have to pay your own expenses for any time you stay in the Philippines outside of training and volunteer time. What are the living arrangements when volunteering? You are provided with accommodation which is covered by the program fee. Volunteers will be hosted by local Filipino families or will stay in a dormitory. For the later, there will be a hired hand to cook and keep house for the volunteers. Are we able to do any sightseeing while volunteering? Yes. Volunteers are encouraged to use their days off - Saturday and Sunday - to go sightseeing. There are often other volunteers that wish to see the local sights and travel to neighboring islands during free time. You will however need to have reserve money for this time according to what you plan to do. Are there more expenses once I arrive? The program fee covers accommodation and most meals. If you arrive early or intend on staying on in the Philippines for longer than you are volunteering then you will need to have spare money for this time. Also some money may be required for your days off. Other costs include buying bottled water, departure tax and any shopping you will do personally. How safe is it to volunteer in the Philippines? The program location of Dumangas in Iloilo province is deemed one of the safest areas in the country in terms of peace and order and is situated away from the problematic areas in the south west of the country. In addition, the municipal government has assured us that volunteer safety would be their paramount concern. How many volunteers are there on site at the same time? This depends on how many people volunteer at any one time. Currently, we can accommodate 20 volunteers per month. Generally you are placed with several other people in the local village unless you choose to be isolated. What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own? What resources are available for teaching when I'm volunteering? Do I need to bring my own? The Philippine government's continuing fiscal crisis has hit public schools hard, they experience gross shortages in equipment, number of classrooms and teachers. We advise volunteers to bring their own teaching resources. If you have resources that you think may be appropriate discuss this with our partner via email to see if you should bring them. Most likely anything you have will be of help as there will be limited resources. Can you tell me more about your partner in the Philippines? Our partner in the Philippines is a newly established non-government organization duly registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission - registration is still in progress. Our partner is composed of youthful national leaders, professionals and volunteers here and abroad. Their objective is to assist and develop local Filipino communities through environmentalism, education, integration, research and volunteerism. This is achieved through the establishment of programs and projects nationwide assisting local communities with its basic needs that benefit the most number of its people - not the least of whom are its children and its poor - and the environment. What is the course content of the training? Training takes place in two stages. The first stage is held when volunteers arrive in Manila and provides a general introduction to Filipino language and a cultural orientation. The second stage of training takes place at volunteer placement areas and is a more comprehensive introduction to the regional language (the Philippines has 79 tongues), local customs and practical advice to prepare you for living in the Philippines. Can family accompany me to the program? You may take family members with you on the program if you are taking part in the Homestay program. Older children who are more independent will be considered on a case by case basis if you are thinking of taking part in an alternative program. Partners will also need to apply if they wish to take part in the program. Who organizes my visa for my volunteer placement? You will, if you require one. Most foreign nationals can enter the Philippines without an entry visa for a stay not exceeding 21 days. However if you need to stay longer, you can apply for a Foreign Tourist Visa valid for 2 months, which can be extended to a maximum period of one year. What is the criterion for volunteers to be accepted into the program? Each applicant is considered by the information they provide on the application. If further information is required applicants will be emailed to request this. Please refer to the program requirements listed on the program page which outlines the minimum expectations of what is required for volunteering in this specific program. We also look further at your application as to skills and experience specifically related to the program you have applied to. We look at volunteer experiences, travel experience and also your particular interest in the program to make our decision. Are there any times of the year that I cannot volunteer? No, you can volunteer at any time of the year. Philippine weather is consistently warm all year round, a nice alternative to freezing cold winters. It may be rainy during the months of July to October. How do I pay my program fee? You will be provided with the information to organize payment once your application fee has been received. ------ Question not covered here? Please check the generic FAQ, and if still unanswered, please submit your question here. (We aim to answer all email within 48 hours). Click here to apply for the Philippines program. |
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Feature Fundraiser: Climb to Everest Base CampOur second feature fundraiser is planned for October 2005, when volunteers will have the opportunity to raise money for the Nepali Children's Fund. As a participant of this fundraising trek to The Base Camp of Mount Everest you will have the opportunity to visit ancient temples and palaces in Kathmandu. more >> |
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