Volunteering

HELP Jamaica e.V. is a German non-profit organization with its headquarter in Berlin. The organization is run by a group of individuals with different backgrounds and qualifications who dedicate their energy and free time to this project. HELP Jamaica! does not receive any funding from governmental or religious institutions. Therefore, the organization depends on donations to maintain its Education Center in Cassava Piece, Kingston, Jamaica.

In addition to our resident staff we have local and international interns and volunteers who work in the center on a regular basis. If you would like to volunteer in our Education Center in Jamaica, please read the following section carefully and follow the given instructions:

Generally, volunteers are more than welcome to assist in the Cassava Piece Education Center. Throughout the year we receive many applications but we are only able to accept 4-6 international volunteers each year, so please understand that we unfortunately need to decline some applications.

Your main tasks in the center will be taking care of the children in the center. Help them with their homework, practice reading and writing, play with them outside and assist with different creativity projects. After consultations with our professional staff, our volunteers often get the chance to carry out their own ideas while working in the center (e.g. you can give classes on topics you are familiar with or organize specific activities and bring in your particular skills and experience).

HELP Jamaica! e.V. is a non-government and non-profit organization. All members in Germany work on a voluntary basis. The internship at the HELP Jamaica Education Center will be unpaid as well. Unfortunately, HELP Jamaica! does not have funding to support volunteers financially. We are not able to sponsor any costs for flights, accommodation or any other expenses.

As a volunteer you can get help finding an accommodation in the community which will be at low cost and close to the center. We would recommend our volunteers to live in Cassava Piece during their stay. Though living in Cassava Piece has certain inconveniences such as noise or no tap water at nighttime, it allows you to integrate in the community easily and to get a broad overview on its community life. Up to now staying in the community has been a positive experience for most of the volunteers we had in the past. If you wish to stay in a place which offers more comforts outside of Cassava Piece you would have to look for a place to stay on your own.

In Jamaica, volunteers be supervised by the local staff. Additionally, they stay in touch with members from the German organization who further assist of problems. The local Assistants from Cassava Piece will help you to find your way around in the community. Volunteers should know the work of HELP Jamaica e.V. in Germany before coming to Jamaica and ideally have been involved in fundraising activities or support the organization here. This is to ensure that every volunteer is familiar with the project itself as well as the aim and goals of the organization. Once you are accepted, you will receive a detailed briefing to prepare yourself for the stay in Jamaica.

Keep in mind that although Jamaica is a beautiful place, it is a developing country with various serious problems in its society (poverty, violence, crime etc.). Volunteers travel and stay in Jamaica on their own risk. They should have respect for the local conditions and must not move around carelessly. As a volunteer you can always ask for advice but you should keep in mind that HELP Jamaica! cannot provide full-time mentoring. The Cassava Piece Education Center Project is rooted in a depressed inner city area with many problems and you should be prepared to witness some effects of these problems directly.

Working in the Cassava Piece Education Center and becoming a part of the community is an exciting and enriching experience that surely will contribute to your personal development. Every volunteer receives a letter of reference/internship certificate.

Checklist of Basic Requirements:
For the ideal volunteer/intern the desirable skills and requirements are:

- You should not be younger than 23 years
- Fluent English (ideal knowledge of Jamaican Patois)
- Experienced in working and/or living in a developing country or inner city community
- Experienced in working with young children and/or teenagers
- Knowledge about Jamaican culture
- Applicants should be self-motivated and able to work independently as well as in a team.
- Previous visits to Jamaica are a definite plus

Each applicant should send us a resume with your previous working experience and qualifications and write a motivation letter stating why he/she wants to work in the Cassava Piece Education Center and please do not forget to specify the time you want to do your internship.

send your e-mail to: volunteer@helpjamaica.org

We are sorry if these requirements do not suit your personal qualifications and expiration. However, there are many ways to support HELP Jamaica! You can donate via bank transfer or PayPal, you can become a sustaining member and help us with your monthly donation and you can get in touch with us to find out how you can get involved in our activities here in Germany.

Thank you for your interest to support us!