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Q: What exactly are you doing?
A: I am joining a U.S. organization called Global
Crossroad which offers volunteer internships around the world as well
as paid teaching placements. Because of their expertise in coordinating
volunteer efforts, they have put together a tsunami relief and reconstruction
project for the affected areas in Sri Lanka. I will join them in
Sri Lanka for two weeks from April 1- April 14 and build whatever project
needs to be completed during that time for my assigned area.
Q: How did you find out about this effort?
A: This article
from USA Today on 1/21/2005.
Q: How are you able to take Two Weeks Off?
A: I work from home and have a laptop which allows me to work remotely
if I need to, but taking off a few weeks isn't generally a problem.
Q: How can I help?
A: Read about the program at GlobalCrossroad.com
and decide if you are able to personally volunteer. If so, send
me a message through my Contact page after
you've already registered with their site or if you have any questions
for me. There is an immediate deposit of $200 required with your
online application with the balance to be paid upon placement. If
you are unable to volunteer but would still like to help with this effort
monetarily then please read my donation page
to learn how the funds are spent on our tsunami reconstruction project.
Q: What if I'd like to be a volunteer in Sri Lanka, but
just to distribute aid or get involved with general cleanup?
A: There is another program with Global Crossroad called "The
Tsunami Relief Volunteer Program". It primarily involves
cleaning devastated areas, the distribution of aid, and the building of
temporary shelters. They do not develop any reconstruction project.
It's fee is only $599 due to not needing the additional $400 donation
for construction materials.
Q: What will you be reconstructing?
A: I do not know at this time. I have yet to be placed with
a specific project but I will update this site as soon as I am notified.
Q: When do you leave?
A: My project dates are April 1-April 14 but I am required to be
there a day or two prior to April 1st. The flight to Sri Lanka will
take nearly 2 days so I will be leaving around Easter on March 27th. I
have not yet bought my airline tickets so my exact dates aren't known.
I'll need more project information myself before deciding on my exact
flight dates.
Q: Why not sooner than April 1st?
A: There are several precautions that require some time to get in
order. Immunizations against Hepatitis A, polio, and typhoid, starting
an anti-malarial medication, and for me personally I need to renew my
passport which only gets more expensive the faster you need it. Standard
price is $55 for a 6-week turnaround. I'm going with the 2-week
$115 option just to be safe. Plus, the Global Crossroad projects
have been already filled well into March and each project either starts
at the beginning or middle of the month.
Q: Who will you be working with?
A: We will be staying and working in groups of 10-15 volunteers,
who I'm assuming are from America, plus our in-country project leader
and the community residents.
Q: Where will you stay?
A: I don't know where our April 1st group will be yet, but the housing
for the current project is something like a motel room. There is
running water and 220V power, but no hot water. We could stay in
a similar place or be housed with local residents.