Is Irish
Yes

Non Profit
Yes

Organisation Type
Short-term/Intercultural

Age Requirements
Minimum age requirement is 18 years

Language Requirements
No. Programmes in Spanish-, Portuguese-and French-speaking countries include a language course in preparation for the volunteer placement

Disability Access
Depends on project; further details available from organisation

Education Requirement
No, except for some health projects

Other Requirements
Volunteers should be independent-minded travellers, with the flexibility, initiative and maturity needed to volunteer in a developing country

Application Procedure
Completed application form with two referees, CV, 2 passport sized photos and deposit of Euro 250. This is followed be a telephone or face-to-face interview. Application forms available from the EIL office or website. Police checks may be necessary in certain cases.

Cost
Yes. Programme fees start from €785. Volunteers also cover travel costs. EIL also offer a number of fully and partially funded travel awards on an annual basis. Please see website for updates.

Benefits
Volunteering with EIL gives participants an opportunity to immerse themselves in a local community setting. Through our experienced overseas partners we identify meaningful, sustainable projects that create an environment where Volunteers learn about local customs and practices. EIL’s Volunteer Abroad programme is underpinned by a global justice perspective and supports Volunteers to tell the story of the communities they meet while they are away, and when they get home. Ongoing engagement with the EIL network in Ireland allows participants to reflect on development issues with people from a diverse range of backgrounds who have had a similar international experience and want to continue to make a difference to the global context.

Code Of Practice
Yes; subscribes to the agreed standards of Federation EIL. Also signatories to the Comhlamh Code of Good Practice

Volunteer Charter
We ask volunteers to sign up to Comhlamh’s volunteer charter.

In Country Support
Yes, 24 hour X 7 days per week local support separate from host project

Pre Programme Training
EIL’s comprehensive pre departure workshop includes information on your health and safety, cultural adaptation, how to respectfully capture and share images and messages, and a host of activities to prepare you for the challenges you will face. At each of our workshops previous returned volunteers share their knowledge and experience and are on hand to answer questions.

Post-Programme Debriefing
On return to Ireland you will receive a one-to-one telephone debriefing as well as having the opportunity to participate in our annual debriefing day. This gives volunteers a chance to share their experience with others, draw comparisons and recognise differences in global realities in different countries. This day marks the beginning of the journey for volunteers to plan how they can use their experience to make a difference.

Contact with Returned Volunteers
Yes

Location
Africa
Asia
Latin America

Countries
Africa (Morocco, Ghana, South Africa), Asia (India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, China), Turkey, Latin America (Argentina, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico)

Activities
Community development, conservation and environment, education and working with children, health and medical care, human rights, women’s rights, animal conservation.

Duration
3 weeks to 1 year