We have answered some of the most common questions here, but if you don't find the information you need below then please use the form to send us your feedback!
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We match individual Volunteers with opportunities to use their skills in projects run by local communities. We don’t send groups, we don’t run our own projects overseas and we’re not a holiday company. You get the benefit of our experience, information, training and support, but we don’t ‘babysit’ you – YOU do the work, YOU make the difference and YOU get the experience and skills to show for it.
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You do need some relvant personal or professional experience. You will be matched with an opportunity suitable for your current skill set. You will be able to use and develop the skills you already have and you will be gaining additional great experience at the same time. Click here to search for a CWW Opportunity.
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Talk to us!
We often have other opportunities that we can develop if you have the right skills so we might be able to tailormake a Placement just for you. Call us on 0845 2000 342.
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Usually with a local family, so you’ll soon get to know people and understand more about the culture. There are exceptions though – you could be living in an apartment, a fire station or the police barracks for some Placements!
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You’ll have a Placement Leader in the organisation you’re working with – usually a local person, or at least someone who’s lived there for many years and can offer advice and support on both work and cultural issues. You will be in 24 hour telephone and email contact with your Operations Manager at CWW too. Additionally we encourage all Volunteers to have UK based mentors in place prior to their placement departure.
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All our Placements are for individuals. There might be other CWW Volunteers in the same organisation or the same location, however they will probably be doing different tasks.
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Yes, you can, if you both have skills which match the host organisation’s needs. Or you could both live in the same place, but volunteer with different organisations. Talk to us and we’ll try to match you with suitable opportunities.
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Yes. Your Placement might be with a charity, a government ministry, a community organisation or a cooperative, for example, but all of them are locally run and you’ll be working with local people. You’ll also be living in the local community.
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For a three month Placement, you’ll contribute £2,500. You’ll need to come to Edinburgh for your training. You’ll also need to pay for your flights. Click here for more information about the cost of participation.
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Many Volunteers have organised fundraising events, successfully applied for grants or sponsorship or received support from their employers. We’ll send you tips on fundraising and support you where we can. Take a look at how a recent volunteer Mark Ware did it by reading about his success in the CWW News pages.
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Part of your contribution is sent overseas to cover your food and accommodation while you’re on your Placement. Part is used to cover your training and preparation prior to your departure, the work done to set up your individual placement, ongoing support from CWW as well as debrief and CV session on your return. The rest goes towards our running costs in finding opportunities and recruiting, training and supporting all those we work with.
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Yes, for most destinations. You’ll know in advance and we’ll make separate arrangements if you’re travelling before your Placement. Delays often happen in developing countries, so you may need to be patient.
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Of course you can. You’ll need to make your own arrangements for insurance and accommodation, etc.
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Not with CWW – in our experience, you need at least this long to settle in and still have time to make a useful contribution, so our Placements are for 3-6 months. (Trust us, the time will fly by!)
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At least 3 months. This is based on our long experience and is for your own benefit. Applying anywhere from five to ten months before you want to depart is best. There is no point applying more than about a year in advance – both you and the host organisations will change over the course of such a long time period.
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No, we recruit continuously. Every Placement is unique, just as you are, so we’ll find the best match available for you and your skills and interests at the time you apply. Many of our opportunities are 'one-offs', so if you see what looks like a perfect match for you, contact us quickly.
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We can work with Volunteers aged 20-64. It is possible to place Volunteers older than 64, but the CWW insurance policy will not apply.
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Things are unlikely to run smoothly in a developing country! That’s all part of the challenge and is why a Placement is such an opportunity for personal and career development. Your Placement is what you make it. With the approaches you’ll learn on your training course, you’ll identify and overcome obstacles such as delays, limited resources and other frustrations. Your Placement Leader will be able to support you when you offer constructive solutions.
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Have a good look round the website, search the CWW Placement Database, then email your CV with a covering letter to apply@challengesworldwide.com, telling us which Placement(s) you’re interested in and why.
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