...Volunteers Club!
Volunteers and visitors are always welcome. Volunteers are asked to stay for at least four weeks but no longer than three months.
You may be asked to help with the babies, work in the office or outside in the grounds on maintenance work or in Harrogate House with the older children in the nursery school. The workload in the Home alters from day to day therefore volunteers will be asked to work where there is the greatest need. Unless otherwise instructed volunteers are not allowed to bath or change the babies. Don’t worry they still need to be dressed, fed and played with.
If you have any special qualifications or knowledge please state this on your application form. Volunteers with, for example, nursing or medical qualifications may be asked to help with diagnosing and treatment of sick babies or helping with the outreach programme. Please enclose proof of any qualifications.
Volunteer accommodation
There is volunteer accommodation at the Home. The cost is US$5 per night. This payment goes towards the running costs of Open Arms Infants Home. All volunteers ordinarily stay in the accommodation. It consists of two bedrooms with two beds in each – a kitchen, bathroom and lounge room. Most volunteers manage to survive on about US$15 per day for food/entertainment and travel. Recently internet access has become available in the volunteer house.
Volunteer’s leisure time
Whenever you are within the grounds of Open Arms, you will be looked after but you are expected to be mature enough to take care of yourself when you leave the Home. It is suggested that you read up on Malawi prior to arrival and it is important that you have an understanding of how the AIDS virus is transmitted. A good introduction to Malawi can be gained from other people’s accounts and stories. It is also recommended that you read and carry with you ‘The Lonely Planet’ guide to Malawi.
Travelling to Malawi
You must organise your own flights. You can fly into Lilongwe and travel to Blantyre by bus or plane but this may necessitate a night in Lilongwe. If you fly into Blantyre every effort will be made to pick you up from the airport. South African Airlines fly to Blantyre from Johannesburg every Wednesday and Saturday. It is much better for you and us if your flight terminates in Blantyre.
You can get cheaper flights using the Internet. If applicable make sure you sort out your visa requirements with the Malawian Embassy before you leave.
Vaccinations and insurance
Ask your doctor about vaccinations. It can vary but you must take a malarial prophylaxis and be sure your tetanus is up to date. Information on bilharzia and water born diseases should be studied.
Acceptance as a volunteer is conditional on you taking out travel insurance with medical cover for your trip. We have so far had no serious injuries but should the worst happen you could need medical evacuation from Malawi resulting in a cost of circa US$25000. We must emphasize that Open Arms Infant Home, as a charity, cannot bear the risk of these costs for our visitors.
What next?
Applications for volunteers can be sent to you electronically after we have received your initial letter of interest to openarms@africa-online.net
Open Arms has benefited over the last seven years from a constant supply of young and older people who have worked as volunteers with us. The experiences are rich and varied. Few people would say it didn’t change the way they thought about things. We look forward to having you stay with us.
Demand for places is high so plan early and give firm dates as soon as you possibly can.
You may be asked to help with the babies, work in the office or outside in the grounds on maintenance work or in Harrogate House with the older children in the nursery school. The workload in the Home alters from day to day therefore volunteers will be asked to work where there is the greatest need. Unless otherwise instructed volunteers are not allowed to bath or change the babies. Don’t worry they still need to be dressed, fed and played with.
If you have any special qualifications or knowledge please state this on your application form. Volunteers with, for example, nursing or medical qualifications may be asked to help with diagnosing and treatment of sick babies or helping with the outreach programme. Please enclose proof of any qualifications.
Volunteer accommodation
There is volunteer accommodation at the Home. The cost is US$5 per night. This payment goes towards the running costs of Open Arms Infants Home. All volunteers ordinarily stay in the accommodation. It consists of two bedrooms with two beds in each – a kitchen, bathroom and lounge room. Most volunteers manage to survive on about US$15 per day for food/entertainment and travel. Recently internet access has become available in the volunteer house.
Volunteer’s leisure time
Whenever you are within the grounds of Open Arms, you will be looked after but you are expected to be mature enough to take care of yourself when you leave the Home. It is suggested that you read up on Malawi prior to arrival and it is important that you have an understanding of how the AIDS virus is transmitted. A good introduction to Malawi can be gained from other people’s accounts and stories. It is also recommended that you read and carry with you ‘The Lonely Planet’ guide to Malawi.
Travelling to Malawi
You must organise your own flights. You can fly into Lilongwe and travel to Blantyre by bus or plane but this may necessitate a night in Lilongwe. If you fly into Blantyre every effort will be made to pick you up from the airport. South African Airlines fly to Blantyre from Johannesburg every Wednesday and Saturday. It is much better for you and us if your flight terminates in Blantyre.
You can get cheaper flights using the Internet. If applicable make sure you sort out your visa requirements with the Malawian Embassy before you leave.
Vaccinations and insurance
Ask your doctor about vaccinations. It can vary but you must take a malarial prophylaxis and be sure your tetanus is up to date. Information on bilharzia and water born diseases should be studied.
Acceptance as a volunteer is conditional on you taking out travel insurance with medical cover for your trip. We have so far had no serious injuries but should the worst happen you could need medical evacuation from Malawi resulting in a cost of circa US$25000. We must emphasize that Open Arms Infant Home, as a charity, cannot bear the risk of these costs for our visitors.
What next?
Applications for volunteers can be sent to you electronically after we have received your initial letter of interest to openarms@africa-online.net
Open Arms has benefited over the last seven years from a constant supply of young and older people who have worked as volunteers with us. The experiences are rich and varied. Few people would say it didn’t change the way they thought about things. We look forward to having you stay with us.
Demand for places is high so plan early and give firm dates as soon as you possibly can.
