THE BASE

Base is where you will live, eat and play during your time on program! It is communal living at its finest. Some call it rustic, others call it home. Base is usually co-ed bunk style dorm rooms with assorted common areas for eating and relaxing.

ACCOMODATIONS & FACILITIES

An example of a bunk room from a previous program

Sleeping Arrangements: We offer free accommodation for all residential volunteers. We offer volunteers bunk beds in mixed dormitory rooms. Bunk beds will not have any bedding or mattresses provided, so you must bring your own air mattress, a sleeping bag or blanket, and a pillow.

The village where our base is located is very small, so the option of purchasing sleeping items locally would be in bigger cities such as Manila and Cebu.

Bathroom Facilities: Western-style toilets are available on the base. We also have regular showers in the bathrooms, however, only with cold water.

We don’t provide separate bathroom facilities for women and men.

An example of a kitchen from a previous program

Kitchen facilities: The kitchen at our base will be equipped with basic cooking equipment such as pots, frying pans, basic utensils, cutlery, plates, cups, glasses, etc. It will be available for you to use in the morning so that you can prepare your breakfast. You can also use it on your days off and in the evening if you wish to prepare your own dinner instead of the one provided. Please note that during working days, the kitchen will be occupied by local cooks who will be preparing lunch and dinner, so you will have limited or no access to the kitchen throughout the day.

We do not have a communal fridge so you shouldn't anticipate bringing items needing to be stored at a low temperature.

Communal space: We will have a dedicated common space at the base where you will be able to spend time with other volunteers, attend daily meetings, eat your meals, and participate in events. Please feel free to bring along some board games, footballs, volleyballs, or any other kind of entertainment. We encourage you to consider bringing indoor activities for those times when we need to stay inside.

We will have a designated smoking area. Please note that smoking or vaping outside of these designated areas is not allowed.

Laundry: We will provide a clean work shirt for each day, however, personal laundry can be hand-washed.

ELECTRICITY AND INTERNET

WiFi won’t be available on our base, therefore, we recommend purchasing a local SIM card to get data coverage. A local SIM card with a data package can be purchased on arrival in the country. There are several SIM card providers in the country, but Globe provides the best coverage in our local area. Here you can read an extensive guide to getting a SIM card in the Philippines. Please make sure your phone is unlocked; otherwise, the local SIM card will not work on your phone.

In the Philippines, the power sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 220V, and the standard frequency is 60Hz. We have occasional power outages. If necessary, please ensure you purchase a power adapter to charge your electrical items. Power outlets are limited, and we currently have 2 or 3 sockets per room. Solar chargers and power banks are ideal.

FOOD

We provide three meals a day, six days per week - on each working day. There will be no meals provided on your day off. Although the menu can vary depending on the availability of products in the local area, the typical meals at the AHAH base are the following:

Breakfast: Oats, Peanut Butter, Jam, Bread, Eggs, Fruits, Tea and Instant Coffee. Products will be available for you, but you will be responsible for preparing your own breakfast before going to the worksite.
Lunch: Local Filipino food with vegetarian options available for volunteers who request it. Rice is usually served with every meal in the Philippines. Some of the most popular Filipino dishes that you can expect to have frequently are pancit, chicken adobo, sinigang, kare kare, bulalo, lumpia, sisig, torta. Most of those are originally prepared with meat but can be adjusted to be vegetarian.
Dinner: Local Filipino food. In the Philippines, there is little distinction between the lunch and dinner menu. We will try to provide a different menu throughout the day, but generally, please expect similar types of dishes to be served for lunch and dinner.

Vegetarian diets can be accommodated, but vegans, celiacs, and other dietary requirements will have to supplement what we can provide with items they bring or source and purchase themselves.

VEGETARIANS! Please note that if you are eating out, most of the items listed in the veggie section include meat. Always ask if the food contains meat or inform your waiter that you are vegetarian.

You will be able to use the kitchen whenever local staff are not cooking meals for the base.

In the area where we live, you can find small shops, locally known as sari-sari stores, that sell basic snacks, drinks, and fruits. Local eateries can also be found selling home-cooked Filipino meals.

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