Projects
Projects
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-->Here are three fictional volunteer projects where African volunteers travel to the Europe to assist marginalized communities. As you read through each project, think critically about the following:
What assumptions does this narrative challenge about who can volunteer, and who needs help?
How does the "Global South helping the Global North" dynamic shift traditional volunteer roles, especially with regard to race and privilege?
Does this type of volunteerism perpetuate or challenge ideas of the “savior complex”?
Our projects are designed to reflect the needs and local challenges of communities in your chosen destination.
Whatever your interests are, our diverse initiatives will provide meaningful ways to use your skills in creating a lasting impact. Explore and read about our carefully selected projects across Europe.
Mentorship
Mentorship
Volunteer to mentor young people in a low-income areas. Many of these young people come from backgrounds of hardship, and they face significant challenges such as unemployment, educational inequality, and lack of access to resources. Your role would be to provide mentorship, academic tutoring, and life skills development.
Recommended programme
Mentoring Youth in Deprived Urban Areas of the UK
Key Details:
Duration: 2-4 weeks
Costs: $1,500 (includes accommodation, food, and travel)
Focus: Mentoring at-risk youth and providing career development resources
Accommodation: Stay in shared housing provided by the volunteer organization
**Reflection Questions:
What power dynamics do you think could arise in this type of program?
How might your identity as an African volunteer influence your relationship with the local community?
Does this type of volunteer work reinforce or challenge Western perceptions of African expertise and agency?
Social Services
Social Services
Volunteer with a local NGO providing outreach services to homeless individuals in northern Spain, where homelessness rates have been rising despite the country’s overall wealth. Your tasks would include assisting with shelters, food distribution, and providing emotional support to those struggling with poverty and housing insecurity.
Recommended programme
Homeless Outreach and Social Services in Spain
Key Details:
Duration: 3-6 weeks
Costs: $2,000 (includes accommodation, travel, and support materials)
Focus: Offering practical support to homeless individuals and connecting them to social services
Accommodation: Shared accommodation in a volunteer housing facility
**Reflection Questions:
When African volunteers are sent to support issues like homelessness in a wealthier country like Spain, how does it complicate or challenge the traditional narrative of volunteerism being about "the Global South" receiving aid from the Global North?
How does race and national identity play into these dynamics?
Refugee Support
Refugee Support
Volunteer with an advocacy group in Athens, assisting refugees and asylum seekers who have recently arrived from neighbouring Italy. Many of these individuals come from conflict zones and face challenges navigating the Greece’s asylum process, finding employment, and integrating into the local community. As a volunteer, you’ll offer practical support, legal aid referrals, and social services guidance.
Recommended programme
Refugee Support and Advocacy in Greece
Key Details:
Duration: 4-8 weeks
Costs: $2,200 (includes accommodation, travel, and legal support materials)
Focus: Assisting refugees with settlement and legal support in Greece
Accommodation: Stay in a volunteer house or with local host families
**Reflection Questions:
Do you think African volunteers have a unique position when it comes to supporting other marginalized communities, such as refugees, in a place like Greece?
How does volunteering in Greece where many volunteer programs are typically led by Western organizations, impact the volunteer’s sense of agency and purpose?
***Exercise
Reflect on the Global Dynamics of Volunteering
The idea of African volunteers going to Europe to "help" marginalized communities raises several important ethical questions:
Who needs help? The Global South has long been positioned as the "recipient" of aid from wealthier nations. Does volunteering in the UK challenge that narrative, or does it simply reinforce the idea that people from the Global South are still in a position to "help" others—regardless of the relative wealth of the country they are volunteering in?
How does race and privilege play into this? African volunteers may have different experiences and perceptions compared to Western volunteers. Do they face different expectations or challenges when they arrive in Europe, especially when working with marginalized communities?
What impact does this have on local communities? Are African volunteers helping marginalized communities in a meaningful way, or are they reinforcing the idea that those in the Global North are still "in need" despite their economic status?
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