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Honest, worthwhile places to volunteer? |
 Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 5:17 pm |
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| I'm planning on volunteering this summer, so I still have time, but as of now I'm completely lost. Can anyone recommend some places that are honest and really do need my time and effort? I dont want to be any organization's profit, unless thats used to better serve the animals Im helping. It just seems like theres too many companies exploiting animals "problems" only for personal gain.
The ideal place would be South America. Any help would be appreciated Thanks, Julieanne |
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| Back to top | Location: United States | 1 Posts |
| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 11:49 am |
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| I volunteered at Santa Martha rescue in tambillo ecuador which was amazing and the best experience ever. I would thoroughly recommend it | |
| Back to top | Location: England | 905 Posts |
| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:51 pm |
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| Have you heard of the Inti Wara Yassi animal sanctuaries in Bolivia?
www.intiwarayassi.org I don't know of a more hands on animal project anywhere in the world. You can go as an independent volunteer directly with them (look on their website for details).The cost is much higher to go with Quest because we ask for a pretty substantial donation to go directly to the parks, but then again it's these donations which have helped keep the place alive for the past 8 years. Either way, it's an incredible experience. |
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| Back to top | Location: United Kingdom | 36 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:25 am |
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| There's been lots of controversy about Santa Martha recently, check out the posts and the facebook page before you decide if you want to go or not (I've not been yet)
Inti Warra Yassi is wher eI'm heading now (again not been yet, but I know people who have and loved it) |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 177 Posts |
| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:50 pm |
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| .
Agree with Charli and about http://www.intiwarayassi.org I would also suggest http://www.merazonia.org (Ecuador) which I have heard good things about recently. Both these organisations charge USD ~250 per month. My advice would be to learn some Spanish (assuming you have not done so already), and book an open-jaw flight e.g. into Quito, out from La Paz, this will give you flexibility, spend your summer volunteering and travelling. Sign-up at your chosen volunteer program for the minimum time (e.g. 2 weeks), you can then extend your stay if you are happy there, or you can do some travelling or even move to another volunteer program. HTH Steve . |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 58 Posts |
| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:23 pm |
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| Yes there has been alot of controversy re Santa Martha however i have been there and thought it was fantastic.
They need people to volunteer there otherwise the places will close down and no one wants that really |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 905 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:50 am |
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| Inti Wara Yassi looks amazing! Its very refreshing to see an honest volunteer project i don't immediately have to hand over 2k for! Shame i'm heading to Oz, but i'm putting this place on my list! | |
| Back to top | Location: Australia | 555 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:26 am |
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| Not looking to get into another row over this, but I stand by what I said in my PM, Julieanne. If you go to Santa Martha you will no doubt have a great time, and probably won't see anything 'wrong'. But you have to ask if you're OK with the fact that your money isn't all ending up where you're told it is.
I've heard good things about Inti Wara Yassi, but I've not been myself so I can't give you too much information. |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 5537 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:15 pm |
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| I don't know enough to get in to a row about it to be honest but i do know some of the people that are running the new centres ie not the one in Tambillo and know that they wouldnt be there if they wernt being run in the right way.
Also no matter what is said they do a good job they feed and look after many animals which would otherwise probably die and if people stop going to these centres they will close. Then what will happen? I cant honestly see new places springing up to take over the job they are doing, in which case more animals will die or be trafficked in the illegal pet trade. |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 905 Posts |
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 9:23 am |
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I don't know enough to get in to a row about it to be honest but i do know some of the people that are running the new centres ie not the one in Tambillo and know that they wouldnt be there if they wernt being run in the right way.
Also no matter what is said they do a good job they feed and look after many animals which would otherwise probably die and if people stop going to these centres they will close. Then what will happen? I cant honestly see new places springing up to take over the job they are doing, in which case more animals will die or be trafficked in the illegal pet trade. Not getting into it again. But there are lots of other rescue centres in Ecuador... some of them are even actually official charitable organisations. |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 5537 Posts |
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:28 pm |
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| Which im sure cost alot more money to volunteer at.
I think we just have a difference of opinion you choose to believe one thing and i choose to believe another. I still whole heartedly believe its still a worthwile organisation, its a shame you don't anymore but you are intitled to your opinion |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 905 Posts |
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:34 pm |
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| The costs aren't vastly different, particularly now SM have raised their prices.
I just found it odd that Brenda came onto this site explaining that they were millionaires, and yet when I was there Jonny was always claiming poverty, and that the centre will have to close. But like you say, different strokes for different folks and all that. |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 5537 Posts |
| Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:35 pm |
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| Im not sure they are quite millionaires, maybe in comparison to many other ecuadorians but they are certainly very wealthy.
There were never any claims of poverty quite the opposite in fact while i was there, and definately no mention of the centre closing due to lack of money. |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 905 Posts |
| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:16 am |
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| This is an extract from Brenda's (the owner of the centre) reply to the (now locked) thread about this:
"Para quienes no sepan, MI FAMILIA Y YO SOMOS EMPRESARIOS MILLONARIOS EN ECUADOR,que no necesitan cartas , ni robar, ni mentir ni engaņar, ni seducir a damas que se creen "bellas" como dicen unos pocos losers en Facebook. " Roughly translated: 'For those who don't know, my family are millionaire entrepreneurs in Ecuador, who don't need to steal, lie or deceive, or seduce ladies they think are 'beautiful' as say some losers on Facebook.' My question, then, was why did we sometimes have to wait days for food to be delivered when I was there, because there was 'no money' in the budget. Still, as I've said, I'm not arguing about this again. i've just about gotten over my rage from last time, and I could do without dragging it all up again. If anyone wants me to explain my views further, I'll do so via PM. I'm out of this thread, though. |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 5537 Posts |
| Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:32 pm |
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| Well i guess things have changed a bit since you were at the centre then, i think you were there a year or so before me and we never waited days for food to be delivered. it was there every week on the same day without fail and there was never any mention of not enough money.
As i said before you are entitled to believe who you want to believe, all the information with regards to the whole situation is from second hand sources so nobody will ever know the truth other than the people who run the centre. You choose to believe one thing and i believe another, you believe someone you know and worked with i believe someone who i know and worked with, there is always going to be a difference of opinion but i believe the centre is run well animals are reccued fed and looked after and in many cases nursed back to health and released. Which i think is the whole point of a rescue centre and going round telling people not to go because of things that may or may not be true is only going to hurt the animals being rescued |
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| Back to top | Location: England | 905 Posts |
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