About the Program
Our organization ensures that all projects address real needs and that the communities in which we operate benefit. There are many social situations that affect the elderly in Jamaica.This includes, but is not limited to, abandonment, neglect, abuse, and general lack of care. Different organizations that seek to help in addressing these issues need extra support staff to carry out their daily activities.
As a volunteer your work will cater to the needs of the elderly. There are homes for the elderly which are operated by the government and are in need of volunteers. These individuals are unable to take care of themselves or have been neglected by their family and friends. Your role as a volunteer is to assist with their daily care and coordinate activities that will stimulate them mentally and physically. Your tasks include feeding, playing games, reading to them, having conversations about different topics, grooming and taking them for walks.
Volunteering on the elderly care project allows you to make a real difference. If you are a student or have experience in social work, psychology, sociology, geriatrics or any related field, then this is the project for you. You can work with the elderly who have been neglected and abused emotionally, psychologically, verbally and physically or those who just don't have anyone to take care of them.
Volunteers will also be involved in monthly outreach activities providing services and support to the elderly in need.
The
Location
The project is located at a government run facility in Manchester -Jamaica, 10-15 minutes away from the town centre. This facility needs additional human and physical resources.
Safety and Support
Traveling in and around the Caribbean is safe, but like anywhere in the world, there are just some basic travel and safety tips you should follow.
Your safety is our number one priority. We ensure that programmes, projects, accommodations and communities are safe for our volunteers to work and live by conducting risk assessments and preparing risk management and safety plans. We provide a detailed orientation the day after arrival which includes the necessary safety tips. Background and reference checks of staff, host families and volunteers are completed. We have first aid qualified staff and proper emergency response planning.
As a responsible provider of volunteer placement opportunities, we ensure that we provide information and support about safety and security to our volunteers. With our risk management and safety plans across programmes and countries, we take a comprehensive approach and provide volunteers with the relevant knowledge needed for them to keep safe, secure and healthy while volunteering on our programmes.
Before leaving home our staff will provide safety tips and information to volunteers. On arrival there is a comprehensive one day orientation that further helps to prepare volunteers for their experience. It covers a wide range of topics that allows the volunteer to understand the local culture, programme objectives, expectations, health and safety and other key elements. All host families and programme partners are required to adhere to the risk management and safety plans. The plan guides the identification, assessment, analysis, mitigation of all risks associated with each programme and procedure of our organization.
Our team is available 24-hours each day to provide support to volunteers if the need arises.
Travel Tips
Volunteers will travel by taxi to and from their projects. On orientation day a staff member will travel with you on a taxi and show you the route and how to find your taxi area. While traveling around we advise that you take only the registered taxis which are clearly marked. We also recommend that you:
- Never travel with your passport as this is not necessary, leave it at your host family
- Do not walk around late at nights
- If you are out at nights call a taxi to pick you up from your location (we will provide numbers for taxis you can use)
- Do not walk around and always show your phone, laptops or ipads/tablet
Typical day
- 08:30am - 09:30am - Assist in bathing residents and feeding them
- 09:30am - 10:30am - Grooming
- 10:30am - 12:00pm - Stimulation, meal preparation, laundry, cleaning, physical therapy
- 12:00pm - 02:00pm - Assist with feeding residents, kitchen duties, physical therapy
This working schedule is only a draft and can be changed.Volunteers will also be involved in monthly outreach activities providing services and support to elderly in need.
Details on Arrival
Volunteers can join this program anytime during the year.
Free-time activities
Music
Snorkling
Program Requirements
Included Services
Before your journey
On-site services
- Accommodation
- Breakfast and dinner
- Transportation to and from the airport
- Transport to project Mondays to Fridays
- Cultural Events
- Workshops
- 24-hour support
- Resources to project (as necessary)
- Quarterly donation an organization in need
- Volunteer t-shirt
- Souvenir
Two weeks before arrival the volunteer will receive by email the name and picture of the driver who will be picking them up at the airport. The driver will have a sign and special instructions will be in email sent. The volunteer will be picked up after exiting the airport, just outside the arrival area. The volunteer can arrive either at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston or the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. The travel time from Kingston is 2 hours and from Montego Bay 3 hours.
Staying with a Caribbean family allows you to experience the true hospitality and warmth of islanders. Think about how nice it will be to live with a Caribbean family, eat home cooked meals, listen to the accents and become a part of the family and the community. This will be a priceless part of the experience; authentic cultural immersion. You will feel the vibe and connection to the family and the community – join us, Respond...Discover...Change Lives.
Each host family is carefully selected. A staff member visits the home and completes an assessment survey which takes into consideration safety, basic amenities (running water, electricity), proper sanitation, sufficient ventilation, adequate storage and a family-friendly atmosphere. Once the standards are met, a background check is done of all persons in the household and if everything is satisfactory the host family is provided with an orientation, a host family manual and then begins hosting volunteers. There is a quarterly visit to the host family to ensure standards are being maintained.
Living with a Caribbean family is your home away from home. You will become a member of your family, experiencing the camaraderie, humor, support and social activities that define Caribbean family life. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in family activities such as going to the beach, visiting other family members, playing games.
A month before your arrival your host family is provided with details about you so they can fully prepare for your visit. Host families are usually located within 15-45 minutes of your programme or project. Your host family will prepare your breakfast and dinner but you are responsible for doing your laundry and keeping your room and bathroom clean.
You may not want to leave after you have met your Caribbean family – so Respond…and come to the Caribbean to Discover and Change Lives.
For
individual volunteers you will live with a host family. Groups can live with a
host family or at hostel/hotel. Note that the price quoted is for host family
and hostel/hotel request is done on a case by case basis.
Breakfast options include typical Caribbean breakfast dishes such as fried fritters, fried dumplings, breadfruit, bread, callaloo, ackee and saltfish, steamed vegetables, porridge or light options such as fruit, cereal, toast, coffee and tea. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.
Dinner options include chicken (fried, baked, stew, curried, jerk), fish, mutton, beef, pork along with plain rice, rice and peas, yam, boiled banana, potatoes, steamed or raw vegetables and a drink. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.
Volunteers can note any special dietary requirement and this will be accommodated.
Program Fees
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