Have you ever wondered what it is like to make often-neglected elderly people smile when they get the care and attention they need in their daily lives?
Because of poverty many Jamaicans cannot
afford to offer support and care to elderly relatives. Therefore, Elderly Care Volunteers
are needed in Jamaica to support senior citizens, who are needy and chronically
ill.
In Jamaica the government and non- profit organizations have stepped in to provide some help but the need for help is great and the funding inadequate, so there is a heavy reliance on volunteer services.
The staff at elderly care homes often has a heavy workload with long hours, so there is urgent need for nurses, physical therapists, doctors or professionals who can offer direct assistance.
Our Elderly Care programs provides a family atmosphere and an environment that fosters respect and love for the elderly.
If you are looking for a worthwhile program and have an interest in the health and well being of elderly care patients, an amazing experience in Jamaica awaits you.
Essential Program Information
Program Times
Our programs are usually run Mondays – Fridays from 9am – 4pm. However, we can arrange shorter days for those who require. Some programs might have activities on Saturdays which are normally pre-planned. We will help you to make the necessary arrangements.
Safety
Our number one priority is your safety - our job is not completed until you arrive home safely. When you are in Jamaica you will never be alone, help is always available.
Like most other countries, Jamaica does have crime. However, we avoid areas that have unrest or high crime - our volunteer home and program partners are located in St. Andrew and not in the city of Kingston.
Home away from home : We provide 24/7 in-country support where our dedicated team members are always there to support you with any emergencies or other needs.
This means that when you book with us you will be treated as if you are a relative visiting from overseas and provided with a safe home away from home.
Mentorship: While volunteering, interning or studying, you will be placed with a local mentor who will give you tips and support.
Extra Protection: We offer full medical insurance protection through our partners for any unexpected illness or accident. In addition to this, on your arrival, we'll give you safety tips and strategies to use during your orientation.
Therefore, at all times you'll be surrounded by caring and trusted people to keep you safe.
Application
You can apply at any time for all of our programs. However, we advise you apply as soon as you can to ensure that you lock up your space. Why wait, apply now and get started on your way to the time of your life.
Once you have paid your deposit and confirmed your place on the programme. We will send you an email confirming your payment. This email will also include a link where you can download our Registration Handbook that will provide you with pre-departure reference and support information.
If you require any further information not covered in the handbook our staff is always on-hand to assist you.
Volunteer Experience Value
If you are wondering if you can use your volunteer experience to boost your professional profile, yes you can. At your request, we can provide you with a letter or certificate of completion detailing your volunteer activities and accomplishments.
A volunteer experience abroad is a great resume booster and can be of great value when applying for college or a job. We’ll be glad to assist you to make it happen.
Your working hours will be from 9am - 4pm in the afternoons with an hour for lunch break.
Our Elderly Care Volunteering programs are available all year- round allowing you to take part when you can, so on your application you’ll indicate your start and end dates.
Although we are flexible, we encourage volunteers to arrive on weekends so you'll have a full week to volunteer on your program. There are times during the year when Jamaica has major holidays and celebration, so it is advisable to plan your trip that your dates do not coincide with these major events.
Most evenings you’ll go back to your volunteer home to hang out and plan for the next day.
Outside of arranged cultural immersion trips and excursions where you’ll have opportunities to experience some of Jamaica’s most amazing attractions, we continually look for eye-opening cultural activities for you to do in your free time.
Because of this we sometime offer you opportunities to attend local events in the afternoons organized by our cultural ambassador/Project coordinator.
Activities such as Jamaican dancing lessons, patois classes, Jamaican story telling are designed to keep you entertained, but more importantly, to further help you learn the Jamaican culture.
On the last Friday night before your departure we have ‘Jamaica Night’ – where we will display some of Jamaica’s most popular food, play popular Jamaican music and also give volunteers the opportunity showcase what they’ve learned about the Jamaican culture as well as showcase their own culture.
As part of your transportation package, you’ll have a tour guide/driver who not only knows all the safe places to take you but also knows the customs of Jamaica.
Whenever you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by one of our local staff or an appointed driver who will be holding a Jamaica Volunteer Programs sign. They will then transport you to your volunteer home where you’ll be given an orientation upon arrival.
We have homestays with dorms, single and double rooms with bathroom facilities (view images). Staying in homes owned by local people will allow you to touch, feel and see the real Jamaica.
Our main homestay, nestled on top of the picturesque hill of Smokeyvale, St. Andrew, is a secret hideaway called Smokey Manor with breathtaking sceneries of the Blue Mountains to the East and a spectacular view of Kingston to the South.
This community is a visual feast of ferns, flora and fauna. Everywhere you turn, there will be towering fruit trees, cool breeze and panoramic mountains.
If you are a nature lover, you will enjoy our Country Walk Tour. Travel through Manning’s Hill, a quaint little village and see Jamaica before it wakes up. The peaceful surroundings and tranquil atmosphere provides the perfect setting for meditation, exercise and a chance to commune with nature.
As you pass through rural villages on your hike, you will have the feeling of stepping back in time. See the unhurried lifestyle and the friendly people who make Jamaica truly unique.
You’ll be served breakfast and dinner at the volunteer homes daily. You’ll have to buy lunch at or near your project site. However, our Program Advisors will help you make arrangements for an affordable lunch or show you how to find the closest food store.
In Jamaican homes you’ll find a variety of foods and drinks which are as varied as the people and scenery, and you’ll be able to sample all of them including the popular jerk, roast breadfruit and ackee & saltfish (the national dish.
Our home-cooked food is a melting pot of all the cultures brought here during slavery and the plantation era, and staying in a Jamaican home is the best place to sample these. At our homestays you’re guaranteed the most delicious, nutritious meals made from organic ingredients.
No matter your dietary preference or restrictions, we’ll prepare mouth-watering dishes that will have you talking about it for a long while.
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