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 often 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 have a heavy workload with long hours, so there is an urgent need for nurses, physical therapists, doctors, or professionals who can offer direct assistance.
Our elderly care programs provide 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 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. However, we can arrange shorter days for those who require it. Some programs might have activities on Saturdays which are normally pre-planned. We will help you to make the necessary arrangements.
Safety
At JVP, our mantra is “Your safety is our number one priority”. This means that our job is not completed until you arrive home safely.
To ensure this, when you are in Jamaica you will never be alone. A Jamaica Volunteer Programs representative will always be available to you. In addition to this, on your arrival, we'll give you safety tips and strategies to use during your orientation.
On your arrival in Jamaica, we never send taxis to pick you up. You are always greeted by our smiling representative/driver.
JVP does not accept volunteers without a background check/police report which states that the applicant does not have a criminal record. Applicants are also asked about mental health and medication. We do this to provide support for the volunteers in our program.
Like most other countries, Jamaica does have crime. However, our programs, routes, and destinations are designed around and away from those areas so you will always be safe. Even further, our volunteer home and program partners are located in some of the safest communities in St Andrew.
Our accommodation is located in a safe neighborhood in the hills of St. Andrew overlooking the city of Kingston. The organization’s founder and her family also live on this property. For safety and security, only authorized persons can enter the grounds.
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.
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 to apply as soon as you can to ensure that you lock up your space.
Once you have paid your deposit and confirmed your place on the program, we will send you an email confirming your payment and the balances remaining. This email will also give you details of the documents required for you to participate in the program.
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, then 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 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in the afternoons with an hour for a lunch break.
You'll be transported to your program site in the mornings and picked up around 4:00 pm after you have completed your day's work. You'll then be transported back to your volunteer home in the afternoons unless you have an activity or excursion planned for the evening.
Here is a list of some of the activities you can do at the elderly care homes on a daily basis:
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 sometimes 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, and Jamaican storytelling 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 to showcase what they’ve learned about the Jamaican culture as well as showcase their own culture.
Volunteers will arrive at the Norman Manley International Airport and our representative will meet you on arrival.
A Jamaica Volunteer Programs coordinator will conduct orientation on the morning of the day the project starts. During this first meeting, you will be introduced to local staff who will take care of you and go over the details of your project placement. Your orientation will include popular Jamaican customs & culture, safety, weekend and free time travel options, and guidelines and expectations.
During your orientation, you will also be briefed on information about all the Covid-19 protocols, options for local transportation, currency, and other support services you will require during your stay.
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, Smokey Manor is an artist’s dream to paint. 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.
Our accommodation has electricity, running water, western-style bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi. You are required to bring your reusable water bottle to refill each day, which will help to reduce your cost for clean drinking water. You are also required to bring toiletries.
Rooms
Rooms are equipped with fans, but there is the option to pay an additional charge for air conditioning.
We have 3 Dorms:
Dorm 1 sleeps 8 persons of the same sex
Dorm 2 sleeps 4 same-sex
Dorm 3 sleeps 4 of the same sex
Sometimes when we have overflow we use the double rooms for volunteers, especially for males which are usually in smaller numbers.
We have 4 other rooms for single and double occupancy with own private bathroom. These are offered at a higher rate. If you want to upgrade and we have space we can offer quotes for these.
Our property offers lots of patios, terraces, and open spaces.
To make quick snacks, we have a kitchen with utensils, a refrigerator, and a microwave.
Food
At JVP, we offer daily breakfast and dinner which includes, many of the popular foods Jamaicans eat.
We cater to all diets, including vegetarians and vegans. To request meals for your special diet, contact us.
Relaxation
Our relaxation areas include:
Upstairs lounge room
Court for basketball or any other sport or outdoor activity
Large open ground for strolling or sun bathing
We also have:
A BBQ pit for our delicious BBQ Chicken dinners
Towering fruit trees:
Avocados, pears, mangoes, Otaheite apples
Breadfruit (a popular dish),
Ackee (our national dish)
You’ll be served daily breakfast and dinner from Monday - Friday at the volunteer house as part of your package. We offer a basic daily breakfast that includes toast, eggs, fruits, tea/coffee, and juice. Two days per week, you’ll have a full Jamaican breakfast.
For breakfast and dinner on the weekends, you may use our communal kitchen at the volunteer accommodation with access to amenities like a gas stove, oven, kettles, microwave, and fridge. Alternatively, you can access nearby restaurants offering meals between $5-8.
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.
You will, however, have to buy lunch at or near your project site. Our program advisors will help you make arrangements for an affordable lunch or show you how to find the closest food store.
At JVP, we cater to all diets, including vegetarians and vegans. To request meals for your special diet, discuss with your project coordinator.
We Offer Programs
Local Elderly Care Supporter
Many Jamaicans cannot afford to offer support and care to elderly relatives. You can make a difference by caring for senior citizens, who are needy and chronically ill.
$613/week
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