Transform the Lives of Disadvantaged Children
As a Multi-Week Volunteer you create the possibility to transform lives of children you will be working with. Many one week volunteers say at the end of their time that they wish they could stay longer. Your experience will be rich as you will gain a better understanding of the community needs, the culture and the relationships that you will create with the community and other multi-week and long-term volunteers will grow stronger. An Outreach360 multi-week volunteer position is available from 2 weeks to 7 weeks. All multi-week volunteers will be accepted into the program, simply register using our online registration form.
This was the best experience of my life. I have never felt so close to children that are so different than I am. Going on this trip will change your life. When given the opportunity to do be involved in such an outstanding project, we owe it to ourselves to participate. We owe it to the world to try to make a positive difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
-Andrea Bechtel, Penn State University, Multi-Week Volunteer
How is a multi-week volunteer experience different from a one-week trip?
- Your primary focus is on the programs, however, you may be asked to support shorter term volunteers.
- You will build leadership skills through our Simple Leadership Training Program.
- You will be immersed in the culture with opportunities for Spanish language acquisition.
- You will make lasting bonds with the community, children and other Outreach360 staff and volunteers.
"My experience in the Dominican Republic this December was incredible. I was welcomed by a group of children into their huge, playful, funny family for a week, and I enjoyed every second of it."
"Outreach360 opened my eyes to how much serving abroad can make a real impact. The program is made up of a community of locals and volunteers that share a common interest - to love, and to serve."
"The trip was above and beyond my expectations. It was a life-changing experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I hope I am able to go again someday."
Although Outreach360 Multi-Week Volunteers work Monday - Friday in the classroom, the weekends are a great opportunity for fun and exploring. Here's a video showing primarily flex-time highlights. Video by Bryson Adams. [more videos]
Based on the length of your stay with us, we ask that you raise a certain amount of funding to help support your stay and the programs that we are providing for the communities:
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Preparing for a Multi-Week Experience
There are some differences between preparing for a Multi-Week Volunteer experience, and a one week volunteer experience. The notes below are meant to provide some additional information as how to prepare and for what to expect.
- Leadership - We invite you to consider yourself an extension of the Outreach360 staff. We ask for you to help support and lead short term volunteers. In addition to your personal efforts with us, you can leverage your time by helping short term volunteers to be successful, and to have a great experience. The program donation for long term volunteers is significantly reduced compared to the program donation for a one week volunteer; this is because we recognize that our long term volunteers add significant value to our program.
- Attitude - Short-term volunteers will look to you as the "veterans" and "experts". We ask that you have a positive attitude through good times and difficult times. If you have frustrations, please share them with your Outreach360 leader. We'll try our best to resolve any issues.
- Location - There may be times when we ask that you change locations during your time with us. An example would be if you are volunteering in Monte Cristi, and we have a short-term volunteer program in Jaibon or Manzanillo, we may ask you to go there to support the short-term volunteers.
- Phone and Internet - We will try our best to make sure that you have some access to the phone and internet on weekends. Depending on the location and circumstances, you may have some additional time during the week, but please don't expect it.
- Laundry - Your laundry will be done once a week. Please bring enough clothes to last 7-9 days, in case there is a delay in laundry for some reason. Remember that you will be wearing O360 tee-shirts almost all the time you are with us, with the exception of optional church or special events.
- Flex Time - There are no days off with Outreach360, but you will have flex-time. Flex time is that time that you can use for reading, for hanging out with the kids, for playing games with other volunteers, for journaling, etc. During your time with Outreach360 there will be exploration time as a group - to see cultural sites, historical sites, beach time, etc. But it won't be possible to leave Outreach360 to explore the country on your own.
- Visitors - We encourage you to invite friends and family to join you as volunteers with Outreach360. We ask that you not plan to leave Outreach360 to visit friends and family in another part of the country.
- Structure - Outreach360 is a very structured program. Most activities are done as a group.
- Repetition - You need to be prepared for some repetition in the schedule, menu, etc.
- Mailing Packages/Mailing Address - Note that mail can sometimes take a while to reach you. You might also be asked by the post office to pay postage on packages you receive. Outreach360 does not coordinate courier services among volunteers, unless it is a personal emergency - legal papers, eye glass replacements, etc. Letters and packages that arrive after you have completed your volunteer time with us will not be forwarded. Packages and letters should be mailed to:
- Dominican Republic (all locations)
- Your Name, Outreach360 Calle Sanchez #68 Esquina Colon Monte Cristi Dominican Republic
- Nicaragua
- Your Name, Outreach360, Apartado #23, Jinotega, Nicaragua
- Suggestions from Former Multi-Week Volunteers:
- Bring LOTS, LOTS, & LOTS of bug-spray. Bug-sprays with deet are helpful.
- Girls: It is nice to have skirts for wearing during the day. They offer a good alternative to capris or pants which can get hot. Skirts must be below the knee.
- A sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants for cooler nights.
- Shoes to bring:
- A couple of pairs of tennis shoes
- A pair of non-flip-flop sandals… crocs, chaco’s, etc.
- Several pairs of good, sturdy flip-flops because that is generally what people wear most of the time.
- There is electricity for charging batteries, cameras, ipods, cell phones, etc.
- A beach bag or purse is helpful for when you go places.
- Sunglasses
- You have phone and internet time once every weekend.
- A watch is helpful for telling time throughout the day.
- Bring a shower “tote” and flip-flops.
- Pajama pants, scrubs, or work-out capris can be nice for sleeping in or on beach or work days.
- Girls are allowed to wear earrings.
- You can bring your own ipod or personal CD player.
- Multi-Week Volunteers in the past have enjoyed having pictures of family and friends with them.
- Bring books for down time.
- Bring shorts to wear over your bathing suit to the beach and also long workout shorts if you want to go running.
- Bring stamps, envelopes, stationary, etc. and addresses of your family and friends if you wish to write letters home.
- Bring a good flashlight with LOTS of extra batteries… head flashlights can be nice for reading at night after lights are off in the ramadas.
- 2 or more durable water-bottles (ex. Nalgene)
- Bring a laundry bag.
- Bring a battery powered alarm clock.
- A personal battery powered fan can be helpful for sleeping at night.