I’ve been thinking a lot about the trip, naturally, and was curious to see a breakdown of all the expenses. Well folks, here it is:
As you can see, the trip is quite expensive. I’d like to point out that the experience would not be possible without generous support from your family, friends and community, so thank you again to everyone who helped me to be able to participate! I’d also like to note that while I have about a third of the funding as personal, meaning my own money, it does not account for the fact that I’m lucky enough to have ongoing financial support from my extended family and that my main expenses (rent & school) are being paid by student loans.
When I originally signed up for this experience, I knew it would be expensive. I was told that the program fee was about $3,000, and that I was responsible for all additional expenses.. I just didn’t realize how many additional expenses there actually were. I think if I had known how much it would truly cost I may not have signed up, but I’m so glad that I did. If you’re willing work hard at fund raising and have the support of your family, it’s definitely doable. If I were doing it alone, there is no way I would have even considered the program. I was also very lucky that I have a professor who has worked with CCS before. She was able to get me scholarships from my university to reduce the program fee to $2,539, cover $100 of additional expenses, and gather donations from several of her coworkers.
And now, a word on why I chose to volunteer through CCS, possibly the most expensive international volunteer program out there: I knew there were cheaper options available from the beginning. I wanted to go to east Africa, and I wanted to do it through a reputable program with lots of experience. I learned of this opportunity through my professor, and found out through research that CCS is quite reputable, and has been offering these types of experiences for decades. Every person I have dealt with in CSS has provided me with experience-based information, as they have all been on at least one volunteer program before. The in-country staff (who live with you at the Home Base) are locals who know the area well and who speak English. I feel very confident from my experiences thus far that I will be well taken care of throughout my entire experience. Personally, I’m more inclined to make my own experience, and don’t want to feel like I’m part of a tour group or something like that. I chose this intense level of support only because it will be my first time in east Africa, and knowing that it is a dangerous part of the world, I welcome CCS’ support. Next time, though, I’ll probably try to do something with a smaller organization or on my own.
Now, I do have some tips for people considering doing a program like this in the future:
-Be prepared! It IS expensive, so don’t get in over your head.
-(I hope) it will be totally worth it. I’m sure I can confirm this when I come home, but if international volunteering is something you’re passionate about, do it. Make it happen. There are lots of scholarships available out there.
-If you really think there’s no way you could pull something like this off, look around. There are lots of cheaper international volunteering programs available. Try looking through religious or education based opportunities.
-Use my cost breakdown as a very rough guide. I received scholarships and other forms of help along the way that are impossible to calculate. Here is a chart for the worst possible situation (no scholarships, no health insurance, buying more things you need to bring, etc.):
These expenses add up to $7,985, whereas my expenses add up to $6,999. That’s a difference of almost $1,000 – pretty significant.
11 Days!!!
P.S.: Here’s a copy of the packing list, provided by CCS:
(Bold indicates that volunteers have given strong feedback about the necessity of packing that item.)
CLOTHES
(Please refer to the Dress Code in your Participant Handbook)
- FOR WOMEN: several below-the-knee length skirts for work and casual clothes for Free Time
- FOR MEN: several light-weight pants/trousers that dry quickly and can be worn as protection against heat and mosquitoes
- FOR EVERYONE: several t-shirts (without logos or political statements), button-downs or polo shirts that cover your shoulders
- Pack at least one light-weight, long sleeved top as it is imperative to have sun and mosquito protection!
- Jeans or Khakis
- Extra Socks and Underwear
- Raincoat/umbrella (March-May)
- Warm Clothes (June-April)
- Clothes to wear out to dinner
- Swim Suit (to be culturally sensitive, a one-piece is preferable for women)
- Convertible Pants/Shorts for Hiking
FOOTWEAR
- One pair of non-cotton socks that will keep your feet warm and dry if they get wet
- Sneakers, Tennis Shoes or Sandals that can be used as light hikers
- Flip-Flops for the Home-Base/shower
EXPENSIVE OR HARD-TO-FIND ITEMS
- Contact Lens Supplies
- Female Sanitary Items
- Disposable Cameras and Film
- Adapter/Converter—240-250v
- Batteries
| PERSONAL CARE ITEMS
- Basic Toiletries (soap, deodorant, etc.)
- Towel and Washcloth
- Packs of Tissues (can double as toilet tissue when needed)
- Insect Repellant containing DEET
- Sun-block
- Nailbrush and Nail Clipper
- Small Bar of Soap (for hand-washing socks and underwear)
- 2 Toothbrushes/Toothpaste/Holder
- Lip Balm with sun protection
BASIC FIRST AID KIT
- Bandages
- Hydrocortisone Cream (2%)
- Hand Sanitizer
- Tylenol / Aspirin
- Diarrhea Medication (Cipro or Immodium)
- Antiseptic Wipes (Baby Wipes)
- Pepto-Bismol Tablets
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Benadryl/Anti-Histamine
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
- Photos and Artifacts About Your Home
- Spare Glasses or Eyeglass Repair Kit
- Walkman or Ipod
- Travel Alarm Clock
- Flashlight
- Padlock for Locker or Drawer
- Money Belt
- Daypack/Small Backpack
- Books for Reading AND Sharing
- English/Swahili Dictionary
- Journal (you’ll appreciate it later!)
- Sunglasses and Hat/Bandana
- Granola, Energy Bar, Chocolate!!!
- Camera, Charger and Adapter
- Water Bottle
- Laptop, Wireless Router, Extension Cord
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