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After being contacted by Lorraine Elletson, a former VFCD volunteer, a couple of months ago, we decided to suspend VFCD's VolunteeringInfo organisation listing. This was due to concerns raised by Lorraine which lead us to believe that VFCD may be fraudulent. Upon contacting VFCD (which, to the best of our knowledge, is an organisation consisting of only one man, Mr. Son) and detailing our concerns, it took several weeks before we received a reply. When we finally did, the answer did address many of our concerns; indeed, VFCD included a copy of their e-mail communications with Lorraine and these appeared to show that VFCD were not at fault - the problem was that we had been given a copy of the same string of e-mails by Lorraine, and the two did not match up.
After raising our concerns on VolunteeringInfo, we were contacted by another disgruntled ex-VFCD volunteer who, like Lorraine, had paid for more than they received. Finally, we were contacted a couple of weeks ago by a third volunteer, Alex, whose experience with VFCD had been similar to the other two. Indeed, the below excerpt from his e-mail summarises the experience of all volunteers we have been in touch with quite well:
"Upon our arrival in Sapa, it transpired we would be teaching at a school in the town, not in a rural area, and staying in a hotel in the town as well. This was not what we had signed up for, and further to this our contact in Sapa told us that Mr Son wanted another $400 from us to cover accommodation costs. At this point we knew we had been scammed, and refused to give them another penny. We thought hard long and hard about the school's involvement with such untrustworthy characters as Mr Son, but decided to do our two weeks of teaching regardless. The time we spent at the school was great, but proved to be the only times when we weren't pursuing Mr Son for our money back or just being generally annoyed by the whole thing.
We have now returned to Hanoi, where we have just been to the address that was at the foot of some of his initial emails he sent to us back in February/ March of this year. Upon arriving at this address we have found that he has moved on elsewhere. We called him at this point (strangely he still answers his phone to us, despite probably 30 calls/text messages/emails from us asking him to refund our money). He then told us he would send us his new office address over a text as the reception was bad. We hesitantly agreed. No text arrived and his phone was then turned off. "
Based on the above, we have decided to suspend the VFCD organisation entry permanently. We would also strongly urge anyone considering to volunteer with VFCD to think twice before sending over any payment.
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Written by Gunjan Priya
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The following article was written and submitted by a guest author by the name of Gunjan Priya, who wished to share her thoughts on the social impact of volunteering in India. If you want to write an article expressing your thoughts or opinions, why not register and submit an article?
There are thousands of social service organizations and Non Governmental organizations mushrooming up everyday in India, so much so that India seems to be a pilgrimage of social welfare activities.
Since the disastrous earthquake in Kutchch, pan-Indian philanthropy has received a new path and there have been a continuous growth of volunteers from developed countries. Young Indians living in different countries are very actively participating in societal activities in India. This is also another way to get popularity, and have their own identity in the world of philanthropy. A continuous growth of foreigners approaching India for volunteering has encouraged the big industrialists and capitalists to rethink their business strategies and urged them to devote a part of their income to charity activities. Companies like Birla Foundation, Wipro supremo’s Ajim Premji Foundation and many other have come forward to do their lot for societal development.
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The following article, except for the introduction, was originally posted on Gemma's blog and has been reposted here upon her request.
My name is Gemma Pitcher and earlier this year I decided to take six months off my usual job of online editor in Sydney, Australia and travel around the world. I came to Santa Marta looking for a community project that I could visit and write about on my blog, www.gemma.travel. The day I spent with Mariposas Amarillas, a small grassroots project that works to provide education for the community's poorest children, was inspiring, exhausting and touching. You can read about it and how to help in my blog entry 'Butterflies in the Barrios':
Butterflies in the barrios
 It’s a searing Friday afternoon in Santa Marta, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. In the city’s historic centre, tourists stroll the paved seafront promenade and vendors sell lemonade from the shade of colonial buildings. But in the inappropriately-named Oasis neighbourhood, the only thing that moves in the beating afternoon sun are bony dogs scavenging in piles of rubbish.
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Current student or recent graduate? Your learning could be applied to a unique ‘Voluntourist’ programme at one of the International Humanity Foundation’s orphanages!
The International Humanity Foundation (IHF) is seeking forward-thinking, dynamic students and graduates to contribute to our orphanage and education centers in Indonesia, Kenya and Thailand. IHF has grown over the past 25 years under the visionary leadership of Carol Sasaki (CEO) and the dedication of thousands of volunteers from around the world.
IHF is distinct from other NGOs in this field as we practice the ‘Pass it on’ ethos in marginalized regions. We offer the privilege of education to those who without our organization could not reach it. IHF has no central headquarters, as each center is a product of its environment and follows the cultural code and norms of its host country. IHF ‘Voluntourists’ teach English, computer and math classes as well as maintaining relationships with local staff and the local population at every centre. The relationships formed between the children and Voluntourists are lasting as they remain in touch for years afterward.
Voluntourists work four hours a day at the center, six day a week. There is time to sightsee and tour the nation, but work remains an important priority. This is a unique position within IHF as it allows the volunteer firsthand experience in the field, also having time to explore the local area – without the need to do international tasks like other volunteers. With the chance to experience Balinese Hinduism, the busy capital of Jakarta or life in Indonesia's Islamic state, Indonesia's rich and deep cultural diversity means each of our centers here offer their own unique experience. Our Kenya center offers access to numerous wildlife parks and safaris, and our Thailand center is in the vicinity of incredible temples, waterfalls and scenery.
Those who are secure without the comforts of home gain the most from this valuable opportunity. We are looking for people who will bring a caring and nurturing attitude with the children. Your time will be divided between the children and your own chance to visit the local tourist attractions. It is very important to adhere to the local cultural codes. Fluency in English, both written and spoken is essential.
Costs: IHF is committed to offering a flexible, affordable service experience. There is no application fee, and the weekly fees for individuals are USD $150 and for couples and families only USD $200 to cover the costs for their room and board, both of which are very simple, at the center. Only married couples and immediate family will be allowed to share a room due to strict cultural codes.
Please take the time to familiarize yourself further with our organization - www.ihfonline.org. If you have any questions at this time, feel free to e-mail one of our helpful volunteers -
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If you’re ready to apply visit: http://www.ihfonline.org/volunteering.
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