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Support Bonaire: Volunteer "Intership" Ideas
Bonaire Talk: Support Bonaire: Project Ideas for Support Bonaire, Inc.: Volunteer "Intership" Ideas
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grayson Morris on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 5:37 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I had an idea, motivated initially by my personal desire to (a) "do good" (b) on lovely Bonaire (c) while not going bankrupt, which I think could be useful for Support Bonaire in general. (Perhaps it's already being done?)

Support Bonaire could sponsor "internships", in which (foreign) volunteers pay their own way to Bonaire, but are supported with accomodations and food (perhaps even with dive / windsurfing gear?) once there. In exchange, the volunteers give their time to the charity most in need during their stay.

On the support side, resorts / individual condo owners could donate the accomodations; restaurants / supermarkets could donate a fixed amount or a meal coupon; dive shops could donate gear rentals, or lessons, etc. Individuals who are interested in supporting Bonaire with a monetary contribution could also purchase these items (a night's lodging; a coupon in a restaurant) and donate them to Support Bonaire to use for such a volunteer program.

On the assistance side, the volunteers could work at charities in the mornings, with the afternoons free for diving etc, or work solid days for e.g. a week with a second week for play.

I can see this program appealing to those who are interested in Bonaire as a vacation destination, are the kind of people who like to contribute to others' well-being, and are on a tight budget. Such people might otherwise not make it to Bonaire at all; with such a program, everyone could win: the volunteer gets to experience Bonaire after all, for the price of a plane ticket only, and Bonaire benefits from his/her volunteer efforts.

Regards,

--Grayson

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 8:32 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

One thing about Bonaireans that I have found in the 15 plus years living here, is that they for the most part, are willing to volunteer themselves and many have the expertise that we need to share with their fellow Bonaireans. While they do accept foriegners help, there is a line that is there and it takes lots of time to define it. As for bartering free lodging, food and entertainment, the businesses here really can't afford to comp to much more than the already do for fam trips, press junkets, etc.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grayson Morris on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 11:00 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Michael,

I can understand local businesses not being able to provide a lot of free services, especially if there were many people to take advantage of this kind of thing. But it might be that some individual condo owners could donate some time (recoup less on their investment) without hardship; other people (to mind come those who are financially comfortable and to whom the idea appeals) could "underwrite" the program by purchasing the services needed to host the volunteers. I imagine it would be quite a logistical feat to manage this kind of thing, and it might not be feasible, but it did pop into my mind and I thought, well, heck, can't hurt to mention it ;-). (It would appeal to me, though we wouldn't be able to make use of it right now anyway, with our two youngest ages 3 and 2).

It sounds like you are also saying that Bonaire has a good volunteer population of its own, so that the kind of support Support Bonaire is trying to provide is not more hands to help, but more finances to e.g. purchase necessary supplies. In that case, there wouldn't be much motivation for this kind of program.

But if there are non-profits that really need hands-on help, and aren't getting enough from the locals, and the work to be done doesn't require extensive training or one person to see it from start to finish, maybe this could be of service. That's why I was thinking the volunteer would work wherever help was most needed, and not get to choose his/her most desirable charity.

Regards,

--Grayson

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Grayson Morris on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 7:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I was reading the Wild Donkeys thread elsewhere on BT, and in particular Pauline's post about the Sanctuary (sorry, I don't know how to put a link to a message in another thread here), and the lack of volunteer help available there.

I don't know exactly what kind of help is needed, but if it is helping feed animals, clean living areas, etc, that sounds like something "unskilled", short-term volunteers could do....

But I am probably, in my naivete, promoting an idea that is not feasible, financially or organizationally.

Regards,

--Grayson

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By john bean (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Tuesday, August 16, 2005 - 12:29 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

well, i'm having an idea too.
i'm thinking of setting up a photo darkroom on the island, where i could teach kids a couple of days/week, use the darkroom for myself as well, then leave it there when i leave.
total stay about 3 mos.
does anyone have a contact for me at jong bonaire or somwhere similar.
it's been about 4 yrs since my last visit and my numbers have gone cold.

thanks.

 


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