Partnerships
Christians Abroad provides opportunities for short and longer term placements abroad by advertising partner projects on this website.
The criteria for partnerhip is for a project to be involved in mission or development in its local area, recognised and recommended by a verifiable Christian source, usually a local Christian minister. References, are aslo sought from present or previous volunteers or employees, if possible. A request for partnershp is normallly followed by a partnership application form being sent to the project. If this completed and returned form is acceptable, references will be sought. Following the reciept of positive references, a 'Partnership Protocol' form is sent, which details the repsonsibilities which the project, Christians Abroad and the volunteer or professional have to each other. Following agreement with this form by the project, a suitable advertisement is prepared and displayed on the website.
International partner projects can be
a specific activity established by a local or international body, such as a school, a church, a hospital or an orphanage,
OR
local organisations that do not have projects themselves but help find placements in various community activities including schools, orphanages, health centres, hospitals, poverty alleviation projects, agricultural development projects etc.
Many partner projects are happy to accept volunteers for placements for two weeks or more whilst many volunteers opt for a placement for the length of their tourist visa, usually up to three months.
Volunteers are typically
- gap year students seeking experience in developing countries working where their enthusiasm and commitment are appreciated in projects which have a real need for assistance.
- students training to be a doctor or following courses such as nursing or physiotherapy who are looking for medical elective placements or similar work experience as part of their course.
- professional or skilled workers seeking an opportunity to contribute to mission or development as an interlude in their normal working life.
- retired or semi retired people who have the desire, the time and the opportunity to contribute to mission or developments abroad.
Our volunteers are often practising Chrstians although this is not a requirement. Volunteers may see their placements as part of their spriitual development or as an expression of their faith. Christians Abroad is open to people of any faith or none. Our partners' projects are run or supported by local Christians and, although some projects ask for volunteers with Christian commitment and this would be stated in the description on this site, most projects simply require that the volunteer should be in sympathy with the desire to improve the lives of their local communities.
The process of becoming a Christians Abroad volunteer is detailed in our document 'How it Works' which is avialable on this website.
Some projects are looking for commitments of one or two years. These are often for teachers in independent schools, doctors or nurses in independent hospitals or administrative or managerial positions in development projects. Some of these opportunities offer some level of salary or at least assistance with acccommodation.
We offer a support package for volunteers which includes arranging air tickets, insurance, visas, health and CRB checks and a preparation programme. In certain circumstances and for longer term appointees, we can also act as an agent for the payment of Voluntary Development Worker National Insurance contributions - a reduced rate contribution whilst overseas to help maintain pension entitlement on retirement.
Christians Abroad volunteers have this level of support plus assistance in finding a suitable placement and the necessary arrangements and assurances associated with this. Our volunteers have the assurance that we will be in support, when required, at any stage of the process leading to their appointment, during their appointment and on their return as they review and reflect on where the experience may be leading them. Christians Abroad asks for a donation of £600 towards the cost of this support package.
Associate Volunteers have chosen to arrange some or all of the detail of their placement themselves. However, they may need help with finding a placement or simply would like to have our support whilst overseas. Christians Abroad asks for a donation of £150 towards our costs of providing this level of information, advice and support.