Get Involved

Overview
Volunteering anywhere in the world can be a personally rewarding, life changing experience for both the volunteer and those with whom the volunteer works. Volunteering is not just about giving, but receiving as well, for the exchange of humanity moves in both directions, each learning from the experience. Volunteering through SPAN can also be a rich, rewarding opportunity. Neither simple nor straight-forward, SPAN volunteers are caring, considerate, capable individuals who seek to improve the world with which they interact as well as themselves. If you are not able to travel to work directly with a SPAN partner, you are welcome to provide a charitable donation to SPAN or one of its NGO partners, or help raise funds for SPAN’s work through represention in your respective campus or community.

What can you do?

• Volunteer on-site in Africa through SPAN.
• Volunteer on-site in Africa, directly with our partner NGOs.
• Help raise or personally donate funds to Partner NGOs, through SPAN.
• Join the SPAN on-line community.

SPAN Services
SPAN offers inexpensive placement services to ease the coordination of your endeavor. Volunteer placement services include:

• Communication between potential organizations and volunteers.
• Registration with placement organization.
• Coordination of housing and arrival.
• Weekly check-ups either in person or by phone depending on placement location, assistance in any emergency situations.

The above support is offered throughout the duration of your time volunteering. In keeping with the SPAN mission, volunteers are not charged for volunteer placement services beyond the very basic administrative costs incurred by SPAN associates in Africa and those of a personal nature such as housing, meals, and travel or medical expenses. If you prefer to work independently and directly with a SPAN partner, you are welcome to contact our partner organizations. Our partners are happy to work with you as you plan your volunteer experience in advance and in detail. Their contact information can be found by browsing the growing list of organizations with which we work.

How much will it cost?
Although SPAN will provide pre-departure advice, volunteers are expected to arrange and fund their own flights to and from Africa, and all necessary Visas, passports, and immunizations. SPAN strongly urges volunteers to ensure their health insurance is effective internationally, or purchase separate international health insurance. Each volunteer experience can be highly individualized, and for this reason the program fee for SPAN’s services will vary. For most volunteers, our cost estimate is approximately $100-$140 in SPAN organization fees (paid pre-departure).

SPAN highly encourages and helps arrange home stays as a means of gaining the most in depth experience possible during the volunteer effort. The average amount paid to a host family is $15 per day per person (or $100 per week), with the expectation of two meals per day (breakfast, evening dinner) and basic laundry to be provided. It is also possible to rent a hotel room on a weekly basis, or for longer stays, an apartment. While this affords privacy and independence, both of which are valuable for longer stays, the experience of living with an African family is not gained.

SPAN fees

• $20 Application Fee. Must be received within 6 weeks of proposed departure date. (Refundable if not accepted.)
• $60 Program fee paid upon arrival directly to the SPAN Regional Director for your region.
• $20 Organization Fee paid directly to your placement organization upon arrival. This ensures that communicating and working with international volunteers does not become a financial burden for the organization. In some cases, the organization may choose to have the SPAN Regional Director act as volunteer coordinator for them. In these cases, you will be instructed to pay the $20 to the Regional Director.
• $40 OPTIONAL Airport pickup. Fee is due upon arrival and is used for travel and overnight expenses incurred by SPAN staff when meeting you and accompanying you to your first night’s housing and/or transportation to your placement organization (where you will be met by a Regional Director). It does NOT cover any transportation (including your portion of the taxi ride), food, or housing.

Living Expenses

• Homestay: $10/day in cities/towns $8/day in rural areas $15/day with 2 meals and laundryVolunteers staying for more than one month may be eligible for discounts. All homestay fees should be paid up-front upon arrival BY THE END TO THE WEEK to avoid financial tension between the volunteer and host family.
• Hostel/Hotel: $10/day room or $15/day room and board.
• Private Apartment: $100/month + utilities + security deposit. Volunteers are discouraged from renting an apartment if not staying for more than six months.
• Transportation: Between $0.50-$30/ day depending on distance and transportation choice (bicycle taxi, bus, private vehicle, etc) including travel with your organization.

Special needs: We do our best to ensure affordable transport, food and accommodation for volunteers. Volunteers are encouraged to communicate any special requests or needs and to ensure that they have a source of funding available for any unexpected medical expenses while in Africa.

How do I apply?
To apply to volunteer with SPAN complete and email the following documents to info at studentprojectafricanetwork dot org. We then forward the applications to the desired placement organization and our staff in Africa to gain their feedback and approval.

Volunteer Application Form
Volunteer Information
Volunteer Release Form
Volunteer Agreement

Print, sign, and send the Volunteer Release form and check to:

SPAN
Att: Rebecca Mitchell
23 Fair Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94110