Professional Capacity Building Programs

World Camp’s Professional Capacity Building Program offers professionals the opportunity to put their skills to work in a community with a recognized need for advice, training, and expertise. Your self-financed program will take you to one of World Camp’s partner communities in Malawi where we have identified a need for your specific skill set. There, you will live and work among members of the community learning about their challenges and targeting areas for improvement. You may find for example that even the most basic business training for members of a community based organization can mean the difference in an income generating activity generating actual income, rather than losing money.

Malawi is also one of the poorest countries in the world with an estimated 60% of the population living in absolute poverty. Through World Camp’s Professional Capacity Building Program, you can make a tangible difference, and, you’ll find the fulfillment that comes from using your knowledge and skills to help those in disadvantaged circumstances to bring about positive social change. As a Professional Capacity Building volunteer you will live and serve in some of Malawi’s poorest rural areas. With passion, commitment, and hard work, you will create or expand programs designed to empower and educate individuals and communities. Each Professional Capacity Building volunteer makes a 4 week to year-long commitment to serve on a specific project at a partner community based organization in Malawi.

Professional Capacity Building volunteers generally focus their efforts on building the organizational, administrative, and economic capacity of partner CBOs that support work to improve community health, support services and foster local economic development.

You will assist in the development of programs and trainings to meet specific needs, write grants, and train CBO partner staff and volunteers. As a World Camp volunteer, you can engage in:

• Anti-Poverty Initiatives: Support community efforts to overcome the effects of poverty.
• Community Empowerment: World Camp values the local strengths and resources of the community. Lead and involve residents of the community in planning, developing, and implementing partner CBO projects. This approach allows individuals and communities to play an active role in developing the projects that suit their specific needs.
• Capacity Building: Increase the ability of partner CBOs to combat locally challenging issues. Strengthen and support partner CBOs by building infrastructure, expanding community partnerships, securing long-term resources, coordinating training for local staff and volunteers.
• Sustainable Solutions: Your service is a short-term resource to help partner CBOs achieve lasting solutions to locally challenging issues.

In each case, you’ll be strengthening a local community based organization so it can continue to serve the needs of the community once your support has ended.

World Camp volunteers serve for a many reasons, some want to make lasting change in the world and some hope for a life-changing adventure. During your service term you will be doing everything you can to create and expand programs that build stronger communities.

As a Professional Capacity Building volunteer, you will:

• Gain unparalleled international experience
• Develop your skills
• Accomplish something powerful and good
• Obtain a deeper understanding of another culture
• Be challenged mentally, emotionally, and physically

Professionals and recent graduates gain the kind of international field experience they can’t find in a typical volunteer program. Professional Capacity Building volunteers apply their skills and knowledge to serious social problems and discover previously untapped strengths.

World Camp is an independent non-profit organization operating without governmental or religious affiliations. The costs of operations for World Camp’s international volunteer programs are funded entirely by private donations and volunteer contributions. Like other international programs, World Camp requires volunteers to pay a program fee. The program fee covers the expenses of operating the program and is determined by the location and activities of each program.

• The program fee is tax deductible in the US.
• This does not include airfare. The cost of airfare to Malawi is generally between $1800 and $2700 from the USA and $800 to $1000 from Europe. We will be glad to offer advice on finding your ticket.
• This fee is subject to change.
• Note to Non-U.S. Residents: All fees must be paid in U.S. dollars. To convert the program fee to your currency at the current exchange rate, visit Xe.com.

2011/2012 Administrative Fee: $500/week
The PCB projects are self-funded and require independent work and motivation. In general, you may expect the following parameters to apply to your administrative fee, but specific details may change based on your individual project.

Administrative Fee covers

• Pre-program support and information
• Arranging for accommodation that is safe and convenient to the project site. Some accommodation costs may not covered.
• In-country orientation and community introduction
• In-country support in case of emergencies
• In-country transportation

Administrative Fee does NOT cover

• Airfare to Malawi
• Food
• Travel Insurance
• Some project materials
• Phone/internet service
• Laundry
• Security/watchman service
• Excursions

Q. Do I develop my own curriculum and programming, or is something already in place at the CBO?

A. You will be developing the project material with support from World Camp. You will be match with a CBO based on your skills and experience, and therefore will have much to offer just with your current skillset. World Camp will provide you with an orientation to Malawi and the CBO where you will be working to give you the background needed to participate effectively in the community.

Q. How long is my volunteer term?

A. You can commit to any length term from 2 weeks on. Program fee and living costs will vary accordingly.

Q. Can my friend/spouse/family member volunteer with me?

A. Yes! We encourage people to volunteer together, as it will cut down on your living costs, provide companionship, and you can get twice the work done.