Volunteers

International Volunteers

We welcome international volunteers to come and serve Christ at Door of Hope. It is a demanding, yet rewarding experience for all who are prepared to sacrifice their time and energy in loving God’s children. The children we care for vary in age, size, and health. Each child is an individual and each child needs unconditional love. If you feel you are called to work with abandoned and orphaned children, we challenge you to consider the emotional and spiritual cost of coming to South Africa. One must be prepared to form bonds and have your heartstrings pulled in many different ways. We hold strong to Christ’s promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9 which says, "My grace is all you need for my power is greatest when you are weak." Prepare to be stretched.

International volunteers seeking to minister at Door of Hope should consider a time frame of 4 weeks to 1 year of service. With the variety of homes and ministries opening at Door of Hope we can not guarantee exactly which one you will be serving at so please have an open mind and heart when you are applying. It is also possible that while you are with us that we ask you to work in all of our houses for a short period of time - please try and be flexible to this however if you have a specific preference e.g. toddlers verse babies we will try to accommodate that where possible. Should you wish to come long term, we require a 3 month trial period which allows for both parties to pull out should the need arise. Below are the details necessary to begin your exciting journey.

Requirements

Applicants must be:

• Born-again believers and disciples of Jesus Christ
• Have a God-given desire to work with abandoned and orphaned children
• Age 18+ - 50 years at projected arrival date
• In good health
• Prepared to come at your own expense
• Immunized: Hepatitis A (TB vaccination is suggested. TB can be passed from adult to child but almost unlikely to be passed from child to adult. Malaria pills are only necessary if you plan to travel further north- Kruger National Park, Zimbabwe, etc.) Hepatitis B
• In possession of a valid passport (and visa if applicable)
• International Driving license if driving whilst here (in the UK go to your nearest large post office with an ID document and if in the USA go to your nearest AAA with $15 and your driving license and they can help you)
• Signed copy of Doctrine of Faith (see application form)

How to apply

• Fill out the application form
• Furnish with three references
• Obtain a police clearance/criminal background check certificate (this can be done at your local police station for a minimal fee)
• Fill out the medical form
• Attach photo
• Send to Door of Hope

Responsibilities

• Baby care and child care including bathing, feeding, clothing, changing, playing, preparing bottles, doing laundry, housekeeping, cooking and loving the children of all ages, not only newborns
• Day and night shifts of 10-13 hours will be worked. You will be expected to do both day and night shifts. After a training period, night shifts are handled by one person. Therefore expect to be in charge of at most 12 children while working night shift. Don’t panic; all past volunteers have managed very well!
• 20 shifts per month
• Work in a team environment with staff members of a variety of cultures and languages.
• Attend and maybe take daily devotions for staff and volunteers
• Flexibility is a must as we have several homes and ministries. You may be placed at any of these throughout your stay.
• You may also be asked to assist in other duties such as taking children to the clinic and/or hospital, collecting food donations from local grocery store, and small office tasks.

Application Process (the timing of this generally depends on you!)

• Initial email contact with any questions or concerns
• Fill out and submit an application. Application includes a completed form, 3 references or 3 email addresses we can contact (one of which must be your pastor), a police report, and information about projected dates of your service., a signed doctrine of faith, and a completed medical form. Send your application by fax or email to Door of Hope.
• Begin fund raising (We suggest you begin raising your financial support at this time to allow God to stir the hearts of donors. However, we reserve the right to refuse an application at any time prior to official approval.)
• Review of application by Door of Hope Leadership Team within two weeks of receiving the finalized application.
• Leadership team issues a formal letter of invitation, which will then allow you to proceed in your travel arrangements.
• Book tentative tickets for air travel and notify Door Of Hope for approval before final booking

General Preparation

• Although South Africa is a third world country, Johannesburg is a modern city. It is comparable to a large commercial city in the United States. So don’t expect to see elephants and lions when you walk off the plane! Downtown Johannesburg is renowned for it’s high crime rate and poverty. Many people are sceptical about going to the city because of media coverage portraying only the negative aspects of life. We acknowledge this harsh reality and in turn ensure that our volunteers are well educated in safety tips. We do not suggest or ask any of our volunteers to travel alone within the city apart from to our second or third baby house.
• Public transport is not an option for international volunteers as it is quite unsafe. Walking is acceptable in some areas, which will be indicated upon arrival. A car is usually essential to have whilst you are here.
• The seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite those of Europe and North America. The winter months of May-August are cold at night (as low as -4C) but sunny and relatively warm during the day (as high as 15-17C). The summer months of November-March are hot and dry (ranging between 25-31C).
• There is no dress code at Door of Hope and no cultural restraints for South Africa in general. However, it is suggested that one wears dresses/skirts on Sundays (unless you’re a man!). We suggest layers for the winter months and a warm coat. For the summer months, we recommend normal summer attire (and a swimming suit!). Although not always needed, raincoats are recommended year round.
• Moisturizing lotion and lip balm is highly recommended, as the climate is very dry. Johannesburg is 1700 meters above sea level.
• Shops and shopping malls are within a 3-mile radius.
• The majority of cosmetics, feminine products, shampoos and bathing supplies can be found here. If you are particularly fussy please feel free to bring your own otherwise you can purchase upon arrival.
• International phone cards can be purchased at the shops, as personal phone calls cannot be made without these.
• The voltage and power supply is different here so do not bring anything electrical unless you have the specific adapter needed for South African plugs.
• There is Internet access available at local shops for a small fee. We also have WIFI hook up at Door of Hope which you can access should you have your own laptop. A nominal fee of R100 per month is charge for this use.
• Should you wish to travel, this should be prearranged with Door of Hope Leadership and will obviously be at your own cost and safety.
• Travel insurance and medical aid is optional and to be arranged by the volunteer.
• Leisure time will be in your days off. There are game parks and other places of interest within a 3 hours drive. The volunteer will be responsible for booking these excursions with the assistance of Door of Hope Leadership.
• There are many churches nearby of all denominations, which you can attend. We ask that during your stay, you attend a service at Berea Baptist Church, the founding body of this mission.

Fund Raising

Door Of Hope is a Non-Profit Organization, therefore the individual volunteer must raise all funds and financial support. We have made an extra effort to keep costs at a minimum. The following is a guideline for suggested budget per month. It indicates the maximum amount that should be necessary for each item.

• Accommodation: R250 -1300 (onsite verses offsite)
• Car Hire: R1100 – 4000 (not need if on site)
• Petrol: R500
• Food: R800 – 1000
• Spending Money: personal choice

The total (approximately R6000) is variable depending on the exchange rate and it is the volunteers responsibility to check on this and apply to their own currency. (see website www.xe.com/ucc/ South African Currency is the Rand) Volunteers are personally responsible for the administration of funds. Traveller’s cheques can be used and exchanged at banks nearby. Most credit cards are accepted. ATM/Debit cards can be used only with a Visa logo. If financial gifts are specifically allocated for Door of Hope, the Leadership Team should be notified upon arrival.

Accommodation

We have a volunteer room on the property, which houses 4 people in bunk beds. This accommodation is only recommended on a short-term basis (no more thatn 3 months) , as living in the house with all of the children can be stressful and the amount of space in the room is very limited. Sleep-ins are unlikely!! There is no TV or radio and so evening entertainment is your responsibility. This room shares a bathroom with one other staff member. You will use the main kitchen in the house for preparing your food. Volunteers on short-term trips (4-12weeks) may be allowed to stay in this room for the duration of their time. Please note that shops are within walking distance and a car is not necessary if you stay here, but do understand that you are reliant on other people to go anywhere other than the local shops and cinema (15 minutes safe walk) and this can be very frustrating. Cost R250 per month. Please understand that these four spaces are on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed until the volunteer is approved and flights are booked

Other options available are:

The Gospel Tract Centre is a communal living arrangement. Each person usually has their own bedroom to themselves, and then shares a bathroom, kitchen, living room, laundry facilities etc. There is secure parking on the property and is located about 15-20 minutes from the baby houses. The cost for a room is about R40 per night (R1200).

Lodging

We have a variety of people that live locally that open up their home to volunteers. The usual rate for this is about R1000- R1200 per month

The Leadership will most probably decide where you will live due to availability and needs for staffing in any one of our ministries.

Car Hire and Driving

In South Africa we drive on the left side of the road. The majority of our cars here are shift stick/manual. If you can only drive an automatic please let us know as soon as you can so we can try and arrange this for you. Automatic cars are more expensive to hire.

Please note that unless you make arrangements with our Volunteer Coordinator everyone is likely to need to hire a car and be able to drive to and from all our houses.

Adoption

Please note that during your stay you will become attached to a special baby or child.. Under no circumstances will you be able to adopt as a result of your time in South Africa. Due to legal ramifications adoptions can only occur in certain European countries (which does not include the UK). Not only this but it is considered illegal in this country to "choose" your own child. Although this seems harsh and unfair, it is best that you are aware of policies before you come.

Visas

The best way of discovering if you need a visa to travel to South Africa is to call the South African Embassy in your country. Many times volunteers will need a letter of invitation from Door of Hope. We are happy to furnish you with this when you need it. Information we have gathered so far:

UK: If you are coming for under a year you need not apply for a visa as long as you have a return ticket into the UK. They will issue you with a green temporary residents permit at customs as you enter South Africa. You will need to know Door Of Hope’s information to tell them what you are doing in this country.

USA: If you are coming for under three months we believe you can enter on a visitors permit as long as you have a return ticket. This will be issued upon entry through customs into South Africa. Should you be coming for a longer period of time we suggest that you apply to your South African Embassy for a Missionary/Volunteer Visa. Again you are likely to require a letter from us, which we will be happy to send.

NB This information is purely a guideline and you should research this information yourself rather than rely on the accuracy of what we have.

Flights

We recommend checking out www.MinistryTravel.com This is a ministry related organisation. You can speak to Beth Banfill and mention that you are looking to come to Door of Hope. She will help you find the best deal that she can.

Beth A. Banfill, CTA
Beth@MinistryTravel.com

MinistryTravel.com
a Harvest International Travel Company
311 N. Ballard Avenue
Wylie, TX 75098
Phone: (972) 429-4689
Fax: (972) 429-7748

AOL Instant Messenger: MinistryTravel

We wish you all the best as you start your journey with us here at Door of Hope