I was hoping to volunteer in Haiti for a couple of months this winter but

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it looks like the NGOs have everyone they need already. Can anyone recommend respectable homebuilding / construction oriented groups that operate in other countries? It is very difficult to sort through all the "pay $1500 to volunteer for a week in ___" voluntourism sites I find on google. Or maybe someone can recommend another website to ask this question?

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1. afternoony kick nt

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2. Anyone? Anything? Evening kick. nt.

[gratuitous]

3. Brethren Disaster Services

If you're set on Haiti, they have work crews set for going there three times (if memory serves, December, January and March). A week or so at a time. If you're interested in volunteering somewhere closer and more accessible, there are Brethren Disaster Services projects in Chalmette, Louisiana and other places in the continental U.S. You're on the hook for the cost of getting there, but once you're there, everything is provided. There may be money available through the local Church of the Brethren district, disaster relief being one of the things the Brethren are really good at, and they make sure they have money available to transport willing hands.

PM me if you'd like contact information for the District in your area.

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4. Thanks, I hadn't heard of them

I am interested in going to a foreign country because I have the time to do so. If it doesn't work out I'll do something in the US. Do you have some experience with BDS?

[gratuitous]

5. I'm a member of the Church of the Brethren

I've done some local work, but haven't traveled. Their website is here:

http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=serve_brethren_disaster_ministries

I'm not overly familiar with the Michigan District, though I know a few persons there. I'm not sure who their Disaster Relief Coordinator is, but that person or the District Executive could let you know if there is a local group going down to Haiti, and whether there is financial assistance for volunteers.

Good luck.