The most common complaint that we have heard about the volunteer process is that organizations are slow to respond to the requests of prospective volunteers. We have tried to overcome this problem by including in our list of Organizational Needs only those programs that have requested volunteers and that have a history of responding quickly to emails. If you found an organization through one of the other tools, they may not respond quickly -- or at all.
First of all, please be aware the these organizations are almost always overworked and that the needs of street children are always more urgent than those of prospective volunteers. Second, email service is not always reliable in Latin America; if a server is down, it may take time for someone to get your email -- you may even have to send it a second or third time. We have found that most programs will respond to emails within two to three weeks.
If a response takes longer than three weeks, we suggest one of several options:
- Fax your introductory letter along with a suggested date and time that you will call; then telephone to express your interest.
- If you feel comfortable in Spanish or Portuguese, call to arrange a phone appointment to discuss volunteer possibilities.
- Because Shine a light has contacts in most major Latin American cities, we may be able to find a back door. Feel free to write us at info@shinealight.org, and we may be able to help.
When you do get a response, be sure to confirm the dates of your time as a volunteer, ask for easy directions on how to get to the program's offices, and ask if there is anything that you need to prepare for the job.
Move on to Step IV: Preparing for volunteer work and for living in Latin America
