My Frightening Experience Volunteering Overseas
One Woman’s Experience of Enlightening and Pricey (?) Experience
By Dellagate
When you want to learn a new skill or method, one of the best ways is to go to someone who’s already doing it – watch and listen. That’s the approach Charlene Blacer, founder of HelpMe2Stop.org, took when she joined a charitable mission to Haiti, a nation still healing from the devastation left by massive earthquakes that shook it from its foundations in 2010.
This first-hand account, brought home one deceptively simple explanation how organizations dedicated to contributing to humanitarian aid might be undermining their own efforts. And, in addition, how this could unknowingly discourage volunteerism and lessen the impact these well-intentioned organization aspire to make.
With an ultimate goal of expanding the outreach service of HelpMe2Stop (established to help restore hair lost to compulsive pulling (Trichotillomania) and other causes) globally, Charlene, took the initiative to learn more. She sought out a non-profit already in the trenches (so to speak) and enrolled as a volunteer. Because of Charlene’s desire to learn, the trip was funded at her own expense.
“We participated in the mission with an American-based organization on August 10-13, 2011. Overall, this was an excellent learning experience for me – but not in the way I first expected.” expressed Charlene.
“I knew and understood that this would be a great way to gain hands-on experience, kind of an on-the-job training,” she explained. The decision took her to Haiti to visit and deliver relief and needed supplies and also took her 3 children with her who will play with and support the young orphans.
The organization Charlene traveled with is a group claiming to have over 17 years of experience in overseas humanitarian work. They’re dedicated to providing aid and rescuing children and teens from human trafficking and is currently in the process of building a home that will serve as a transitional shelter for those escaping the sex trade.
The object of their attention was an orphanage (one of many) in Croix-des-Bouquets, a once thriving artistically creative suburban community, only 8 miles northeast of Port au Prince, Haiti’s capital. The community of Croix-des-Bouquets is post-earthquake, a city of ten-thousand plus tents and other makeshift domiciles.
“It was nerve-wracking how often the subject of a shortage of trip funds was stressed throughout the trip”, remembers Charlene. “Here I am, in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from home, with my children and all I’m hearing is concern about is that ‘Haiti is so expensive’!
Not that she was expecting extravagance or special privileges, however, with the underlying, persistent concern about the trip’s budget (or lack thereof) hanging in the air, Charlene discerned, “The itinerary said one thing, but the experience was another. Just thinking about it now brings back the stressful feelings. I mean if I had to spend what I spent, I think I would end up living in those tent camps with no electricity and water 24/7.”
The highlight of the trip was Charlene and her children did get to pay their visits to the orphanage, which not only included interaction with the children but also it was suggested to donate school supplies.
Though according to the travel itinerary, all of which stated it would include documentary coverage and be given to US media and press, the visit ended up filmed on pocket cameras. When she inquired later about viewing the footage: “I was told (by an organization official) all of the footage had been accidentally deleted,” she remembers. “For me, it was disappointing because I’d looked forward to having something to share.”
In summary, Charlene shares,“The things I learned on this journey (for me) turned out to be more frightening than enlightening.” Why? The airline safety saying, ‘Put on your own mask first’. In other words, how can we help others if haven’t covered ourselves?’
Charlene’s solution? Begin at the beginning: “To grow a strong tree, you first need a solid root. The non-profit is the root. If there is insecurity or instability – especially the financial type, and an inability to properly sustain ourselves, how will we see the way clear to provide the type of assistance that’s going to help improve things out in the field? Put on your own mask first. Then you can help your neighbor secure theirs.”
The experience has provided greater clarity on the ways Charlene would like HelpMe2Stop (HM2S) to conduct their own humanitarian work – especially in regards to pre-planning and budgeting.
Charlene is working with a project manager, and hired a Chief Financial Officer, expressly for the purpose of financing, budgeting and setting up for future missions-type work.
The ‘field’ for HM2S is hair restoration education in professional salons and beauty schools. A training curriculum is in the making. The goal is to teach and train salon professionals in a proprietary hair growth and restoration process and understand this hair pulling disorder. This will make hair restoration processes more readily available to ‘Trichstars’ (what HMS2 calls them) and ALL OTHERS that need and want the services. Restored hair, restored beauty, restored life!
“Once everything is ready, we will begin pitching it to hair manufacturers and others helping to form an alliance for change. Our vision is BIG. We know the more we talk about things like ‘trich’ and hair as healing, the more of the stigma we remove from it. This makes it easier for sufferers to come forward and seek out help and assistance without shame.”
For the record, volunteers are allowed to write off certain out of pocket expenses on their taxes. That is helpful later, but in the meantime, in this particular instance, you’re charge the equal of $500 per person (by the organization). For a family of 4 people (1 adult 3 kids) equals $2000 (excludes airfare) for a 3 day volunteer experience……
What do you think? For a volunteer venture…….Pricey or not?
“I kept in contact with a Haitian American I met on the plane. For his family of 4, it would have costed him maximum $800 and rather than working as a volunteer staying at a hostel, he would have been vacationing on a resort.”
For more information regarding the trip to Haiti and what HMS2 future plans can mean for YOU. Contact Board at HelpMe2Stop.org
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