2013 Short-term Volunteer Trip
2/27/2013--3/8/2013
Chris Little and Susan Poisson-Dollar, AAI Board President
and former AAI Director of Development respectively, will be leading a short-term volunteer trip
to Ethiopia for a maximum of 12 participants.
The dates for this year’s trip are February 27 – March 8th, 2013. Chris and Susan have each visited Ethiopia
numerous times and also have significant experience hosting volunteer groups
both in the U.S. and Ethiopia. They
enjoy sharing their love for and knowledge of their “adopted” country with new
people. AAI's in-country staffalso enjoy sharing their knowledge and expertise with visitors.
The land cost for the trip is $1400 and includes airport
pick-up in Addis, lodging (single occupancy, discount for sharing),
transportation and some meals in Addis as well as a donation to Adoption
Advocates International’s humanitarian projects in the country. Flight costs will depend on the participant’s
home city but are currently ranging between $1300-1700 round trip from most
parts of the country. Participants will
have the option of joining either of the group leaders on their flights or of
arranging one independently. Depending
on the interests of the group, excursions outside of Addis can be arranged and
the travel agent we are working with can also help organize add-on tours to
other parts of Ethiopia.
All participants will be expected to get a criminal
background check prior to the trip or submit one received in the last two
years. They will also be asked to carry
supplies for AAI’s partner orphanages and other nonprofits. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required
by February 1, 2013 to secure a spot on the trip and participants are also
required to have personal health insurance and to purchase a travel insurance
plan (generally very inexpensive).
Please contact Susan Poisson-Dollar (spdfish1234@gmail.com) or Chris Little
(family@little-little.com) for
more details or to reserve your spot on the trip.
There will be opportunities to tutor children, teach
English, work at our facility for developmentally-delayed children (Opportunity
House), visit local nonprofits and to experience Ethiopian cultural traditions.
We may be asked to paint rooms and do
other similar projects at partner orphanages.
Chris and Susan do not believe in rigid schedules but instead they
strive to meet each participant’s personal
goals for the experience. People
with specific skills may wish to work in-depth on one project while others
volunteering for the first time may prefer a more flexible, exploratory
experience. Excursions will include
trips to shop for fairly-traded handicrafts, visits to other nonprofit projects
serving orphans and vulnerable children and a dinner at a cultural restaurant
featuring traditional dance and food.
