AAI Short Term Volunteer Trip--February 2013

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.