In recent weeks concerns have been voiced over the sustainability and benefits to developing communities from the increasing number of Gap Year Volunteers choosing to work for brief spells overseas with commercial organisations.

Sam Finn just returned from 2 years out in East Africa managing construction and teaching projects for a small development and travel company, Madventurer. She started out as a volunteer working in Kenya’s Rift valley in 2005 and subsequently changed career to work for Madventurer, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. She believes that voluntary work abroad can offer the best possible life experiences and can make a significant and lasting impact on host communities.

“Seeing the effect that my money had on the Primary School I was placed in was overwhelming. We helped build a library and staff room in partnership with the local community. Since then the school has been transformed. Entrance into Secondary School has doubled and the overall morale of the school has totally changed for the better. Parents are attending meetings and pupils are turning up every day. It’s wonderful to know that my short stay in that community is part of a much bigger ripple effect.”  

Over the past 2 years she has lead 9 projects each lasting 5 weeks. From laying foundations in schools to renovating a dispensary, every project has been completed, leaving the communities with a tangible monument to empowerment and opportunity.

“Our volunteers work hard, in physically demanding environments but that’s what they are there for, we want to make a valuable contribution. Madventurer place a member of staff on every project to ensure that our volunteers stay safe and the community’s expectations are met. It’s natural for young people to be uncertain about taking the plunge into volunteering abroad but the rewards are massive; it builds confidence and opens your mind.”

Reassurance is being sought by development charities and in turn potential volunteers; therefore NGOs and travel companies that prioritise grass roots development must respond. In an increasingly competitive market question over high impact and well organised placements has been voiced by charities such as VSO. That is not to say that all travel companies do not give their volunteers a chance to work on effective and sustainable projects in short time frames.

“We have refurbished and built 80 classrooms in Africa alone, laid 5 miles of water pipelines in Peru and dug and built over 20 latrines. Our overall projects have impacted on at least 29,000 people in rural communities. Through the Madventurer Foundation we have donated £300,000 to grass roots initiatives. None of this would have happened without Madventurer and their volunteers.”

Gaining evidence from the communities themselves is the next step for ethical organisations wishing to answer the question mark over their positive impact.

Kenyan Project Engineer, Methenge Ndiritu has worked with Madventurer for 3 years. He has overseen 17 projects with the organisation. He commented

“I am very satisfied with the way Madventurers work especially in the way they identify and in the execution of, the project.  The use of local expertise has been crucial in their success. A school like Ngumo in Kenya had shacks for classrooms. Learning always stopped whenever there were rains and when it was very windy. They now have six good stone walled classrooms thanks to NGOs. The only one that the government attempted in nearly 20 years was condemned before completion! The schools where the volunteers have been have suddenly improved in performance in the national exams.”

Whilst volunteers looking to make a real impact on developing communities should do their homework, Madventurer is a good example of a company that does make a real positive difference to the lives of people in Africa.

Pictured, from Foundation to Finish : Ngecho Primary School, Kenya. June 06. Standard 8 students studying in a Madventurer built classroom within 7 months of the project’s initiation.