Volunteering for Tsunami Relief
requires that you have
1. A plan for where to stay,
2. Backing to carry out your mission,
3. Respect for the people you are helping,
4. No personal health issues,
5. Significant validating skills to justify your intrusion onto the damaged localities that you are helping. ....
Where to stay: Have a start/return address confirmed,
and you can venture from it.....
Backing: Working for free is a myth. Volunteers need to be functional and material goods and cash are the gas and oil for your engine. You should mistrust exploitive or misdirected parties who actually want you to perform for nothing, Don't expect any on-site communities to help you.....
Respect: Third world denizens are not backward. Do not control or object to their diets and customs. You are working within their self help sphere......
Health issues: You cannot bring communicable diseases to the third world and if you need medical maintenance, stay away. Leave your smoking, booze and biting pets behind.....
Skills: Practical civil engineering categories, foreign language, proper food handling and preparation, customer service, and communications. Be ready to radically change roles and wear several hats well. Work effectively with helpers and don't get anyone in trouble.
Prof. Klystron
