Orphanage Volunteering: Is it Right?
Mexico: 1 Week Volunteer & Adventure Team
50% off Volunteering in Africa
About The Humanity Exchange
What we do:
In partnership with local communities, The Humanity Exchange fosters leadership in international development through volunteer, internship, and language learning programs.
Mission:
To provide an impactful experience abroad for volunteers, while contributing to development in partnership with local communities.
Our work is guided by the principle of humanity. We believe that it is up to each of us to take action and work with our fellow human beings. Our programs contribute to local development efforts and volunteers rise to the ultimate challenge of living, working, and learning abroad. We connect volunteers to the realities of the human condition abroad. We build on years of experience, and are committed to providing the highest quality experiences abroad with the utmost of integrity.
Values
Valued Partnership
- We do not impose on communities. We only send volunteers when and where they are truly needed. Our partners receive volunteers because they truly want a helping hand and to learn from the cultural exchange, not for any other reason. This avoids the experience of a volunteer feeling like they are “being babysat.”
Quality
- We look for volunteers and interns with an open mind, a willingness to learn, and adaptability. We always provide pre-placement support and cultural education. This ensures the best possible experience for both you and your new community.
Experience
- THEX is a dynamic organization. We are driven by a core team with over fifteen years of collective experience facilitating volunteer placements around the globe. Our expertise is drawn from around the globe. This stellar combination means our experts are adept at managing relationships across an array of cultures. What does this translate into for you? We provide you with the best exchange experience possible. Furthermore, you can rest assured that the volunteer work you will be doing will have a significant impact on the community you are working with.
Our Team
Allison Fedorkiw (BSc MA)
Executive Director
Allison is the founder and director of The Humanity Exchange. She started her international career in the Ivory Coast, where she was engaged in work against HIV and AIDS. It didn’t take long before she returned to travel much of the West African region, where she conducted research on both post-conflict reconciliation and child trafficking. In Canada, Allison has had the opportunity to deliver anti-racism education from coast to coast, and she has worked with various marginalized populations including incarcerated youth, homeless, and immigrants and refugees. From the communities where she has lived and worked, Allison has understood firsthand the great impact of volunteerism and fostering leadership in others. It was the combination of these elements that seeded the roots for The Humanity Exchange.
Jules Koffi kan Djaha (BComm. MBA)
Exchange Manager Benin
Jules worked with AIESEC, an international youth organization, for five years. With AIESEC he discovered the power of living diversity. Jules has a passion for both business and the non-profit sector. He took up the role as Exchange Manager in Benin to help his continent which is faced by seemingly more and more challenges every day. Jules has been a part of the team from the inception of The Humanity Exchange. Jules wants to help volunteers discover that travel in Africa can change both a volunteer’s life and the lives of the Africans they meet. Working as Exchange Manager in Benin is a way Jules is able to realize his dream of doing something good for “his dear Africa.”
Annick Akobe epse Akomian (BComm.)
Exchange Manager Cameroon
Akobe is married with three children, two girls and one boy. Akobe has expansive experience managing international teams and youth exchanges. In Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, & South Africa she led international teams implementing projects focused on HIV/AIDS education and youth entrepreneurship. She also spent time working for the Bank of Africa in the Republic of Benin, and has traveled considerably in both Africa and Europe. Originally from Cote d’Ivoire, Akobe moved to Cameroon where her husband works to take care of her family. Her experiences taught her the value of giving back to the community, and this motivates her work with The Humanity Exchange. She joined The Humanity Exchange team while managing the training department at Okalla Ahanda et Associates, an Auditing and Accounting firm.
Modèle Tako ( B.Sc Microbiology)
Program Assistant Cameroon
Tako is a Cameroonian who grew up partly in Nigeria. His community engagement started in1996 when he piloted a community project aimed to combat drug abuse in youths. Tako was the National Coordinator for Global Meeting of Generations, an intergenerational dialogue focusing on poverty alleviation in Nigeria. For two years Tako held the position of Director of Africa for AIESEC International in Holland. He traveled across Africa, Europe, and Americas for the purpose of overseeing International youth exchanges. Tako draws on ten years of experience in developing, Implementing, evaluating, and managing youth leadership programs. His experience in international exchange ensures you are provided with the best platform for your volunteering initiative while maximizing positive impact on local communities.
Diego Armando Arias (B.A. International Business in Progress)
Exchange Manager Colombia
Diego joined The Humanity Exchange in early January 2011. This followed a recent return from India, where he taught project management to undergraduate students. In addition to English and Spanish, Diego speaks Italian. Diego specializes in project management, and brings his experience living overseas into his work at The Humanity Exchange.
Kate Russell (B.Sc. International Studies & Political Science in Progress)
Mexico Team Leader
Kate began her international work experience in Nepal, where she care for and taught English to orphans. She has travelled extensively in Canada, and the interior and west coast of the United States and Mexico. In 2010, Kate was fortunate to be employed by 27 Million Voices, where she was engaged in the movement against human trafficking, and she has remained as an active volunteer. Kate’s interactions with various communities and peoples, during her work and travels, have shown her the benefits of volunteerism and building capacity.
Nicole Majewski
TheX Representative at PEACE Mexico
Originally from the United States, Nicole started working with PEACE several years ago. It has enabled her to be involved with local communities in the beautiful Puerto Vallarta region. Nicole screens and interviews volunteers for PEACE. She also manages aspects of your placement overseas including lodging, language lessons, organization placement, and country specific advice.
Structure
We are a social enterprise which means we operate as a business with primarily social objectives. A social enterprise is a hybrid organization. By combining the best features of a for-profit and a non-profit, a truly effective mechanism for change is created. Unlike traditional for-profits, value is placed not just on profit but also on a social good. Unlike traditional non-profits, it is possible to operate with a relatively small organizational structure, significantly decreasing administration costs. By the way, this is how we were able to keep the average cost of our program fees 20%-60% lower than the majority of similar volunteer-sending organizations.
Why did The Humanity Exchange choose to adopt the social enterprise model?
In addition to charity, there are most definitely effective ways of partnering to achieve positive outcomes in development. By employing local people, investing in local families, and partnering with local communities, we achieve our mission of providing an exceptional international exchange experience, fostering leadership, and contributing to local development efforts.
In short, we have an opportunity work in a more cost-effective manner and contribute to the local economy while reaching our mission. Thus, the positive effects resulting from our work are increased.
Social enterprises are becoming increasingly common today. We do not have the space to fully explain this innovative concept here, and in fact, the concept itself is continually evolving. Click here for a clear and informative overview of the defining elements of a social enterprise. Below are some examples of social enterprises.
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The Cost of Doing Good: Paying to Volunteer
At first, it might seem a bit strange to pay to volunteer, especially considering that you are giving your valuable to time to help out. Here is an explanation of our volunteer fee, which we hope will clarify why it is necessary.
Firstly, most organizations do not have the means to cover the cost of your work with them. If they did, it would be more sustainable for them to use those funds to hire a local person who will be there in the long-term. They will dedicate time, staff, training, and resources, towards ensuring your placement has a positive impact for both you and them. In addition, you will need food, lodging, and guidance while in-country. Your volunteer fee ensures there is no financial burden placed on the host organization, whose resources are already strained.
Secondly, it takes considerable resources to connect volunteers and to prepare volunteers for going overseas. Whether it be print materials, pre-departure information, marketing, or maintaining a website, there are many costs that go into making your volunteer placement happen.
Thirdly, we have a responsibility to reinvest back into the communities where we work by funding partner initiatives. Without charging a volunteer fee, we would not be able to contribute to local communities where we are present.