Volunteer Opportunities

Hands Together began as a college volunteer effort that provided Third World experience to students and encouraged participants to become active in fund raising, educational and awareness projects to help Haiti and several American inner-cities. In the last several years, we've steadily moved away from our original emphasis volunteerism and, instead, channeled our primary efforts toward projects that help the poor. There are several reasons for this shift:

  • A politically volatile and often times dangerous environment and a harsh, uncomfortable physical climate that proves very difficult for most people;
  • A worsening in the problems of poverty and squalor that demand immediate attention to alleviating suffering through nutrition, health and education programs;
  • Rapid growth in our Haiti assistance projects and the intentional cultivation of a Haitian staff capable of running all programs (i.e., reduction in the need for outside help);
  • Lack of resources - especially supervisory - to host and support volunteers;
  • Inability to use U.S. volunteer talents and skills quickly and effectively (it usually takes a great deal of time, learning the language, culture and mechanics of Haitian life, before a volunteer can make deep and lasting contributions).

Combined, these factors help shape our current, wary and selective policy toward volunteers. People with experience living in Haiti and with a command of the language obviously make for better candidates than someone who's never set foot in Haiti. People with a special expertise, such as irrigation and farming, medical and health, teacher training, well drilling, building or auto-repair can usually make an immediate and valuable contribution. In most cases, candidates should consider participating on a delegation trip prior to applying for long term volunteer status.

Most Needed Volunteers

Starting January, 2005, Hands Together seeks to host volunteers with special skills. If you have experience in any of the areas listed below and are willing to volunteer, please contact us.

  • Agriculture - Forestry: Current Agricultural and reforestation efforts have reached a point where we need some expertise and help to move forward.
  • Basic Medical Care - We operate several basic medical clinics. ER experience, infectious disease, OBGYN, pediatrics, and trauma care professionals are valuable and needed. Our Haitian staff needs training and experience. If you are a medical doctor, nurse, physicians assistance or nurse practioner looking to offer short-term service please complete our "Medical Personnel Application" and contact our office.
  • Water well drilling and machine operations & repair - We use an Ingersoll Rand T4W rig and a small, portable drilling machine. Both units need maintenance. Also, we need a technician to train a Hatian team to operate the machine and drill wells.
Volunteer Program Philosophy

Our volunteer programs are designed to help Americans better appreciate and understand the plight of the poor and disadvantaged in Haiti. Hands Together volunteers interact, work and live with the poor of Haiti. This philosophy stems from our belief in the innate sacredness of each human being that comes directly from a loving God. We recognize that we are linked to all people and that we are responsible for our own space and time - to be of some service and usefulness to those who enter our space and time. Emphasizing a great respect toward the people we serve, we practice a philosophy of service that encourages immersion into the culture and whenever possible, to affirm the dignity of the Haitian people. We design projects and programs in Haiti to be "Haitian-run", and our volunteers primarily provide advisory and training roles.

HT volunteers not only tap into the deep and lasting joy that comes from giving of oneself, but they also gain a stronger sense of their own tremendous worth as someone whose blessings and God-given talents are shared with this world. Every year, Hands Together enables Americans from all walks of life to directly experience the lives of some of the poorest people in the world.

There are certain basic tenants that provide the foundation for all Hands Together volunteer programs.

  • We believe in a philosophy of service that primarily emphasizes respect and dignity toward the people we serve in Haiti.
  • We believe that serving as a volunteer in Haiti is a privilege.
  • We recognize that volunteering with Hands Together will be physically and emotionally demanding.
  • We embrace a spirituality that emphasizes a belief and trust in a God who loves us all equally (i.e. Americans and Haitians together).

If you share a belief in these tenants then Hands Together might be a volunteer service option for you.