Comments on: Chile Earthquake: How to Help, Volunteer Opportunities http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities Blog for all things Latin American Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:26:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: admin http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-779 admin Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:26:03 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-779 We have no say in whether Surgicorps can work in post-earthquake Chile. You should contact the organizations currently working in the field to find out if they need your expertise. We have no say in whether Surgicorps can work in post-earthquake Chile. You should contact the organizations currently working in the field to find out if they need your expertise.

]]> By: dave fortun http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-760 dave fortun Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:58:22 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-760 Surgicorps is a medical non-profit that travels to developing countries to provide medical care. This year, we will have traveled to Bhutan, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Vietnam. A June Colombia mission had to be cancelled, and we would like to know if a team of plastic surgeons and support staff could find a place to work post-earthquake in Chile then. Dave Fortun Surgicorps International Surgicorps is a medical non-profit that travels to developing countries to provide medical care. This year, we will have traveled to Bhutan, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Vietnam. A June Colombia mission had to be cancelled, and we would like to know if a team of plastic surgeons and support staff could find a place to work post-earthquake in Chile then.
Dave Fortun
Surgicorps International

]]> By: admin http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-641 admin Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:13:57 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-641 If you are heading to Chile to offer your help there might be opportunities to join a grassroots organization or help out in the area you visit (i.e. aid distribution, helping the homeless, etc). You just need to ask around and keep your eye on notice boards in language schools, hostels, community centres, local shops and businesses. If you are heading to Chile to offer your help there might be opportunities to join a grassroots organization or help out in the area you visit (i.e. aid distribution, helping the homeless, etc). You just need to ask around and keep your eye on notice boards in language schools, hostels, community centres, local shops and businesses.

]]> By: admin http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-614 admin Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:13:33 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-614 We offer no assistance in connecting volunteers to disaster relief agencies and non-government organizations involved in disaster relief. You are responsible for finding a suitable organization to work for and making all the arrangements for your stay. We offer no assistance in connecting volunteers to disaster relief agencies and non-government organizations involved in disaster relief.

You are responsible for finding a suitable organization to work for and making all the arrangements for your stay.

]]> By: Marc Poitras http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-608 Marc Poitras Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:57:43 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-608 Hello! I am in the same boat as the people above. I have a non-refundable flight to Santiago Tuesday March 9, 2010. I have to go. I am wondering if it is possible to link up with one of the said organizations at the airport. Will they be recruiting there? I am young and able-bodied and can do anything you ask me to do. I speak English, French and have a functioning knowledge of Spanish. I want to help and am confirmed on my flight to Santiago for Tuesday. Please let me know how I can help! Thank you. Hello!
I am in the same boat as the people above. I have a non-refundable flight to Santiago Tuesday March 9, 2010. I have to go. I am wondering if it is possible to link up with one of the said organizations at the airport.

Will they be recruiting there?

I am young and able-bodied and can do anything you ask me to do. I speak English, French and have a functioning knowledge of Spanish.

I want to help and am confirmed on my flight to Santiago for Tuesday. Please let me know how I can help!

Thank you.

]]> By: admin http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-603 admin Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:01:33 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-603 Please only engage in direct travel to Chile as part of an established charity or organization who can demonstrate that they have proper logistical and security support. Many good hearted people want to rush in and ‘do something’ in the event of a natural disaster such as the earthquake that has hit Chile. Although these are very admirable instincts this is often the wrong thing to do. In the immediate hours and days following a catastrophe aid agencies, governments and international organizations enact pre-arranged disaster plans involving very experienced and specialist staff with full logistical support. Getting together with a group of friends or just jetting to an area like this on your own can create even more problems on the ground for them and it is potentially highly dangerous for you. Many agencies have already established disaster relief funds and requests for essential supplies. Although there is a desire in most of us to get hands-on and help, the money and goods collected by these funds will provide important support in the longer term as the people of Chile affected by this earthquake slowly rebuild their families, homes and businesses. So far there has not been a great need for volunteer assistance in Chile. We will continue to monitor the situation to see if more volunteer teams are needed in the future. Please only engage in direct travel to Chile as part of an established charity or organization who can demonstrate that they have proper logistical and security support.

Many good hearted people want to rush in and ‘do something’ in the event of a natural disaster such as the earthquake that has hit Chile. Although these are very admirable instincts this is often the wrong thing to do.

In the immediate hours and days following a catastrophe aid agencies, governments and international organizations enact pre-arranged disaster plans involving very experienced and specialist staff with full logistical support. Getting together with a group of friends or just jetting to an area like this on your own can create even more problems on the ground for them and it is potentially highly dangerous for you.

Many agencies have already established disaster relief funds and requests for essential supplies. Although there is a desire in most of us to get hands-on and help, the money and goods collected by these funds will provide important support in the longer term as the people of Chile affected by this earthquake slowly rebuild their families, homes and businesses.

So far there has not been a great need for volunteer assistance in Chile. We will continue to monitor the situation to see if more volunteer teams are needed in the future.

]]> By: Alan http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-598 Alan Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:27:21 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-598 Hey I have the same problem as Paddy I would really love to do something to help out, I am in Bolivia at the moment and can be in Chile within two weeks or later if needed? Even if the response teams dont need us now is there anything we can do for the local people or will there be an opportunity in the coming weeks for something? Hey I have the same problem as Paddy I would really love to do something to help out, I am in Bolivia at the moment and can be in Chile within two weeks or later if needed?

Even if the response teams dont need us now is there anything we can do for the local people or will there be an opportunity in the coming weeks for something?

]]> By: admin http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-590 admin Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:49:43 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-590 Paddy It is fully understandable why you and many other concerned people want to help but unless you’re part of a disaster response team/relief assignment you’re going to get in the way right now and possibly cause new problems. At the moment monetary donations are the most effective and efficient means of providing relief to Chilean earthquake victims. Take care Paddy

It is fully understandable why you and many other concerned people want to help but unless you’re part of a disaster response team/relief assignment you’re going to get in the way right now and possibly cause new problems.

At the moment monetary donations are the most effective and efficient means of providing relief to Chilean earthquake victims.

Take care

]]> By: Paddy Bleakley http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/chile-earthquake-how-to-help-volunteer-opportunities/comment-page-1#comment-560 Paddy Bleakley Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:49:06 +0000 http://www.volunteerlatinamericablog.com/?p=1270#comment-560 I am a British national, from Frodsham in Cheshire, staying in Santiago's Bella Vista district. We were here when the earthquake struck. I am on a world tour with my friend and when we saw the devastation our first though was that we wanted to do something to help. It is a goal of mine in life to be able to have a job that directly helps people in crisis or that are less fortunate than myself. I am 24 and my friend Mark Bazley is 22 and we are both fit and healthy. We were going to go to Conception on our own but have been advised against it, as it is better to help as part of an organised group with experience such as yourselves. If we can be of any assistance at all to the effort then please let us know. We are willing to do anything we can. Thankyou for your time in reading this message and i await your reply. Good Luck with your efforts, Paddy Bleakley I am a British national, from Frodsham in Cheshire, staying in Santiago’s Bella Vista district. We were here when the earthquake struck. I am on a world tour with my friend and when we saw the devastation our first though was that we wanted to do something to help. It is a goal of mine in life to be able to have a job that directly helps people in crisis or that are less fortunate than myself. I am 24 and my friend Mark Bazley is 22 and we are both fit and healthy. We were going to go to Conception on our own but have been advised against it, as it is better to help as part of an organised group with experience such as yourselves. If we can be of any assistance at all to the effort then please let us know. We are willing to do anything we can. Thankyou for your time in reading this message and i await your reply.

Good Luck with your efforts,

Paddy Bleakley

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