Last updated: November 7, 2008

Come work with us and share your time and your heart with these kids. The group process of improving their living conditions and building a structure will add yet another dimension to your experience.

Return home with new construction skills, new friends and amazing memories!

All meals, snacks, water and accommodations will be provided on site.

Volunteer Prep and Planning Meetings

For those headed to Africa, Volunteer preparation and planning meetings are held from 6:30 - 7:30 pm at the Lake Union Crew boathouse on the first Wednesday of every month from July through November 2008. Stay abreast of the latest information and enjoy refreshments with your fellow volunteers.

Check back soon for more information on preparing for your trip, including:

• Vaccination group rate available to all volunteers
• A packing list

Passport and Visa Information

No visa is required to travel in South Africa and Lesotho. If your passport is nearing expiration, allow plenty of time for renewal. Important: Current regulations stipulate your passport must not expire within 6 months of your return date. Airlines check this and will not let you board, so if you need to renew, allow plenty of time for that process.

Volunteer Requirements

• Must be at least 12 years old.
• If under 18, must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• Must have CDC-recommended vaccinations
• Must sign a liability waiver form (available soon)

Registration

To register, please complete the Registration Form and Food Preferences Form and return both with your registration fee to the address listed on the form. The tax-deductible registration fee goes toward transportation between the Johannesburg airport and the project site as well as meals and lodging at the site. The fee is $300 for the week and $200 for each additional week.

Waiver

Volunteers must submit a completed Waiver form prior to departure for Lesotho. Please print the appropriate waiver, sign, and mail to the address listed at the end of the form.

• Adult Waiver
• Minor Waiver
  

Packing List

Please review the information below as you prepare for travel. Keep in mind that the week onsite is very casual. You will need mostly work clothes.

Clothing

With the warm/hot weather in Lesotho in Nov/Dec/Jan and occasional rainfall, we highly recommend that you pack cool, lightweight clothing as well as a poncho/rain jacket. Following are clothing suggestions for the volunteers, (in addition to your normal packing list):

• Comfortable light-weight clothing
• Long or 3/4 length durable pants (to protect your legs)
• Short-sleeved shirts
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Hat
• Close-toed work shoes - like old sneakers
• Flip-flops/shower shoes
• Bandana/handkerchief
• Towel – highly absorbent travel towel if possible
• PJ's – Keep in mind where you are staying, these are group facilities and not air-conditioned
• Packing tip: Work clothes will get dirty every day so don’t bother over packing you can wear work clothes for several days Clean socks for your feet are very important, pack a few extra pairs

Toiletries

• LOTS OF BANDAIDS - protect your skin before it blisters!
• NewSkin or Second Skin - protect your skin after it blisters
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer - such as Purell
• Sun block (SPF 15 or higher) - lots of it!
• Insect repellent containing 40% DEET
• Menstrual supplies
• Extra pair of prescription glasses, copy of prescription, protective glasses case
• Spare contact lenses and all cleaning materials
• Soap
• Skin moisturizer
• Shampoo, conditioner
• Toothbrush, toothpaste
• Lip-balm with sunscreen
• Personal first aid supplies (we'll have a full kit)
• Packing tip - place all your lotions/liquids inside zip lock bags and place in your checked-in luggage

Miscellaneous

• Flashlight
• Camera/film/batteries
• Electricity converter
• Sunglasses
• Personal medical supplies (e.g., prescription medication) should be carried in original, labeled containers. (Unlabeled medication can be confiscated at airports.)
• Malaria medicine (if you're going on safari or traveling to malaria-affected areas)
• Sleep sack & pillow
• Binoculars if you're going on safari
• Journal, pen
• Detergent if you want to wash something out at night
• Photos of your friends/family at home to share with kids and hosts
• Gifts for Lesotho children (we'll discuss at meeting)

Tools

• Work gloves (leather and rubber)
• Safety goggles
• Dust mask
• Knee pads
• Swiss army knife
• Pencil
• Packing tips: Label all your own things! Work clothes will get dirty every day so don’t bother over packing you can wear work clothes for several days Clean socks for your feet are very important, pack a few extra pairs

Do Not Pack

Almost as important as what to pack is what not to pack. Basically, don't pack anything you're not willing to lose. Do not wear expensive items (watches / jewelry), and do not wear fancy or expensive clothes.

High poverty and unemployment exist in parts of South Africa and much of Lesotho. This coupled with a growing tourist industry is bound to translate into some occasional unpleasantness. The usual rules of common sense need apply at all times, which require that you do not put yourself at any unnecessary risk.

Recommendations for packing

Have a carry-on with what you'll need for 24 hours after arrival in case your checked luggage is missed. If at all possible, travel in duffel bags, sports bags, or something "soft", instead of suitcases - they cram more easily into the van! If the duffel is not waterproof/dustproof, put items in plastic bags inside the duffel for extra protection.

Pack leaky items (shampoo, lotions) in zip lock bags - and tighten the cap right before you put them in. You may also want to pack things such as contact lens supplies and any other personal needs in zip lock bags to protect them from dust.

The US State Department has posted the following information:

There is a serious baggage pilferage problem at Johannesburg International Airport, also known as Oliver Tambo International Airport, in South Africa. Persons traveling by air to Lesotho must travel via Johannesburg. The pilferage problem particularly affects travelers changing airlines and those flying on smaller airlines. Passengers flying on major international carriers may not be affected to the same degree. Travelers are encouraged to secure their luggage, use an airport plastic wrapping service, and avoid placing currency, electronics, jewelry, cameras or other valuables in checked luggage. Make an inventory of items in checked baggage to aid in claims processing if theft does occur. The claims processing procedure can be time-consuming.

Luggage to be hand carried

• Itinerary (your flight details)
• Airline tickets
• Passport and copy of photograph page
• Vaccination Certificate (if any) and copy
• List of current medications and prescriptions
• Personal medication & prescriptions, with extra supplies
• Emergency Contact Information
• Spending Money
• Traveler’s checks and purchase agreement
• Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses (and supplies)
• Cameras, electronics, jewelry, other valuables (and ask yourself... what do you really need to bring?)

Other Information

Currency

The Loti, denoted by LSL, is the official currency of the Kingdom of Lesotho in Africa. The Loti (plural "maloti") is subdivided into 100 lisente (singular "sente"). The LSL is pegged to the South African Rand on a 1:1 basis and both currencies are considered legal tender within Lesotho. We recommend you carry South African Rand and request Rand for change when shopping in Lesotho. This way your currency will be useful in both countries.

Internet

There is no internet at the work site. Safari-goers - there is internet at Billy's Lodge but not at Paradise camp or at River Lodge.

Cell Phones

There are a variety of options for communication in South Africa and Lesotho - too many to list here. For reference, when we went in April we took our own phone and rented a Sim card in South Africa that had roaming capability in Lesotho. It did not have a data plan so while we could send text messages we could not connect to the internet. The Sim card we rented was through South Africa Vodacom. Our signal strength at the job site was not strong and intermittent.

Questions to ask yourself as you research your options are:

• Will you be using your own phone? If so, does is have the right band coverage? And is it unlocked - meaning can it take a Sim card from another provider?
• Will you be rent or buy a Sim card for your own phone?
• Will roaming charges apply?
• How do these costs compare to renting a phone while there?

Power Adapters

South Africa and Lesotho operate on 220/230V power. They use a plug style that is unlike most others in the world, as you can see at this link. Most electronics (camera, computer, cell phone) can already handle the conversion of 110 to 220 (you can see it on the power cord boxes - it will say 110-230V for example), so all you need is the plug adapter. Here is a link to an inexpensive one from Amazon, but you can buy them wherever you like, of course!

Baggage Allowances

Thanks to Anna Leavitt for compiling the following information.