WINE TO WATER V O L U N T E E R G U I D E B O O K SERVE WITH US AMAZON DOMINICAN REPUBLIC NEPAL A B O U T W I N E T O W A T E R Wine To Water’s US staff, although small in number, share a huge passion for bringing clean water to folks in need. Our passion unites us and brings us joy as we work with our local partners on the ground. Wine To Water has worked in over 30 countries and have provided clean water to over 600,000 people since our inception. We find it a privilege to currently work in 3 regions (Amazon, Dominican Republic, and Nepal) to support over 30 field staff on 3 continents, as we all work hard to fight the Global Water Crisis together. O ur Mission Wine To Water is committed to supporting life and dignity for all through the power of clean water. W hat We Do Out of the 7.3 billion people on earth, 2.5 billion lack access to basic sanitation and 663 million lack access to clean water. Every 20 seconds a child dies of a waterborne illness and 443 million school days are lost each year from water-related illnesses. Each project is unique, but the common theme is that we use local people in each country. We develop leaders in the community and educate them on proper water and sanitation methods to promote sustainability. Our work empowers the local community to help them meet their ongoing needs. With every project, the common thread in our work is... W ith every project, we work to ensure that the appropriate type of water system is used for each specific community. Our methods include shallow and deep wells, well repairs, ceramic water filters, bio-sand filters, Sawyer filters, rainwater harvest tanks, latrine construction, and sanitation & hygiene education. We strive to: 1) Use local materials whenever possible. 2) Partner with the host community to provide a comprehensive solution to their specific water need. 3) Provide monitoring and evaluation in every project. H O W W E B E G A N Doc Hendley is the founder and international president of Wine To Water. In 2003 he dreamed up the concept of the organization while bartending and playing music in nightclubs around Raleigh, North Carolina. The first fundraiser was held in January of 2004 and by August of that year, Doc was living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the government supporting genocide. When Doc returned home in August of 2005, the haunting memories of what he had seen in Darfur drove him to continue building the organization he had started two years earlier. In 2007, Wine To Water became an official 501(c) 3 non-profit. In 2009, Doc and the work of the Wine To Water team were recognized by the CNN Heroes program, launching the organization’s efforts globally. Doc’s dream, and the goal of Wine To Water is to quench the thirst of those in need. W E L C O M E A Letter from the Director of Volunteer Programs Hello! We are excited that you have chosen to serve with Wine To While, traveling we ask that you keep in mind that you Water as an international volunteer! This is going to be a are a visitor in their country and have the mindset of a great experience with much learning and adventure around learner. It’s key to be very flexible on a volunteer trip every corner. If you’re reading this Guidebook, you have and have a positive attitude as you experience all new probably already jumped through our application hoops things. Many times the hosts and nationals will do things and requirements, so congratulations! Now, it’s time to differently than Westerners and it’s important to submit select your service project and start preparing for your to their leadership, even if you do not fully understand journey. the reasoning behind it. Wine To Water service trips offers a wide range of This Guidebook has a step-by-step list of tasks to experience levels so you can get your feet wet (or dive right complete before your trip. It is your responsibility to in!). For first-time volunteers, we recommend serving in the complete all of these tasks and to familiarize yourself Dominican Republic, where you will have first-hand with the tips and policies in this Guidebook, along with experience in building and distributing water filters to all the other materials provided to you, very carefully. locals in need. Those of you eager for a more daring adventure may prefer a trip to Nepal, digging wells and We are so excited to have you on board as a volunteer trekking through the beautiful Nepali countryside, or in for an international service trip with Wine To Water. South America on the Amazon river, working in remote Your trip is going to be a fun, action-packed and jungle communities. humbling adventure. We hope that this Guidebook is helpful for preparing you for your trip and answers your We must emphasize that Wine To Water service-trips are questions before you depart. Please email Lisa Merritt NOT a vacation. We expect you to come ready to serve, get with any questions at [email protected]. your hands dirty, and work hard for the duration of the trip. Your tasks will include community development and water Thank you for being willing to serve, for getting out of projects, and you will be working directly with our ground your comfort zone, for raising money to provide clean partners throughout your service experience. All water around the world, and for caring enough to come volunteers should keep in mind that they are not to help us. We are so glad you’ve decided to join us! superheroes flying into these villages to save lives. By Welcome to the Wine To Water Team! working alongside locals and maintaining partnerships, we are able to provide sustainable clean water and educational resources. LISA MERRITT As an international traveler, there is a lot to consider before boarding your flight. The first thing to keep in mind is that you are about to enter into a completely different DIRECTOR OF culture than what you’re used to. Different doesn’t mean VOLUNTEER bad or wrong, it simply means different. You will experience PROGRAMS a different language, different foods, different 770.851.4132 environments and different customs from the locals. [email protected] S T E P S T O T A K E A S A N I N D I V I D U A L V O L U N T E E R 1. Apply here: Volunteer Application. 2. Once accepted, decide on the country in which you want to volunteer: Amazon, Dominican Republic, or Nepal. 3. Decide on the best dates for your desired country. 4. Register for your trip using the link provided in your volunteer acceptance email. 7. We recommend that you talk to your medical provider 5. Start raising money and awareness for regarding travel immunizations and vaccines for your specified your trip! Begin your campaign with area of travel. GiveEffect! After creating your own a. Although we do not require immunizations, we highly campaign page under your desired trip, you encourage you to check with your doctor or Governmental Travel can share it online to raise donations from Department for recommended vaccinations and medicines. family and friends! b. Donations can also be made by check. 8. Have your entire payment uploaded on your W|W GiveEffect Please make all checks payable to Wine To Campaign page NO LATER THAN 60 DAYS PRIOR to your Water and personally collect them before departure date. sending them into us. When you have the a. This means any time between when you have been accepted full amount raised, write “Volunteer in and the 60-day mark. YOUR COUNTRY-YOUR NAME” on the memo line of each check and mail it to: b. All major credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Wine To Water-Volunteer Programs/ PO AMX). Box 2567/ Boone, NC 28607. c. You may send a check to the main W|W office, but cards are 6. Obtain all necessary travel documents preferred. Checks must be in our office by the 60-day mark. (passports and visas). a. Many times the airlines will not allow you 9. Check with the Volunteer Coordinator before making your to travel if your passport only has 6 months flight arrangements, but once you have received confirmation to before expiration. purchase your flight, submit your flight information HERE. Look over all resources given by this Guidebook, as well as the b. Apply for a visa, if it is required for your additional resources (i.e. InfoBook, Websites, and Travel Advice). trip. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOLUNTEERS THERE ARE 5 MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL PARTICIPANTS: 1. BE RESPECTFUL a. We are very blessed to be given the opportunity to travel and work with this organization and country. b. Not only does this apply to the people you are traveling with, but to the people of the country. Be culturally sensitive. Be respectful towards the way they live their lives. Listen more, talk less. 2. BE FLEXIBLE a. When dealing with international trips, it is hard to have every detail planned out. Be ready for the unexpected, because plans will change! b. Be spontaneous! Live in the moment and be excited! 3. EDUCATE YOURSELF a.