Money and Fees
Why Pay to Volunteer?
It's a question that we face often because Dragonfly is an independent, grassroots organization with no political or religious ties, and therefore our volunteer projects receive no external funding. We work with groups that are in need of help yet which cannot afford to support extra staff or volunteers. So that there is no burden on the people we are trying to help, we ask for volunteers to cover their own expenses while working.
Though it's possible to plan volunteer opportunities on your own, for so many people the work that Dragonfly does to arrange placements is simply not something they could do themselves without a great deal of time and resources, and probably a lot of frustration. We ensure that you'll be doing worthwhile work in a safe and happy environment, with the appropriate guidance and supervision needed, and that you'll enjoy yourself while doing it.
To do all of this, Dragonfly staff are paid locally-appropriate wages and work tirelessly to give volunteers the best assistance possible. We have no shareholders or absentee owners siphoning off tons of profit. Instead, we work with thin margins to keep costs as low as possible for volunteers coming to make a difference.
Where Your Fees Go
The fees you pay us as a volunteer go directly back into your experience and project operation and development. Dragonfly operates an office in Khorat and a small staff team which handles administration, marketing, project screening, and also all in-country contact with volunteers. As part of your placement, your fees cover your pick-up from the airport, transportation to the project site, accommodation and food (though meals are not available at the gibbon center) training, orientation, visa assistance, and in-country support 24/7.
Your expenses while volunteering are paid directly to the host or project, so that there is no financial burden placed on the children's homes, schools, host families, etc. who we work with. Finally, a part of each volunteer's fee is given to development, so that we can help to maintain good conditions at project sites, invest in training for staff to work with our volunteers, and to help fund smaller projects like constructing new buildings and buying resources for the organizations we're working to support.
Fundraising
Though we strive to keep prices as low as possible, some volunteers can still find the cost of travelling abroad to volunteer daunting. To help offset the cost, we encourage you to work at fundraising in your community. This has the added effect of building awareness of the issues affecting the poor and disadvantaged both at home and abroad. To learn more about how to fundraise and the support Dragonfly provides, please contact us!
Extra Expenses to Bear in Mind
Budgeting for your trip is extremely important, and an extra bit of planning will help you get the most out of your experience with the least amount of worry. To make sure you don't run into any surprises, here's a list of things that may represent an added cost to and are not covered by our program fees:
- -air ticket
- -un-related travel/touring costs, including food, accommodation, and transportation
- -immunizations and medications
- -shopping and entertainment costs
- -visa fees
- -insurance
