Volunteer in Ethiopia this summer 2024 (July 29th - August 9th, 2024) & support Deaf children and their families!

Visions Global Empowerment ("Visions") is a US-based nonprofit organization committed to enabling sustainable development through education, leadership, and technology. Since 2003, we have been helping to break the cycle of poverty for those affected by poverty, conflict, disability, and gender discrimination.

This summer we are heading back to Ethiopia to work with our local counterparts at Visions Ethiopia in helping to support our ongoing efforts to educate and empower the deaf community in Ethiopia! We will be based out of our Visions Center for the Deaf and Visions Academy - School for the Deaf in Hawassa, capital of the Sidama Region in southern Ethiopia where we will spend 8 nights / 9 days working with deaf children, their families, and the community at-large. At the end of the trip, we will spend 2 nights relaxing and visiting some fascinating sites in and around the nation’s bustling capital Addis Ababa.

Our summer service trips are open to anyone and everyone regardless of professional background, nationality, age, linguistic proficiencies, abilities/disabilities, and so on. While these trips tend to be quite focused on the service work, we still find plenty of time to immerse ourselves in the culture, make local connections, have fun, learn, and explore!

Visions endeavors to enable equitable inclusion for all and to make reasonable accommodations as it is able to ensure that everyone who wishes to participate in this experience is able to do so equally. If you have any accessibility requirements or requests, please share those details with us.

*Please visit our website for more information and links to all relevant documents, including volunteer application form: https://www.visionsglobalempowerment.org/volunteer-program

ITINERARY

July 29, 2024 - Date of arrival into Addis Ababa where we will spend 1 night; individual airport pick-up arrangements will be made for each volunteer depending on your arrival details (hotel: TBD)

July 30, 2024 - Domestic flight to Hawassa in the afternoon where we will be spending the following 8 nights; visit Visions Center for the Deaf and meet with Visions Ethiopia staff and volunteers (hotel: Haile Resort Hawassa or comparable)

July 31 - August 6, 2024 - Conduct service activities with Deaf students, their families, and the community at-large with periodic sightseeing in / around Hawassa throughout

August 7, 2024 - Return domestic flight to Addis Ababa for 2 days of sightseeing & relaxation (hotel: Hilton Addis Ababa, Haile Resort Addis Ababa, or comparable)

August 9, 2024 - Day in Addis Ababa; return international flight home (*typically departing flights are offered only late at night or early morning the following day)

PROGRAM FEE

Your trip program fee of $2200/person includes all of the following:

• e-Visa (tourist visa valid for 30 days, single entry; fee is $82)
• Double room / shared accommodation for 11 nights at mid-range hotels (*single room accommodation will incur an additional charge)
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and bottled water for the duration of the trip itinerary (12 days)
• Emergency medical evacuation insurance
• All scheduled cultural activities and related entry & guide fees
• Roundtrip domestic airfare, including check-in baggage allowance (Addis Ababa —> Hawassa)
• Local transportation (either by local trishaws/taxis or by a privately hired vehicle & driver) for the duration of the trip itinerary (12 days)
• Essential tips for hotel and restaurant staff, drivers, guides, etc.
• Shared expenses related to having Visions Trip Lead with the group throughout our stay and all service programming activities

*The trip program fee does not include the cost of international roundtrip airfare, alcoholic beverages, or any personal shopping.

*Payment plans are available for those who are interested in paying incrementally throughout the year!

*There is a possible travel grant opportunity through the AllPeopleBeHappy Foundation: https://www.allpeoplebehappy.org/about

APPLY NOW!

To apply, simply fill out the “2024 Visions Volunteer Application & Release” form and mail us your application to:

Visions Global Empowerment

18800 Von Karman Avenue, Suite A

Irvine, CA 92612

We look forward to having you join us in Ethiopia this summer!!