Frequently Asked Questions
How do I benefit?
The benefits of being a volunteer with Having PURPOSE includes:
Who can volunteer?
We accept individuals, groups, or families. We welcome all institutions such as churches, schools, businesses, etc. We accept high school and college students, medical professionals, business personnel, teachers, senior citizens, construction workers, unskilled and skilled individuals who just want to give back. We can find a place for you and a project for you.
How long is a typical trip or project?
Volunteer are expected to commit to a minimum of 1- 2 weeks. Some projects will extend up to 12 weeks. Trips are an all-inclusive package of charity, volunteerism, and vacation. You stay as long as you want because when it is done you will know that you vacationed with P.U.R.P.O.S.E and you return home feeling refreshed and fulfilled and eager to learn when can I do it again!
Do I need a Visa?
Yes, for most African countries you need a visa these days, some you can get in country at port of entry when you arrive. We recommended that you forego the long lines at the airport and apply for your visas before departing the USA. Visa fees may change so you can look online at the tourism board for the country you want to travel or check their embassy websites. And for most African countries if you have a Caribbean passport you may not need a visa. We are here to help you with this process as needed.
For the Caribbean countries that we have projects, visas are not required.
Do I need vaccination?
Yes, for some Africa countries you will need the minimum of the yellow fever vaccine and you will have to show your card at the airport. Some countries administer the shots to you at a minimal cost at the airport upon entry. Their embassy websites will tell you what vaccinations are required, if any at all. No vaccinations are required for Caribbean countries; except for all countries we now have to show that we have had the COVID vaccine.
How are these trips funded and arranged?
Volunteers purchase their vacation packages for the length of their stay. You will spend 3-4 days a week for 5-8 hours working at your project site and 3 days a week on sightseeing tours learning about the culture, the rich history of the nation, we will even set you up with a language tutors so you can learn the native dialects. Having P.U.R.P.O.S.E will arrange your vacation package which includes accommodations, with 3 meals daily, airport pickup and drop off and most of your excursions for one low cost. We will set you up with a host family in the country you have selected or you can stay in a hotel or B&B; it does not matter which accommodation you select. You will enjoy your vacation and participate in a project. You will have a team leader assigned and a project manager to address any concerns that you have. Staff will be available to you for the duration of your stay. We promise you an awesome experience, contact us to learn more about which projects are coming up that you can be a part of... so your journey can begin!!!. And at the end of your journey you can write off your vacation as an in-kind contribution to our organization because you volunteered and shared your skills.
You want to help but cannot afford to travel overseas at this time?
You still can volunteer your time to be the liaison between us and your organizations, so we can present to them to join us as volunteers, donors or funders. You can do a book drive on our behalf so we can give to libraries. You can tell us where agencies may be upgrading their offices and will be throwing out all the old equipment that are still in good conditions that we can donate to schools, hospitals, etc. You can volunteer your time to help us fundraise by putting us on your media pages. You can spread the news on the good work we are doing. You can find us donors, host an event or become one of our fundraising champions by doing your own events that funds a project. You can help us write grants and source other needed resources. You can also tell us how you think you can add value to our work. We all need to collectively work together to help our brothers and sisters.
What are our vision and goals?
The benefits of being a volunteer with Having PURPOSE includes:
- You get a tax write off for volunteering with us.
- You get to travel to Africa and the Caribbean making a difference and enriching people's lives.
- You will learn new languages, experience new cultures, their norms and values.
- You can help to save lives as a medical professional.
- You can help to build infrastructures like sanitation and water systems, schools, clinics and hospitals.
- You as an Educators can spend your summers teaching and improving STEAM learning in schools in developing communities.
- As a study abroad or volunteer student you get to learn, grow, have an adventure while spending a summer or winter holiday with us giving back and changing lives.
- You will enjoy the benefit of concurrently volunteering your time, while vacationing.
- You will see the fruits of your labor.
Who can volunteer?
We accept individuals, groups, or families. We welcome all institutions such as churches, schools, businesses, etc. We accept high school and college students, medical professionals, business personnel, teachers, senior citizens, construction workers, unskilled and skilled individuals who just want to give back. We can find a place for you and a project for you.
How long is a typical trip or project?
Volunteer are expected to commit to a minimum of 1- 2 weeks. Some projects will extend up to 12 weeks. Trips are an all-inclusive package of charity, volunteerism, and vacation. You stay as long as you want because when it is done you will know that you vacationed with P.U.R.P.O.S.E and you return home feeling refreshed and fulfilled and eager to learn when can I do it again!
Do I need a Visa?
Yes, for most African countries you need a visa these days, some you can get in country at port of entry when you arrive. We recommended that you forego the long lines at the airport and apply for your visas before departing the USA. Visa fees may change so you can look online at the tourism board for the country you want to travel or check their embassy websites. And for most African countries if you have a Caribbean passport you may not need a visa. We are here to help you with this process as needed.
For the Caribbean countries that we have projects, visas are not required.
Do I need vaccination?
Yes, for some Africa countries you will need the minimum of the yellow fever vaccine and you will have to show your card at the airport. Some countries administer the shots to you at a minimal cost at the airport upon entry. Their embassy websites will tell you what vaccinations are required, if any at all. No vaccinations are required for Caribbean countries; except for all countries we now have to show that we have had the COVID vaccine.
How are these trips funded and arranged?
Volunteers purchase their vacation packages for the length of their stay. You will spend 3-4 days a week for 5-8 hours working at your project site and 3 days a week on sightseeing tours learning about the culture, the rich history of the nation, we will even set you up with a language tutors so you can learn the native dialects. Having P.U.R.P.O.S.E will arrange your vacation package which includes accommodations, with 3 meals daily, airport pickup and drop off and most of your excursions for one low cost. We will set you up with a host family in the country you have selected or you can stay in a hotel or B&B; it does not matter which accommodation you select. You will enjoy your vacation and participate in a project. You will have a team leader assigned and a project manager to address any concerns that you have. Staff will be available to you for the duration of your stay. We promise you an awesome experience, contact us to learn more about which projects are coming up that you can be a part of... so your journey can begin!!!. And at the end of your journey you can write off your vacation as an in-kind contribution to our organization because you volunteered and shared your skills.
You want to help but cannot afford to travel overseas at this time?
You still can volunteer your time to be the liaison between us and your organizations, so we can present to them to join us as volunteers, donors or funders. You can do a book drive on our behalf so we can give to libraries. You can tell us where agencies may be upgrading their offices and will be throwing out all the old equipment that are still in good conditions that we can donate to schools, hospitals, etc. You can volunteer your time to help us fundraise by putting us on your media pages. You can spread the news on the good work we are doing. You can find us donors, host an event or become one of our fundraising champions by doing your own events that funds a project. You can help us write grants and source other needed resources. You can also tell us how you think you can add value to our work. We all need to collectively work together to help our brothers and sisters.
What are our vision and goals?
- We simply want to bring people together, uniting them to work on projects with local communities each learning from the other, building together and as our name suggest we want to ensure that each person has a sense of PURPOSE!
- We want to get more people to volunteer, to give of themselves. As a volunteer based organization the more people we can bring together the more work we can get done! Our primary goal is to make all human beings self-sufficient, with a clear understanding of their communal and global responsibility to themselves, each other and our world
- We want to collaborate with entertainers to do sporting events, plays, concerts and festivals to fund projects, then the entertainers roll up their sleeves and get involved, learn more at Having Purpose Entertainment www.havingpurposeent.org
- We want you to come on vacation with us! You can learn more about some of our packages at www.vacationingwithpurpose.com or www.vwptours.com, we want to build networks of organizations, groups and individuals working together for the good of each other.