Our MissionHaving P.U.R.P.O.S.E, Inc. is a humanitarian organization focusing on improving education, health, social and economic systems one community at a time in Africa and the Caribbean our services are designed to empower the community; and by coordinating service through volunteerism, collaborations, and the creation of coalitions communities will become self-sufficient.
Having P.U.R.P.O.S.E, Inc. mission is to be good agents of positive empowerment for the Caribbean and Africa |
Vision StatementTo live in a world where all people have the employment that they need to meet the needs of themselves or their families. A world where each person especially women, girls or all youth have access to quality education, sanitation and good healthcare that can lead to them being productive and self-sufficient
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You can learn more about our projects by visiting our Facebook page so you can see the photos of the projects and programming.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Your Role?
Benefits of being a volunteer with Having PURPOSE includes: Traveling abroad to Africa and the Caribbean making a difference in people's lives. Your contribution will be meaningful in every way. You will spend your time knowing that your vacation is Having Purpose and lives are being enriched by your presence. You get to learn new languages, experiencing 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. Educators can spend their summers teaching in school in developing communities. As a student who wants an adventure and exposure to other cultures you could spend a summer or winter holiday with us and make a difference. You get to see the fruits of your labor. You will enjoy the benefit of concurrently volunteering your time while vacationing.
Who can volunteer?
We accept individuals, families, groups, and organizations. 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?
Volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum of 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. You will be eager to learn, and will ask “when can I do this again?!”
Do I need a Visa?
Yes, for most African countries you need a visa these days if you are British, American or Canadian, some countries you can get your visas upon arrival in the country, at the port of entry. If you are visiting Africa and you hold a Caribbean passport you probably will not require a visa. We recommended that you forego the long lines at the airport and apply for your visas before departing your home country. Visa fees may change so you can look online at the tourism board for the country you want to travel or check their embassy web pages.
For the Caribbean no visas are recommended for the countries we will be working in and people with most Caribbean passports do not need visas to go to Africa except for Ethiopia
For the Caribbean no visas are recommended for the countries we will be working in and people with most Caribbean passports do not need visas to go to Africa except for Ethiopia
Do I need vaccination?
Yes, for most African countries you will need the yellow fever vaccination and you will have to show your card at the airport. You will also need a covid test to show that you have a negative PCR result. If you have the covid vaccine a country may still opt to test you upon entry. Some countries administer yellow fever shots to you at a minimal cost at the airport upon entry. The embassy websites will tell you what other vaccinations are required, if any at all. The Airline sites, embassy or country tourism pages will advise you if a covid vaccine is mandatory before departing. It is your responsibility to ask about the requirements and know them before you show up at the airport.
No vaccinations are required for Caribbean countries… but this may change where they may begin to require covid vaccines, for now all you need is a negative PCR test before flying.
No vaccinations are required for Caribbean countries… but this may change where they may begin to require covid vaccines, for now all you need is a negative PCR test before flying.
How are these trips funded and arranged?
Volunteers purchase their vacation packages for the length of their stay. You will spend 2-4 days a week for 3-5 hours working at your project site and 3 days a week on sightseeing tours learning about the cultures, the rich history of the nation. We will even set you up with 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. You can see some of our packages at Vacationing with Purpose www.vwptours.com. If you book one of our vacation packages as a volunteer you can write off the trip on your taxes as a charitable donation to Having P.U.R.P.O.S.E, Inc. we will provide you with a receipt. For some people who don't want to volunteer then they can take comfort in the knowledge that a vacation book through our social enterprise Vacationing with Purpose will also support the needs of the community through one of our many projects
We will set you up with a host family in the country you select 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 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 or visit our project tab... so your journey can begin!!!
We will set you up with a host family in the country you select 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 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 or visit our project tab... so your journey can begin!!!
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 organization 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 is still in good condition that we can donate to schools, clinics, etc. You can volunteer your time to help us fundraise by putting us on your media pages. 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 to fund a project. We all need to collectively work together to help our brothers and sisters. Trust that we can find a way for you to give back.
What are our visions and goals?
We want a world where youth and women all have a means of earning for themselves and their families.
We want to create long lasting affiliations such as study abroad programs for schools where students can volunteer their time to teach younger students in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and English. And our volunteers in turn can participate in an educational and cultural immersion program with a local college in the country of choice. This we believe will create new generations of people who work better together with people who are different from themselves because they were exposed to different countries and cultures, developing brighter citizens of the world.
Teachers can also volunteer to do the same and they can combine a vacation and volunteer package.
We are interested in creating long-term voluntary arrangements with medical institutions as well, where all disciplines can volunteer to provide needed medical care in developing nations in West, East, and Southern Africa and the Caribbean.
You can assist us in doing fundraising and by linking us to your social media pages so your friends and family can join us in providing service to the Caribbean and Africa.
We want to develop the next generation of social entrepreneurs and we need your assistance in educating them so we are seeking business personnel to help us educated them on how to create, get funding and scale their business.
We want to expose more people to the true beauty of Africa and the Caribbean and develop collaboration across the world in many sectors that will benefit the youth of these nations.
We want to create long lasting affiliations such as study abroad programs for schools where students can volunteer their time to teach younger students in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and English. And our volunteers in turn can participate in an educational and cultural immersion program with a local college in the country of choice. This we believe will create new generations of people who work better together with people who are different from themselves because they were exposed to different countries and cultures, developing brighter citizens of the world.
Teachers can also volunteer to do the same and they can combine a vacation and volunteer package.
We are interested in creating long-term voluntary arrangements with medical institutions as well, where all disciplines can volunteer to provide needed medical care in developing nations in West, East, and Southern Africa and the Caribbean.
You can assist us in doing fundraising and by linking us to your social media pages so your friends and family can join us in providing service to the Caribbean and Africa.
We want to develop the next generation of social entrepreneurs and we need your assistance in educating them so we are seeking business personnel to help us educated them on how to create, get funding and scale their business.
We want to expose more people to the true beauty of Africa and the Caribbean and develop collaboration across the world in many sectors that will benefit the youth of these nations.