Often led by an NGO, the humanitarian mission abroad is an international volunteering project that can be complex to organise. This type of humanitarian action requires the commitment of professionals, as well as excellent preparation in order to provide effective assistance.
Doing humanitarian work abroad
It is relevant to have the humanitarian association of public utility (ARUP) recognised, in order to be able to go on a mission abroad. This status provides financial benefits (donations and bequests), as well as better recognition by the public. This detail can be advantageous in creating a link with the local populations you want to help.
The recognition of public utility is approved by decree of the Council of State. To do so, however, the association must meet several criteria:
- be a so-called non-profit association of general interest,
- have an influence and influence beyond the local context,
- demonstrate democratic functioning and organization,
- benefit from a solid financial balance,
- have a number of members of the association of more or less 200 people.
For more information on the status of recognition of public utility, check out the article entirely dedicated to the subject directly on our blog!
Organizing a Humanitarian Mission Abroad: A Matter of Preparation
Choose your destination and cause
The choice of the destination of your solidarity mission must depend on the help you wish to provide. You need to find a humanitarian cause that is related to your association and the ideas it defends. International humanitarian missions generally intervene in Africa, South America or Central America. It is also possible to choose a destination in Europe or in the European Economic Area.
Volunteer missions abroad are generally carried out in developing countries or countries in difficulty (political, economic, educational or social). You can also find a humanitarian mission to carry out in areas that have suffered natural disasters. Before you start organizing the humanitarian trip, it is best to create a link or partnership with the local population with whom you wish to intervene.
Organize a seminar
The development of a humanitarian mission can be complex and requires careful preparation. We recommend that you organise a seminar dedicated to the organisation of your project, during which you will explain the guidelines. This will allow you to continue your preparations more serenely.
During this seminar, you will:
- Present the humanitarian mission: from its main objective to the programme of its execution,
- Explain the different requirements for participation in the project: passport, vaccines, cost, health insurance, social coverage, etc.
- Open registrations and check with all volunteers if they meet the requested modalities, as well as their motivations! Volunteering abroad can sometimes be a difficult project to bear. The proper selection of volunteers to participate in the humanitarian mission is an essential step on which the success of the project is based,
- Open the dialogue by answering the questions of each volunteer and avoiding any doubts that may remain after the presentation. This last point will allow everyone to make an informed commitment.
The team to be put in place
Going on a humanitarian mission is a large-scale project that relies on volunteering. It requires, in addition to a well-developed organization, the recruitment of professionals from the trades corresponding to the mission. School teachers if it is a mission abroad for educational purposes (child care, education, tutoring), construction or building professionals for solidarity construction projects, or doctors and nurses as part of medical aid or prevention missions.
In addition to sending professional volunteers, your mission will need quality supervision . It is important that your teams are made up of experienced volunteers who can lead other volunteers. These provisions will limit the possible difficulties encountered on site.
Finally, the recruitment of volunteers is an essential step in the success of your project. Volunteers can be of any age, volunteers in civic service or in humanitarian work. They do not need to vouch for any specific work experience or qualifications. You can also call on volunteers from humanitarian programmes such as the European Voluntary Service (EVS) or the International Solidarity Volunteering (VSI).
It is also possible to recruit through online applications. As participation is based on volunteering and volunteering, you must make sure that everyone is motivated, as it will be the key element during the mission.
The Membership and Application module of the eBrigade software allows registration from an external site.
Financing
Funding is also a crucial point for the organization to go abroad. Indeed, a humanitarian trip can represent a significant financial cost, both for the volunteers and for the associative organization. It is necessary to take into account the duration of the humanitarian stay, free time and compulsory expenses (transport and travel expenses, catering, accommodation in the host country, etc.).
Thus, in order to find the funds for your humanitarian mission, you can rely on the means of financing common to all associations. Campaigns to call for donations, fundraising, applying for public aid from state organizations or crowdfunding are solutions to consider for the financing of your project.
The Donation module of the eBrigade software manages donations and donors with automatic reminders.
Did you like this article on organizing a mission abroad? Share it so others can read it too and create goals of their own!
Meanwhile, find us on these networks!
