CommonThreadz organizes international trips throughout the year for individual and teacher participants.
Individual participants will deliver school uniforms, school supplies and food to children in need while also providing much needed assistance at schools and orphanages during the volunteer trip.
Volunteers will be working on constructing a new orphanage and specific responsibilities will be arranged with each volunteer.
Teacher participants will collaborate with the teachers at Obanjenie Combined Primary School while providing assistance with lesson plans and general education practices.
All participants will spend time feeding and playing with the orphans including art projects, soccer and more. In addition, we will visit with some of the orphan’s caretakers and other orphanages in the area. Finally, leisure activities include an optional day safari, beach excursions (Mtunzi, where volunteers will be staying is located near the beach), and other cultural activities.
Total program cost with meals (breakfast and lunch are provided, dinner can be purchased at local grocery store or restaurant) and accommodations is $2,750. Airfare is variable depending on departure point, but we estimate $1,500, so the entire program fee with airfare is about $4,250. Participants can fundraise for the entire cost of the trip, including airfare.
Personal expenses include shopping, dinner, day trips and other excursions.
The trip is 11 days long including travel time (approx. 2 days) and volunteers will be staying in Mtunzini, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa in an Inn with AC, heat, TV, telephone and pool. Transportation will be provided within South Africa.
2 meals per day will be provided (breakfast and lunch). We will stay in Mtunzini, and work in Obanjeni, South Africa.
The next trip is in October with exact dates being finalized. The minimum age requirement is 18 years.
Space is limited, so if you are interested in joining us please download the application or email us at trips@commonthreadz.org
Take a look at where you could be visiting on a volunteer trip:
View Larger Map
Volunteering abroad is a great way to spend time within another culture, to become part of a new community and to experience life from a different perspective. Contact us for more information on how to participate in an unforgettable experience by volunteering abroad to aid humanity.
Please download  and fill in our volunteer trip application. When complete, please email to trips@commonthreadz.org
Our next trip will be to the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa and will last for 11 days including travel.
The trip itinerary includes volunteer work and some more traditional vacation activities such as a day safari, beach activities, sight seeing, cultural excursions and more. A complete itinerary will be provided after receipt of your application.
The entire cost of the trip, excluding airfare is $2,750. You will be able to fundraise to cover the total cost. We do offer the ability for you to fundraise for the entire cost of your trip, including airfare. We will contact you about this option after we receive your application. Total trip costs including airfare vary depending on your point of departure.
With CommonThreadz, fundraising for your trip is made easy by providing you the ability to create your own online fundraising page, complete with your photo and personal message. To see a live CommonThreadz fundraising page, visit http://www.commonthreadz.org/zacfolk
In addition, we provide you with offline tools to raise money from friends, family and co-workers such as letter templates and unique fundraising ideas.
Please contact us for details. Flight booking options vary depending on whether you commit to fundraising for the cost of the trip including airfare or all but the airfare.
A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies the identity and nationality of the bearer. A valid US passport is required to enter and leave most foreign countries. Only the US Department of State has the authority to grant, issue or verify US passports.
To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of the 7000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the US with two photographs of yourself, proof of US citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license.
You can renew by mail if: Your most recent passport is available to submit and it is not damaged; you received the passport within the past 15 years; you were over age 16 when it was issued; you still have the same name, or can legally document your name change.
For applications to apply for a passport, visit http://travel.state.gov/passport
It is best to make two photocopies of the data page of your passport (picture and detail page). Leave one copy at home with someone you can contact in case of an emergency and keep a copy for yourself to be kept separately from your passport (suitcase or other travel bag). If you lose your passport, promptly contact the nearest American embassy or consulate and the local police.
EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in South Africa are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within South Africa. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
The U.S. Embassy is located at 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia in Pretoria, telephone (27-12) 431-4000 (from South Africa 012-431-4000), fax (27-12) 431-5504 (from South Africa 012-431-5504). The U.S. Embassy web site is http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/
The Consulate General in Durban is located at the Old Mutual Building, 31st floor, 303 West Street, telephone (27-31) 305-7600 (from South Africa 031-305-7600), fax (27-31) 305-7691 (from South Africa 031-305-7691). Its consular jurisdiction is KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Documents required include:
1. If your passport has been lost or stolen, your birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or any other documents indicating your identity and nationality.
2. If your passport has been lost or stolen, a police statement of the circumstances concerning the loss.
3. Three recent identical photographs, preferably color, full face (NOT profile), size 5 cm x 5 cm (2 in x 2 in). Smaller photos are not acceptable. Photos submitted MUST have a head size top of head/hair to bottom of chin/beard) of approximately 3 cm (1 in to 1 3/8 in). You can get a passport photo made at most copy places such as Kinkos or Copymax or at Walgreens.
The fee for passport issuance varies between US $27 and $42.
The Embassy can also add pages to your passport and in certain cases amend or extend it.
NOTE: You will not need to carry your passport around with you while in South Africa. In fact hotels will on occasion hold your passport during your stay. Passports/travel documents must be valid for at least 30 days after expiry of visit to South Africa
Find and make an appointment several weeks in advance of leaving at your nearest clinic by visiting http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/
For more information on travel insurance, please visit http://www.insuremytrip.com/
Go to this site for up to date safety and travel information: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html
For more information on our international volunteer trips, please contact Zac Folk at zac@commonthreadz.org
|
