JOA’s Community Work Projects 2023 launch event

Jersey Overseas Aid would like to invite islanders to attend the launch event of the 2023 Community Work Projects (CWPs) volunteering programme. The event will provide information about the forthcoming trips, an insight into the previous voluntary trips and a brief discussion on bursaries.

Deputy Carolyn Labey, Jersey’s Minister for International Development will announce the 2023 projects along with an explanation of each. This will be followed by the application process and preparations which take place before embarking on the exciting journey out to the project countries.

Question and answer panel:

Volunteers from the 2022 Kenya trip will be asked a series of questions about their pre-conceptions, experiences and key take-aways. The aim is that you will hear first-hand what it is like to go on a volunteering trip and answer any potential questions you might have.

Stalls and stands:

There will also be the opportunity to chat to previous volunteers and local charities one-to-one to find out more information and ask any questions you might have.

About the CWPs programme:

Since 1972, islanders have contributed to improving the lives of thousands of people living in poverty through JOA’s Community Work Projects programme. By 2020 around 1,000 volunteers had completed over 100 projects in some of the world’s poorest communities.

For many Jersey volunteers, such trips have been life changing and have often resulted in enduring links with communities in some of the poorest places on earth. Some of our volunteers have kept in touch not only with their fellow volunteers but also people they met on their volunteering trip; some have gone on to set up their own charities and others have received recognition of the highest honour.

For the past 50 years, JOA has been facilitating parties of volunteers to work with communities in developing countries for up to four weeks. Each Community Work Project is usually formed of about twelve volunteers, carefully selected by the JOA team from the scores of applicants we receive each year and is led by an experienced team leader. Thorough preparation for the trips is vital – volunteers participate in training and team-building exercises in the months before departure.