Programme Structure
Raleigh International is a youth development charity. As such, our programmes are designed to give participants aged 17-24 as rewarding and wide-ranging an experience as possible. A Raleigh International 10 week programme is unique in giving participants the opportunity to work on three different phases - sustainable community and environmental projects plus an adventure phase. Shorter options are available for people with limited time this Autumn (2006) and Spring 2007 with 4 and 7 week programmes. Our 7 week programme allows you to choose two phases and our 4 week programme allows you to choose one phase from either our community, environmental or adventure phases. From Summer 2007 we will be replacing our 4 and 7 week options with our new 5 week programme which combines your choice of either a community or environmental project with a team-based adventure challenge.
Staff volunteers must join the full 10 week programme plus 2 - 3 weeks of pre-programme training in-country and post-programme review. From Summer 2007 staff will be able to join the 5 week programme, again allowing for an extra 2 weeks for pre-programme training in-country and post-programme review. Staff volunteering as project managers will usually just work on one project type throughout the programme in order to ensure continuity.
Project Partnerships
All Raleigh International projects are planned with and supported by host country government ministries, international development organisations and local communities. This ensures that the tasks we undertake are high quality, sustainable and are valued by the communities we are trying to help. Community projects enable participants to construct badly needed infrastructure projects that are viable in the long-term, such as schools, medical centres and sanitation units.
Environmental projects are established in partnership with specialist conservation charities and the government which ensures that participants will benefit from a thorough understanding of all the issues surrounding the work they are undertaking and the impact their work is having on the natural habitat.
10 week programme
Our unique 10 week overseas programme consists of 3 phases of sustainable community, environmental and adventure projects.
The environment phase sees participants engaging in projects which will make a positive and genuine difference to the ecology of the host country. It offers a fantastic opportunity to get close to some truly amazing natural wonders.
The community phase will see participants living and working alongside the beneficiaries of the project; it's a great chance to become immersed in the cultures and traditions of the community.
The adventure project is perhaps the most physically demanding phase, where participants confront the challenges of extreme environments - deserts, mountains, lakes and oceans. Participants succeed through a combination of mutual support and personal fortitude.
No other organisation offers this format, which enables participants to work in three different areas of the host country, with three different groups of people, enjoying three very rewarding and different, but complementary, experiences.
5 week programme
The launch of a new shorter programme of 5 weeks will replace the 4 and 7 week options. Therefore, as from summer 2007, Raleigh International will be operating two programme lengths only - a 10 week programme and a 5 week programme. Both programmes will offer the individual an opportunity to have the all-inclusive personal development experience that Raleigh International's philosophy is based on. The new 5-week programme has been tried and tested, drawing upon the successes of the 5 week programme Raleigh piloted in Fiji in 2005.
The 5 week programme will combine your choice of either a 3-week community or environmental phase with a team-based adventure challenge. The structure of the adventure challenge will test your physical and mental abilities in a competitive and fun environment as well as enabling you to explore spectacular landscapes.
Environmental projects include creating an eco tourism resource, tree planting, and rubbish / recycling projects.
Community projects include school renovation, gravity feed water system installation, play ground building, house building, composting toilet building.
Adventure team-based challenges involve teams competing against each other to carry out challenging tasks whilst exploring the unique landscape of each country. For example trekking through the jungle in Malaysia, climbing a volcano in Costa Rica, plus additional adventure activities including rafting or climbing.
Benefits
On each project on a 10 or 5 week programme participants supported by staff volunteers will work as a team to overcome challenges and achieve the project goals. They will make a worthwhile difference to local communities and the environment and in doing so develop a strong social and environmental conscience. They will also have the opportunity to build on skills such as leadership and teamwork as well as grow in self-confidence. They will constantly surprise themselves and leave with a real sense of achievement.
Participants will be part of a diverse mix of people from the programme host country, career gappers, gap year students, graduates, participants from Raleigh's Youth Development Programme, volunteer staff and international volunteers so its an ideal environment for learning about different cultures and making new friends.
Who can join Raleigh?
One of the unique features of an overseas programme with Raleigh International is the diverse mix of participants.
We encourage people from all backgrounds and nationalities to join a Raleigh overseas programme in order to promote social and global awareness and a challenging team working environment.
If you can converse in basic English and able to swim 200m unaided and love to take on the world, Raleigh Programme is for you!
Safety
Raleigh International is proud of the safety culture that permeates everything we do.
Our primary focus is on prevention, however, accidents do still occasionally happen and our planning processes take this into account.
Raleigh has a robust Crisis Management Plan, which is updated and exercised regularly. Comprehensive risk assessments, casualty evacuation and emergency plans are produced for each overseas programme, for every project site, and cover all eventualities from natural disasters and political instability to the individual medical incident.
Head Office also provides 24 hour emergency cover and support for each programme.
Based on 21 years of experience Raleigh has also developed its own Safety Manual which governs the standards and safety procedures to be followed on each overseas programme.
Advice
We consult with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regularly and maintain close links with the British Authorities in each country. In addition we have established good relations with Government ministries and agents locally, enabling us to receive early warning of any potential problems.
Raleigh also has established links with the local medical services, emergency services and, where appropriate the military, all of whom can provide assistance to Raleigh if required.
Risk Assessment and Casualty Evacuation
Formal risk assessments are undertaken before the start of each programme, firstly for the programme as a whole and then at project site level. Participants also do their own risk assessment while on project site. We believe that involving everyone in drawing up these risk assessments promotes a vigilant attitude to safety, and ownership by the group of safety procedures.
Comprehensive emergency and evacuation plans are put in place for each project site, and staff visit and assess all the local medical facilities. If repatriation to the UK or an individual's home nation is required, then Raleigh retains the services of a UK Repatriation service.
Medical staff
Raleigh is unique in the number of qualified doctors and nurses we recruit for each programme. There could be up to nine fully qualified medical staff with each programme.
Volunteer Staff
We pay close attention to the recruitment , assessment and training of our volunteer staff. Where necessary we recruit staff with recognised national governing body qualifications (e.g. Mountain Leader Training Board) to run adventurous activities such as mountaineering.
Staff and Participant Training
Staff and participants undertake training both in the UK and in the programme country. This includes safety briefings, risk assessment, casualty evacuation; training in the correct and safe use of tools, camping equipment, and safety equipment including radios.
Safety Equipment
All necessary safety equipment including buoyancy aids, helmets, protective goggles, GPS receivers, flares and communications equipment is provided.
Safety Communications
Each programme maintains a network of HF radio communications enabling Field Base to have a 24-hour radio watch and project sites to call in twice daily or at any time when they need assistance or advice.
Comprehensive insurance
We have a comprehensive medical and personal accident insurance policy which covers all of our participants. This policy enables us to provide the best medical care available and also, when necessary, to repatriate participants for medical or compassionate reasons.
Kit & Equipment
You will get advice from your support coordinator on the kit you will need for your specific Raleigh International Programme.
Specialist Equipment
All specialist equipment (e.g. stoves, fuel, lifejackets, mountaineering equipment, ropes etc.) and project equipment will be provided by Raleigh International.
Kit
We do not expect you to go out and spend lots of money on brand new items of expensive kit. Look at what you already have. There are some essential items of equipment, such as boots and rucksacks, where it is worth getting high quality items that are designed to cope with the rigours of programme life. You can make huge savings on other items by choosing cheaper brands or buying second-hand.
When you go into shops, remember that you are the customer and may be spending quite a lot of money. Take your time, ask plenty of questions and try on as many different varieties of the item as you can. Try to recreate realistic conditions i.e. try on a rucksack with some weight in it, fit boots with walking socks and walk around or up and down some steps.
How do I find out more?
Find out as much as possible about Raleigh International and your options for overseas programmes from our website. This is the most detailed resource from which you can find out all you need to know about our programmes and the work that we do.
If you feel you need more information then there are three ways you can do this:
- Call us on 012-358 5453 or email at info@raleighinternational.org.my. A team of staff with more specific knowledge about the locations in which we operate are waiting to answer your queries.
- Why not come along to one of our free monthly meeting to meet Raleigh staff, ex-volunteers and other people thinking about joining a Raleigh overseas programme?
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