MondoChallenge Ltd; the Volunteer ProgrammeMondoChallenge was set up in 2001 as a not-for-profit organisation. Since then, we have sent over 950 volunteers (university, post-university, career-break and early-retired people) to help with development programmes in Asia (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka), Africa (Tanzania, Gambia, Senegal and Kenya), Europe (Romania) and South America (Chile and Ecuador). Volunteers come from all over the world and stay for periods of from one to six months.
Our programmes provide a unique opportunity for volunteers to participate in the local culture and to understand the values of the peoples of these wonderful regions. We have two main programme areas. The first of these involves teaching English at both primary school level and to adults. The second area includes business development programmes where business professionals help to start up and support local entrepreneurs. We also teach French to children and adults in Senegal.
The projects are community based and we strongly encourage volunteers to initiate adult literacy, sports, music, arts, and theatre clubs and activities for the benefit of the wider community.
In parallel, we run the MondoChallenge Foundation, a charity whose objects are to support livelihood and education programmes.
The charity started in 2005. It very quickly established itself, through its work for tsunami victims (where our volunteers were able to provide immediate support on the ground) and more recently through the HIV programme in Tanzania (see our video on www.mondochallengefoundation.org/media.htm). Other programmes include teacher training and development of education in Gambia and India, support for the beekeeping in The Gambia and working with disabled children near Calcutta.
In total the charity has raised £350,000 in just three years and has supported a total of 49 different programmes in 6 countries. MondoChallenge volunteers are instrumental in recommending funding opportunities and providing financial support.
