How to Find a Volunteer Position in Haiti

Haiti used to be a desirable tourist destination, famous for its unique culture, beautiful beaches, and tropical temperatures. Today, with the security situation changing constantly, it can be difficult just to find a way to visit the country.

Because it is the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, and located just a 90 minute flight from Miami, many Americans seek ways to contribute to Haiti's development in whatever way they can. While there is a demand for volunteer programs that would take Americans and place them in local organizations and communities to participate in development efforts, the supply of such programs is still quite low.

What this means for people who want to volunteer in Haiti, as I was seeking to do two years ago, is that you have to do a lot of the footwork yourself. While other countries have a plethora of programs to choose from and you just have to fill out an application, Haiti makes you jump through a few more hoops.

Some organizations in Haiti do accept international volunteers and employees. They range in size from tiny Non-Governmental Organizations with one foreign staffer to the United Nations, which has thousands of foreigners on its payroll in Haiti at any given time. The best thing to do is to narrow this down by deciding where your efforts would have the most impact.

It is advisable to have a position already set up before arriving in the country, because making your way around without a guide is next to impossible (and quite dangerous). With a good guide (or host organization), however, you can easily avoid the worst parts of Port-au-Prince and arrive in a safe area with little trouble.

One of the best places to start looking for a position is to ask around to see what other people have done. For example, I lived in the small community of Fondwa, in the South, and worked at the university there. They are always looking for volunteers, so when people ask me how I got to Haiti, I'm able to point them in the right direction.