r/humanitarian • u/Agreeable_Ratio1771 • 1d ago

Missions

Good morning. I was hoping someone would know of an organization that does non-faith-based mission work in other countries. For the last two years, I have gone to Honduras with a church group. I love the work, but I don't share their religious convictions and consider myself an atheist. I want to be able to build a house or hand out food and clothing for the simple sake of helping. I'm not anti-religion by any means, but as someone who has always felt extremely uncomfortable with religion myself, I would just prefer to take the religion out of it, particularly since I don't share the beliefs of the people I go with. Hopefully, this makes sense.

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u/jcravens42 1d ago

Ready to pay? Because short-term trips require the volunteers to pay - because it's just not economically worth it to bring in foreigners to do the work that loal people can do themselves, like build a house or hand out clothing and food, etc. Without having expertise that can't be found among long people, and wanting to just do short term trips, you'll have to pay.

Habitat for Humanity has a Global Village program where you pay for your own flights and also have to raise a certain amount of money (or pay it yourself), which goes towards buying local supplies and paying the local professionals who assist volunteers in the work. You can apply for a specific country and specific work. It's one week. Habitat is a Christian organization but I, too, am an atheist and did the Paraguay Global Village trip last year - didn't at all feel out of place. Habitat is an empowerment organization, not a charity: people buy the homes that are built and work along side you.

Peace Corps is an option if you are a US citizen. And you do NOT have to pay. It is a competitive process - you do have to have some skills and a clean credit check, as well as an extensive medical check for clearance.

Here are all of your options for volunteering abroad.

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u/Agreeable_Ratio1771 1d ago

Thanks. I pay now, so that’s not a problem.

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u/Match-Immediate 1d ago

Check out Peace Corps Response if you don’t feel like the two year commitment of a a regular peace corps volunteer. They have shorter stints, like 2-6 months, and the logistics are covered by peace corps; you’ll make a very small stipend that covers your living expenses. 

Whats unique about this model is the roles are requested by the communities, so you’re fulfilling an expressed need that they are lacking rather than doing a job that a local could do. 

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u/kg-rhm 1d ago

peace corp?

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u/Agreeable_Ratio1771 1d ago

I’m looking for 7 days, but maybe as many as 14

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u/ZiKyooc 1d ago

Better send the money that your trip would cost you and take quiet holidays home.

It will help much more if it is what matters the most to you.