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Jersey Overseas Aid is managed by a small team of professional staff and governed by a Commission.
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Jersey Overseas Aid provides international development grants and humanitarian funding to approved partners only. Find out more about how to become a partner.
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Discover how Jersey Overseas Aid monitors impact to ensure our aid is effective and sustainable.
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Volunteering and Outreach
Find out how JOA facilitates islanders to help in the world's poorest countries through volunteering, bursaries, education and work opportunities.
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JOA Volunteer Programme

Since 1972 Jersey has facilitated parties of volunteers to work with communities in low-income countries. Our projects are designed to respond to the needs of communities, ensuring that they are impactful and delivered in an equal partnership. Volunteers work alongside communities with a shared aim: to improve their quality of life and support their own capacities to help address poverty and inequality in line with Sustainable Development Goals. JOA is also excited to be developing further skills-based volunteering opportunities in Accountancy and Health.

2025 Volunteering Projects 

We are excited to introduce our carefully selected volunteer opportunities for 2025, in collaboration with our trusted partners: Gurkha Welfare Trust (Nepal), Habitat for Humanity (Malawi), and Sand Dams Worldwide (Kenya). These projects have a proven track record of making a significant, sustainable impact on both the communities they serve and the volunteers who participate. Each project is built on a foundation of equal partnership, with responsible volunteering at the heart of our mission. Our approach ensures that all stakeholders—beneficiaries, volunteers, and partner organisations—are not only supported but also empowered, creating a mutually beneficial experience for everyone involved.

Below, you'll find a brief overview of each volunteering project. Please click on the button beneath each description below for more information about each project.  The online application form is now live here: https://joa.smartsimpleuk.com/ - deadline for submissions is 13th October 2024. Further details on how to apply using the SmartSimple system can be found here. 

Nepal - Gurkha Welfare Trust Jersey - March 2025

This project involves 12-14 volunteers from Jersey traveling to Nepal in March 2025 to assist in the building of a school. Volunteers will work alongside local building partners and the community, contributing to a project that supports the welfare of Gurkha ex-servicemen, their communities, and broader village development.

Gurkha Welfare Trust Nepal 2025 - Information Pack

Register and Apply Here

Malawi - Habitat for Humanity – June/July 2025

This project involves 12-14 Jersey volunteers building new homes and will take place  in June/July 2025 (for 10 days), as part of Habitat for Humanity's Global Village programme. The aim is to transform an informal settlement into a formal residential area with improved infrastructure and housing for vulnerable families. Volunteers will work alongside local artisanal teams, helping with tasks like digging, building walls, and painting, contributing to Habitat's mission of providing safe and secure housing for all.

Habitat For Humanity Malawi 2024 - Information Pack

Register and Apply Here

Kenya - Sand Dams Worldwide – March 2025

Sand Dams Worldwide lead this Community Works Project in Kenya, in partnership with Africa Sand Dams Foundation, and will involve 14 Jersey volunteers working with the local community between 1-14th March 2025. The project objective is to build a sand dam in Ukambani to provide a year-round water source for a community facing severe droughts and water shortages. Sand dams capture seasonal runoff, helping to improve agriculture and reduce poverty. Volunteers will work with local Self Help Groups to construct the dam and support community development.

Sand Dams Worldwide Kenya 2025 - Information Pack

Register and Apply Here

Volunteering For Accountants (AfID)

JOA, in partnership with Accounting for International Development (AfID), is offering an exciting opportunity for two finance professionals based in Jersey to volunteer overseas. Selected applicants will spend 2-8 weeks in either Africa or Asia, working individually to enhance the financial management capabilities of one of AfID's inspiring non-profit partners. If you are interested in applying for this opportunity, please contact Gilly at: g.challinor@joa.je.

Overseas Volunteering for Accountants & Auditors

Bursaries 

In addition to our volunteering programme, JOA also offers personal and professional bursaries – a number of funding opportunities for Jersey residents who want to gain experience in the development sector. For more information, please visit www.joa.je/get-involved/bursaries. Alternatively, please contact the JOA team at enquiries@joa.je or call on 446901 for more information or for an informal chat.

Bursaries

Frequently asked questions about JOA's Volunteer Programme

What does JOA's Volunteer Programme involve?

JOA works with its partner organisations, charities or Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), to send islanders to volunteer overseas to support initiatives that improve opportunity and wellbeing in some of the world’s poorest communities. Each project is usually formed of about twelve volunteers and is led by an experienced team leader. Volunteers are asked to make a contribution towards their travel expenses and JOA funds the additional costs of the trip. JOA also funds materials and supplies necessary in order to complete each project. Volunteers are expected to participate in training and team-building exercises in the months before departure.

Who can apply to volunteer with JOA?

Anyone living in Jersey who is aged 18 or over is welcome to apply to take part in JOA's Volunteer Programme. Applications from potential volunteers with a minimum of five years’ residency are given preference. 

How many projects have JOA volunteers supported and in what countries?

By 2023 more than 1,000 volunteers had been involved in the delivery of over 100 projects. These include constructing sand dams in Kenya, providing one-to-one care to underprivileged persons with disabilities in Lebanon, improving access to safe and sustainable sanitation facilities in Tanzania, and constructing a day care centre in Mongolia, to provide a secure and caring space for children.

What is the cost of volunteering with JOA?

JOA funds the majority of the cost of its Volunteer Programme, asking participants for a donation of £500 towards travel costs. The Rotary Club of Jersey-de La Manche offers a bursary that can be used to fund the cost of an individual’s trip. In addition, participants can also apply for a JOA bursary to cover their travel contribution.

How do I apply?

Applications for JOA's volunteer programme are open annually, following the launch of opportunities available for that period. Please follow our step-by-step guide on how to apply through our online application portal, SmartSimple.

Are there volunteering opportunities available for islanders who are unable to travel?

JOA is excited to be developing further online volunteering opportunities in Accountancy and Health which it is hoped will launch in the Spring of 2024.

What if I want to volunteer but I work full time?

Many employers have special policies in place which allow employees paid time off for the purposes of volunteering. Check with your organisation to see if there is one in place.