Cost of Program
HINT asks for a contribution of 8 USD per day per volunteer.
The fee covers:
- Airport pick-up and drop off
- Home-stay accommodations and meals (as outlined in What to Expect)
- Internet Access at our office
The fee does not cover:
- Your flight ticket to Douala International Airport and back
- Cost of visa processing in your country and visa renewal in Cameroon (if need be)
- Personal sightseeing; photography in Cameroon.
- Health Insurance (if necessary)
- Departure tax of XAF 10,000 (approx. $20) per person at the airport
- Bottled water (tap water in Buea is treated, so you may drink it)
- Beverages and entertainment
- Any other related personal costs
Most volunteers get by on 20 USD per week for miscellaneous expenses, although this can vary greatly depend on personal preferences. Some volunteers spend more while others have spent as little as a few US dollars per week beyond the cost of room and board.
Please keep in mind that these costs cover homestay accommodations. If staying in a hotel or private residence, costs will differ.
Fundraising Tips
Below are a few ideas to help you raise money for your Volunteer Program.
- Craft a personal letter requesting funds for your mission. Be sure to explain what you are doing and why you have chosen to volunteer with Helps International (HINT). Explain how this journey will positively affect your life and the people you are helping. Share this letter with family, friends, classmates, co-workers, etc. who care about you and your service to humanity.
- Make a presentation in your community: clubs, place of worship, schools, family/friends, and workplace.
- Contact your local publications with a press release. If you provide your contact information and a special interest factor, they might feature you in an article that could bring in more donations!
- Create a brochure for yourself.
- Create a website or e-mail distribution list and send out frequent e-mails about your fundraising experiences, dollars raised, and details of your journey while you are gone and after you return. Starting a blog is also a good idea.
- Hold an event, silent auction or even a series of bake sales. Make sure that people know what the money from the bake sale will accomplish. Be sure you put out a donation jar. We can send you photos to print.
- If you are a student, contact your school’s Financial Aid or Study Abroad Department. There might be funds available for you to tap into.
- Create a Donation Form. This form will list all of your contact information and several donor amounts your sponsor can choose from. Start off with an initial modest amount ($25) but also request large donation amounts ($100+) and any amount in between.
- Apply for a scholarship, grant, or fellowship. Below are a few suggested sites:
- Glimpse Correspondents Program for young writers and photographers who will be abroad for at least 10 weeks: http://glimpse.org/correspondents
- The Levinson Foundation: www.levinsonfoundation.org/
- American Association of University Women www.aauw.org/education/fga/
- The J.W. Saxe Memorial Fund: www.jwsaxefund.org/
- The Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/
- Stanford University Library: www.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/grants.html
- Get Recognized: www.actionforchange.org/getrecognized/scholarships.html
- Fund-Raising.com: www.fund-raising.com/
- Accredited Schools Online, http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/school-fundraising/
Those who would like to support you can do so easily using the PayPal button on our website. Donors will be taken to PayPal’s secured website where they can then donate using their PayPal account or their credit/debit card. Be sure they know to note on their donation form that the funds donated are to support your trip!