sequent C' ([info]sequent_c) wrote in [info]advice4teens,
@ 2009-06-22 11:02:00
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Entry tags:volunteering

Building a hospital in South Africa
Hi,

I'm actually very unsure of where to start and this just seems like an idea that I conjured up in my head that would never end up materializing. I'm 19 and don't have any degree yet, so as far as I know I have to find someone with a business (?) degree to help me out. I'm just unsure of where to seek this person and if they would actually have any interest in my plan. I'm thinking of spending the next 2 years (possibly more?) of my life fundraising to build a hospital in South Africa. It's going to take a lot out of me but I really want to do this. I need to start with an event or something but as far as I know, no older person would take me seriously enough to help. Plus I don't know what the legalities and tax issues of it are. I'm going to need lots of outside help but first I want to be able to prove I can do this. Where should I start? How much should I collect before I can propose this plan to some humanitarian that would help me? Any help is really appreciated because I hope this plan does materialize.


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[info]dindin
2009-06-22 09:03 pm UTC (link)
Do you know anything about South Africa? As someone with no degree and only the vaguest idea of what you want to do. My advice to you would be to try to find a volunteering opportunity with Peace Corps or the like. Take your good intentions and put them someplace where they'll actually be used by people who know how and where and why.

Edited at 2009-06-22 09:07 pm UTC

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[info]sigma698
2009-06-22 09:11 pm UTC (link)
yeah, I think South Africa isn't the area of Africa that generally needs schools and hospitals. Even rural areas have private hospitals. Simple Goggle-ing is telling me that the health care system is being revamped and that many hospitals have overcrowding, but that's an issue just about everywhere you go.

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[info]sequent_c
2009-06-22 09:56 pm UTC (link)
I already looked into that, but I won't be able to volunteer overseas that long. I'm already spending winter volunteering at Costa Rica & Nicaragua under a medical team and I'll be going to South Africa next summer to volunteer for 2 months. The inspiration came from a guest lecturer few months back who built a hospital there when he was 20 where about 60% of the funds were raised by him and 40% were from his parent's pockets.

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[info]dindin
2009-06-23 12:34 am UTC (link)
People who do things like that are truly remarkable. It sounds like you're already giving back to the world by volunteering; that's a wonderful thing. Leave it there.

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[info]smurfindisguise
2009-06-22 09:50 pm UTC (link)
I don't think that this sounds feasible. First, you definitely don't have the means to lead something like this, and South Africa isn't the place that really needs it.

However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it and put your motivation towards helping. There are tons of overseas assistance programs and organizations. Do a little research and see if one strikes your fancy. You'll be able to volunteer yourself under the jurisdiction of those who can handle the other parts for you.

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[info]sequent_c
2009-06-22 09:58 pm UTC (link)
Thanks. I will be in South Africa next summer and I'm going to be volunteering at Costa Rica and Nicaragua during the winter. Those are both "short term projects" though and I was really hoping I could do something like that since a lecturer told us about his work years ago similar to that.

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[info]destroyed_radio
2009-06-23 12:24 am UTC (link)
I have to commend you for having *real* goals, however, why not start small?
South Africa is not the only place that needs help. Your own hometown needs help.
Where I live, there are a lot of homeless people and lots of jobless people. Unfortunately, people don't really look toward their homebase to help out. So why not start out in your city and then once you are established as an activist/taken seriously, why not reach out?

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