Opportunities Abroad
Join a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) team and travel to Bo, Sierra Leone.
A Volunteer in Mission trip is much more than a two-week journey to a foreign land. It is a transforming, life-inspiring experience. Team members will be required to attend several pre-trip team meetings and assist the team by volunteering to take on certain roles and responsibilities, as well as agree to share your experiences after returning to the US. Some of the UMVIM team activities include:
- Clinic Participation
- Computer Skills Training
- Educational Assistance
- IT Assistance
- Light Construction
- Medical Assistance
- Spiritual/Life Skills Training
- Teaching Summer School
- Village Outreach
- Water Filtration
African Programs Blog
This blog highlights volunteers’ trips to visit our African Programs (Child Rescue Centre and Mercy Hospital) in Bo, Sierra Leone. Hundreds of volunteers devote thousands of hours each year serving these programs both in the US and on trips abroad to Sierra Leone. This blog is the real and honest voice from the field — volunteers sharing their experiences of serving others and being served. We invite you to read and learn more about the good work that is happening in Sierra Leone and be inspired.
UMVIM trip schedule:
Trips have a designated focus to provide the best support we can to Mercy Hospital and the Child Rescue Centre. However, most trips are not limited to the trip’s focus. Activities may include any of the listed activities above.
UMVIM 2012 trip schedule:
- March Team: Light construction projects, test preparation, financial training and medical activities THIS TEAM IS FULL
- May Team: Medical focus; also need individuals with computer skills and life skills training THIS TEAM IS FULL
- Summer Team: Educational support
- September Team: Medical, IT and light construction
If you are interested in applying for an upcoming UMVIM trip, please fill out the application below and submit it. Your application will be reviewed by the UMVIM committee
African Programs UMVIM Application
For more information about joining a Sierra Leone team please contact Cynthia Grant
Email: cynthiagrant@helpingchildrenworldwide.org
Phone: 703-793-9521
PROSPECTIVE MISSION TEAM LEADERS:
If you are planning on leading an UMVIM mission team for the African Programs Partnership, you will need to complete the UMC state conference UMVIM Team Leader Training and the AP UMVIM Team Leader training.
UMVIM Committee of the African Programs Partnership sponsors periodic Team Leadership Training sessions. Requirement for team leadership is completion of this class, completion of conference UMVIM team leader training, and participation in at least one trip to Sierra Leone. If you would like to attend a Team Leadership Training session, please email Susan Custer at scuster101@gmail.com for more information.
