The Humanitarian Centre: Connecting Cambridge for international relief and development

Please select the links below to go straight to the opportunities, or scroll down to see them all. If you are interested in any of the opportunities offered, get in contact with them directly. If you do find a volunteer opportunity as a result of this website, we'd appreciate it if you drop us an email to let us know. Finally, check back regularly for further updates, and sign onto our volunteers opportunity mailing list (in the box in the bottom left hand corner of the screen) to receive termly updates of the opportunities that we have collected.

Aptivate: A not-for-profit NGO providing IT services for international development.

CUSAFE: A network of college-based fundraising charities, that raise over 40,000 pounds a year for African Education projects

Addenbrooke's Abroad: Supports workers at Addenbrooke's Hospital who wish to work overseas.

Crisis Camp: A grassroots initiative to bring together technical and non-technical volunteers to help aid workers on the ground in Haiti

Humanitarian Centre: Provides training and resources for anyone volunteering overseas.

Karen Hill Tribes: A charity dedicated to working with the Karen people of Northern Thailand to help them build a better future.

Morrocan Childrens Trust: An NGO working to achieve sustainable development for the communities of South Morocco

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: Designing and creating software tools: e.g. bandwidth monitoring and management software, to help network operators in less developed countries make the most of their limited bandwidth. Or, creating low-bandwidth applications to collect monitoring and evaluation data from the field. Requires experience of object oriented programming. Experience of web development, Agile projects and Test Driven Development all help, while not being essential.

WEB TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT: Developing our low bandwidth web design guidelines, analysing and optimising websites for low bandwidth accessibility, developing low-bandwidth CSS templates, or developing our own internal website which is due a large makeover soon. Also potential for analysis of and contribution to Aptivate uses social networking tools to promote our messages. Requires experience of web design / social media analysis.

SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR: Carrying out vital internal work to maintain our Linux-based thin-client intranet and servers, and developing and installing servers and systems to support other organisations. Requires: Linux sysadmin experience.

TIME NEEDED: All require one day a week (approx). Three month summer internships are also available.

SAFE REPS: Many Cambridge University colleges have a SAFE committee, which fundraises directly from college students and distributes this money to African education charities. A lot of SAFE committees are fantastically successful, raising over 10,000 pounds a year, and supporting some amazing causes. If your college has a SAFE scheme, then get in touch with the reps to find out how you can get involved (or email us and we�ll put you in touch with them). If not, then this could be your chance to start a college SAFE, and raise money to transform the lives of people around the world - all it needs is enthusiasm and imagination.

CUSAFE reps: CUSAFE is an umbrella body working with SAFE schemes to coordinate their work, put them in contact with charities looking for funds, and encourage new SAFE schemes. If you want to be part of a charity that raises around 40,000 pounds a year, then get in touch.

DATABASE DEVELOPMENT: We are looking for an IT savvy volunteer to help us develop and manage a database that will enable us to share information of work undertaken overseas and of opportunities to work overseas with Addenbrooke's Abroad.

FUNDING RESEARCHER: We are looking for a volunteer to research funding opportunities appropriate for Addenbrooke's Abroad projects. This will involve desk based and internet based research to find appropriate funders for Addenbrooke's Abroad to approach.

BRAND PUBLICITY: We are looking for a volunteer to support and develop our communications with hospital staff, supporters of Addenbrooke's Abroad, local press and interested members of the public. This will include a regular newsletter and events to be held approximately every quarter during 2010.

INTERN LEADER: The Mountain Trust has recruited over 30 Interns and Volunteers over the last two years working both in the UK and in Nepal. We are looking for an Intern who can take the lead (with our guidance) on recruiting and co-ordinating individuals. Following an initial introductory period, we would hope that the candidate selected would be able to learn about and take on this project design role and to help shape a strategy for the ongoing evolution of the Trust�s internship programme. This will require at least a months time commitment - it would suit a summer project.

INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE INTERNSHIP: Recently, the Trust has arranged for senior medical personnel from Addenbrooke�s to visit and exchange know how with counterparts in Nepal. One result is that we currently have the second best known neurosurgeon in Nepal visiting Cambridge. Organising visits here by senior medics or other specialists from Nepal can be hugely beneficial. The Trust is looking for someone with flair � who can be briefed on what has been achieved so far and how and who can build a leading role in developing the programme. This will require at least a months time commitment - it would suit a summer project.

VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES: The Mountain Trust works in Nepal, sponsoring school and university students, building schools, running community projects, assisting orphans and providing health care to the hardest hit in Nepal since 2001. We also organise volunteers and advise other NGO. For volunteer opportunities see http://www.mountain-trust.org/volunteering

Teaching and Fundraising: Volunteer with Cambridge University Society for SOS Children's Village (CUSOS). SOS Children's Villages is the world's largest orphan charity with their UK headquarters in Cambridge. There are opportunities for students to develop/deliver their teaching programmes in local schools, organise university/local/national fundraising and promote the work that SOS does both in Cambridge and throughout the UK.

Workshop Volunteer: Development in Action provides development education workshops for young people, aimed in particular at those aged 16+. The workshops are 90 minute (though can be adapted), interactive sessions on development education, global citizenship, and overseas volunteering.

Crisis Camp London is a grassroots initiative to bring together technical and non-technical volunteers to help aid workers on the ground in Haiti. We need more people to join in the fun! - and help with both technical and non-technical tasks from system design, programming, giving user feedback, project management, facilitation, working on maps, gathering information from the web, the logistics and admin of keeping the camp running, and helping people to keep in touch with what is going on.

TIME NEEDED: We're currently meeting from 10am till 5pm one Saturday the month - the next one is on March 20th. Attendance is flexible - come for as much or as little as you can.

CONTACT: You can register on the website, and a Cambridge-based development organisation, Aptivate, sometimes sends staff down to the event. If you're interested in going with them please contact info@aptivate.org , or see you down there.

Catherine Squire (training and development consultant) is producing a series of practical, participative training manuals for NGOs and community groups in Mauritius. The manuals cover all the basic skills needed by NGO staff from participatory project appraisal. A volunteer is needed to revise the english (and for some, french), tidy up the layout, and help with compiling annexes. You'll get to work on some really good practical training manuals, and you will develop an understanding of some of the issues around capacity building with local NGOs in practice.

We offer training sessions on volunteering overseas (see our website for details) and resources from past training sessions look at 'resources' - 'careers information'.

- to see grass roots development projects in Uganda and the work of Afrinspire partners, such as Rose Ekitwi and Anne Kobusingye who came to Cambridge last November. You would gain first hand experience of the rural African context, and some understanding of the issues of poverty and how indigenous initiatives such as women�s adult literacy, self-help groups, water harvesting and technology transfer are catalysts to development.

Dates: Approximately June 26th for two and a half weeks but flexible and open to discussion. Cost will be minimum �1,000 but be prepared for a bit more.

A decision on exact dates, programme and participants will be made by the end of March.

The Karen Hilltribes Trust is a small charity looking to recruit two teams of about 10 volunteers from Cambridge to construct clean water systems in remote villages in Northern Thailand, one in July and the other in August 2010. It is an exciting and very rewarding opportunity to experience Karen hilltribe culture by living and working in a village. You will be able to see your money directly helping the community which will be very friendly and grateful for your support. There will be a presentation on the 22^nd February, time and place to be confirmed.

CONTACT DETAILS: For more details please see the website, email Penelope Worsley, Director, penelope@karenhilltribes.org.uk or call 01904 411891.

The Ashanti Development is a charity operating as a 100% volunteer workforce, supporting development in rural Ghana. The charity is located in the village of Gyetiase but aims to serve the wider community of Ashanti. There are both long-term and short-term opportunities for volunteer doctors, nurses and teachers.

The Moroccan Children's Trust (MCT) is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) working to achieve sustainable development for the communities of South Morocco. MCT invites enthusiastic volunteers to join us on our community projects in Taroudannt. The volunteers will gain a deep insight into the lives of Moroccans and their cultures, by lodging in a host family and an induction course. There are a number of work placements available including orphanages, schools, youth clubs or development research. Volunteers will also be able to help with our new Street Children project. Preferred skills: French or Arabic, but tuition can be supplied. Normal stay is 2 - 6 months.

For more information about any of these opportunities, please e-mail the contact given for each vacancy. If you have any further questions, or wish a vacancy to be removed from this list once filled, please e-mail

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa