All Hands and Hearts - Disaster Relief Nonprofit

I came to South Carolina a little nervous and anxious. I am in my mid-70s and older than almost everybody who's picture I've seen on Facebook. I was delighted that the people on projects were warm welcoming and just a lot of fun. The work was was hard but everybody was supportive and wworked with enthusiasm to muck and gut. The camaraderie among the folks was the closest thing I've seen in the disaster relief operations that I have been on with other organizations. I was so impressed I went back a second time. I expect to keep volunteering with all hands. Next stop Ecuador

To simplify my experience and adventure is to say, honestly, that All Hands Volunteers has changed my life.
I stayed for one month in Kathmandu after the April 25th, 2015 earthquake. The days were passed filling dirt into wheelbarrows and creating a space for families to rebuild their homes. I was constantly surrounded by the most unique and beautiful individuals taking time out of their lives and allowing themselves to become caked in layers of mud for a common goal.
When I came back to the US, I was asked to volunteer in South Carolina after a massive one thousand year flood event. Again I joined the base and stayed for another month.
Later, the recovery work began in South Carolina and again I was able to return and even work with the same homeowners as during response. I was amazed to watch the transformation in the houses we tore apart during response to the recovery phase of rebuilding.
A wonderful organization to be apart of!

I started my volunteer experience with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. Through AmeriCorps, I discovered All Hands Volunteers in Project Detroit Flood Rebuild. All Hands Volunteers (AHV) completely blew my mind in regards to an incredibly high-caliber work ethic, multi-talented team leaders, site supervisors, organized and intelligent staff...especially for a non-profit. So I decided to leave AmeriCorps to join AHV. My goal with AHV was to become a rebuild site supervisor. Within 3 months I was trained how to dry wall, mud and tape, how to install chair rails, baseboards, how to frame, the safety of mucking and gutting basements ridden with dangerous molds and debris, and much much more. I was taught so well that I became a rebuild team leader with zero knowledge of any of this type of work before I joined AHV.

Shortly after this Michael Hecker, an AHV mentor came to Detroit explaining a new program called the Global Service Fellowship (GSF) within AHV that "offers emerging leader a transformative experience in the US and abroad rebuilding communities impacted by natural disasters, empowering volunteers to serve and challenging themselves to become innovators in the non-profit sector all the while enhancing AHVs capacity to achieve its vision. GSF Fellows work as understudies in three key work areas: Volunteer Coordination, Program Management, and Field Coordination."

I was recommended by the Project Director, Reuben Grandon at the time to apply for this position and sure enough I was accepted into the GSF. After a two week orientation learning about what the fellows would be a part of, we were sent out to our projects. I was sent to Melamchi, Nepal along with another Fellow. I have learned a great deal about how AHV is run in another country in regards to the staff positions and work that the volunteers were doing. Through the Fellowship in Nepal, I have been able to learn a great deal of the Nepali language, cover different staff positions whenever needed, attended the Hackathon led by effect.org where employees from Google, AHV, and Nepal Rises put their heads together to create technological solutions to issues that NGOs are having (My idea actually won the entire Hackathon), I have also been able to build my resume tremendously, network with amazing people, and build overall life skills in ways I could never have learned otherwise.

Be prepared to be tired and dirty in exchange for the best experience of your life.

As a volunteer with All Hands Volunteers in Nepal you could be demolishing damaged schools to make them safe, working with volunteers from around the world to remove rubble from a family's home, or in a team with local skilled staff to build homes and schools. Whatever you do, you'll be part of an incredible group of people helping Nepal recover from the earthquake.

You'll work side by side with local families affected by the earthquake, you'll learn a new language, gain skills you never thought you could have, and maybe even get a blessing! After a hard day's work you'll come back to base and share stories with people of all ages from all over the world.

Volunteering your time and hard work here is life changing. You can really make a difference to people who have been hit hard by a disaster.

I arrived in Nepal in October 2015 thinking I would stay just a couple of months. It is now April 2016 and I am so sad to leave my new home!
All Hands is a truly wonderful organisation where like minded people can come together and simply help. The organisation provides a platform for everyone to come and share their ideas and create an experience of their own. There are opportunities to team lead, where you can gain knowledgeable skills in leadership and organisation. You can also take on a base manager role and help the operations staff with the running of the base. Considering all the mobile (camping) sites logistics can be hectic and busy so if you like a challenge and want to learn more about the organisation base managing is a perfect place to start.
The work on site is hard but so rewarding! You will build muscles you never knew you could and learn construction skills that you don't usually get the opportunity to!
You will also make some of the best friends of your life and amazing connections with these beautiful communities.
All Hands has given me these astounding opportunities and I can't wait for the next time I can come back and volunteer!
Dhanyabad All Hands! See you on the next one!

I first volunteered with All Hands in 2014 in Bohol, Philippines. This was such an incredible experience that I volunteered again in Leyte in 2015 and am now currently in Project Nepal. Each experience with All Hands has surpassed the last, and it has been very reassuring to see that the organisation improves each year. As a volunteer I have felt looked after and able to discuss any matter with members of staff. Volunteer welfare is paramount, and health and safety protocols are impressed upon volunteers on a daily basis. One of the most admirable aspects of All Hands has been the organisation's relationship with the local communities; in identifying and addressing need and also ensuring ongoing communication with the beneficiaries. On each project local people have also either volunteered or worked along side international staff and volunteers, which ensures a cohesive environment rather than a them/us dynamic. Above all, the compassion, dedication and love shared among volunteers after a hard day's work is simply awe-inspiring and my time with All Hands has changed my life forever. I will continue to volunteer with All Hands in some capacity for the rest of my life! I can't express my gratitude enough for this truly incredible experience.

All Hands Volunteers(AHV) offers one of the most unique and valuable volunteer experiences through cultural immersion, program structure, social culture, and tangible meaningful work for those skilled and unskilled. A volunteer on All Hands Volunteers Program Nepal said during his leaving speech after 6 months on program, "Best job I've ever had". A perfect description of the trans-formative experience offered on AHV programs. If you ever do visit an AHV program, you will hear this a lot, "i signed up for a week, here i am 2,4,6, 12 months later". In my case, i signed up for one month in 2014, since then i have worked on 7 different programs, for a total of 18 months. Each program different in work, leadership, and location, but consistent in vision and quality.

Ever wanted to be a par of a family that you were not born with? Ever want to go out and do some of the most intense physical work and yet come back at the end of the day with the biggest smile on your face and feeling a sense of accomplishment rarely found when not travelling? Do you feel the need to help people who have just experienced a major natural disaster but are not sure how to go about it ? Join All Hands Volunteers. Best job I ever had.