REASON ONE: WHY VOLUNTEER WITH ALL HANDS AND HEARTS
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
JANUARY 5, 2023
If giving back is on your list of new year’s resolutions, then we hope this inspires you to take the leap into one of our volunteer programs.
The frequency and cost of disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, severe flooding and wildfires has been rapidly increasing over the past several years and the demand for relief volunteers has never been greater.
If, like us, you’re rightfully concerned that the recent influx of disasters shows no signs of slowing any time soon, here’s just one of many reasons why you should join us as a volunteer to help us respond as they unfold.
YOU’LL BE HELPING TO MAKE A POSITIVE AND ETHICAL IMPACT
A central part of our mission is to support the long term recovery of rural and underserved communities and empower survivors of disasters to rebuild resilience. In the past 17 years, AHAH has completed 144 disaster relief programs impacting more than 1.2 million lives. Our school rebuild programs have meant that more than 117,000 students could return to safe learning spaces, which are resilient enough to serve the generations to come.
We listen to the stories from the community members we serve.
Some powerful examples include students, parents and teachers sharing what our school rebuild in Sofala, Mozambique meant to them; how the WASH facilities we constructed in Chisec, Guatemala will help the entire community and interviews we held with homeowners in the British Virgin Islands, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Texas, and US Virgin Islands which allowed us to gain an understanding of their experience. What’s clear from all of these examples is that our teams showing up on these doorsteps was a huge step towards recovery for these communities.
By joining us on the ground, you can witness this impact in action, knowing you’ve played an integral part in enacting positive change.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN AN ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE WAY
Having a positive impact is important but it’s crucial that this is achieved in an ethical way. Our work across the world must be collaborative and sustainable, ensuring that no additional burden is placed on local resources and that the safety of our volunteers, staff members and local residents is prioritized.
Our bases of operation tend to be in the heart of the neighborhoods we serve so we ensure all program personnel receive an in-depth orientation to familiarize themself with the local area and its customs. We regularly remind volunteers of our explicit child safeguarding policies and encourage them to follow our ethical storytelling guidelines when sharing their experience with others. In remote areas or regions where specific religions and traditions are followed our volunteers will also undertake cultural training.
Where possible, our program teams will select the most sustainable construction materials and practices and, thanks to our strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency, we’ve earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator, eight years in a row. As we’re dependent on funding from our generous donors, it’s important that we’re fully transparent about how we use it. We’re proud that our operational efficiency allows us to ensure that 95c out of every dollar is used directly on our disaster relief programs. We’ve provided a full breakdown of our financials here on our website.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our volunteers.
By showing up to one of our bases ready to be of service to others, you’ll earn back invaluable connections, unforgettable experiences and feel part of something bigger than yourself.
