Volunteer in South Dakota: South Dakota Program

South Dakota Program

Volunteers will be working in different outreach programs, which address problems that arise from poverty and are specific to the reservation: having enough food, staying warm in winter, coping with the substance abuse problems of family members.

The program runs year round and Volunteers will generally work with groups of children ages 4 to 12 and / or with teens aged 13 to 18. Volunteers are expected to help where needed. This means mornings may be spent working in the garden, warehouse, cleaning, with the Family Services program, and doing office work, while the afternoons may be spent with the children.

Accommodation

The program fee covers all food and accommodation for the duration of the volunteering time. Volunteers are housed at either the youth or teen the centre in dormitory-style accommodation. There are currently 2 volunteer quarters which house 8 people each.

Meals and Food

Monthly food allowance cheques will be issued to each volunteer, whereby the volunteer can purchase their own food at the local grocery store. In addition, the centre prepares meals for the children which volunteers can also share.

Free Time

Generally, volunteers have Sundays off, but volunteers must be flexible about their work hours and days off as special events and staff/volunteer shortages occasionally require volunteers to work extra hours and/or days.

Volunteers are free to do as they please on their days off and after their volunteer duties are done for the day. We encourage volunteers to see as much of the country as possible since there is a lot to see and do,

Communication

There is wireless internet at the teen centre that volunteers can access with their own laptops. There is also a small children's computer lab, which can be used in the evening;

To make long distance phone calls you will have to purchase a phone card, these can be bought in Pierre or in local stores close by the centre.

Number of Volunteers

The South Dakota program can accommodate between 1 and 16 volunteers at a time. The number of volunteers varies depending on the season.

Costs

Application Fee – US $97

Your application fee is fully transferable and will secure your place on the program, (or any other GVN program of your choice), at a placement date that is suitable to you.*

*Your application fee provides you with access to any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years, as many times as you like without having to pay another application fee!

Children under 18 are not required to pay the application fee when volunteering together with a parent/guardian.  (Except for participants in our Youth Tour program who are required to pay a US$97 application fee.)

To return to the main South Dakota program, click here.