Volunteering for MOMS
Results of war
Women missing limbs
Women missing limbs
Sierra Leone mother
Results of war are still
very apparent
Results of war are still
very apparent
Midwives on Missions of Service
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We Welcome Your Interest!
MOMS depends on volunteer efforts. Volunteering for MOMS is rewarding. Most
importantly, you are helping people who need it most, which feels - and is -
wonderful. In addition, you are joining a group of people that will enrich your life.
Our volunteers vary considerably along every dimension of diversity: age, gender and
gender roles, social background, employment history, politics, and religion. This
creates a rich, although sometimes messy, family who are united by their commitment
to serving and educating marginalized women and bringing about improvement in
maternity care.
MOMS depends on volunteer efforts. Volunteering for MOMS is rewarding. Most
importantly, you are helping people who need it most, which feels - and is -
wonderful. In addition, you are joining a group of people that will enrich your life.
Our volunteers vary considerably along every dimension of diversity: age, gender and
gender roles, social background, employment history, politics, and religion. This
creates a rich, although sometimes messy, family who are united by their commitment
to serving and educating marginalized women and bringing about improvement in
maternity care.
How we choose volunteers:
- Evaluate the current needs to identify gaps
- Evaluate abilities and interests of volunteers to find the best matches to the
needs - Evaluate a volunteer's commitment to the mission and philosophy of MOMS
- Offer relevant roles
What about Midwifery Interns?
While we do at times include interns in our work, they must meet stringent criteria.
They must already have considerable academic and practical experience. They must
have characteristics, like resilience and flexibility, that make them good candidates for
working in a remote area in a different culture. An intern may not work for MOMS
with women who lack choices in care until she has gained experience with women who
have freely chosen her as a care-provider.
Our volunteers in Sierra Leone must ensure they...
Or, to put it negatively: We avoid people who have religious or political goals for the
trip, who want a "change of pace" or to explore Africa, who want support from MOMS,
or who have more interest in gaining experience than in using their skills to serve.
If you want to volunteer for a trip to Sierra Leone, go through this website in
detail to get clear on MOMS' approach, philosophy, and people. Carefully review the
information in the links to Sierra Leone web sites. Then email us at
volunteers@globalmidwives.org. We'll be glad to have you on board!
While we do at times include interns in our work, they must meet stringent criteria.
They must already have considerable academic and practical experience. They must
have characteristics, like resilience and flexibility, that make them good candidates for
working in a remote area in a different culture. An intern may not work for MOMS
with women who lack choices in care until she has gained experience with women who
have freely chosen her as a care-provider.
Our volunteers in Sierra Leone must ensure they...
- are in harmony with MOMS' goals and methods
- are in good shape physically and emotionally
- can gather support for their own activities
- have demonstrated teaching, midwifery, or management skills
Or, to put it negatively: We avoid people who have religious or political goals for the
trip, who want a "change of pace" or to explore Africa, who want support from MOMS,
or who have more interest in gaining experience than in using their skills to serve.
If you want to volunteer for a trip to Sierra Leone, go through this website in
detail to get clear on MOMS' approach, philosophy, and people. Carefully review the
information in the links to Sierra Leone web sites. Then email us at
volunteers@globalmidwives.org. We'll be glad to have you on board!
How we use volunteers:
- Raising funds and gathering supplies
- Conducting operational activities: writing grants, preparing newsletters,
researching options, and many other support activities - Preparing instructional material
- Training and administering the training programs
What are the criteria?
While MOMS is made up of volunteers, we are not amateurs in the sense of being
unskilled in our disciplines. All must have the skills, knowledge, and experience that
enable them to conduct themselves as professionals.
So we require education, training, and experience appropriate to the role. For
example, trainers must know how to train well: Perhaps they have taken classes in
training or have a degree in education, and have experience as highly rated trainers in
schools or corporations.
We require maturity - especially of those wanting to volunteer to serve in Sierra
Leone. Consider this: If you not seen sickness, filth, bugs, etc., you will spend a lot
of energy overcoming your fear and distaste. If you've not rough-camped, using
buckets for bathing, cooking over a fire, and squatting to relieve yourself, you must
learn these skills. If you've not watched someone die a preventable death, you must
find your internal resources for handling these difficulties. You need emotional
resilience and creativity - and MOMS needs to know you have these attributes, before
we leave the United States.
Will you take malaria prophylactics - every day? Will you drink only safe water - no
matter how thirsty you are or how much you want to identify with the people? Will
you maintain boundaries? Will you avoid romantic or sexual relationships? You can
create awkward or difficult, if not disastrous, situations - requiring your team mates
to try to rescue you from your own foolishness and costing MOMS our reputation and
money. In some cases, a lack of discipline can cost your health or life.
While MOMS is made up of volunteers, we are not amateurs in the sense of being
unskilled in our disciplines. All must have the skills, knowledge, and experience that
enable them to conduct themselves as professionals.
So we require education, training, and experience appropriate to the role. For
example, trainers must know how to train well: Perhaps they have taken classes in
training or have a degree in education, and have experience as highly rated trainers in
schools or corporations.
We require maturity - especially of those wanting to volunteer to serve in Sierra
Leone. Consider this: If you not seen sickness, filth, bugs, etc., you will spend a lot
of energy overcoming your fear and distaste. If you've not rough-camped, using
buckets for bathing, cooking over a fire, and squatting to relieve yourself, you must
learn these skills. If you've not watched someone die a preventable death, you must
find your internal resources for handling these difficulties. You need emotional
resilience and creativity - and MOMS needs to know you have these attributes, before
we leave the United States.
Will you take malaria prophylactics - every day? Will you drink only safe water - no
matter how thirsty you are or how much you want to identify with the people? Will
you maintain boundaries? Will you avoid romantic or sexual relationships? You can
create awkward or difficult, if not disastrous, situations - requiring your team mates
to try to rescue you from your own foolishness and costing MOMS our reputation and
money. In some cases, a lack of discipline can cost your health or life.
Bridge
Typical bridge over one
of many streams
Typical bridge over one
of many streams
Ferry between airport
and Freetown
The trip takes about an
hour
and Freetown
The trip takes about an
hour
Welcoming dance
TBAs, head TBA, and
"devil" dance to welcome
us home to Pellie
TBAs, head TBA, and
"devil" dance to welcome
us home to Pellie
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Documents for Volunteers
You can download these documents:
Information for Volunteers
Volunteer Application
Volunteer Waiver
You can download these documents:
Information for Volunteers
Volunteer Application
Volunteer Waiver