How-To Guides

• Buy Fairtrade certified products
• Volunteer your skills overseas
• Build your understanding of poverty: read books!
• Keep up with the latest poverty news: read our blog
• Use social networking sites to talk about poverty
• Campaign for Fairtrade in your community
• Write a letter to a politician

Volunteer your skills overseas

Volunteering is not only a hugely practical and useful way to work to bring about change; it is also immensely rewarding and a lot of fun.

Volunteering is not only a hugely practical and useful way to work to bring about change; it is also immensely rewarding and a lot of fun. You can commit your time as a volunteer in any of a number of ways:

• Volunteer in campaigns and advocacy - many organisations that work to build awareness of poverty and to speak up for the poor are looking for volunteers to help run campaigns and stir up support!
• Volunteer in administration - work behind the scenes for an organisation that does great work, in order to support not only their team close to home but, indirectly, those who are living in extreme poverty around the world.
• Volunteer with an organisation that supports people on the ground here in Australia - refugees, migrants, Indigenous Australians
• Keep an eye out for the Global Poverty Project's call for volunteers - from time to time we call for more enthusiastic people to join our team.

Visit organisations' websites to find out about volunteer opportunities with them - there is always a need for support in a practical sense, even if you can only contribute a few hours a week.

If you're ready for something bigger, why not consider volunteering overseas? Be prepared that you may not make a major and immediate contribution towards ending poverty unless you commit to volunteer for an extended period, but there is immense value in doing an overseas trip to volunteer and expand your understanding of what poverty is and what needs to be done to eradicate it.

• Short term volunteering can include teaching English, working with children, doing community work, building projects and disaster relief.
• If you have specific skills, look out for opportunities that utilise your skill to benefit communities.
• Long term volunteering requires a stronger commitment, but allows you to contribute in a powerful and practical way.
  • Voluntary Service Overseas - an international development charity that works through volunteers.