Introduction

During our ten-year journey as a national WWOOF organization (www.wwoofnigeria.org), we have had the opportunity to connect international volunteers with Nepalese organic farmers, and in doing so share the colorful charm of our culture, the warmth of our communities and the beauty of our surroundings here in Nigeria. Based on the interest generated by WWOOF Nigeria in both international and local circles, we are looking to organize a new program in the region called the Global Family Project(GFP). This program offers opportunities to international volunteers to more deeply learn about and share in the unique lifestyle of the Nepalese people. It would expand the WWOOF movement, giving interested volunteers the opportunity to stay in any community in the region, not just communities surrounding organic farms. This gives volunteers an extraordinary chance to experience how the people of Nepal live by facilitating communication, exchange of cultural experiences, and understanding not limiting only by organic farm, but aims to learn a vital cultural exchange in the society.

Why this Program?

Human beings in this day and age are keenly interested in visiting new places and meeting people of different cultures. The main aim of this project is to facilitate this exchange, and more specifically to share with the international volunteers how the people in various regions of Nigeria are living. The program will serve to facilitate the building of international friendships, supporting and enhancing the humanistic movement, and promote global peace and non-violence. Participants will work with farmers and other interested individuals, communities, and organizations while having the opportunity to meet new friends, learn about other community designs, teach about their own community, and develop worldwide relationships having a vital mission and vision developing Global Nigeria Friendship. Volunteers will become part of a vital network of international exchange.

The program aims at reconnecting with the ancient wisdom that communities in Nigeria carry, and spreading a message of friendship, respect, brotherhood, compassion and love throughout Nepal at the fist and want to develop this unique message to the World. Our vision is to create positive change in the global society by fostering communication between individuals who have the desire to be a part of this type of shift. By creating an exchange of knowledge and resources we can empower each other in a way that will sustain our earth and the lives of the people who share this planet. The Global Family Projects is a tool for exploration of the vital aspects of different cultures inherited and existed in the Nepalese society . Our future aim is to expand our mission internationally and make Global exchange by extending Global Family Project (GFP) at large.

Our Vision

At the center of this project is a belief in the Ancient Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, an understanding that the whole world is one family. We are rooted in the desire to foster peace and harmony among the different societies of the world, and our vision is that someday all the peoples of the world can live together and accept one another like a family. Today, people are divided on the basis of caste, creed, religion, and geographical boundaries. We feel that we have a responsibility as human beings to make an effort to remove all such boundaries from the human mind by spreading love and an understanding of our inherent connectedness throughout all mankind.

We also are rooted in the vision and ideals of the organic agriculture movement. We seek to unite the international volunteers with local communities in Nigeria , and focus this greater community’s resource on fostering both human justice and environmental justice in Nigeria and around the world. By thinking globally and acting locally, we can all make a difference.

Where I can travel with this program?

Only in Nigeria at the moment. One day we dream that we will expand this movement worldwide.

The Aim:

  • Promote intercultural learning experiences in Nigeria  through home-stays, travel opportunities, language training, work exchange and other cultural immersion programs.  We seek to foster meaningful connections between people to facilitate cross cultural education and understanding.
  • Establish an exchange between many Nepalese communities  for farmers, students, teachers and other community members for the same purpose and develop in harmony.
  • Benefit the local people and communities with whom we connect. This includes
  • Networking resources, sharing information, and connecting to means of support from other communities and individuals.  
  • Extend the forum for discussing the organic farming movement, and the culture that has developed around it.  This includes the idea of environmental justice, the green movement, climate change, and what this means for all of us, as well as developing advocacy to teach the consequences of GMO and pesticide use around the world. The forum will include not only individuals and communities, but also non-governmental organizations that could help with organizing outreach and spreading the message.
  • Find newly interested communities, organizations, and individuals to join the culture exchange project, and create a booklet linking everyone together first in Nepal and in course of time, expand our mission to Worldwide.

More about GFP :

The Global Family Project (GFP) is currently working in Nigeria. It is a Culture Exchange Program is focussed for international volunteers coming to Nigeria not only for WWOOFING but also linked with many local communities and the organization aims to vital culture exchange program.. If you have an interest in cultural exchange , or if you have any organization such as an NGO, INGO, youth group, community association, school, college, co-operative or any progressive community and interested in inviting volunteers participate in cultural exchange we can gladly make you a host. People can come your home from the world . They will stay in your home, learn about your culture through community service and participation in local activities, and in turn share their culture and personal help with you. Our main goal of this project is to create a humanistic movement by developing compassion, love, friendship and co-operation through cultural exchange. In the 21st century, people want to explore and learn by visiting many places, seeing different cultures, meeting new people, tasting new food and developing their knowledge through a variety of experiences and surroundings. That is why we decided to establish this project.

If you have an interest in culture exchange Our Hosting includes schools, NGOS, INGOS, orphanages, wildlife reserves, private organization, natural parks, and sustainable living initiatives – projects with a social or environmental goal that could use some help. If you are interested to be our host or our volunteers, please write us email at fdregmi@gmail.com

Is GFP right for me?

  • Are you interested in travel?
  • Are you interested in visiting Nepal  in an immersed environment?
  • Are you interested in meeting new people?
  • Do you believe in building international understanding through cultural exchange?
  • Do you believe in peace, friendship, love, unity and cooperation?  
  • Do you have a positive attitude?
  • Are you ready to act towards the goal of uniting all people as one family?
  • Do you believe in vital culture exchange and have a dream to come to Nepal?
  • Do you want to volunteer  In Nigeria ?
  • Do you want to help us to expand our mission  to other part of the World?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then join us!

Volunteer Agreement

  • I am at least 18 years of age
  • I agree to travel at my own risk
  • I endorse GFP goals and objectives
  • I agree to not harm my host family and fellow volunteers in any way, including physically, mentally, or sexually.  
  • I agree to respect the culture that I am visiting, and to be responsible for my use of language, my dress, and my manner while I am a GFP volunteer.
  • I agree to try my best to be open to learning about the community I visit, and to teach them about my own community as appropriate.
  • I understand that it is up to me to cover my own flight costs, organize my own travel schedule and any travel insurance I wish to carry, and that l am responsible for all travel costs to and from the community I visit.
  • I agree to pay all applicable membership fees for my time volunteering, and to keep my membership current during my time volunteering.
  • I understand that the membership fee is non-refundable.
  • I agree to not share the host list with anyone who is not a member of GFP .
  • I agree to contact GFP staff if the host attempts to ask for additional fees, or if I believe that the place I visit does not fit the description provided by the host.
  • I understand that I am personally responsible for my own safety.
  • In the case that a conflict arises, I understand that the GFP staff will assist to the best of their ability, but that GFP is not responsible for my health and well being during my travels, and that GFP is not liable for any event that should occur.
  • I agree that I will not sue GFP , nor its directors or employees for any reason.
  • I agree to complete the GFP survey form upon completion of my time as a volunteer, and to provide honest answers to the best of my ability.

Membership fees for Volunteers:

US $ 40 for an individual to join GFP
US $ 55 for a couple to join GFP together
US $60 for an individual to join both GFP and WWOOF Nigeria
US $75 for a couple to join both GFP and WWOOF Nigeria
The above membership fees are valid for a one-year membership.
If you are interested in joining GFP as a volunteer, contact us by e-mail at: @gmail.com

In order to become a volunteer, you must:
Print out and sign a copy of the Volunteer Agreement, and scan it to: @gmail.com
Send the appropriate membership fee to: (Please read the attached brochure)

Who can be a Host?

This Project is for you if you:

  • Are interested in international culture exchange
  • Have an organic/sustainable farm in Nepal
  • Are a member of a community or organization in Nepal
  • Are willing to welcome new people into your home or community
  • Are interested in showing the world who you are, and how you live
  • Are interested in going to other communities in Nepal  to see how other people live.
  • Are you interested in developing international friendships?
  • Are you open to hosting volunteers without monetary exchange?
  • Are you interested in helping the organic agriculture movement by educating people about organic growing and a sustainable lifestyle?
  • Are you interested in being a part of a cultural exchange, giving or receiving work hours and energy in return for food and shelter?

How to become a Host

We are constantly in the process of expanding our list of people, organizations and communities who are interested in participating in this project. If you are part of a community or organization in Nepal and are interested in being a host, we would like to hear from you. Please fill out the form below to help us determine if you or your farm or institution meet our criteria for being a host. We screen hosts using a thorough examination of your profile, which includes what you do, how you work and why you want to be a part of this program. Our aim is not to discourage you; we simply believe it is important to screen all applicants to ensure the safety of our volunteers. Contact us for more information on our selection criteria.

Once you are approved, you will receive a notification via e-mail. If you do not receive anything within 30 days , please check your Spam Filter for an e-mail from us, or let us know that you haven’t received a response.

There is a membership fee for Hosting. . Remember, you still need to be eligible according to our selection criteria.

Application for Hosts

Please submit an email    with the following information:

  • Name of community, farm, or organization
  • Contact name
  • Phone
  • Email
  • Address (location of your community/farm/organization)
  • Do you speak English?  Who in your community/farm/organization speaks English?
  • Why you are interested in becoming a host?
  • Have you seen any volunteers before in your community? What organization were they participating in, and what was your experience?
  • Briefly describe your community/farm/organization (200 words or less)
  • List some opportunities available for GFP volunteers in your community/farm/organization
  • What kind of participation in your community/farm/organization do you expect from GFP volunteers?
  • Upon acceptance of your application, you will be asked to sign the following Host Agreement before you are put on the Host List:

Host Agreement

  • I agree that I am becoming a host because I have a genuine interest in changing this society for the better by participating in the cultural exchange provided by GFP .
  • I agree that GFP shall be responsible for providing all initial contact between hosts and volunteers.
  • I agree to be available to be contacted through email and a landline phone, and that I will check my email on a regular basis and answer my phone if I am able to. 
  • I agree to be polite in any communications with GFP staff or volunteers. I agree to provide an accurate description of my home/ farm/ organization to GFP .
  • I agree that when replying to messages from individual volunteers and from GFP all the information I will give is truthful.  In addition, I will keep my information updated should changes arise.
  • I agree that I will not do any personal harm, including both physical and mental abuse, to international volunteers who come to experience cultural exchange.
  • I agree that I will watch out for the safety of any volunteers who join me at my home/ farm/ organization, and will advise each volunteer on how to keep him/herself safe in my community.
  • I agree to provide food and lodging to those volunteers who join me at my home/ farm/ organization
  • I agree to teach any volunteers who join me about my culture, language and surroundings during their visit.
  • I agree to treat international volunteers as members of my own family.
  • In case of any emergency situation involving my visiting international volunteer’s health and well being, I agree to inform GFP and, if possible, to contact the volunteer’s family about the situation as soon as possible.
  • I agree to not discriminate against any volunteers because of color, social class, or religious creed.
  • I agree to respect all volunteers as fellow human beings, and do my best to make this program about accepting all people as global family members. 
  • I agree to promote sustainability and justice in my community, and to be receptive to conversations with volunteers on this topic.
  • I understand that if I fail to participate in a way that is in accordance with this contract, I will immediately be removed from the list.
  • I agree that in the case that I am removed from the host list, I will not do any harm to GFP employees or directors.