Doing volunteer work while in jamaica? Anyone do this??? About This Page:

[scarlettsmom]

Scarlett and I decided to go to Jamaica instead of Disney. She said she wants to go somewhere with a kids camp and a beach. So I found a few resorts in Montego Bay. I thought since she will miss a week of school (not a biggie at age 5 but still) we could learn about the culture and do some volunteer work at a local orphanage or school and bring some items with us. Anyone else do this? and if so, how did you go about getting the plan set up

[Papa Mouse]

Naturally you will have to have passports. I have not been on a cruise and I do not know about visas. Maybe someone here will inform you know.

I am only making unfounded recommendations below.

Contact the school, church or place that is working with Jamaica and get as much information as possible and get a list of what your child and you will need to bring plus any other information.

Read to improve your knowledge of their customs and their everyday life.

If you can get an email address inquire directly to them what will be expected from your child. If time allows write the request and send it AIRMAIL and request the reply by airmail. Seamail can be very slow. Of course, ask them for any information that will benefit you.

Any letters or postcards, to the U.S., will have to be sent through the Jamaican postoffice with their stamps, not ours. Unless they have other arrangements.

A letter request to our customs for a you can or cannot bring back items list.

In addition to passports I would suggest birth certificates.

If someone else has volunteered work there maybe a visit or telephone call inquiring their opinions of the place, pro and cons. What could they have taken that they missed taking.

What did or did not pass customs. Both leaving Jamaica and entering the U.S. In and out might not be the same.

Being some U.S. post offices handle passports, even though you have yours, telephone them and ask if there is anything else they need paperwise.

Check with a local travel agency and ask from "scratch" what one needs for Jamaica. Play like you have not traveled before. While you are there pick up the free phamplets on Jamaica and read them. They might contain some useful information.

3:25 A.M. and the mouse is down the clock. Time for other passporters to hop in.