Our plans for 2008-09

We are delighted to announce our plans to send OCC Distribution teams to Serbia (5-10 December 2008), Romania (12-17 December 2008), two to Belarus (12-17 December 2008 and 9-14 January 2009), and Ukraine (9-14 January 2009), and OCC Discovery teams to Swaziland (10-17 February 2009) and Kyrgyzstan (10-17 February 2009). Some dates and venues are to be confirmed.  

OCC Distribution Teams

Our classic OCC Distribution Teams are 6 day subsidised opportunities for our volunteers to get involved in OCC distributions in a variety of settings, to “see the smile on the child's face”, and to get a flavour of the programme in the relative comfort and easy access of Eastern Europe.

OCC Discovery Teams

This year we are also offering two 8 day OCC Discovery Teams to Swaziland and Kyrgyzstan . Led by our international OCC staff, these teams will distribute gift boxes as usual, but also offer a more adventurous opportunity for volunteers to investigate the role of OCC in the local (often poor and persecuted) church, how the programme brings churches together and opens doors to help them in their work of integral mission and development in their communities.

Who can apply to go?

Due to the popularity of these trips, we are unfortunately only able to accept applications from our Registered Volunteers *.Click Here for more information on the process to become a Registered Volunteer with Samaritan's Purse.

* We also invite a pastor/evangelist and a musician/child entertainer on most of these teams. If you would like to be considered in one of these roles, please contact Ruth at teams@samaritans-purse.org.uk.

Typically each team will consist of 12-15 members, with a minimum of 8 Area Coordinator (AC) or Registered Volunteer (RV) participants.

All Regional Managers (RMs), ACs and RVs are invited to “express interest” by emailing teams@samaritans-purse.org.uk ,or by phoning Ruth Sanders on 0208 559 2044 ext 208 as soon as possible, and by Friday 9 May at the latest, giving their name and full address details, and stating when (if ever) they last went on a D team.

RMs will prioritise these expressions of interest, and 64 will be invited by Friday 30 May to complete an application form. Participants will be asked to return their application forms by Sunday 13 July, and selection will be made by Friday 29 August.

Selection criteria

Selection criteria will be based on simple factors of team/gift balance, availability (for pre trip orientation as well as the trip itself), health, commitment and attitude, and previous distribution team involvement. It is our aim to ensure that RMs should be able to access an OCC D team every two years, ACs every three years, and RVs every five years, and therefore strong priority will be given to applicants who have not been on a D team within that time span.

Pre-trip Orientation and Post-trip Debrief Events

Team members are asked to attend a pre-trip orientation workshop at Pioneer Centre near Kidderminster , either on Fri 3 Oct (6pm) to Sat 4 Oct 2008 (6pm), or Sat 4 Oct (11am) to Sun 5 Oct 2008 (11am). The cost of this workshop, and of a post-trip (debrief and reunion) event 13-14 March 2009 at Kings Park Northampton are incorporated in the cost of the trip.

A minimum donation is required

SP seek a minimum donation from volunteers of £500 ( Serbia , Romania , Belarus and Ukraine , all subsidised* ) and £1,125 ( Swaziland and Kyrgyzstan actual costs).

However, for OCC Distribution teams, applicant's ability to pay is not ultimately one of the deciding selection factors, and applicants who feel unable to pay or raise the minimum donation should speak in confidence to Alan Cutting on 020 8559 2044 (ext 222) or alan.cutting@samaritans-purse.org.uk .

Timeline

2008
9 May All RV and staff expressions of interest submitted
20 May RM's to prioritize RV expressions of interest
30 May Top 64 participants (RV's and staff) invited to apply
13 July Final date for participant application forms to be submitted
29 August All volunteer participants selected and notified
3-5 October Training and Orientation workshops ( Kidderminster )

 2009
13-14 March Post-trip debrief and reunion ( Northampton )

Click here to view OCC Distribution trips for 2008/09.

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