Information for Volunteers
Volunteer to Serve
Volunteer at an International Family Retreat – no experience necessary!
As a volunteer, you will come alongside local churches to support families living with disability. You may be assigned a specific role or asked to fill a variety of roles, depending on the immediate need.
Specific roles include:
- Disability Specialist: typically an occupational therapist, physical therapist, registered nurse, speech and language pathologist, special education teacher, or behavior therapist
- Program Assistant: help lead arts and crafts, recreation time, and games
- Parent Group Leader: help lead small group meetings with local caregivers
- Family Retreat Trainer: train local volunteers to be a buddy to someone with special needs
- Speaker: serve as camp pastor; Biblical training, ministry experience, and/or experience with people affected by disability is recommended
- Photographer: document the Retreat through photos
You do not need to be a professional to be a part of the team. Volunteers are simply committed Christians that have a desire to serve families living with disability.
Whether you’re a college-aged student or a grandparent, you will serve a vital role at International Family Retreat. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old to apply. If you are younger than 18 years old and would like to serve, please contact Joni and Friends at [email protected].
Yes! We provide all the training materials you will need before and during the Retreat. You will be trained on disability awareness, cultural awareness, and your role(s) at the Retreat. Ongoing support will be provided from the International Family Retreat Manager and the Retreat Team Leader.
A typical International Family Retreat is 3-5 days. Including training, travel days, and a day to sightsee/shop, the trip will last about 10 days.
Wheels for the WorldTM outreach countries that currently require a Visa include Cuba, Ghana, Jordan, India, Uganda, Kenya, Nepal, and Brazil (starting April 10th, 2025).
A visa is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder can enter, leave, or stay in a country for a specific period of time. Visas are included in the total outreach cost.
Instructions for the visa application process will be provided to all team members by Wheels for the World as the time to purchase airfare approaches.
Joni and Friends will inform you of any vaccination or testing requirements for travel to the country you have applied for. Other recommended vaccinations should be discussed between you and your physician.
It is highly recommended that your Tetanus, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B immunizations are up to date. Since some vaccinations require multiple doses, please consult your physician to ensure you complete any vaccine series before departing for the Retreat.
The outreach cost is all-inclusive, meaning it includes roundtrip economy airfare to and from any city within the continental United States*, visas (if required), in-country transportation, shared accommodations (double room occupancy), a cultural experience, and meals.
The total cost does not include expenses related to vaccinations, passport fees, airport parking, souvenirs, snacks, or any other purchases made prior to the initial departure flight or following the final return flight.
*For volunteers traveling from outside of the continental United States, outreach costs may vary and will be addressed on an individual basis.
Once approved to join the outreach, you will receive a personalized fundraising link where you and your supporters can donate toward your outreach cost.
A $350 travel deposit will be required upon acceptance. The full outreach cost will be due two weeks prior to the outreach start date.
Volunteers who cancel their participation in an outreach are obligated to cover all expenses incurred at the time of cancellation, including airfare. Donations given toward a volunteer’s outreach cost are tax deductible and, therefore, non-refundable. Cancelations due to extreme circumstances will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Go to our Joni and Friends Portal by clicking the “Access Your Portal” button under “Events.” Oce you are approved to attend an event, your fundraising and payment page will be available within the Portal.
Go to our Joni and Friends Portal by clicking the “Access Your Portal” button under “Events.” Once you are approved to attend an event, your fundraising and payment page will be available within the Portal. Share this page by copying and pasting this link to an email, text, or your social media platform.
