COMMUNITY REENTRY, SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK, BURLINGTON
Code: 8d39f8b3-2157-11ee-ab88-fa163ef8d720 Copied
About the project
COMMUNITY REENTRY, SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK, BURLINGTON
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Volunteers For Peace (VFP) is a US non-profit organization founded in 1982 and located in Burlington, Vermont. Through international voluntary service VFP promotes intercultural education, service learning, and community development. Each year we support local communities by organizing and promoting about 20 short, medium and long-term service projects in the USA and many projects in Haiti and Nicaragua.
We have exchanged over 31,000 volunteers worldwide and offer over 3,000 projects in more than 100 countries around the world. Through these projects, nations join together to improve life on our planet. Our volunteers experience a microcosm of our world within the international group of volunteers, and communities are able to create goals that improve life for their members.
We provide opportunities for volunteers to build cultural understanding and connections around the world while exploring grassroots community development and leadership roles. Volunteers will be encouraged to learn, share and plan effective ways to address local and global challenges together.
Through these experiences, our volunteers gain valuable skills and an enhanced global consciousness, which we believe will help them become citizen diplomats, global leaders, and advocates for a more peaceful world!
💼 What the programme involves
WORK: Volunteers will assist in a variety of tasks including but not limited to: administrative support in the office, helping with fundraising activities, supporting the residential community by helping with planning and participating in house activities and Residential Advisor duties (See below). The type of work and number of hours varies but is usually 4 – 6 hours a day. Volunteers live on site and participate in all house activities including evening meals and all outside activities.
Resident Advisor position requires a confident individual who will be on duty evenings and every other weekend. There primary function will be to contact staff if there is an emergency, lock doors at night, assist residents when needed and participate in house functions.
Office Assistant will be working with staff on all of the day to day operations of a small non-profit organization. Tasks include: clerical work; student recruiting activities; fund raising activities; general administrative duties; as well as participating in all of the residential group activities. The average work day might consist of approximately 4-6 hours of office work.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Dismas House operates a “dry house” policy. This means that no recreational drugs or alcohol is tolerated in the house or premises.
Volunteers will live together with former prisoners in a lovely Victorian House located in Winooski, Vermont. Volunteers may have to share a room. All meals, shared bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, hot showers, linens & towels are provided. Some group activities and sightseeing is included.
📍 About the location
Burlington is a beautiful small New England College town, population 40,000. The small city is located right on the shore of the picturesque and historical Lake Champlain. We are less than an hour from the Canadian border, 1.5 hrs. from Montreal, Canada; 3 hours from Boston; 6 hours from New York City.
The Dismas House provides housing and opportunities to men and women getting out of prison so that they can successfully transition back into the community. http://dismasofvt.org/
🎒 Leisure activities
We are in close walking distance to the Historic “Church Street” area where there are shops and activities. There is always something going on in Burlington! Street Fairs, jazz festivals, parades, theater, and many other special events. There is a bike path that goes along the waterfront where you can run, bike, roller blade or just take a quiet walk. Volunteers will have time off to travel on their own. Previous volunteers have been to Montreal, Boston, New York, to rodeos and climbed mountains as well as toured Vermont’s famous Ben & Jerry’s!
⚠️ Requirements
Volunteers are reminded that Dismas House is a shared living environment therefore it is recommended not to bring valuable items, unless absolutely necessary. Volunteers should ensure that they carry full insurance to cover their possessions, as this is not provided.
Dismas House operates a “dry house” policy. This means that no recreational drugs or alcohol is tolerated in the house or premises.
VFP hosts, staff and co-leaders work hard to ensure a rewarding and unforgettable experience in the USA. Please read the following expectations below :
- Every volunteer is an important and valuable part of the group. You are expected to be an active member, contribute to the work project, assist with cooking and cleaning, and participate in work and free-time activities. Please come prepared with recipes, photos, music, cultural information, group games and other information and activities to share with other volunteers and the community!
- Work activities will take place for about 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. Some days and projects may have longer or shorter work periods depending on the weather, leadership, motivation, availability of materials and other factors. Be flexible!
- VFP and your local hosts will provide many fun and cultural free-time activities during the project. If volunteers decide to travel to a different location as a group or plan their own free-time activities they will be responsible to cover the expenses. The camp leaders will be able to share how much free-time activities will cost.
- Co-leaders, workcamp hosts and work project leaders are there to help you plan activities, understand your tasks, teach you how to use tools and many other things. They are not there to solve all your problems! If you have concerns or issues please raise them with a leader and work with the leader to engage the group in finding a solution that works for everyone!
- Volunteers are expected to live as a group. You are expected to stay for the entire duration of the project and are not allowed to arrange your own activities and spend days or nights away from the project.
- Smoking use is on the decline in the USA and in most of the communities where you are serving you will not see people smoking. It is prohibited in many buildings and also public spaces. You must be 18 years old to purchase cigarettes in the USA.
- The drinking age in the USA is 21 years old! It is illegal to purchase alcohol for a person younger than 21. Excessive drinking is a major social problem and is an obstacle to overcoming the social and economic problems that afflict the world community today. Please check with the host regarding alcohol consumption where you are staying and if you choose to drink please be responsible and only do so during free-time.
- Any illegal drug use is strictly forbidden.
🤝 Meeting point
You must send your arrival details to [email protected] so we can arrange to meet you.
Depending on departure point, volunteers can fly directly to Burlington, Vermont or to New York City and then fly to Burlington. Alternatively volunteers can fly to Montreal (Canada), from where it is less than a two-hour bus ride direct to Burlington, using www.greyhound.com. Volunteers will be met at Burlington airport, by prior arrangement.
ℹ️ Additional information
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📷 Project photos
📅 Available sessions
VFP-MTV01
01/07/2023 at 00:00 → 31/12/2026 at 00:00
VFP-MTV02AUTO-EXTAUTO-EXT
01/12/2027 → 30/10/2031
VFP-MTV02AUTO-EXT
01/01/2024 → 30/11/2027
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
21–99 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Burlington, VT, USA
United States
🌍 Location info
Local currency
United States Dollar (USD / $)
Exchange rate
1 USD = 0.895608 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
Eastern Daylight Time
Local time: 21:26 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
🗣️ Languages spoken