Join our Mission Team!
Our missions are truly an unforgettable journey. If you haven't experienced the immense satisfaction that comes with giving an impoverished child the gift of learning, you must join our mission. The hopefulness and gratitude expressed by this community of children is heart warming. While our mission will take you to one of the most poverty-stricken places on earth, you will be unprepared for the optimism and spirit within these children’s faces. Their smiles are quick and their response to the simplest acts of affection is the very face of humanity.
Literacy Missions are important because they provide an invaluable service to children living in poverty. The Missions achieve three objectives:
- Build Self Esteem: Our Missions impress upon these often forgotten children that they are important enough for these volunteers to travel halfway around the world to make sure they have access to reading material
- Ensure the Integrity of our Project: Delivering the books personally is the only way to provide absolute certainty that our books reach the children they are collected for. Shipping is prohibitively expensive and English language books are too rare in Ethiopia.
- Raise Awareness: It is difficult to imagine the conditions that millions of Ethiopian children live in if you have never visited. Few Americans have the opportunity to make this type of trip and even fewer have the resources. Our Project opens a world of awareness for Americans who are willing to share this experience. With each volunteer that joins our Mission, another advocate for child literacy is born.
- 81% of Ethiopians live on less than $2 a day
- Only 1 in 10 people in rural Ethiopia have access to books
- Approximately 72% of Ethiopians cannot read or write
- 42% of all Ethiopians live below the country’s poverty rate
Our volunteers transport and hand deliver a minimum of 4,000 children’s books to identified children’s libraries in Ethiopia on each mission. In addition to delivering
and unpacking books at the libraries, we participate in public works programs and volunteer on community projects in Addis Ababa. Come ready to roll up your
shirtsleeves and experience how making a real impact in people’s lives feels!
We also have some playtime to visit a museum and shopping district in the capitol city.
Mission Volunteers
The Mission Team will be composed of 10 volunteer applicants and 2 staff members. 10 partial scholarships will be given, as well as 2 alternate spots for mission travel. Each mission is for a period of 1 week. The travel scholarship includes ½ roundtrip air fare to Ethiopia from Dallas, TX, all lodging while in Ethiopia, an itinerary for the mission that provides volunteers with hands-on activities; and several meals while in Ethiopia. Mission Team volunteers should be prepared to raise or pay approximately $1500 to cover their portion of the airfare and bring a modest travel allowance on the trip. Applications must be received by March 30, 2010 to be considered for the mission. The 12 Team Members for our August 2010 mission has been announced.
2010 Mission Volunteers
Dates for DMP 2010 Mission Trip:
Depart August 7, 2010 & Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia August 8, 2010
Depart Addis Ababa, Ethiopia August 15, 2010 & Arrive Washington DC August 16, 2010
Depart Washington DC August 17th & Arrive Home August 17th.
Our 2010 Mission is full but we are now accepting applications for our 2012 mission.
If you would like to join our literacy mission to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in
August of 2012, please complete the application form and return it to:
The Davis Moon Project
5995 Mount Gainor
Wimberley, TX 78676
Phone: (512) 415-5145
Fax: (512) 847.3302
info@davismoonproject.org
Team Travel Application Evaluation Process
Mission Volunteer Applications will be evaluated by the Board of Directors for the Davis Moon Project in consultation with staff participating in the trip. While it is a subjective process, general criteria will be applied. We are looking for the best possible Team chemistry in addition to the most qualified applicants. We are acutely aware that diverse backgrounds, ages and experiences of Team members will make the trip more rewarding for all who participate. We will work to assemble a group of travel partners who will genuinely add value to a mission. While we would love for every applicant to join us on our journey, we will choose the 10 most qualified that fit our mission goals.
The following criteria will be considered:
- Flexibility
- Endurance
- Emotional stability
- Dedication to our goals
- Communication skills
- Travel history
- Personal history
- Health
- Previous work with children
Mission Air Travel and Transportation
The Mission Team will travel roundtrip from Dallas, Texas to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and remain in Addis Ababa for the entire mission. Team members are responsible for travel to and from the Houston airport (DFW). All travel is economy class. Mission Team members must be at least 16 years of age. If participant is under 18 a legal guardian must accompany them.
The Davis Moon Project will cover half the cost of a roundtrip economy airfare ticket departing Texas and arriving in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for each Team Member. The ticket cost will be negotiated by the organization on behalf of the Mission Team in order to secure a group travel rate. Team volunteers who are chosen to participate in the mission will be required to pay approximately $1500 by July 1, 2012 to cover their half of the airfare.
Team Members must limit themselves to carry on baggage only. All checked baggage allowance is reserved for children’s books.The Davis Moon Project will be responsible for all group transportation and several group meals while in Ethiopia.
Mission Activities
The Davis Moon Project will be responsible for organizing a thoughtful Mission itinerary that provides hands-on experiences with the children of Ethiopia. These activities may include: delivering books to Children’s Libraries; volunteering for library services at free children’s libraries in Addis Ababa; volunteering with impoverished children at local orphanages; general site seeing within Addis Ababa; contruction project with in the community; group meals and; volunteering on public works projects within Addis Ababa.
The Davis Moon Project will be responsible for collecting and storing all books for our mission. Additionally, the organization will be solely responsible for arranging all book containers to be transferred to and from airports and ultimately delivered by Team Members to the children’s library in Ethiopia.
Passport
You will be required to submit a copy of your valid passport with your mission application. You may apply for a passport with the U.S. Department of State. http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
Processing times for passports are typically between 4 - 8 weeks. Expedited Services processing time is between 2 - 4 weeks. We strongly urge you to get your passport as soon as possible as a Travel Visa must also be obtained before your trip. Passport fees are typically $100 for processing by mail and $75 if application is processed in person. The responsibility for obtaining a passport lies solely with the mission volunteer and is not the responsibility of the organization.
Please contact the National Passport Information Center with any questions:
1(877) 4USA.PPT (1(877) 487.2778)
Live Operator Service is available 6:00 a.m. to midnight, ET, M-F (Except federal holidays)
Travel Visa
In order to travel to Ethiopia you must obtain a travel visa. You will need a “tourist visa” from the Embassy of Ethiopia to gain entry into the country. This is a paper permit that is inserted into your passport. You may obtain a tourist visa for $70 by contacting the Embassy of Ethiopia.
Embassy of Ethiopia
3506 International Drive, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
(202) 364.1200
http://www.ethiopianembassy.org/services/visa.shtml
Visa processing takes up to 4 business days provided all the requirements are complete and is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. You will need a valid passport, the $70.00 fee, a return stamped envelope, a completed visa application and passport photo to apply. Keep in mind that your visa must be valid throughout your entire stay in Ethiopia and upon your re-entry to the US. The responsibility for obtaining a travel visa lies solely with the mission volunteer and is not the responsibility of the organization. A copy of your tourist visa will be required by the organization before your travel date.
Expedited Visa Services are provided for an additional fee by:
Ray Howar
2200 Columbia Pike
Unit 1005
Arlington, VA 22204
Phone: (703) 282.6668
Vaccinations
You will need to consult your doctor or travel clinic for the appropriate vaccinations. You are strongly encouraged to have a yellow fever vaccination in your passport when you enter Ethiopia. Proof of your vaccination record will be required by the organization before your
travel date.
Below is a sample vaccination schedule along with an estimated cost..
6 weeks before travel
- Hepatitis A&B (1st of 3) $161
(charge for all 3 shots) - Yellow Fever $131
- Typhoid $82
- Tetanus $68
2 weeks before travel
- Hepatitis A&B (2nd of 3)
- Meningitis $164
- Flu shot $20
- Polio $48
- Malaria oral pills (2 options) 6 cents or $7 a pill
*consult your doctor for the right medication for you
Post travel
- Continue taking Malaria medication for 2-7 days after return from trip
- Hepatitis A&B (3rd of 3)
*If you have never had the chicken pox – this vaccination is also recommended.
It may be possible get Hepatitis A & B shots for a nominal fee through your county health department if your insurance company will not cover the cost. In Austin, you may get more information on this county service by visiting:
Austin City Connection
Public Health Services
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/communicable_disease_hepatitis.htm
A reliable travel clinic in the Austin area is:
Austin Diagnostic Travel Clinic
12221 N. Mopac 3rd floor
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 901.1111
http://www.adclinic.com/Other_Specialties/TravelClinic/travel.htm
The responsibility for obtaining the appropriate vaccinations lies solely with the mission volunteer and is not the
responsibility of the organization.
Mission Health
There are certain health challenges associated with traveling to a third world country. Common health issues include, but are not limited to, malaria, dehydration, parasites, scabies, and physical injury. The vast majority of these symptoms can be easily managed with over the counter treatments and caution while eating in Ethiopia. Mission Team volunteers will receive a full briefing book in advance of travel that details recommended over the counter medications to consider.
More information on health issues when traveling to Ethiopia can be found at:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationEthiopia.aspx
Please note that we will not be traveling outside of Addis Ababa, which is the capitol city of Ethiopia. The Mission Team will have access to medical care if needed.
Lodging
The Davis Moon Project will provide all lodging for Team Members while in Ethiopia. Lodging will be equivalent to a typical 2 star hotel. Participants must be prepared to share a room with another Mission volunteer. More than likely, Internet connections will not be available and limited phone use must be anticipated. Addis Ababa frequently experiences loss of electricity and our Team should be prepared for the unexpected. We may be utilizing an orphanage guesthouse as a lodging option. These guest homes help raise money for the local orphanages and are often found on the grounds of the children’s quarters.
Another good example of lodging possibilities would be:
The Ethiopian Guest Home
http://www.ethiopiaguesthome.com/
Lodging details will be provided to the Mission Team no later than 4 weeks prior to take off.
To learn more about Ethiopia, please visit the National Geographic Facts About Ethiopia Website:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_ethiopia.html
