FAVACA headquarters is at 7220 NW 36th St., Suite 535, Miami, FL 33166. Call (305) 470-5070, fax (305) 470-5060 or email favaca@favaca.org.
The Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas Inc. (FAVACA), is a private nonprofit organization formed in 1982 by Florida Gov. (now former U.S. Sen.) Bob Graham. FAVACA’s Florida International Volunteer Corps is the only program of its kind in the country and enjoys statutory authority under the Florida Statutes.
A state appropriation, voted annually since 1986, provides a funding base for an estimated 100 volunteer missions to Latin America and the Caribbean each year.
FAVACA has done work in more than 32 countries in the region and looks to continue its dedication to excellence in providing immediate and efficient, request driven programs that yield long lasting results.
“Our approach of ‘training the trainer’ ensures that we are not simply placing a bandaid on the issue, but helping our neighbors help themselves,” said a spokesman at the headquarters office in Miami, Fla.
Earlier this month, the FAVACA Board and staffers paid special tribute to those who lost their lives or were injured in the Haiti earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010. FAVACA is committed to supporting Haitian organizations in the recovery and rebuilding of the country.
“FAVACA has been working in Haiti since 1982 and remains dedicated to empowering Haitian partners with the tools and skills to build back Haiti as they envision it,” said the spokesman.
Countries assisted by the organization include Antigua & Barbados, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, Belize, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela.
In September, FAVACA launched a professional exchange program between Florida and Colombia that will give civil society and government leaders from underserved communities in Colombia the knowledge and tools to build leadership capacity, address their communities’ needs and improve opportunities for women.
The program will provide hands-on experience in areas such as organizational strengthening, community advocacy, and training in gang and human trafficking prevention, criminal and drug rehabilitation, job creation, and community leadership.
To learn about the organization’s far-reaching projects, sign up for the email newsletter at the website, http://favaca.org.
FAVACA provides short-term training and technical assistance in response to requests from its partners overseas. Expert volunteer consultants are recruited from around Florida to meet these needs. Volunteer candidates are screened by the host agency to ensure an appropriate match.
FAVACA, in collaboration with the host agency, cover volunteer travel expenses and provide logistical support.
Persons interested in volunteering with the Florida International Volunteer Corps are invited to send in their contact information and resume or bio-sketch outlining skills and field(s) of expertise.
Coordinators will save the info, and get in touch later on, if there’s a request for such skills.
FAVACA headquarters is at 7220 NW 36th St., Suite 535, Miami, FL 33166. Call (305) 470-5070, fax (305) 470-5060 or email favaca@favaca.org.