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SIGN UP TO HOST A VIRTUAL DRIVE

Host a Virtual Book Drive?

With safety in mind, we have created a way for individuals and groups to help us increase the number and quality of books we are able to provide local educators and families. 

Hosting a Virtual Book Drive allows us to purchase specific books that are in high demand.  We will create a specific list of books we currently need and you can share that list with your community.

Bring a service project
to your city!

Sponsor team building activities or service projects to help make a difference for children in the Caribbean.

Fundraise

Start a campaign & host an event w/ your friends, family, or colleagues

Buy Now

If you’ve already raised donations or are looking to purchase directly, use the buy now feature.

Volunteer

Join our community of volunteers & lend a helping hand.

4 Simple Steps to Start a Virtual Book Drive Team Building Service Activity

1. Set A Goal

Decide how many children you’d like to help. Our average school has 780-900 students.

2. Sponsor or Fundraise for the Book Drive

Connect with your CWP representative that will be here to help you every step of the way!

3. Reach Out to Friends, Family, and
Co-Workers

Ask everyone to help you support your fundraiser
and service project.

4. Hurray, You’ve Reached
Your Goal!!!

You have sponsored the Virtual Book Drive and now Caribbean with Purpose is applying your donation to books for the Travel and Build Team to build a
Book Cove compliments of your team.

5. Complete Service Project

Assemble your closest friends and family and take photos of your team building service project in action. Once complete, deliver pictures to your CWP leader.

BOOK COVE FAQs

Our volunteer trips offer more than just the opportunity to swing a hammer. When you travel and volunteer with the Caribbean with Purpose, you’ll experience the country like a local, with the locals. Meet people from  around the world with all different kinds of backgrounds, races and religions.

 Spending time with other cultures doesn’t mean just exploring the differences, but also discovering the commonalities. You’ll find that you don’t even need to speak the language.

We have various opportunities to volunteer in the Caribbean depending on your area of interest, including building a Book Cove.

Your participation in one of these trips helps support Caribbean With Purpose’s ongoing Build A Cove efforts. While your personal trip may last for a week or more, your financial, emotional and physical contributions can be life-changing for both those in the communities where you work and in your own life for years to come.

CARIBBEAN WITH PURPOSE FAQs

A Build a Book Cove trip is a short-term service trip where you can volunteer abroad with Caribbean with Purpose.

All trips vary based on the country and itinerary, but all of them include a mix of work, rest and free time. It is our desire that these trips not only utilize your skills to build safe, reading literacy rooms (library) in places where they are underserved and under resourced schools that lack literacy resources, but also give you the opportunity to see another culture up-close and live like a local.

Trip costs range between $1650 - $2500.

Caribbean with Purpose Build a Book Cove program works to ensure that trips are well planned and coordinated, safe and constructive for volunteers. The ultimate purpose of Build A Book Cove trips are to focus on literacy among early childhood and primary school-age students and provide volunteers with rewarding experiences and cultural exchange opportunities.

Again, costs will vary by location, but fees include a donation to the host community’s Caribbean With Purpose program, in-country transportation, food, accommodations, select activities and travel medical insurance. Trip costs do not include airfare in and out of the country, activities beyond what is outlined in the trip details, visa and exit fees, any associated vaccines or trip cancellation insurance. For more information, read about your program donation.

We welcome everyone who wants to contribute to our work, no matter your age, background, religion or race. Previous construction experience or fluency in a second language is not required. Please note, however, that manual labor is a part of the trip, so all participants should be in good health. If you are under 18, please see our minor policy.

If you’re interested in joining a Build a Book Cove trip, you’ll need to complete a short application to tell us where you’re from and where you’re interested in going.

During the application you can select up to two trips that you’re interested in joining. Leaders from each of the trips you’re interested in will contact you to tell you more about the experience and answer any questions you may have. At that time, the leader will also give you instructions for securing your spot on their team.

You can apply for any trip listed on our website. As trips fill up, they are removed from the website so it’s best to apply now rather than later.

Are you looking for a last minute travel opportunity? Contact our office at [email protected] or 800-358-4090.

Caribbean with Purpose offers volunteer opportunities through Build A Book Cove for both individuals and existing groups. Visit our trip schedule to view all of the trips open to individuals.

If you’d like to organize a trip for an existing group such as a school, church, business, etc., contact us at [email protected] or 800-358-4090 to discuss locations and timing that work for you and your group.

You sure can! Review the list of locations we’re currently building in and contact [email protected] for information on attending a training and next steps to get your team recruited.

Caribbean with Purpose trips are available based on local schools planning with opportunities during nearly every month of the year. If you aren’t able to find a volunteer team that works for your schedule, please contact us at [email protected] or 800-358-4090 to explore additional opportunities.

All volunteers must be over the age of 16 and should be accompanied by a responsible adult. Additional information can be found in our minor policy.

Our host programs are able to accommodate typical dietary restrictions. If you have significant concerns, don’t let it stop you from serving with Caribbean With Purpose! Contact your team leader to request additional information about meals and what can be accommodated.

You can find tons of new and unique ideas and information about fundraising for your trip in our Fundraising Handbook.

Caribbean with Purpose volunteers have the opportunity to use the peer-to-peer fundraising site www.share.cwp.org  at no additional cost to fundraise for their trip. Once you submit an application to join a team, your leader will share instructions on how to set up your www.share.cwp.org page.

Once you set up your page, family and friends can donate directly to you and your trip.

Advanced fundraising: Start fundraising today for a special event (i.e. wedding, birthday, anniversary) and apply the funds to a future trip. Contact our office at [email protected] to learn how to get started.

Caribbean with Purpose has a long history of working in other countries, and volunteer health and safety is our top priority. Our partners in the Caribbean know and live in the area, and help ensure a safe and valuable experience for volunteers year after year. We also regularly follow international travel advisories closely. While we cannot guarantee personal safety, we do everything possible to keep volunteers out of harm’s way, both on and off the work site, and also include travel medical insurance in the trip cost. However, it is up to each individual to assess the host country and trip details for their own comfort level. You must also be willing to follow the Caribbean with Purpose trip guidelines and follow the instructions of trip leaders and in-country connections for the best experience possible.

Well, the great news is that you don’t need to speak another language or have previous experience to join! You will need a passport, but requirements for passports, visas and vaccines vary by country. Visit the volunteer resources section for additional information.

Be sure to visit with your family doctor or a nearby travel clinic as your trip approaches. You should also review the information provided on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at  cdc.gov/travel for traveler’s health information, recommended preparations and vaccinations.

Building a Book Cove is no simple task! Construction activities vary in length, but our goal is always to complete the build of the Book Cove from start to finish in one week.

Your trip isn’t just about the work you’ll complete on the build site. Build A Book Cove trips are holistic experiences in which you’ll deepen your understanding of the local culture and community in addition to working alongside educators to create strength, stability and self-reliance among early child and primary school-age students in under resourced schools.

Caribbean with Purpose is recognized in the United States as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. For many U.S. citizens, the trip cost is tax-deductible. Since the tax laws and the interpretation of those laws are ever changing, we do not provide deductibility instructions; please consult a tax professional for current rules and interpretations. Citizens of other nations (e.g., Canada, Germany, Australia, etc.) will have different rules concerning tax deductibility, based on Caribbean with Purpose tax status in that nation. Consult a tax adviser for any other specific questions on the deductibility of your trip-related expenses.

You can read more about the trip cost and tax information on our website.

Caribbean with Purpose Founder has been working with volunteers to travel internationally since 1995, nearly 26 years!

We’re lucky to have a passionate and diverse group of volunteer team leaders who spend countless hours organizing the Build A Book Cove experience for volunteers. Leaders serve in a volunteer capacity and have successfully completed our training curriculum to effectively facilitate your volunteer experience.

For more information on leading a Build A Book Cove trip, read our Caribbean With Purpose team leader FAQs.

BOOK COVE FAQs

  • Lend a helping hand to schools in need of literacy support.
  • Donate valuable funds to Caribbean with Purpose programs throughout the Caribbean.
  • Engage in Caribbean with Purpose’s local construction projects, such as building A Book Cove.
  • Increase your cross-cultural understanding by exploring local historical sites, cooperatives and preserves.
  • Discover how to become a long-term advocate for reading literacy.

Complete a short Application. You’ll provide some basic contact information, sign our volunteer waiver and code of conduct and select up to three trips that you’re interested in joining.

After you submit your application:

  • You’ll receive your unique Caribbean with Purpose ID and we’ll connect you with a team leader within two business days. Your application allows us to share your contact information with the leaders you select and serves as your waiver and code of conduct acknowledgement.
  • The team leader will contact you to tell you more about the trip and learn more about why you’re interested in volunteering with Caribbean with Purpose.
  • After speaking with the team leader, donate or fundraise your deposit to secure your spot on the team.
  • Tell your friends, family and coworkers about your exciting adventure and get ready to travel!

Fundraising can sound daunting, but options are available for each trip. Once you join a team you’ll have access to  www.share.cwp.org, a peer-to-peer fundraising website that will make sharing your story with others simple and impactful. We’ve also developed a fundraising toolkit that offers more ideas for fundraising opportunities.

The program donation for your Caribbean with Purpose trip is typically tax deductible, but you should consult with your tax professional for specific financial guidance. A tax receipt will be issued after each donation is made.

Every dollar raised above the program donation is an additional donation to the host program you’re visiting. Each contribution allows us to serve another homeowner and continue building after your team returns home.

All funds are due no less than 45 days prior to the trip.

While all Caribbean with Purpose volunteers must be 16 or older, some trips and locations do not allow youth younger than 18 to participate without their legal parent or guardian. However, most trips allow participants who are younger than 18 to participate only if their legal parent or guardian completes the Waiver of Liability and Authorization to Travel. More details are listed in the Caribbean with Purpose.

  • Work assignments can involve strenuous physical activity ― sometimes at high altitudes. Team members should be in good physical health when considering a trip.
  • International travel always contains some risks. While Caribbean with Purpose for Humanity has a comprehensive safety and emergency management plan in place, and all volunteers are covered under travel medical and evacuation insurance policy, all Caribbean with Purpose team members participate at their own risk.

Recommended vaccines: Consult with your personal physician or travel clinic regarding any recommended vaccinations or precautions that may need to be taken prior to travel.

  • Passports: You will need a current passport that is valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates.
  • Visas: Visit www.travel.state.gov to review the visa requirements based on your citizenship and the country you’re traveling to.

For more information, please review the Caribbean With Purpose FAQs.

Ready to apply? Complete this short application.