Tips on How to Volunteer Abroad

Volunteering can be a great life experience and a chance to see something of the world, even if only for a short time. You’ll need to think very carefully about what you want and what you’re prepared to put yourself through, as well as ask some serious questions about your motivations. These issues fall largely into two categories: what do you hope to gain personally from the experience, and are you prepared for what your choice of work will require from you?

volunteers at work by US Army Corps of Engineers

Motivation

By no means is this intended to discourage you from going to volunteer abroad, but it is important not to expect too much from your weeks away from home. You may make a difference on the day, but the biggest change will come from what you bring back home with you; the volunteering experience itself could be the start of a career in the third sector, or a kick start to your interest in political or social activism. The organisers too will be aware of the trip’s import: at its heart your trip is a very focused and purposeful vacation, which is obviously a pretty great way to spend your free time, but if the sole purpose of their organisation was to build a school or teach English, they would be better off training local people or using local resources. Avoid disappointment! Be pragmatic. Remember that your trip is more about challenging yourself than changing the world.

With all that in mind, volunteering gives you a great chance to see the world and have a substantial experience at the same time. Plus, if you’re careful with your time you can still do a good day’s work and do some exploring on the side, and see how other places in the world operate differently to how you are accustomed.

Requirements

Your trip will be fun and hopefully expand your conception of what it is to be alive in the 21st century, but there’s a chance there will be low moments too. Being prepared is the best way to deal with anything negative that comes your way, and then to push through it.

Depending on where you’re travelling to, you may be a long way from a lot of the things you take for granted, like reliable plumbing, or even hot water and electricity. Most international volunteering schemes go to developing nations, and you may have to put up with uncomfortable lodging, tough working conditions, bad food, and most importantly seeing a part of the world suffering from real poverty. Some things you see might make you see the world in a different way forever, and might be difficult to cope with. This is a time to talk to people you can trust: being a long way from home without support mechanisms can be very tough.

The flip side of the same issue is that this can be a great time to learn about yourself and to grow emotionally. The opportunity to push yourself far beyond your comfort zone is a rare one, particularly when you return to a country where life is relatively easy. You might get the chance to organise your own itinerary, learn new skills, make friends and contacts that last a lifetime. Make your own adventures.

And if you are lucky enough to go somewhere with a decent internet infrastructure, be sure to make the most of the international calls you can make online. Your family and friends may be just as eager to hear about your adventures as you are to have them!

Catherine Halsey is based in Edinburgh and writes for a digital marketing agency. This article links back to Skype.com.

Tags: 21st century, disappointment, free time, heart, kick start, life experience, local resources, motivation, motivations, organisers, places in the world, short time, social activism, sole purpose, substantial experience, third sector, volunteers

Category: Travel Tips