For many people, volunteering abroad can be a great way to see the world, broaden your horizons and make a real difference in the world. There are plenty of volunteer programs out there but its paramount that you do your research. In this article I will be explaining what to look for in your volunteer program and the ethical considerations you should take into account.
I decided to write this guide as recently, after writing a few articles about gap years, I’ve been getting a lot of enquiries asking about how to find volunteer opportunities abroad. In the past, I’ve written a few posts on my travel blog about meaningful travel options, but I never really got around to the volunteerism part.
So, I’ve finally got around to it. Check out everything you need to know before volunteering to make a difference overseas, and apply for a life changing experience today.
Why Volunteer Abroad?
Going backpacking, taking a gap year or just planning a meaningful trip are brilliant ways of discovering the world and living the life to it’s fullest.
It’s a life-altering adventure that will help you develop as a person in so many ways by opening your eyes to new cultures and ways of life. Another rewarding and fulfilling way to make this trip more memorable is by volunteering.
Countries such as India and Cambodia are always eager to gain help from volunteers with farming, building and education. Take a look at these inspiring reasons why volunteering could be something you consider on your next trip.
1. You’ll be making a real difference
Changing a person’s life will give you a feeling unlike no other. But how about changing potentially hundreds or thousands of people’s lives? Whether you help build a shelter for animals, work at a hospital or teach local children how to speak English, it’s going to benefit many people.
You’ll feel more accomplished than ever before because you know you’ve helped change their lives for the better. Think about the skills you have to offer and how you might be able to help people in need abroad.
There are lots of options for varying types of volunteer programs throughout the world. Look for causes that you feel strongly about, as these are the ones you are likely to put your absolute all into.
2. You’ll build new relationships
Whether you decide to volunteer for a few months or the entire duration of your gap year, you’ll get to know the local people you are helping. You’ll build a rapport with these people and they will gladly welcome you into their communities.
This will give you a new perspective on what is important in life and how much you have to be thankful for. In a short time you will get to know everybody’s name and build an emotional connection to them. Which in turn will make you more determined to help as much as you can.
You’ll also get to know the other volunteers you are working with who have the same goal and interests as you. Some of the people you meet with be friends for life and the feeling of togetherness will be unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
3. You’ll see more of the world
After your volunteering is over for the day, you can spend time exploring and learning more about the country you are in. You can spend more time with the local people and find out more about their history and culture.
They may even invite you to take part in celebrations such as weddings and religious ceremonies. You can document your experience in a journal or with photographs which you will no doubt treasure forever. With so many things to see and do, there will be little time to be bored and you’ll see more than you ever imagined.
Where to Volunteer?
Of course, this all depends on your volunteering aims and personal preferences but here are a few suggestions to get you started!
If you want: a hot climate or have an interest in building projects, health or teaching – Tanzania
Tanzania is an East African country which is renowned for it’s vast wilderness and is home to the Serengeti National Park and the Kilimanjaro National Park. If you’d like to volunteer in Tanzania, there are plenty of options available depending on your interests.
Head to Musoma in Northern Tanzania and you can help build water tanks, goat sheds and low-cost housing – all vital infrastructure for the local community. There are also projects available in Mtwara, Marsabit, Lindi and Zanzibar Island which can give you an opportunity to help in local schools, develop income-generating initiatives and help with health education.
If you want: to be outdoors or have an interest in wildlife – Costa Rica
If you’re a wildlife-lover, Costa Rica is your dream come true. It boasts the highest concentration of wildlife biodiversity in the world and even though it makes up only 0.03% of the earth, it hosts more than 6% of the world’s plants and animals.
Some of the volunteer projects available are centred around animal conservation, including feeding and caring for animals and monitoring their wellbeing. Other opportunities include working in the Costa Rican jungle to undertake biodiversity surveys which will ultimately help determine the measures needed to protect them.
If you want: to work with children, low physical demand and have an interest in teaching – Thailand
Thailand is by no means the only destination where there are teaching opportunities available, but if you’ve never visited this part of the world before it could be an amazing chance to take the plunge and go!
You’ll likely work 5 days a week and then have Saturday and Sunday off to explore some of the beautiful sights Thailand has to offer. Not all programs require you to be TEFL certified so it’s worth checking before you book.
Doing Your Research (and asking the right questions)
Once you’ve decided to embark on your volunteering experience you’re ready to start the planning stage. It’s important to choose a voluntary program that’s right for you. Think about the destination and climate you’d like to visit.
Are you looking for a short-term project or can you commit to something more long-term? Are you happy to undertake work that’s quite physically demanding? Do you want to stay in one place or travel between destinations?
As you’ve probably gathered, the sheer choice can be quite overwhelming so having an idea of what you’re looking for can help narrow the search.
Once you’ve gathered a few options it’s important to start doing your research into each one. I would definitely recommend checking out reviews from other travellers or even speaking to them directly. Many travel bloggers will publish posts on their volunteering experiences so it’s worth dropping a few of them an email to ask any specific questions. They will likely be happy to answer them for you!
It’s also worth making sure you completely understand the aims of any potential organisation, where the money is going and what is expected of their volunteers. If possible, try to find out how the organisation is working within the community and the progress they have made to date.
Again, asking questions is paramount so don’t be afraid to contact the organisation directly if you have any queries whatsoever.
Remember to do your research on VISA and entry requirements to your planned destination, and bear in mind that some programmes require an upfront fee. Think about a budgeting plan for your trip and how much you will need to spend on food, accommodation and travel.
How to Apply
Wondering where to find volunteering projects?
Finding volunteerism opportunities abroad is quite easy, as any google search will show hundreds, if not thousands, of hits for search queries like, “volunteer abroad”, etc. I think what gets people worried is not where to volunteer, but with whom. Just the idea of shelling out several thousand dollars to help someone seems scammy and conjures images of West African entrepreneurs stealing credit card numbers and such.
These leaves most people with two options: pay the price for a reputable volunteer abroad agency, or do the leg work and get an opportunity at no cost.
Volunteering through an agency
If you go the first route, you’ll find it’s easy to volunteer abroad via an agency, third-party provider, or gap year company; often these folks have got gap years down to a science, and you won’t have to worry about much except how much spending money to bring. The benefit of these trips is that you do get some working experience, with the promise that it will go as planned. I’ve found it to be true that most future employers look equally on these paid opportunities; at the end of the day, all that matters is what you did and how long you did it. Whether you want to volunteer in Africa, Asia, Europe, or America – the whole world is open to you.
Top rated websites to apply include:
• One World 365
• Go Find Programs
Going the independent route
If you’d like to volunteer overseas, but you might not have the money to pay for it, there are options for you too. Try calling agencies and third-party providers – they often have deals, discounts, or might be willing to cut you a deal if you’re looking to do multiple trips with the agency.
In addition, there are many work abroad/volunteer listing websites (seasonaljobsabroad,com, idealist.org, stopdodo.com, craigslist.com, WWOOF program, to name a few) that allow for you to set up your own opportunities at little cost. The down side? It could be a scam, expectations might not be met or clearly articulated (perhaps due to language barriers), or you might not see opportunities listed in the area to which you want to travel.
In fact, these problems can be so detrimental to travel, that my personal suggestion is to first use a volunteer service to get your overseas, and then (once you’re in-country), use free volunteer listing websites to get yourself hooked up on your next job.
Volunteering Abroad Can Be Life Changing
Volunteering and helping others is a highly rewarding experience and an opportunity you shouldn’t pass up. Whether you just want to give it a try, are considering a career break, or looking for things to do on a gap year, go for it! You’ll make new friends, change people’s lives for the better and learn a lot about yourself along the way.
Whatever voluntary project you choose to go for, the key piece of advice is to always do your research! Volunteering abroad can be a life-changing experience and one which will stay with you forever. If you want to do something meaningful with your holiday or gap year, then volunteering is for you.
Hopefully this post has answered some of your questions… keep them coming! In any case, I’d love to hear feedback from you about how you’ve managed to volunteer overseas; maybe I’ll learn something new!
