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| Volunteering
Abroad
So you got the call—the one that says you want
to go abroad and experience a different side of life. You want to
give back to the world for everything you have received. You want
to volunteer abroad.
Volunteering abroad is a wonderful way to help, learn
and grow, while exploring a new place and having new experiences.
Once you’ve made the decision to take on a volunteer position
abroad, you need to start preparing for your trip. But how? Here are
a few tips on what to do before you leave, while you’re there
and after you return.
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| What’s
Your Cause?
One of the most important factors for creating a positive experience
abroad is the cause you choose to take up. Make sure to select a cause
that fits in with your interests and maybe even with your line of
work. You don’t want to go all the way to another country to
do something you don’t care about! If your passion is children,
then volunteer with an organization whose main aim is to help children.
Once you’ve narrowed it down to the people
you want to help, go one step further and choose a place that focuses
on the type of help you want to provide. For example, don’t
choose an organization that specifically works with women who have
experienced domestic violence if the issue makes you too uncomfortable.
Choosing a cause that is close to your heart will
ensure that you and the people you are helping have a positive experience
during your time together. Another good way to choose a cause is to
find something that falls in line with the type of work you
do or want to do. If you’re in the IT field and you want to
build on your experience with computer systems, go with an organization
that needs specialists to set up computer programs for the people
they work with. That way, you’re learning and gaining valuable
experience in your field while helping people in need at the same
time.
Location, Location, Location!
Once you’ve selected the people you want to help and the type
of organization you want to join, you have to choose a country, city,
town or village. This is crucial to your experience as well. You should
choose a country that fits in with the experience you want to create
for yourself, and one in which you will feel comfortable and safe
for the length of your stay. It’s not easy leaving everything
behind and moving off to another country, so be sure to choose a location
based on factors that are important to you. These can include language,
living arrangements, community, religion, physical security or any
others that are important to your comfort level. You are already stepping
out of your comfort zone by traveling to a new country and doing a
different kind of work, so make sure you will feel comfortable living
there. However, try not to let such factors turn you away from a position
that looks interesting. For example, if you don’t know the language
of the city you are going to, consider that while there you might
not need to know the language and may well be able to function in
a language you speak.
It’s about Time
The next important thing to take into consideration is the length
of your stay. Most organizations prefer (and some even require) a
stay of at least three months to maximize the impact you have in your
volunteer role. Volunteering, just like working, involves a learning
curve. If you join an organization, you will inevitably have to learn
many things before you get your hands dirty in the actual work. This
could include the way the organization runs, the surroundings, the
people and so much more. If you go for less than three months, as
soon as you begin to get comfortable in your role, you’ll have
to leave. You’ll also have a harder time building lasting relationships
if your stay is so short. Depending on the organization you join,
you might have a predetermined set of duties that need to be completed
during your stay—and they usually have a set time in which you
can complete these tasks (e.g. a six-month internship).
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Selecting the
Organization
The next step is choosing the specific organization. This is, by far,
the most important and most difficult part of the volunteering process—aside
from actually doing the work. You have to select a place according
to the cause they support, the location of the work, the time requirements
and most importantly, the legitimacy of the organization.
Doing the Research on Your Own
Doing your own research involves networking with people who might
know of, or be connected with, organizations abroad, searching online
for organizations that fit in with the three criteria you’ve
set above and personally contacting each organization that is of
interest to you. It is essential to find a place you trust, or one
that has been recommended to you. This option is time-consuming,
yes, but it gives you the freedom to narrow down and select an organization
that suits all of your needs.
Using a Company
Another option is to sign up with a company that places individuals
in volunteer positions around the world. This option is much easier
because the research has already been done for you and the company
will simply place you with an organization they know is legitimate.
The downside to this is the cost—these companies usually charge
a chunk of change for their placement services and their fees won’t
always include all the expenses for food and housing that you will
incur as a volunteer.
Finding an Internship or Fellowship
As an alternative, you could find an internship or a fellowship.
This can be done by looking up opportunities on sites such as the
United Nations and the Peace Corps. The benefit of choosing this
avenue is that most of the expenses of your stay are covered, the
research has been done for you so you will be placed with a legitimate
organization and, in some cases, you could be paid for the work
you do.
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If you choose to research in order to find
an organization on your own, here are a few tips to take into
consideration to make sure that you select a legitimate organization.
1. Check out their website. If the website
is up-to-date, gives the organization a legitimate look and
feel and has many details about the organization, the work they
do, the people they help and the type of volunteers they might
be looking for, that’s probably a good sign. But don’t
judge based on website alone. Some organizations simply cannot
afford to pay someone to build a professional website, as they
would rather use their money to help the people. Use your judgment.
2. Contact them. Try emailing
the organization with a letter of interest and perhaps a list
of questions you may have and see if they respond. Call the
phone number on the site and speak to someone about your interest
in joining their organization, and address any questions you
may have. If they don’t write back, or the person on the
phone sounds unsure or doesn’t have the information you
need, think again.
3. Don’t pay any money to anyone.
This is, by far, the most important point. No organization should
ask any money of you—not up front and not while you’re
there. Your volunteer services should be enough. If an organization
asks you for a sum of money, no matter how small or large, find
out their reasoning—you’ll most likely thank them
and be on your way. Legitimate organizations will want your
time, not your money.
4. Be aware. Trust your instincts.
If something sounds or looks fishy, it might just be. Remember:
You don’t want to travel clear across the world to work
for a dud organization. Sadly, this can happen—there are
many people who work under the guise of an organization, but
are not actually doing any work with the people they claim to
be helping. Research and see if there is any information or
feedback about the organization on independent sites. Again:
Use your judgment.
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| Living Arrangements
You’ve finally done the brunt of the work by selecting the organization
you want to work with. Now, you need to figure out your living arrangements
while you’re there. All organizations should give you a set
of options for your stay. These could include living with a host family
(called a “family stay”), living in a volunteer house
or renting your own place.
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| Preparing for Your Trip
The first thing to do before doing any other preparations is get your
passport (if you don’t have one already) and a visa for the
country you are visiting for the length of time you have decided to
go for. Check with the country’s nearest consulate to find out
if you need to apply for any additional official documents before
you go—each country has its own set of rules.
Make sure to keep a copy of important correspondence between you
and the organization, including their name, address, phone number,
contact person and confirmation of your stay. And keep all important
information regarding your destination country (especially the phone
number and address of your country’s embassy) in a safe place
with your ticket and passport.
As with any major travels, you should also always
go see a doctor to make sure you get all the immunizations required
for the destination country, as well as any medication that you may
need while you are abroad. It might also be a good idea to buy a Lonely Planet travel guide for the country you’ll be in so you can
get trusted recommendations about what to see, what to eat and where
to stay if you plan to travel around on weekends or holidays.
Packing is the next important step. It can’t be said enough:
Don’t take too much! If you are going for three months, don’t
pack three months’ worth of clothing! In any country you visit,
there will be somewhere for you to wash your clothes or services that
will wash them for you. Be sure to bring clothing that is appropriate
to the country you are visiting. It is important to respect the customs
and traditions as a visitor to a new country. You wouldn’t want
to insult the people in your destination country by wearing inappropriate
clothing or acting in a disrespectful manner.
It’s a good idea to bring a comfortable pair
of walking shoes and flip flops for everyday wear. You also don’t
want to lug around anything more than what you will actually need.
Do take personal necessities like toothpaste, tissues, hand sanitizer
and toilet paper for the beginning of your trip, but don’t bring
too much of those either. Once you start living in your new country,
you will find out what they have and don’t have, and you will
eventually start living the way they do—with or without your
usual luxuries. If you’re concerned about availability, do bring
essentials such as deodorant and sanitary napkins, but don’t
bring unnecessary extras, like your curling iron, because you will
likely not use them while you’re there! The important thing
to remember is to pack lightly because whatever you need will usually
be available there. And, if it’s not, you’ll likely find
that you don’t actually need it! |
| You will usually have to pay
for housing when volunteering abroad. This may be in the form
of rent that you pay to the family with whom you are staying,
to the organization or to a landlord.
Living with a Family
This involves renting a room in the house of a family who is
connected to the organization. The family will usually get some
sort of monetary compensation from the organization to put up
volunteers who come from abroad. The benefits are that you get
to experience the lifestyle of the people in that country, you
get to live in a family setting (which helps sometimes when
the loneliness kicks in) and, often, the family will be responsible
for meals, cleaning, etc. The downsides are that you might not
necessarily have the freedom to do what you want, such as going
out late at night with friends, eating out as you wish and bringing
friends over to hang out. Also, you will likely be bound to
the rules of the house.
Living in a Volunteer House
This involves living with roommates in a house (or apartment)
set up by the organization. You pay the rent, and you get to
stay there with the rest of the volunteers. This is a good option
if you want to live with other people who are going through
a similar experience as you and have the freedom to go in and
out and do as you please. The cons are that you may be stuck
in a house with people you don’t like or can’t get
along with, and you have to cook and clean for yourself (although
you would likely share these chores with your roomies).
Renting Your Own Place
Living on your own is a great option if you want to experience
a new country solo and have the privacy and freedom to do as
you please. The main downfall to living on your own is that
you may sometimes feel lonely in a strange place and want the
company of others. And, don’t forget, you will have to
cook, clean and fend for yourself. |
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Expectations—Don’t
Have Any
Most people make the decision to volunteer because they want to make
a difference and experience a whole new side of life. However, many
come back disappointed because the experience wasn’t what they
expected. To avoid feeling this way while you’re there or upon
your return, try to go without expectations. It is extremely hard
to have no expectations when you’re making such a huge, life-changing
trip, but it will be a much better experience this way. If you’re
hoping to change the world or find yourself, reassess.
Doing a volunteer stint in a different country will
be very helpful to the organization and their cause, but will likely
not change the world, especially if you’re only going for a
few months or even a year. Traveling across the globe will change
you, but not necessarily in the ways you hope. Having expectations
is completely normal, as long as you realize they have to be realistic
and grounded—and as long as you are aware of the potential that
these expectations may not be met. It cannot be emphasized enough:
Go for the experience of it all, but don’t have grandiose expectations—if
you do, you will be disappointed.
When You Arrive
The first thing to do when you arrive in your destination country
is to register with your home country’s embassy, if possible.
They will likely ask you to provide information regarding your stay,
including the reason for your trip, where you will be living, the
name and address of the organization, how you can be contacted, emergency
phone numbers and the length of your stay. This is very important
so that in the case of any natural (or unnatural) disasters, they
have contact information and a record of the people who need to be
accounted for.
The next thing is to visit the organization and get
a feel for them—the work they do, the way they work and the
people they help. The organization should help you settle in and set
up some sort of orientation session for new volunteers, which should
include introducing you to the team, the cause, the area, the living
arrangements and the other volunteers.
Finally, scope out the area you’re going to
be living and working in. Ask the organization for a guide or someone
who can help you settle in to your arrangement. Find out where the
corner store is, where the grocery store is, how to get around town,
where to buy other necessities, where to go out, where to eat, where
you should and shouldn’t go, what’s safe and what’s
unsafe. Get to know everything around you so that you can begin to
have an idea of how your life is going to be, how comfortable you
are there and who you’re going to be dealing with on a daily
basis. This will help you establish a certain mindset and prepare
you for your experience there.
Finally—Your Experience
You’ve arrived at your destination, unpacked your bags, settled
in to your life (well, that will take a few weeks) and you’re
ready to start the work you came here to do. One of the most important
things that all volunteers need to remember is this: You create your
own experience.
Many organizations are well-prepared to bring you
in and accommodate you for the duration of your stay, but they won’t
necessarily have a set list of tasks they want you to accomplish while
you are with them. Don’t wait to be told what to do—this
is one of the biggest mistakes new volunteers make when they start
working with their organizations. Now is your chance to offer up any
of the wonderful ideas you may have about how you can help them. This
is the reason you came here—to make a difference and build an
experience that you will remember for a lifetime! So roll up your
sleeves and offer the organization your ideas on the ways you can
assist them in their work, how they can improve the way things are
being done or even give them new ideas they can incorporate into their
existing programs, or new programs they can start up with your help
and expertise. Also remember to use what you know. If you have a certain
set of skills, tell your organization about them so you can find ways
to use this expertise for their ends.
You traveled across the world for this, and it is up to you to maximize
your experience with your organization. Once you’ve offered
up your creative ideas and they’ve accepted them, don’t
wait for them to give you directions on how to do it. Most organizations
will already have a hard time covering all of their own tasks, so
it will usually be up to you to ask for the resources and start up
your project on your own. This will ensure you are busy for the duration
of your stay doing things that you enjoy and are qualified to do.
Take the reins and make the difference you went there to make. You
create your own experience. So create it.
Coming Back
The culture shock when returning back home is often more intense than
the one you face when traveling to a new country. This is because
when you sign up for a volunteer experience, you usually expect a
certain amount of time and difficulty before you adapt to your new
surroundings.
However, when coming back, most people think they
are returning home to a comfort zone they are used to. This is not
true. You may feel out of place and somewhat down and out when you
return home. Life in your hometown went on as usual while you were
gone and, seeing as how you weren’t there to take part in the
daily routine, you will have missed out on a good chunk of time with
your family and friends.
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Moreover, during your trip, you will
have experienced so much that when friends or family ask you about
your experience, you may feel at odds about explaining it, as no words
will do justice to the constant array of experiences, emotions and
feelings you faced during your volunteer stint. This is called Re-Entry
Syndrome or Reverse Culture Shock.
The most important thing to do is be aware of the
possibility that you may feel out of place, depressed, frustrated,
bored or have a disconcerting range of feelings for a period of time
after your return. It is important to remember to give yourself time
and space to return to your normal way of life and find a way to retain
your experience while incorporating everything you’ve learned
abroad into your daily life back home.
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| Making the decision
to move abroad and take on a volunteer position is already very difficult,
but it can be rewarding if you adequately prepare yourself for it.
You should always trust your instincts and be conscious of the things
that may happen on your trip. If you organize yourself and stay aware
of your state of mind and body, there is no doubt your experience
will turn out to be wonderful. If unexpected things happen, be ready
to deal with them in a calm manner. Remember: If things are really
bad, you always have the choice to leave. With this in mind, you can
create the experience you dreamed of before you left. So go ahead—volunteer
abroad and help make a difference!
Rachna Vohra is a writer, poet, and editor living in Montreal, Canada. She works as a technical writer and trainer by day, and runs her own business, S'Apostrophe (www.sapostrophe.org), by night. She has published two books, The Distance Within and The Acorn and the Caterpillar, and has had her work featured in a poetry anthology, Beyond Memories. Since her return from India, she has encouraged many people to spend some time volunteering locally as well as around the world.
To find out more about Rachna, visit www.rachnavohra.com.
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