In a world full of chaos, there is no better feeling than taking a step toward helping others. If you have a wandering spirit AND the desire to serve those around you, volunteering abroad could be your calling. It allows you to travel the world, see new places and meet new people, but volunteering abroad is more than just a holiday. It means diving headfirst into the real world, getting your hands dirty, exposing yourself to things that are difficult to see, and in the process, bringing meaning to your life and to others’.
Get all of your questions about volunteering abroad answered.
Volunteering abroad is the best opportunity to do something significant while you travel. If carried out the right way, you’ll see firsthand the impact you’ve made on another individual or an entire community. You’ll bring real love and help to those in need, and the warm fuzzies you’ll feel in return are worth every effort.
If this kind of experience stirs something inside of you, you’re bound to have questions about volunteering abroad. How do I get started? Where can I go and how can I help? How much time do I need to make a significant impact? Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place for volunteer abroad advice. Here are all the things to know before you volunteer abroad, with GoAbroad’s key tips for volunteering abroad.
Why it’s important to volunteer with a game plan
While volunteering abroad will make you feel good and allow you to check destinations off the ol’ bucket list, the ultimate goal is to maximize your impact. In order to provide a truly helpful contribution abroad, it’s important to get organized before embarking on the adventure. After all, anyone can volunteer abroad, but it takes research, consideration, and time to make it meaningful.
Love just isn’t enough. You need to have a game plan so you can volunteer abroad as effectively as possible.
Make a game plan. Get started by setting goals for yourself: where do you want to go, which causes move you, and how much time do you have to commit to them? Once you can visualize your goals, it’s time to set the right expectations for yourself.
Volunteering abroad ain’t always pretty. Hard work is essential to making the biggest impact. It takes more than booking a plane ticket and arriving in your destination. Keep reading for all the things you didn’t know about volunteering abroad.
If you’re new to volunteering abroad, know these things
1. Preparation is key.
Prepare, prepare, and then prepare some more! If you’re an experienced traveler, you already know that it takes time to organize overseas travel. Don’t underestimate this preparation period before volunteering abroad. From research on programs, destinations, and projects, to packing and budgeting, you’ll find that volunteering abroad is not a spur of the moment decision.
Take your time and ensure all your questions about volunteering are answered before committing to a program. Factor in time to raise funds for your project and pack those can’t-live-without essentials (aka clean undies and plenty of bug spray!).
2. Volunteering abroad can be expensive.
Taking time to fundraise is no joke when it comes to volunteering abroad. One of the biggest questions about volunteering is what am I paying for? Well, it takes money to host volunteers. Think about your placement service, room and board, flights, and the equipment and resources needed in order to carry out a volunteer project.
You can’t travel the world or volunteer abroad for free.
You can’t volunteer abroad for free, but don’t fret—it’s not always a bad thing to pay to volunteer abroad. The best volunteer abroad advice is to do your research so you know where your money goes, and then fundraise to get yourself there, or apply for volunteer abroad scholarships. You’ll find others are more than willing to donate to a cause—they may not be joining you abroad, but they still get to feel like part of the mission!
3. Volunteering is a two-way street.
Some will tell you volunteering abroad is selfish. While you will be making a difference in the lives of others, you also help yourself in many ways. Volunteering abroad allows you to learn about a new culture, gain valuable skills that will shine on your resume, have fun bonding with new friends, and don’t forget those warm fuzzies!
In fact, more people are motivated to volunteer abroad for cultural immersion, personal growth, and professional development than for making a difference. The benefits of volunteering abroad go in both directions.
4. Volunteering abroad is addictive.
One of GoAbroad’s key tips for volunteering abroad is: Once you start, you won’t stop. Volunteering abroad is like the travel bug. If you catch it, it will become a permanent itch that needs to be scratched. You’ll ache to constantly experience new things, discover new places, and meet new people. You’ll develop a knack for bonding easily with others over meaningful experiences and your social circle will be filled with lifelong friendships based on beautiful memories.
It’s rewarding and addicting, so be prepared to make room in your life for more.
Don’t be surprised if once just isn’t enough!
5. You can volunteer ANYWHERE.
That’s right, anywhere. When most people think of volunteering abroad, they imagine traveling to a third world country and helping in extreme conditions, but volunteerism is needed everywhere you look, including in your own backyard.
Check out your travel bucket list, close your eyes, and point. No matter where your finger lands, there will be a cause that needs you. Always dreamed of going to the Land Down Unda’? Spend your summer preserving the Great Barrier Reef! Want to stay a bit closer to home? Volunteer at a soup kitchen, or find placements near and far in community development.
[10 Best Places to Volunteer Abroad in the World]
6. Some countries need you more than others.
When it comes to volunteering abroad, some countries are on the radar and others aren’t. While it’s a great opportunity to combine travel with volunteerism, consider the countries that are often overlooked by volunteers. Sure, it’s nice to check Costa Rica off your list while lending a hand at wildlife conservation, but other places need it more.
Need some more volunteer abroad advice? Consider lesser-known destinations that are in desperate need of humanitarian aid, like Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, or Bosnia. You’ll get to explore off the beaten path, and the change you bring will be even greater and more appreciated!
7. Volunteering abroad will help you land a job.
Did you know you’re more likely to be hired for a job if you have volunteer experience on your resume? Volunteering abroad makes your resume/CV shine! You’ll gain real world experience and valuable skills that are relevant to any career path: patience, hard work, and adaptability. It shows you have passion and are willing to put in the effort for something meaningful, even if what you gain in return is not monetary.
New insights
8. Your perspective will change.
You may already know this, but one of the things you didn’t know about volunteering abroad is how much it will change you. Volunteering abroad will put everything about how you live your life into perspective.
Your eyes will open to new cultures, you’ll see new ways of life that you’ve never known before, and you’ll learn to appreciate the basic necessities that you normally don’t think twice about. You’ll gain a better understanding of problems that exist around the world while discovering new passions, and ultimately your future will change irrevocably.
9. Not all volunteer organizations have the right intentions.
Sadly, not every organization forms for the right reasons. Many marginalized areas are exploited by the travel industry. Sometimes these organizations seem reputable: they are good at raising money, training volunteers, and coordinating programs, but they don’t offer any long-term solutions. Joining these types of programs allows you to travel, but no real change is made to the communities. If anything, it causes more harm.
Do you research. Volunteers need to ensure they are joining a responsible and reliable program that has goals for long-term change, and it’s important to learn how to discern ethical volunteer organizations and practices. Become part of a solution instead of adding to the problems at hand by informing yourself on which programs are sustainable. Doing due diligence will make it easier when you find *the one* and ultimately choose the right volunteer abroad program for you.
[How to Compare Volunteer Projects, Programs, Providers]
10. Volunteering abroad isn’t all warm fuzzies.
When you read program reviews of volunteering abroad, they paint a picture of a daydream: exploring exotic locations, connecting with locals on important issues, and bonding with likeminded people, creating lasting friendships. But volunteering abroad isn’t always glamorous. While it is an extremely rewarding experience, the reality of volunteering abroad is much grittier.
One of the things to know before you volunteer abroad is that it can be frustrating. Things can run slower in other countries and you may have to be more resourceful than what you’re used to. You’ll come home with bug bites, blisters, and bruises but they’ll be well worth the impact and connections you make while abroad.
11. Big change takes more time.
Real change takes awhile—try to volunteer abroad as long as possible.
Volunteers can find stints around the world to suit any schedule, whether you have one week or one year. While you can still make a positive impact on a short-term volunteer trip, longer stays will maximize the impact you make while abroad. Volunteer abroad advice: don't make your trip too short.
Short-term volunteering requires tons of resources and effort for the organization. On top of that, it takes time to adjust to the culture, learn about the organization, and develop the right skills to help those in need. Committing longer allows you time to settle in, share your skills, and do something truly meaningful by becoming an expert in the area.
Only have a week or two to spare? Educate yourself and do your research on any questions about volunteering before arrival so you can hit the ground running and make a bigger impact.
12. The types of volunteer projects abroad are varied—but you need to make sure your skills are right for the job.
Don’t sign up for dental work in Vietnam if you have 0 clue about how to administer dental care (a deep passion for pearly whites won’t cut it). While one of the purposes of volunteering abroad is to learn experientially in a new context, you need to meet the organization part way with skills suitable for the project you’ve selected.
The most popular types of volunteer abroad projects include construction, conservation, and education/working with children. But honestly, there are so many different opportunities, it’s up to you to decide which cause makes you light up and is worthy of your time, effort, money, and energy.
[5 Ways to Prioritize & Pursue Goals When Choosing Volunteer Abroad Projects]
13. There are no western saviors.
There is a popular idea that volunteering abroad is a chance for westerners to save locals abroad from their culture by bringing over their own cultural values. One of the most important things to know before you volunteer abroad is that this is false on many levels. The myth brings closed-mindedness, ignores the rest of the world, and validates privilege.
While volunteering abroad, you must respect the culture around you. You will undoubtedly witness different ways of life, but it is important to give up the notion that you are the hero. Instead, help the people to help themselves. It takes great humility to make great change.
[Get Matched with 5 International Volunteer Programs for FREE →]
Conclusion
Get ready to make a difference.
Mother Theresa once said, "Love cannot remain by itself—it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service." Helping one another is a part of human nature, and when we give in to this innate desire, the world shifts. With volunteering abroad, you can see more of the world while you’re at it, opening your eyes to the true state of the world.
You have been blessed with a big heart, compassion, and so much talent to share with the world. Why not volunteer abroad to extend your love in every direction? With GoAbroad's key tips for volunteering abroad, you can take the leap and find yourself while serving others—anywhere.
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