Why volunteer?

There are no paid opportunities in the developing world for people who have no professional qualifications or work experience. Overseas communities need help from experts in the form of technical assistance. Immigration and entry of non-nationals is strictly controlled by governments; only those professions which are in short supply and have been invited will gain work visas. However, there are a variety of organizations that offer voluntary placements if you have limited skills, experience or want a gap year. They will help you if you wish to spend time overseas as a volunteer, are willing to give what you can, and are interested in learning from the community you are with.

 

Short-term voluntary opportunities abound, especially during the summer. You will share a job or activity with other volunteers, learn from each other, and enjoy leisure together. Some projects may require knowledge of another language. The experience will challenge the way you understand the world. The opportunity of being part of a different lifestyle and culture is a unique experience. If you are thinking about traveling or organizing your own volunteer activities you need to ask yourself:

• How much are people being put out to receive me?
• What are the long-term solutions to the problems in this community?
• What can I do at home to help solve them?
• Will my visit result in a net benefit to the community I visit?

Globally there are thousands of voluntary organizations that place volunteers overseas on short-term placements. Your decision to go overseas means that you will have to pay for the experience. As a volunteer you will have to pay your placement organization some fees to cover administration costs and may include a donation to the project with which you will be volunteering. Often food and accommodation are part of the package, but you need to check with the organization about exactly what they provide and what you are responsible for. You will be expected to meet all travel costs to your placement; no one is going to pay your airfare for you to visit them. It’s important to check what costs are involved and what they are for. Do not to make any commitment until you are totally happy with the organization.

 

Unless you have savings or will be doing paid work overseas, you are going to have to reorganize your own expenses before you go. But don’t be put off an overseas placement simply by the cost!

Your short term voluntary experience overseas may cause you to rethink what you want to do in the future. If you decide you want to work overseas long-term you will soon find through your research that development agencies require recognized professional qualifications or relevant degrees plus several years work experience in a particular skill. It is important that you seek realistic advice before making major commitments in potentially disappointing avenues such as academic study. Don’t decide to do an MA in Disaster Management of Development studies for example, unless you have previous work experience. A degree in Disaster Management of Development Studies will not make you an expert, only solid practical work experience will! Many people benefit from first gaining voluntary work experience followed by paid work experience in their chosen profession and then increasing their knowledge or level of qualification through further specialist study.