Want To Volunteer Abroad? Ask These 5 Questions First

GUEST POST BY NAM CHEAH

Voluntourism has become popular in the last few years with many seeking out opportunities actively while abroad. Some dream of caring for elephants in the mountains of Thailand, while others love the idea of being a positive impact in a child’s life, teaching English or helping in an orphanage. It might seem like you’re doing something good, but more often than not, your presence can be more detrimental to the cause you want to support than beneficial. So before you jump in with both feet, here are 5 important questions to ask:

“It might seem like you’re doing something good, but more often than not, your presence might be detrimental to the cause you want to support. ”

Is the company a non-profit organization, NGO, or for-profit?

A lot of volunteer organizations attract volunteers with packaged programs that take you to exotic places. A girl I worked with spent her gap year on a 6-month volunteering trip to Asia and Africa. But throughout the entire trip, she only volunteered a few days in an orphanage and an animal sanctuary. While this is an extreme example, it highlights how a lot of the programs revolve around the volunteers instead of the other way around. The trip gives a perceived sense of accomplishment instead of actually helping those who are in need.

While not all volunteering programs by for-profit organizations are like that, NGO and non-profit organizations are structured to prioritize and help the cause they support. Find out all you can about the company behind a volunteering program you are considering. What are their ethos or organizational values? Check if they have any published, quantitative statistics on how they have helped the community or environment. Dig around to see if there is an alternative offer by a local organization. This leads me to the next point:

WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO?

A lot of volunteering programs cost several thousand dollars on top of your flights, so it’s important to know where the money you spend actually goes. This question is often answered with more clarity and ease with NGO and non-profit organizations. The cost usually includes a donation to the program, money to cover your training (if any), stay and administration costs. I once volunteered at a Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Greece for a month with my stay in a shared dorm covered. It cost me 500 euros in total which included a donation to this local non-profit. In comparison, a big company was charging double that for a tent including training. I decided that I want my money to go to a local organization, even if it means I do less research. Transparency is key and if the company can’t tell you how your money is being spent, it’s best to pick another one.ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO VOLUNTEER?

ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO VOLUNTEER?

Most volunteer opportunities only require you to have enthusiasm, dedication, and patience - and this isn’t actually enough to qualify you. It might be tough to hear, but just because you are willing to donate your time and effort doesn’t necessarily mean you are the right person for the job. Yes, it seems exciting to teach English to little children and shape young minds. But being a native English speaker doesn’t mean that you are qualified to teach. A TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificate is usually a minimum requirement. Furthermore, your work could be taking away a local’s job, someone who is trained to teach but is sidelined because a native speaker wants to volunteer.

Beyond that, some countries do not allow volunteers without a proper work permit as it is considered a job. Contact your embassy or check when you apply for your visa (if you need one) to see whether you can volunteer in the country. Your volunteering organization should acquire a visa for you, but some might not. It’s a red flag because if you are caught, however rare they might claim, you might get banned from visiting the country.

HOW LONG CAN YOU VOLUNTEER FOR?

Most people don’t realize that the time it takes to train volunteers often outweighs the benefit they might bring. On average, people volunteer for 3 days to a week and yet it takes perhaps 2-3 days to train them. This is particularly true for teaching, where it is detrimental to have a new teacher every few days or weeks. It disrupts the learning and children will form attachments only to have it painfully ripped away. It is disorienting and unfair to the child. This is why most projects have a minimum stay requirement of around 2 weeks and the optimal time to volunteer for is 1-2 months if not more.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

So volunteering isn’t right for your trip or you don’t have the time to commit appropriately, then what? There are many immersion programs as well as tours you can take that would give you the same experience. Most people look into teaching or visiting an orphanage because they want to know and see the local community. So why not do a home-stay and form a local connection with your host family?

If you are really sold on teaching, search for language cafes or exchange and talk to adults or teens who are looking to practice and improve. Instead of volunteering with animals, visit an ethical sanctuary and learn more about the animal’s daily life. Or go on a wild safari to see them in their habitat. More often than not, putting your money towards the local economy or donating it is worth more than volunteering.