Every Share Helps!

Ok—let’s say you had the opposite experience from last Thursday’s post on extending your volunteer trip. For whatever reason, you’ll need to cut your trip short. Maybe you have an emergency back home, or maybe things just really aren’t working out for you or for anyone else at your project site.

Don’t panic

If a worst-case scenario happens, whether it’s small-scale like a lost passport, or even large-scale, like political turmoil in your host country, find your way to your country’s nearest embassy or consulate. If you need help finding one, work with local police to assess the situation and get the help you need.

Or let’s say you’re sick or injured; most volunteer organizations have a plan to work through these situations—whether it’s transport to the nearest hospital or clinic, or even medical professionals close by or onsite. If need be, work with your embassy or consulate—or again, local authorities—to find the care you need.

Talk to your group

If there’s something going wrong with your volunteer project, talk to your group, whether it’s someone on staff at your project site, or escalate the issue to someone at the headquarters if that’s unsuccessful. It might turn out the issue has a resolution, even if it means transferring you to another project site.

Even if it turns out there isn’t a foreseeable fix, be sure to still speak with your volunteer organization and let them know what’s up. If you need to leave, be sure your group knows about it; not only so they know where you are, but so they can come up with an ongoing resolution to the conflict.

As well, if you need to leave due to outside circumstances, such as a family emergency, your volunteer organization may be able to give you pointers on saving time and costs for cutting your trip short, as well as useful contacts you might need.

Let people know where you are

If you’re leaving early, let your volunteer group and any other interested party involved know where you are and where you’re going. You might not be able to get a flight back immediately, so be sure your family or friends know how to get a hold of you if need be.

Afterwards

If you had a conflict within your project site and there wasn’t an acceptable resolution, be sure to communicate this with the organization you worked with. This not only will help future volunteers who might encounter the same issue, but it also will help the organization address an issue it might not have known was even happening.

And of course…don’t let it deter you from future world travel.