Volunteer Global

Ok, so you’ve talked me into taking a volunteer trip. How do I pick one?

Many people romanticize volunteering. You might have seen pictures of baby sea turtles flapping their way down to the ocean, but you should remember that a lot of hard work is required to protect those turtles! You’ll be uncomfortable, hot, sweaty, maybe sunburned, and bitten all over by mosquitoes; you’ll have to patrol beaches for hours at a time each night, and you’ve got to be in good shape. Are you up for it?

Along the lines of romanticizing voluntourism – you have to understand that most times, you can’t expect to see the effects of your work, even by the end of your trip. Don’t get frustrated. These programs are there for a reason; they’re doing good work, and they need the ongoing help of volunteers like you to achieve an overall goal, which may not come to fruition until years from now.

Here are some things to consider once you’ve definitely decided a volunteer trip is right for you.

• Figure out how much time you have. Do you have one week, or even two years to serve? What if you’d like something in between? You might not want to jump directly into a long-term program from the start – many groups offer short- to long-term options, where you pay as you go. You can stay for a week, and if you like it, sign on for another one.
   
• What would you like to do, and do you think you can do it well? You can find volunteer programs working on just about any project you can imagine. If you’re a professional in a certain field, such as dentistry, marine biology, or TEFL, you might consider offering your services to groups that need pro bono help. If you love children, then you might want to work in an orphanage or a school. If you’re crazy about animals, then maybe you can find a position at a sanctuary.
   
• How much money are you willing to spend? You have to take into account the plane ticket, in-country transportation, personal expenses, and the program fee. You might also need immunizations, a Passport if you don’t have one already, a Visa depending on the country you’re visiting (or where you’re from), travel insurance if it’s required or you’d prefer it, and supplies like a backpack, a travel water bottle, and more.
   
• How’s your health? If you’re not too active or if you have a disability, then you might want to consider working on a project that isn’t too physically challenging. While you might get hot and uncomfortable, you don’t want to push yourself too far and regret it later. If you’d like to work on construction, trail building, or other physically challenging projects, then think carefully before booking. Check with the group to see what they’d recommend. Oftentimes, there are different “levels” of projects they can offer depending on how active or capable the volunteer is.
   
• Where would you like to go? Again, try not to romanticize! Dominica is beautiful, but hot. Greenland is beautiful…but cold. Do you prefer the city or the country? Beach or mountains? Consider the culture too. If you’re leaving your country, you must understand that you’ll be immersed in a culture that may be very different from your own, and forcing your opinions or traditions on others might not be welcome. Remember to respect others -- they're your host.
   
• Do you agree with the organization’s mission, how they’re using your funds, or how they engage the locals?
   
• How much time do you want to spend volunteering versus taking in tourism activities? Look for a group that allows you to work as much as you’re comfortable – if you’re interested in exploring, going out to shops and to eat local cuisine, look for a program that only has you work for a few hours each day. If you’d like to immerse yourself in a volunteer project and get down and dirty, try to find a more hands-on, intensive program.
   
• How many of you will be traveling? Try to find a program that offers projects designed for families, individuals, minors, large groups, or seniors. It'll be easier for all of you if the group readily caters to the number of people traveling, rather than forcing the group to accommodate for size.