We all know that volunteering is a great thing to do. A survey out last week said that three quarters of people aged 18-35 would like to volunteer abroad if only they had the time to do it or the resources to make it work. But volunteer programmes are more accessible than most people think. Gone are the days where the only way to volunteer abroad is to join the Peace Corps or pay thousands and thousands of pounds to work with a poorly run volunteer agency, nowadays, programmes are widely available for a fraction of the cost. From summer volunteer programs to year round (or even longer) placements, there are a huge amount of opportunities available for all types of people. Here we present the top ten benefits of volunteering abroad to show you just why you should consider spending some time volunteering abroad soon.
1. Live Amongst New Cultures
The real beauty of volunteering abroad is that it gives you such a massive insight into the culture and lifestyle of the local area. Travelling in general is all very well and good, but only through living and working within a community for a significant amount of time will you get a true understanding of the people, the way of life and the culture. By living and working with locals, new friendships form quickly and you can learn a great deal, from how to cook local delicacies to new ways of dancing, dressing or spending the evenings.
2. Travel Safely
Most people volunteer for two reasons: firstly, the chance to travel, see the world and experience new things and, secondly, the desire to volunteer and help others. Travelling for its own sake is great, but going it alone can present its own difficulties. Loneliness, getting into financial straits and a lack of structure are all factors that regularly create problems for lone travellers, that’s why travelling with an organisation, in this case a volunteer organisation, is such a great idea! They provide a community in which you can travel, work and live together with others, as well as a little more structure and support during your time abroad. Your safety is a factor that often takes a backseat when travelling the world, but with a reputable volunteer programme, you don’t have to worry so much.
3. Improve Your Skills
On a personal level, volunteering abroad gives you a great sense of purpose, accomplishment and new confidence. However, you should also be careful not to overlook the professional benefits. Volunteering doesn’t have to be a one way street; you can get something out of it too! Employers say they are impressed when a candidate has experience of volunteering abroad on their application, since it shows commitment, a sense of adventure and responsibility, as well as a good sense of character. Improve your chances of getting the job you want by demonstrating you are a candidate with these qualities. It might not guarantee you your dream job, but it will certainly improve your chances and help you get a foot in the door.
4. Travel with Purpose
We all know the stereotypical gap year traveller. Usually American or British, they go off on their adventures, passing through many towns and cities, ticking places off their wish-list’s and uploading many an Instagram picture to Facebook of them at various landmarks around the globe. But is this really travelling? Any travelling is great, but by just trampling through communities with a guidebook in hand is not the best way to do it. Working and helping in underprivileged communities as a volunteer is a great way to travel with a clear conscious. Don’t be a travel leech and give something back instead.
5. Develop Lifelong Friendships
Working as a volunteer abroad is one of the best ways to make friends whilst travelling. Not just with your co-workers, but also with local staff, local people and other travellers passing through. A sense of being part of a team and working towards a collective goal is one of the best tools to build a friendship abroad, and you shouldn’t be surprised if it leads to lifelong relationships with people you meet whilst there.
6. Learn a Foreign Language
This is perhaps the best long-term advantage of volunteering overseas. With gap year programs that encompass a degree of volunteering, you are in one place long enough to pick up some of the local language. Whereas, without a volunteer placement, you probably wouldn’t have the time! Working within a community will give you the chance to interact with local people and learn from them, not just in terms of their culture as mentioned above, but also their language and dialect. You could take a language course at home or listen to some mp3s to learn a language, but only through living as part of a community where it is the native language will you truly be able to learn a real language.
7. Learn the Ways of the World
By living and working abroad, often in underprivileged areas, you will gain a genuine understanding of the ways of the world and what needs to be done to help the less fortunate. Volunteering abroad can give you an unparalleled insight into the problems of this world, as well as some of the fantastic, selfless acts that go on in it. If you want to expand your world view, become more adept at dealing with difficult situations and broaden your experiences and opinions, volunteering abroad, whether it is summer volunteer programs or full gap year programs, can be a way to do this!
8. Gain Valuable Work experience
There are huge benefits to your future employability gained through volunteer placements overseas. By completing a period of volunteering abroad, you can demonstrate to future employers that you are responsible, adaptable and compassionate. Whilst you won’t always be under huge pressure, volunteering can be hard work and does demand a broad range of transferrable skills from workers, which potential employers love to hear.
9. Have the Time of Your Life
This is a huge advantage to you, both professionally and personally. Volunteering abroad can be an incredibly fun thing to do. When you are working and living in a different country, experiencing new things everyday and meeting new people, you will be surprised how much fun you could have. Yes, it may be hard work at times, and there will be moments where you are exhausted, but 99% of the time you will be having the time of your life.
10. Give Something Back
The final, and arguably the biggest, advantage of volunteering abroad that you should be aware of is the chance to give something back to the world in which you live. The benefit to the international community through volunteering is immense and, whilst nobody can change the world singlehandedly, you can play a huge role in making a big difference. Enjoy being part of something positive and volunteer abroad.
Have you volunteered abroad before? Do you have anything else to add from your experience? Please, comment below and get involved.
