Volunteering can be a scary and daunting thought and process, but have no fear, I am here to give you some tips and help you make the most of your volunteering experience. There are so many people volunteering these days but it’s completely different when you experience it for yourself and I think everyone should try volunteering abroad at least once in their lifetime. No matter where you are travelling or what you are doing, there are a few things you should do before you go and while you are there:
- Research- There are so many programs out there that it can be difficult to know which to go with. If you do your research then you can find the program and country that suits you.
- Know your area- Before you head out make sure you have some background research on where you will be staying, as there could be plenty of things there and you may miss out because you didn’t know they existed.
- Visas- If you need a visa for wherever you are headed, make sure you apply well in advance, so you don’t experience any problems just before you go.
- Social networks- If you can get in touch with previous volunteers, this would be a great way of understanding what you are getting yourself in for, especially if they were in the same place as you.
- Appreciation- When you volunteer you should show your passion for the community; in places like these it can be hard to see people living the way they do and sometimes all they want is a hug. Do your best and you’ll see that it will go a long way.
- Present yourself- If you are staying with a host family make sure you present yourself well and get off to a good start. Sometimes volunteers will bring their family gifts from their home country to show their appreciation of the host family’s hospitality.
Volunteering is a great real life experience, although be prepared for what you are going to see. You may expect it but may not be prepared.
Travelling alone
Many people will choose to volunteer alone so you can do what you want, meet new people and not have to worry about pleasing someone else. This is great; you will make new friends and will have the opportunity to travel around with them. I would suggest you pick the program that you want to do most and just go for it, to have more information about volunteering abroad click here for more info.
