Ask These Questions Before Booking Your Volunteer Holidays

Many inveterate travelers have considered international volunteering - after all, it meshes with our desire to not only see the world but to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Volunteering usually comes from a good place within us, from a desire to do good and give something back

Sadly, though, it's not that simple.

By volunteering, you could actually be doing more harm than good, leaving a place and its community worse off than when you arrived. This isn't always the case, but it could happen, and that's certainly not the outcome you're looking for.

So what to do?  In this article I’ll take a look at many volunteering options, questions and issues around volunteering abroad ethically, which you might find useful in planning your own volunteer experience.

why volunteer overseas? the benefits of volunteer work

It's tempting to jump right in and say YES, volunteering is a wonderful thing. It can be, but not always.

There's no question, though, there are plenty of benefits to be had from spending time working to improve other people's lives.

Here are just a few reasons why a sensible woman might consider volunteering:

• Give back something to society in gratitude for what you have
• Learn valuable lessons from your host community 
• It can stretch your mind, give you a new perspective on the world and make you more open
• You could develop a more active spiritual life
• Or help fight injustice and poverty
• Learn about new cultures from the inside
• Give your life additional purpose
  
• Get some valuable professional experience
• See places no tourist will ever see
• Meet people you would not normally meet and make new friends for life
• Declutter your life: shift from material abundance to soulful simplicity
• Or simply, get away from it all…
  

So yes, there are plenty of benefits to be reaped from volunteering. But this is also where it gets complicated.

These are benefits to YOU - but what about to those you are meant to be helping?

ethical volunteering abroad

Wanting to do good is (happily) a natural inclination for many of us. But how we go about it can help or harm. 

ethical considerations when considering volunteer opportunities overseas

You may have heard it called the "Barbie Savior" complex... the phenomenon is everywhere.

Basically, this is when volunteers from developed countries display a major heroine syndrome, arriving at their destination in the developing world with a 'save the world' mindset to ‘rescue helpless people’.

This creates an imbalance and a problematic dynamic right from the start.

Remember that volunteering is always an exchange. You may be helping build a school, but in return you have been granted access to a new culture, a learning opportunity, and you may even have been hosted in a local family’s home.

This attitude is also condescending and often racist. It presupposes you know more and that your ways are better. This is sometimes true. Most often, it is not. In my many years of international development work, I've met people convinced that "their way" was not just the best, but the only way to approach a problem.

This can create situations that could take years to fix.

Another potential side effect of your volunteer assignment might be how you portray your host country or culture. One of the biggest long-term negative impacts you can have as a volunteer is to perpetuate harmful or simplistic views about what life is like in developing countries. This means you should think about whether the pictures you post on social media reinforce or dispel stereotypes.

The way you talk about your volunteering experience when you return home is also important. It is all too easy to accidentally turn the people you worked with into exotic tokens.

Treat those around you with the same respect you would extend to anyone back home: ask for permission before uploading a photo of them, or writing/talking about them and their lives.

an interview with kirsty henderson, serial volunteer

Kirsty Henderson, a Canadian who has lived in Africa for years, wrote the Underground Guide to International Volunteering a few years ago and now runs the website Living in Kigali. She has been on a number of volunteering missions and has taken the time to ask herself some of the tough questions around ethical travel, international development and disaster relief, along with our place in that firmament. I interviewed Kirsty about her own experience and here's what she had to say.

Is the work even something that the community needs? This should be your first question...

Does the community support the project or is it something that has been imposed on them by people who 'know better'? This is an issue that the world’s major humanitarian organizations staffed with highly trained professionals have yet to figure out, and any volunteer placement you come across should be scrutinized closely.

In addition, it's not crazy to believe that some projects or volunteer activities have been created by unscrupulous people to keep middlemen companies and homestays in business, or to generate income for themselves in some other way.

Let's take it even further: can volunteer work actually do some harm? 

Yes, this can happen. Volunteers can harm a community in a variety of ways, though this is more due to the existence of an irresponsible volunteer program, so focus on the organization as a whole as well as the specific program you’re hoping to work on when you do your research.

You should also do your best to ensure that you’re not taking a paying job away from a local person. Using volunteer labor might mean that a local might be put out of work. Be straightforward: don’t be shy about asking why the organization is not hiring a local for your position.

You should also concern yourself with the quality of work being done. Volunteers who are part of a shabby program could affect the community in a terrible way if you're helping to build unsafe things without the guidance of an experienced tradesman, architect and engineer.

Most volunteer assignments are short-term volunteer opportunities. Can you still make a difference? 

It’s hard to imagine what sort of impact a volunteer can have in only a week, as it will take some time to adjust to their surroundings, not to mention to learn how to do their job.

Manual labor might be an exception (although this type of work does require some physical adjustment) but it can take some time to get the hang of more complicated and involved jobs. If actually making a contribution is important to you as a volunteer, consider placements of several months or more. If you’re short on time, be realistic about what you’ll be able to accomplish and you might want to consider making a donation to the organization instead.

Volunteer vacations and Voluntourism: Should you pay to volunteer?

The most common way of volunteering overseas is to pay an organization that specializes in volunteer placements.

If your vacation time is limited or if you don't have the knowledge or time to do your own research, voluntourism (as it's called) can be a welcome aid to your efforts. A company (which can be for profit or not) will help you use your vacation time to do something worthwhile.

But this type of paid volunteering abroad has attracted much criticism, and we'll try to unravel some of the myths and realities below.

so is voluntourism a good thing or a bad thing?

This is a hotly debated subject with supporters on both sides, so to save you a bit of time I'll quickly outline the pros and cons of voluntourism.

Voluntourism is a GOOD idea because...

• You can help people worse off than yourself.
• You can make use of your skills.
• You can pass your skills on to others.
• You can learn about local communities.
• You could make meaningful friendships.
• You can help bridge a cultural gap.
• You can alert the world of existing needs when you return.
• You could return a changed person.
• You can contribute to your own career or growth.

Voluntourism is a BAD idea because...

• You might be unsuitable for the job at hand.
• You may be taking jobs away from locals.
• You may be touching a community in the most superficial way.
• You may be damaging local culture without realizing it.
• If you're working with children, your departure may be traumatic.
• Your money may not be helping the community at all but making a company rich.
• You may be making people less self-sufficient and more dependent on assistance.
• Projects can exacerbate disharmony in a community when not everyone benefits.
• You may be falsely deluded into thinking you're doing good.
• You may have an unpleasant experience

Here's an example of how things can go wrong.

how is voluntourism different from traditional volunteer work?

The difference between this type of travel and the more traditional international volunteer programs tends to be duration and money.

Duration: a voluntourist volunteers while on holiday, for as little as half a day or as long as several weeks. Traditional volunteering may involve a commitment of several months or more.

Money: a voluntourist usually pays all expenses for her volunteer vacation, including transport, accommodations, and the agency's fee. A long-term volunteer's expenses are sometimes covered by the sending organization and no agent will be involved.

Of course none of this is etched in stone.

Some traditional volunteering stints can be short and expensive, and voluntourism programs longer and cheaper. Each is different and specific, and it'll be up to you to choose the one that suits you best. 

how do you choose the right volunteer vacation?

Voluntourism isn't necessarily unethical, nor is it something to always be avoided.

There are plenty of organizations with highly ethical approaches to volunteering and who really care about and invest in the communities with which they interact. The challenge lies in finding the right outfit with the right project and to sift through the thousands of offerings and weed out the ones that will contribute both to your own growth and commitment and to the people you are trying to help. 

There is no magical formula to finding the perfect placement, but a good place to start is by asking the right questions. Like these...

1. What is the organization’s philosophy?

Again, you'll have to do your own research. A company will usually tell you what they want you to hear. "Of course all our money goes to the local community." "Of course you'll be matched to your skills."

The best way to check is obviously online, where plenty of blogs document people's experiences in various groups, but also on social media. If people have complained about a certain organization, try to contact them and find out more. If several people have complained, that's a pretty big red flag.

2. Where does your fee go?

While voluntourism costs money to organize, it's nice to know when overheads are kept low and as much money as possible goes to those who need it: the recipients. So check the organization's track record - how long it's been around, how many volunteers it has recruited and how many projects it has successfully concluded.

An annual report is an audited document and will tell you the truth, even if you may have to read a bit between the lines. Beware of terms that are fuzzy - 'project fees' and 'management fees' and the like.

Most important of all: is this a for-profit company, with money being sent off to shareholders or a wealthy owner, or is it not-for-profit, with any excess shared with recipients?

It's a simple question and can make a world of difference.

3. How valid are the projects on offer?

Find out whether the projects actually fill a need or whether they've just been put together to attract paying volunteers. Will you actually be able to accomplish anything worthwhile in such a short time?  Or is the program merely designed to make YOU feel good - without doing any good? 

In other words, does the community need this project? If hygiene is the main issue but housing is plentiful, a project focused on building houses might not be the most appropriate.

4. How much preparation does the agency provide?

Because your volunteer stint will be relatively short, you'll need as much preparation and orientation as possible.

Whatever an agency does provide, bear in mind that descriptions will be slanted towards getting you to sign up. So do your own research online about what your destination is like, its politics, and what is socially acceptable where you're going. Don't just rely on what a company tells you.

5. Are the projects sustainable?

What happens if a project can't attract volunteers anymore or funding dries up? Will the organizers just leave the work undone and move on, or are they committed to finishing the project? What happens once they pull out?

To me, sustainability a key question. If a project is truly designed to fill a community's needs, long-term plans are essential.

6. How good is the organization’s reputation?

The best recommendation for voluntourism will come from former participants. Ask the organization to put you in touch with returnees, and don't be shy with your questions.

I would go further because chances are the organization will put you in touch with satisfied volunteers, not with those who have complained loudly about poor living conditions and insufficient training. You'll have to find those for yourself, usually online from former volunteers.

how do you make sure your voluntourism experience is mutually beneficial?

Once you've done your due diligence about the volunteer organization, how do you balance things out and make sure you don't take more than you give, and that your trip provides a true benefit to others rather than just a feel-good vacation?

Here are a few ways to make that happen:

• Learn a bit of the language before you go - even a few words will help you integrate and show you actually care.

• Read about the country to get a better understanding of where you're going.

• Find out about its problems - try to understand the reason behind the poverty or ill-health you're working to fight.

• If you're part of a group, don't just stick with your colleagues - mingle with local people and reach out.

• Better yet, if the option exists, stay with a local family. 

• Be clear about what you can and cannot do. Don't raise expectations beyond what you can deliver. But if you do have an extra skill, like trading a bit of English conversation perhaps, by all means offer to share it.

• Look at your trip as the beginning of a long-term relationship with the people you are helping. Don't forget them when you get home. If you have an opportunity, contact a politician - tell them where you've been, what you've seen, and what you expect them to do about it. Or join an organization that fights for the things you believe in.

do you have what it takes?

Volunteering abroad isn't made for everyone... but any woman can volunteer if she wants to!

Married, single, mother, daughter, grandmother, gay, old, young, disabled... Charity and NGO programs are for absolutely everyone - it's usually a question of the right fit.

Volunteering can be hard work - that's the point, after all. Whether sweeping the ground on an archeological dig or counselling out-of-school youth, you're not expected to be 'on holiday' during your stay.

Here are some things you should consider when deciding whether or how to become a volunteer.

your volunteering objectives

Be honest with yourself. There's nothing wrong with volunteering in South America to practice your Spanish as long as it is a secondary goal to helping a community and being of service. If all you want is a language brush-up, take a course.

Read the fine print - and make sure you end up doing what you want to do. If your intention is to volunteer in a city, don't sign up for a rural agricultural project. It's obvious, but it happens.

Your personality, lifestyle, culture, marital status, age: everything matters

Think of who you are... A teen? A grandmother? (Don't worry - senior volunteers are on the rise). A single girl? A lesbian? These could be important cultural considerations in some countries... a single girl may be considered 'loose'; a lesbian could face harassment and discrimination, even violence. Keep these things in mind when choosing a country or a region in which for volunteer work overseas and make sure you end up somewhere you will feel comfortable.

The type of international volunteering work you choose will also depend on your personality. If you're a calm and patient person, you might enjoy a rural teaching post. If you love the unknown and change is your middle name, something more adventurous might be for you, perhaps out in nature, with environmental volunteer opportunities. If you like working with your hands, a building project might be more up your street.

The same goes for accommodation. If you need to sleep in a room by yourself and have instant access to a bathroom, choose a plan that provides these amenities. Otherwise be prepared to share and live rustically, since you may well be living with a local family whose means are modest.

Physical shape is also a factor. If you've been a couch potato for years, this isn't the time to do an environmental survey that'll have you tramping through rainforest eight hours a day. On the other hand, if you're super-fit there's nothing stopping you from helping out on a farm or cleaning up a mountain hiking path.

Beware that in many locations, health care may be rudimentary at best, so if you have health problems, come prepared and think things through (and make sure you buy solid health insurance that could save your life).

Doing good and helping others is only part of the equation.

If you hate every minute of your volunteering experience, your entire attitude will have some underlying negativity - and that never goes unnoticed.

Your skills and language ability

Many opportunities for volunteer work overseas don't require any special skills at all - they involve digging, counting, watching...

If you do have a special skill - if you're a doctor or nurse or electrician or accountant - you might opt for one of the more professional global volunteer programs that let you use those skills to benefit others (you'll find plenty of suggestions in the volunteer resources section at the bottom of this page).

And if you have few skills but want to learn new ones, you could choose a program that will teach you something while you work. 

Though not necessarily the defining factor, language should be a consideration when choosing volunteer work overseas. Most programs mentioned here require English but there are many others, managed by non-English groups.

Living in a community is a great opportunity to brush up on a rusty language skill, or learn a new one altogether. I owe my ability to speak Portuguese to six months in Brazil (not to mention the most amazing trip through the Amazon rainforest ever!)

How much time you have

There's no limit to the amount of time you can volunteer, although each program has a different offer. Some have set dates, others let you come and leave when you please.

You can even share your knowledge or skills for an hour or two if that's all you have - I'm not particularly good at physical work (translation: slightly lazy) but on the road, I've found plenty of ways to make a contribution, however small - by giving a few lectures in rural areas, coaching inner-city youth in English, or editing proposals to help raise funds for poor communities. 

Choosing the right program for volunteer work overseas is as important as choosing the right country or region. If you have an organization in mind, look at their website carefully. Does it sound like the kind of volunteer program you'd feel comfortable with? Does it share your philosophy and way of life?

Drop them an email, ask some questions, get to know one another. When you talk to returnees, ask them what their experience was like. Is the organization responsive in times of trouble? Is it flexible, knowledgeable and caring? It is in everyone's interest to get the match right.

Above all, be committed. If you sign up for a project, please try to see it through. Your inconvenience may be someone else's lifeline. You may find conditions slightly unpleasant and want to leave. Your departure could be life-threatening to your host community so please try to complete your assignment and don't cut it short without a serious reason.

volunteer abroad programs: the best places to volunteer

There is a need for volunteers around the world, on all continents, mostly in the developing world but also in many parts of wealthier countries. Finding good places to volunteer will depend on a range of issues - your personality, your hopes and dreams, your skills - the same things you had to consider above when deciding how to volunteer.

The following are the three most popular regions for volunteers and the ones with the greatest number of international volunteer opportunities.

volunteer in africa

Thousands of people, young and old, end up on Africa volunteer programs - whether teaching jobs in Tanzania, medical missions in Malawi or conservation projects in Cameroon. The need for assistance is huge and there seems to be a spot for everyone.

In Africa, many reputable organizations will charge you for the privilege of volunteering, in part to cover the costs of your food and lodging but also to put back into the program or project.

Joining volunteer projects in Africa may mean living under the most rudimentary of rural conditions, with frequent electricity blackouts, no or little connectivity, and scarcity of essentials like water. Of course it isn't always like this but conditions in Africa may well be among the more challenging you'll find in your volunteering search - and attitude can be everything.

volunteer latin america

That said, many people wrongly assume that Africa ‘needs’ volunteers more than any other region, and as a result, don’t consider working in other parts of the world. They couldn't be more wrong! The needs may be different but they're as acute.

Many of the best volunteer opportunities are in Latin America and Claire's experience is only one example.

If you happen to speak Spanish or Portuguese, you'll have even more choice.

volunteer asia 

While many volunteers head to Asia to work on conservation or humanitarian projects, there are plenty of other things you can do. Marie found an original way to volunteer in Asia.

types of volunteer work

Assuming you conclude that YES, volunteering is definitely for you, and that you now have a vague idea of where you might want to go, the next step is... what kind of volunteer work should you be looking for.

volunteer teaching abroad

Teaching is one of the favorite volunteer placement requests and given the global thirst for education, it's not surprising the opportunities are plentiful - like Marie's above. A lot will depend on how much time you have.

Very short stints will probably do little good - a revolving door of volunteer teachers will rarely teach anyone anything unless the skills can be taught in a short-ish time, like using simple video editing software, for example, for which the basics can be learned in a few hours. But if you're teaching a language or a more traditional subject, there's little chance you'll be truly helping if you're only around for a week.

disaster relief volunteer or humanitarian volunteer

This is one area where we rush to help and that's when a disaster occurs - earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, we're all ready to dash in and give a hand. Certain organizations specialize in humanitarian or disaster assistance and yes, sometimes they do need help. But, not always. (One organization that does is listed in the resources below.)

environmental volunteering

Another perennial favorite is volunteering with animals although here, much care must be taken. Anything that places wildlife in contact with humans should be vetted seriously.

Few conservation volunteer schemes cover your costs - most of them charge a program fee. Environmental projects are expensive to run and unless you are skilled in a specific area of conservation and get an actual paying job, a conservation volunteer opportunity will usually have to be paid for.

Just be aware that a reputable conservation project will plow much of your payments right back into their project.

orphanage volunteer

Given the poverty and poor social systems in large parts of the developing world (and not so developing), there are simply not enough local staff to fill all positions in orphanages. Since most cannot afford to pay for staff, many of these establishments rely at least in part on foreign volunteers.

However, the kind of volunteering in which individuals drop into orphanages for a few hours or days, play with the children and then leave can be hugely destructive for the children, who rapidly form attachments, so think carefully before volunteering for kids: make sure what you're doing is sustainable and will make a lasting contribution to their wellbeing. Find out more here about the dangers of volunteer work with children.

wwoofing for those who want to work on a farm

The growing interest in organic farming from those of us fed up with chemicals in our diet and environment means organic farms are proliferating. Avoiding pesticides and hormones is labor-intensive so organic farms are in constant need of help.

If you're thinking of volunteering on an organic farm, the WWOOF network (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) might be worth looking into but a word of warning - the work is hard and physical and not for everyone.

Here's how it works: farms that want to join the network get themselves listed, and potential volunteers buy that list, becoming members for an annual fee. Once you're a member, you can start getting in touch with farms directly. Some countries have a national organization, others are independent, but information on both is equally available.

Like with any volunteer assignment, choose carefully. The lifestyle will probably be simple, and you can end up doing all sorts of jobs (including some you might not like), so make sure you agree your tasks with your hosts before you arrive.

This is a purely volunteer opportunity - you don't get paid, but you get your room and board in exchange for working on the farm.

professional volunteering

While the above types of volunteering are the most common, they're by no means the only things you can do.

As mentioned earlier, professionals can of course find volunteering work in the health sciences, but so can individuals interested in such things as archaeology, women's issues, graphic design or IT. Where there's a skill, there will be a comparable need for it. 

faith-based volunteering

Some of you may prefer volunteering with a faith group, many of which do good work in development and humanitarian situations and provide volunteering opportunities.

Service is longer term, often several years at a time, and many groups place you in a local home, which allows you to live in a community of like-minded people so you're not as lonely when you first travel overseas.

Faith groups often cover expenses, including flights, room and board, and health insurance. Some may even add in a few extras, such as help with modest living expenses. Sometimes - not always. 

Read their websites carefully (you'll find plenty of information in the Resources section below) and talk to returnees - it's the best way to find out what it's really like helping others in a faith group abroad.

long-term volunteer opportunities

Long-term charity volunteer work opportunities exist but often require a major time commitment. These can be linked in some way to a national government, such as the US-based Peace Corps, but this is not always the case. Many of these organizations will pay your way and provide a (modest) stipend so you can survive on site, but expect stringent criteria, interviews and all. Here are some possibilities:

• In Canada, try Uniterra

• In Australia and New Zealand, Australian Volunteers International places permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand.

• If you have a medical specialty, you could try IMVA, the International Medical Volunteers Association

• In the UK, the main organization is VSO, or Voluntary Services Overseas

• My all-time favorite is the United Nations Volunteers, for professionals with degrees - and with great volunteer opportunities for seniors

At the airport in Malawi recently, I met a Peace Corps volunteer who was teaching history in a small town in the country's north. She was 68, a former university professor from a prestigious Texan college, and her life had certainly become different: she sometimes went weeks without electricity, water was hard to come by and most people's mother tongue was a local language she was struggling to learn.

I asked how she had been received and she said her experience was extremely positive, that by living in the community with the community she was demonstrating an equality and humility that built bridges instead of emphasizing differences. Her life in Malawi was far removed from the sophistication of an American college campus but halfway through her two-year commitment, she had nothing but positive things to say.

Michelle, too, had a positive experience.

As always, don’t just take anyone’s word, including mine. Do your own research, make your own decisions, and above all, enjoy your adventure.

best volunteer websites and volunteering resources

Here are some resources you might find useful. They're in no particular order, and the list is far from complete. But it'll help you get started on your volunteering quest.

General volunteering resources

• Grassroots Volunteering is an organization that provides volunteer information and lists ethically sound projects you can apply for. It has a solid volunteer database as well as the world's largest database of social enterprises.

• If you're looking for a professional position or if you're retired, consider the longer-term United Nations Volunteers program, for two-year UN volunteer jobs.

• A good place to start looking for health volunteer opportunities is the database of the International Medical Volunteers Association. It is quite old but you may find gems you won't find elsewhere. If you are a medical doctor with two or more years of professional experience, head for your national chapter of Doctors without Borders (you'll find the list on the global site) or the medical listings on Médecins du Monde.

• To volunteer for disaster relief, a highly regarded organization is All Hands and Hearts, formerly known as Hands On.

• If environmental volunteer work is your thing and you want to become a wildlife volunteer, I'd try Earthwatch, whose conservation volunteers actually do much needed work in reserves or in the wild.

• You're a vet or want to work with injured animals? Have a look at World Vets.

• I can't even begin to list the thousands of organizations that offer volunteer opportunities in Africa. Superb directories on the web will link you to many available sites. For a database of Africa volunteer opportunities, check out The Idealist. For more specific volunteering opportunities, visit Advance Africa. 

• Volunteer South America is an incredible database free or low-cost volunteering projects in South and Central America.

• True Travellers also lists many free volunteer programs in Asia by country. Grassroots Volunteers (already listed above) offers comprehensive guides to volunteering in a variety of Asian countries.

• Voluntourism.org is a one-stop resource on voluntourism that delves deeply into the various aspects of voluntourism. Perfect for the serious researcher.

• POD (stands for Personal Overseas Development) is a UK-based charity that promotes sustainability, finds volunteers for projects and also helps fund projects on the ground.

• One business that tends to get it right is Responsible Travel (they also have a UK site).

• Here are some interesting examples of "well-meaning" development activities gone terribly wrong.

• If you are a fan of literary essays, the late Binyavanga Wainaina’s tongue-in-cheek piece ‘How to write about Africa’, explores some of the most common tropes existing in conversations about Africa, which volunteers often accidentally reinforce.

If you're looking for faith-based voluntary service overseas, these organizations might help

• Catholic Network of Volunteer Service, or CNVS
• Mennonite Central Committee, or MCC, which which has both development and humanitarian assignments
  
• Habitat for Humanity, which helps build houses for needy families
  
• Quakers, or Friends, are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service (including Peace Brigades International)
• Brethren Volunteer Service, or BVS, works with children, refugees, disabled persons, farmers, the homeless, and more.
• Jesuit Volunteers Corps
• American Jewish World Service, or AJWS or in the UK, the Jewish Volunteering Network, or JVN
• Potential Muslim volunteers should look into Muslim Aid and Islamic Relief USA or in the UK, Muslim Hands
• Volunteering for Buddhist groups and monasteries is quite common and there are many opportunities online - just Search for "Buddhist volunteering"

And a few final suggestions for your research

• Giving Way
• Global Volunteers
• Global Vision International
• International Volunteer HQ
• Sustainable Harvest International
• GoAbroad