Volunteer Travel Tips - Where, What and How Much
Essential Questions for the Tourist who Wants to Make a Difference
Nate Cavalieri shares his views, including some resources and links for selecting the skills to offer, where to go, and whether (and how much) to pay.
Whether to be a Skilled or Unskilled Volunteer
The first thing to consider is whether or not you want to use your professional skills on this adventure. Putting your practiced craft to work can have an enormous impact - especially for people with highly trained positions that are sorely needed in developing countries.
This isn't just limited to highly-competitive programs like the famed Doctors Without Borders. Though health care workers probably have the most options, there are international and domestic volunteer opportunities that target every kind of profession: artists and carpenters, pipe fitters and legal assistants. The downside of this might be obvious if the thought of doing your job while on vacation seems like a dreary getaway indeed. But, if you want to leave your gig behind, the options are limitless - you could teach English or tag endangered Greek sea turtles, dig irrigation trenches or play kickball.
Most volunteer travel options only require your time and a willing attitude.
Where Will You Volunteer and Travel?
After you decide if you want to use your skills to not pay the bills, the next most important question to consider your destination.
There are literally volunteer vacations in every corner of the planet - from developing communities in the most remote jungles of the Amazon, to the relatively familiar options within a day's travel from your front door. Gauge your sense of adventure and time availability to make a good choice.
Got the whole summer off from school, a thirst for exploration and a passion for rainforest conservation? Strap on the backpack and head to Ecuador for a program like Rainforest Concern. If you only have a week's vacation and prefer not to deal with a language barrier and malaria pills, dial up your local chapter of Habitat For Humanity. Additionally, there are many programs are geared specifically for "gap year" students - those who take a year off between high school and college - and there are plenty more for retirees with no time constraints whatsoever.
What Will Volunteer Travel Cost?
It's probably no surprise that free programs, ones that cover the costs for lodging, food and sometimes even air fare, are much more competitive than organizations where you foot the bill yourself.
A retired park ranger with years of experience in forest management has a good chance of scoring an all-expenses-paid placement with an organization like Skillshare International, whose list of openings include natural resource management in India. But younger people with less specialized skills should probably expect to pay their own way with student-oriented organizations like Jubilee Ventures, which runs a host of different programs in Kenya, some of which even are based at the beach.
Many organizations that require you to pay your own way will offer guidance and fundraising tips. And, look on the bright side, knocking on your neighbor's door to ask for a bit of financial sponsorship is a great way to link the community at home with the one where you'll be volunteering.
More Information about Voluntourism
In Volunteer Travel - Picking the Best Experience, Cavalieri discusses
- structured vs unstructured trips
- religious or secular
- intensity.
Nate Cavalieri on Volunteer Travel, Travel Writing
An Interview with Nate Cavalieri: The Lonely Planet Guide Author Describes Travel Writing as a Career, by Jennifer W. Miner.
Coming soon: Nate spoke to Alan Sorum (Boating and Sailing) and Karen Lotter (Forensic Science) about potential volunteers and host communities.
...
