If you’re passionate about exploring the world and making a profound impact on the lives of individuals who you meet on your adventures, it’s well worth considering volunteering on your travels. To discover helpful tips on how to volunteer and travel at the same time, simply continue reading!
How to volunteer and travel:
1. Think about the unique skills, which you can use to help make other people’s lives better
As an example, if you’re handy with a hammer, you may want to consider helping Habitat For Humanity build homes for families in need. Or if you grew up taking care of younger siblings or worked as a babysitter as a teenager, you may want to consider volunteering in an orphanage. In some parts of the world, you may also be able to work as a teacher’s assistant in a local school.
2. Get in contact with charitable organizations in the areas which you plan on visiting
Another way to find a suitable volunteering position abroad is to use Google to find the contact details of charitable organizations who operate in each city which you plan on visiting. As it’s well worth ringing each organization, whose mission statement inspires you, to see if there’s anyway which you can help out, whilst you’re in town.
3. Make sure to choose causes which you’re passionate about
In order to ensure that you throw yourself into every task which you’re provided with, it’s important to volunteer with organizations, whose work you’re passionate about.
As an example, animal welfare is a cause which is close to your heart you may want to consider volunteering at an animal sanctuary, such as an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, or a sloth sanctuary in the jungles of Costa Rica. Alternatively, if you’re excited about helping children in need you may want to volunteer at a variety of orphanages around the world.
Remember that while volunteering is an incredibly rewarding experience, if you choose to work as a volunteer, there will be times where you feel drained and exhausted. During these challenging times, you’ll find it far easier to motivate yourself to carry on, if you’re volunteering with an organization, whose mission is close to your heart.
4. Make sure to have referees or character witnesses to contact, in case an organization requires a letter of recommendation
Some organizations are very selective when it comes to accepting new volunteers, so it’s important to talk to a few individuals who know you well about whether they’d be willing to write a letter of recommendation. Which highlights the qualities which they believe would make you an ideal candidate for a volunteer position.
If you’ve volunteered with a local charity, it’s definitely worth asking a manager for a letter of recommendation! As most organizations love to take on volunteers who offer previous volunteering experience and are likely to thrive as new volunteers.
So if you’re a keen globetrotter who would relish the opportunity to volunteer on your travels, it’s well worth following the steps listed above in order to start your journey as an international volunteer.