'Where do I start?' and 'What can I do?'
These are the most common
questions we are asked. A lot will depend on your circumstances, education,
qualification, desire and motivation. From our experience we know that most people call or email the first charity that springs to mind. In most cases these are well-known agencies who have a high public profile and many people are referred to us from DFID, Oxfam, MSF, the Red Cross, CAFOD, World Vision, etc.
because these agencies don't send volunteers overseas.
If you want some help about volunteering overseas, here are some
frequently asked questions:
Where do I start?
What can I do?
What do I want to achieve?
What types of agencies exist?
Does my age matter?
How long can I go for??
What costs are involved?
I'd like to be an aid worker
Will I be safe?
Can I go with a
friend or take my children?
How do I organise my own
placement?
What else do I need to
consider?
Where
do I start
The simple answer is, spend time doing your research.
There are thousands of ways you can volunteer and there are thousands
of agencies out there. The more research you do, the better informed you
will be about your choices and your ultimate decision.
Research is easily done through the Internet; however,
typing in 'volunteer overseas' in
Google will give you over 2,090,000 results! This means you need to
give yourself plenty of time to research your options. Most of the top
listings are from businesses that are specialists in the industry and
have considerable advertising budgets. Many of the small charities or
social enterprise agencies will only appear further down the list.
Generally, there are two types of organisation which send people overseas.
Firstly, volunteer agencies offer short-term placements to people
regardless of qualification or experience and you will have to pay.
Secondly, Development or Aid agencies who might have vacancies for
qualified and very experienced people to
work overseas on paid fixed-term contracts.
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What can I
do?
There are thousands of things that you could potentially
do and the choices can be overwhelming, so the real question to ask is:
'What do I want to do?' Do you have a special skill or experience that you
would like to use? Or, do you want to do something new and
completely different?
Start by narrowing your thoughts down to one area and
begin your research there. You can always rethink, once you have
investigated some of the possibilities. There are opportunities in many areas,
including: teaching English; working and caring for orphans, children
and adults; working and caring for animals;
scientific surveys; working in conservation; HIV/AIDS education; agriculture
and horticulture, etc.
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What do I want to achieve?
This is an important question to ask yourself, as the answer will guide
you to consider
what opportunities you eventually consider. If you simply want to 'put something
back', then find something that you are really passionate about and put
your energy there. That way you'll get the greatest satisfaction.
If you are considering a career in development, then
you need to ask yourself, 'Is this placement going to significantly
contribute to my experience and my CV?' For example, if you want to be a
Programme Manager, then you need to gain experience in an overseas
programme environment.
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What types of agencies exist?
In the UK all agencies will be registered companies. Many
of them are businesses and as such make good profits; others are
registered charities who are not allowed by the
regulatory body to make unnecessary profits; others may be working
on a non-profit model (but not registered as a charity) and some may be
a
social enterprise.
Some companies are large and have slick operations, with
overseas offices and representatives, just like a travel company; whilst
others will have no in-country staff or local support mechanisms. This
could be important to consider, depending on how much support you feel you will
need and how risk-adverse you are. Do you want adventure and excitement
or do you prefer to be looked after?
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Does
my age matter?
This will depend on the agency. Many gapyear agencies
only offer placement to people aged 18 to 23. Generally, you will need
to be 18 plus to volunteer overseas.
Older people will find that there are lots of agencies
who will offer you a placement, providing you are physically fit and
healthy. Over 65s may find it more difficult to obtain budget insurance.
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How
long can I go for?
Short-term placements can be from 2 weeks to one year.
The most popular placements are for 3 months. You can normally negotiate
the duration of your stay with the smaller independent agencies, but it
may be limited due to visa restrictions.
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What costs are involved?
If you want to volunteer, then you will have to pay for
the experience. There are very few agencies who will pay you to go.
Businesses charge to make money, whilst most agencies charge to cover
their costs. The most expensive cost will be your airfare - so the
further afield you travel, the more it will cost. Most placements
provide accommodation and food. This may be included in the fee, or you may
have to pay locally.
The length of your stay will also determine the cost.
Don't be fooled into thinking that it's cheaper to live in a developing
country - some have high inflation and can be just as expensive as living in
the UK.
Always ask your placement agency about their fees and
what's included. More importantly, find out what's not! In
Volunteer for Development we
list the minimum costs that the agency charge, and their website will
give more details.
Don't be put off volunteering simply by the costs.
Many agencies expect you to fundraise for your placement as it helps to
raise awareness about the cause and they often provided help with ideas
for fundraising.
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I'd like to
be an aid worker
After a national disaster or emergency has been in the
news many people phone agencies asking how they can go and help. In such
situations agencies will always work with local people and deploy their
own staff (if needed). Aid workers are highly experienced, skilled
and familiar with working in adverse conditions. They are known to the
agencies, are often on their register and able to leave their normal
employment at short notice. You can find out more by looking at the
DEC member
websites.
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Will I be
safe?
Yes. No volunteer agency will place you in an insecure or dangerous
environment. Being in a strange environment and culture, of
course, involves some risks, but common sense and reading about
potential problems before you go will help you remain safe. The
FCO site has lots of useful tips and you can check for information
about your destination country.
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Can I go with a
friend or take my children?
Many volunteer agencies have placements for friends or
groups who want to volunteer together as placements generally are not
based upon specific skills or experience.
If you have children, and want them to see and
experience another way of life, the acceptance criteria is often based
upon their age or whether they are dependent. If they are, then you need to
consider how effective you will be in your volunteer position and
consider the amount of time you will need to give to them. There are, of
course, additional questions about their health, well-being and other
practicalities while overseas, however some agencies do have placements
for parents and children. These are noted in
Volunteer for Development.
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How do I organise my own
placement?
If you love excitement and want to live 'on the edge', then it is possible to
organise your own volunteer placement. Many overseas organisations
have web pages where you can directly contact them and organise your own placement, thus cutting out the middle man.
This type of volunteer experience runs the greatest
risk and it could go drastically wrong or turn out to be phenomenal! Narrow
down your research to the country you want to visit. Look to see if there is a
government or similar listing of
NGOs or charities. Then contact them with an outline of your
planned travel and your offer of voluntary service.
An alternative is to consider any connections that
you, your friends or family have to a professional association or civil
society group which has international connections, such as a place of
worship,
Lions club, trade union, etc. It will take a great deal of networking to
organise but may lead you to opportunities undreamt of.
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What else do I need to
consider? Going alone or with a group
Being in a new culture can be a very isolating experience; would you cope by yourself
or do you need the company and social involvement of others?
Insurance
You must arrange adequate and compressive insurance. Some companies
offer specialist volunteer insurance,
such as
Endsleigh, check the
details of the cover, especially if you are going to do manual work. If you're not sure
whether a particular policy is right, then ask the broker.
Visas
Some visas are expensive and take time. Check the embassy or consulate
website
for details. Your placement agency should be able to advise on what you
need. Most volunteers travel on a short-term visitor visa.
Vaccinations
Check what is recommended for the country you are travelling to. Check
the
FCO for advice. If you need antimalarials, then take them as
prescribed, including upon return.
Allergies and health problems
Do take sufficient medication or supplies for the duration of your
trip. It may not be available locally. Ensure your insurance provides
adequate cover or medical emergency cover.
InterHealth
has support services.
CRB Disclosure
This can be helpful if you are planning on working with children or
vulnerable adults. It can take up to 3 months to obtain.
Get a
CRB Disclosure
Coming Back
Returning home can be the worst. Don't expect your family and
friends to understand you or your experience (unless they have
travelled). You could put your new energy and knowledge to use by
joining a campaign or advocacy group such as
WDM.
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