Volunteering abroad appeals to many people and thousands get involved every year. Volunteering projects vary in length with some organisations requiring a minimum length of commitment.

There are many benefits of volunteering for those who give their time abroad, including skills and experience gaining, new cultural understanding, personal development and a sense of helping. But perhaps one of the most important questions to ask yourself however, is about how the community you will work with will benefit from your involvement.

It is important that this is a two way process. Having 'outsiders' come in and do work for a community, is not always the best thing for that community. If allowances are paid, they should not be higher than what a local person would be paid for doing the same. Passing skills on is invaluable, but taking potential jobs from locals is not. However many communities do benefit greatly from the work that volunteers get involved with. These could include:

• Accounting
• Administration
• Teaching
• Building
• Business advice
• Engineering
• Technology
• Conservation
• Lawyers
• Town planning
• Vets
• Medical
• Media… plus many, many more.

The internet is a fantastic resource for finding out about volunteering abroad. The site: www.workingabroad.com has information about how to find what suits you, what projects are available and links to many volunteering abroad organisations . There are many guides and books available: The World Service Enquiry Guide, which comes out annually has listings of many UK and worldwide residential volunteering organisations. Guides and books on travel, volunteering and working abroad are available in local libraries.

Do your research and find out as much as you can about the organisation, the country and the project before you agree to go. Make sure you know visa, medical, political and religious issues about the region you wish to go.

 

Call Nikki on 0151 644 7577 for more information