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Volunteer: A Traveller's Guide
Looking for more inspiration and information? Read up on ways to help out in the comprehensive Volunteer Guide ›
i-to-i Volunteer Travel
Volunteer - A Traveller's Guide to Making A difference Around the World
Ethical Volunteering
The ethics of international volunteering can be complex. On the surface it sounds like a win-win situation: you help local people to help themselves; you benefit; they benefit. But the reality can sometimes be not quite so warm and fuzzy, so it's best to do some research and become aware of some key ethical issues.
For extra tips on helping the planet check out our Responsible Travel section.
Benefitting a Community
Think realistically about the amount of time you can devote to a project. Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity go overseas for just two weeks and help build a house for a low-income family in need, and this works because the task is very specific. When you take on a short, one-off placement, make sure you are a help and not a hindrance. Consider what will happen to the work you were doing, how it will continue, and whether your departure will create a vacuum that no-one can fill. There are exceptions, such as training a local person to take over from you, but you are more likely to find sustainable projects with sending agencies that have a long-term relationship with their partner programs.
Choosing an organisation
Go for The Big R - reputable. Look at how an organisation matches its placements to its volunteers, particularly if you plan to work in development. Some organisations spend hours interviewing volunteers, while others simply get you to apply online. A close relationship between a sending agency and its partners is key. Agencies that offer every international volunteering option under the sun can often be spreading themselves too thin. As a result they can have weak host program partnerships, poorly vetted projects and a lack of quality control.
Talk to volunteers who have recently returned from a placement with the sending agency you're thinking of choosing - that way you'll find out what a project is really like on the ground. Make sure your volunteering is not taking a paid job away from a local person.
Cash or Sweat?
You might think it's easier to simply donate money rather than volunteer and yes, all organisations working overseas do need money to get their programs off the ground. The value of your physical contribution will depend on the effectiveness of the volunteer program and what work you are doing. If you are passing on your skills to local people or creating a valuable cultural exchange, then this is something money can't buy. Many sending agencies will also donate part of the fees they charge to the overseas project you're working with, so they get both financial and hands-on help. Bonus!
Keeping it Honest
You can volunteer with a registered charity, a not-for-profit organisation or a limited company. There is no difference in the actual volunteering experience, but registered charities are normally regulated by national bodies and, from an ethical point of view, have an extra layer of accountability. Certain limited companies choose to operate like not-for-profit organisations, while some sending agencies are set up as limited companies to speed up decision-making. Bottom line, all types of organisation should be transparent about how they spend your money.
There is no governing body that regulates this growing, and sometimes profitable, sector. However, Comhlámh (+353 (0)1 4783490; fax +353 (0)1 4783738; info@comhlamh.org; www.comhlamh.org; 10 Upper Camden St, Dublin 2, Ireland) - the Irish Association of Development Workers - has put together a Volunteer Charter and a Sending Agencies Code of Good Practice. Volunteers from outside the UK and Ireland should check whether organisations they are about to sign up with follow similar regulatory guidelines.
