The many ways to give a little

Welcome back!  Before I leave for Morocco I want to touch base on some of the behind the scenes work that goes into picking an international volunteering position.  Depending on the type of volunteer program you participate in many factors can change such as; the job you do, the cost, duration of program, application requirements, travel logistics, location, and many other fun things.  As I’ve dedicated too many hours looking into the various volunteer programs out there I thought I’d sum up the most common types of programs.

The many ways to give a little…

1 – Work Vacations:  This type of program can be between 3 days to 3 weeks.  It is convenient for people who want to go on vacation while also giving back.  This is more like “glamping” then anything else.  You stay in accommodations with fully operational bathrooms and wifi, and then participate in physical labor, community projects or skilled work (depending on your occupation).  The cost of these programs tends to be on the higher side to compensate for the nice accommodation.  The locations available tend to be numerous around the world as this is a nice mix of “we want your money and your free labor”. 

2 – Educational Programs:  This is the type of volunteer program that is typically set up by an educational institution.  It can range from bachelor level students wishing to get credit for a class to higher education wishing to develop skills sets and experience in their field. These programs are only for current or recently graduated students.  You will also find that the term “volunteer” and “internship” will be used interchangeably as both of them have you working for free in exchange for credit.  Educational Programs are more likely to give scholarships to offset the cost of flights overseas and work out a housing situation for students to help keep the cost low.  Of course if you are like most Americans you are already paying an arm and a leg for college so a big “Yippy” for the school helping you pay a little less to help out.  

3 – Work For Stay:  Ever heard of WWOOFing?  The concept of Work for Stay volunteer organizations is that you work for your stay (wow that was simple to spell out).  WWOOF is the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farming and creates a network of farms around the world that are seeking out some extra help.  In exchange for your free labor they give you a room to stay in and meals.  Another similar organization is Work Away that uses the same concept but is for those of you with a black thumb.  Work for Stays are great for people who want a flexible schedule as you make arrangements with people on your own time and can go as soon as someone wants you.  On the flip side, it all depends on availability and you might not get to be in the location or do the work you want to do.  The cost of this is also very affordable with WWOOFing and Work Away each being under $50 to sign up in order to access the network of people seeking volunteers.  Of course, all other fees such as travel and insurance you have to pay for and organize yourself.  Some of you may argue that this is not really volunteering because there is an equal exchange of goods and services, and to you I say, “I don’t care. You aren't making money therefor it’s volunteering”.

4 – Organizational Structured (aka all the other ways to volunteer):  This last category is the most open ended with groups that range from church and non-profit run groups to privately owned companies.  Generally, the organization that sets up the volunteer program determines things such as; location, length of stay, housing, job placements, requirements to go, cost, and a list of things they don’t cover (spoiler alert – they don’t cover much).  Some sites will let you call the shots on what you do and for how long, but buyers beware because when you custom make your program you pay more for it.  Each organization is different so do your homework and see what their mission statement is and what support you will receive for each program.  Also, don't forget your best friend Google and look up the reviews of past volunteers.  Reading the fine print on your cell phone plan might be a bore but you’re going to want to do it for your volunteer program as the devil is always in the details.  Once you find one you like, you will need to apply (which can range from sending them a check to writing essays and providing letters of recommendations) and then sit back and wait to hear if you have been accepted to volunteer (or if your check bounced).  

Now that you know a little more about the common types of volunteering you can do, let me explain what I’m about to take part of.  I will be working with UBELONG a (#4) Organizational Structured group that has applicants apply to volunteer overseas.  They establish local connections with NGO (none government organization) or non-for-profits that work on local needs such as women empowerment, public health, education, and youth programs.  I wanted to gain more experience working in the public health sector so I applied to volunteer at a NGO working towards HIV/AIDS education and access (more to come later on the specifics of the job).  Applications for each volunteer program range and very as much as the programs themselves.  I will save you the boring recap of my application and just skip to the part where I say “I was accepted” Yea!

Thanks for reading and tune in next time to see how fun it is to pay to work for free!