Not long ago, I came across a post from a popular travel blogger that mentioned the evils of volunteering abroad.
I was surprised by how vehemently she denounced the practice, so I read on.
Before we headed to volunteer in Quito, Ecuador, it had never occurred to me that American (or largely Western) volunteers overseas had a bad reputation. My experiences abroad had always been fruitful, engaged, and rewarding for everyone involved. I was, quite honestly, shocked that the work I did could offend someone.
But as I kept reading, I realized that some volunteering programs, and volunteers themselves, don’t have their beneficiaries’ best interests in mind.
Orphanages with revolving doors for tourists to come in and out for a few dollars.
“Relief work” that focuses more on poverty touring.
Community service options that are more about getting good photos.
The worst practice that this blogger denounced was that of planning to get a good selfie with an orphan for a new Facebook profile photo.
Do people really do that? I asked.
Idealisms aside: the truth about volunteer work
I believe that volunteering– at home or abroad– is a vital practice for privileged individuals like you and me.
Volunteering forces us to experience the realities in which others live. It can break apart our complacency, encourage us to live with less, and remind us that we are not too small or too insignificant to make a difference. It can help us to understand how to alleviate the need around us– because if we don’t do it, then who will?
However, I also believe that most volunteers are not very useful. Let me explain. Volunteering is like working without pay. Were you good at your job from day one? Probably not! Work requires training, experience, and longevity– and while there is no monetary compensation in volunteering, the work is equally challenging.
This is not to say that nobody should volunteer for anything less than a month. Most of us with full-time employment don’t have that kind of time to set aside. However, we can be mindful of the type of volunteer work that we sign up for. We can choose carefully where we go. We can make sure that our presence leaves a positive impact. We can check our own motives.
Before you volunteer overseas…
Ask yourself the following questions. Talk to people who have gone before you. Seek the best use of your resources. Should you volunteer, or should you just give money?
I believe that the world is changed everyday by ordinary people like you and me. Many of those people have volunteered to do something: they’re working for no pay because they believe in it.
If you desire to spend time serving others abroad, I hope you go for it! And I hope you do so in a thoughtful manner so that your impact– and your experience– are the greatest that they can be.
6 Questions To Ask Before Volunteering Abroad
1) How much do I know about the country, culture, and cause?
The names of certain countries (or continents) have a strange appeal.
But do we know anything more than just the name of the country we’re planning to serve? Do we speak the language, or at least understand cultural values and cues? Doing some research beforehand can prove invaluable: both for you and the people you work with.
2) Do I have enough skills and experience to be useful?
Just because volunteering is unpaid work does not automatically qualify you. Ask yourself this: would someone in my own country be willing to pay me to do this? That’s not to entitle you, but to evaluate whether your work has real value.
If you have experience working with children, then do that; and if you’ve never hammered a nail in your life, then don’t do construction. It’s pretty straightforward: go where you’re needed.
3) How well do I understand this organization and do I support it completely?
What exactly does your organization do? Make sure you fully understand their approach to the problem they aim to solve. Do you agree with it? Do you see problems with it?
Joining a volunteer program usually means carrying out the mission and tactics of that particular non-profit. Make sure you understand them before diving in; ask about their policies with volunteers and what they expect from you. This is what you would do if you were giving them a donation, right?
4) Am I ready to do whatever I am asked to?
Here’s the thing about volunteers: sometimes they feel (and act) entitled to do whatever they want.
So ask yourself the tough question: Do I actually want to serve someone else? This could mean they ask you to do things you don’t normally do at home. It could mean fulfilling an unexpected role, being flexible with your schedule, or sharing in menial work.
It may feel unfair, but remember, you’re a volunteer. You’re there because you’ve chosen to be there.
5) What am I truly looking to gain from this experience?
I hope the vision of a Facebook profile photo with lots of likes is not the motivation to volunteer.
Ask yourself honestly: why?
Volunteering can have many benefits, but make sure that you’re actually seeking those benefits. This will help you set proper expectations and offer the most that you can during your time abroad.
6) Can I invest in this organization over a longer period of time?
I myself believe that volunteering for less than two weeks can feel a bit pointless. It takes a few days simply to adjust to a new environment and learn the ropes.
But even if two weeks is all you have, you can still make a difference. It will mean avidly seeking to understand the cause you’re working for, getting to know the people in the organization, and finding out what it means to help them long-term.
Don’t just volunteer and bounce. Stay in touch, leave a gift, return in the future, and tell others about your experience.
The bottom line: it’s still about you– sort of.
Call me a cynic (or a realist), but I think most volunteer experiences still benefit the volunteer more than the locals. But that does not have to be a bad thing.
The insights we gain from volunteering abroad can help us to be more useful, courageous, and generous people at home.
The more connected we are to the issues our world is facing, the more likely we can encourage each other to do something meaningful about it. Perhaps friends will tell you just to send money and save the airfare; but I think something mysteriously wonderful happens when we go and see for ourselves.
[Tweet “Want to #volunteer abroad? Ask yourself these 6 questions first! via @daisylinshih #travel”]
Thanks for reading, Leslie! I appreciate that– I was shocked at first, but I definitely believe it.
Thanks for sharing your story Erin! I love your blog! And I’m so glad that you went back to stay longer. That continuity is so important.
Thank you Andrea! And you’re right– I think with longevity and dedication, volunteers can make a real (and needed) difference.
I’ve never thought about this and wouldn’t have thought that people would be so… selfish (I guess that’s what you’d call it). Hopefully the western reputation will change soon. Thanks for the post.
I am about one month in of a year-long volunteer trip in Zimbabwe. I came here about 6 years ago for a quick trip, and realized that in order to make any sort of difference, I needed to: 1) return to the same place again to show my new friends I wouldn’t forget about them 2) come for a longer time & 3) really, intentionally think about my motives.
My husband & I are considering staying on for a second year, or even long-term. Prayers would be appreciated!
//www.toewsadventure.com/
Great post! I’ve never done volunteering abroad just because I don’t feel that i would be useful at all. The money I donate could but not me. Different groups like the Peace Corp and other long term options, on the other hand, can make a difference. I think it is all about the time, money, and energy- time being key. A week somewhere may open your own eyes a bit but doesn’t do much for those needing help.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Rachel. I really appreciate your thoughts here– and tend to agree.
Volunteering– or missions for that matter– pose a real challenge. My hope would be that there would be enough support for people truly committed to service abroad; and yet, many individuals lack understanding for what that means. I think it’s a complex issue because not everyone has the ability to spend a lot of time overseas, but they do want to make a difference. I wish there were a way to guide those people towards causes in which they can be truly useful; I believe those causes exist.
For the most part, I agree with you about short-term programs. There can be a place for volunteers among people who are already part of a healthy, thriving community– that way, the coming and going of visitors seems to be less of an emotional roller coaster. On the other hand, for communities who need the consistent presence of more dedicated people can certainly be hurt by those who visit and then dash– never to be seen again.
My hope for those who cannot stay for a long time is that they leave with a understanding of the issue they care about, and commit to supporting the organization long-term. It’s important for people to give generously and knowledgeably, and short-term visits can facilitate that. I think one of the worst things about relief work is that many people like to talk *about* the poor, but never actually talk *to* the poor. That, despite the potential dangers of those interactions, needs to change.
I love what your parents have done! I think it takes remarkable humility and courage to push forward and build a community long-term!! Again, thanks for sharing your perspective– I value it.
I think that was a wise decision Linda. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves what the *best* way for us to help is– and it may not be the most direct. I’m glad you thought about it, and I completely agree that there is so much need, we can most definitely find a good fit if we look carefully.
Yes absolutely. Volunteering done well can be a true act of service and a real contribution to need. I love the way you put it– we do need to be conscious of (and evaluate) the impact we are actually making.
That is so unfortunate. I think that good intentions can really be misplaced in situations like this.
Absolutely!!
Thank you so much Christina!! 🙂
Thank you Becca! And I completely agree about those companies that simply promote going abroad; what they really want is the cold hard cash!
Oh that sounds like an awful experience indeed!! I’m so sorry to hear that… I know that some organizations do a really poor job of managing their volunteers.
Thank you Pia! You’re so right; it comes down to the heart behind the actions. I completely agree with that! Thanks for reading. 🙂
Thank you Rachel! Your time in Thailand must have been so amazing!
I really, really appreciate all the thought and care you put into both this post and your volunteering experiences. I will say–on the whole, I am not a huge proponent of short-term missions or volunteering. Largely because of the fact that, as you pointed out, volunteering benefits tend to be more on the side of the people who goes instead of the person who they come to serve. Not that that’s a bad thing, but I tend to have a little less sympathy for the needs of the people traveling the world.
I’ve lived in the world of NGOs and aid organizations and general overseas do-gooder type of work for a long time, and what concerns me about the situation is how very short-term most people who come to help are. Our community is one which attracts many helpers/workers/volunteers, but usually only for very short periods of time, and it breaks my heart every time this community gets close to someone who comes in all energetic, and perhaps is very helpful for their short time here, but then simply leaves. My community is tired of being left behind, yet again. What’s the point of building deep connections when you know that this volunteer is going to be leaving soon? What the kids and teens here–in our little corner of the world–need, is consistency and adults who are going to stick with them through thick and thin, and show them how to handle life in the world as it is and give them the tools needed to do just that. Short-termers from the West are not the answer for that specific problem. That’s not to say that there is no place for short-term volunteering, there absolutely is, but it should be done thoughtfully and with great research. The vast majority of week-long trips just don’t cut it.
Although, especially for highly skilled individuals, who have spent a long time being educated on specific skills, like doctors or architects or engineers–those kind of people are the folks who would be perfect for donating their expertise for a specific short period of time (short-term volunteer trip). Those are such specialized skills that the majority of long-term workers or people living in villages don’t have them, and special assistance is needed for specific projects. For the most part, if your goal is helping/impacting/serving communities abroad, if you can’t serve there yourself for a long time, it’s better to directly give money to support those who are living/working there (you do have a point that being able to visit once for a short period of time will help open your eyes to the needs and could give you a heart to support an organization through long-term giving, which is a really good thing!). Long-term (5+ years) aid workers who have to raise their own support have a much harder time gaining financial support than people who are going for just a few weeks–and that has always seemed so backward to me, especially when the potential for benefit from a skilled long-term worker is most likely higher.
Many expatriates are proud of how many different countries they’ve lived in–but if you’re living abroad with the purpose of making an impact on your community, that’s not the most effective way to handle it. Many people wonder how my parents have acheived the level of community influence they have–they wonder why there’s a whole generation of teens and 20-somethings around here than call them “Mom and Dad”, and toddlers who call them “Grandma and Grandpa”–short-term visitors are mystified because that kind of influence comes from being in the same place for 11 years and counting–something that most people can’t do or have no interest in doing (and that’s not a bad thing either! It takes a special, weird, sort of personality to live forever in a country where you weren’t born–it’s not the right life for most people).
I considered joining a mission trip from my church to a place they went every year. They had built the well and housing so were now set to build the school. Once I realized what they needed from me was more than my old body would tolerate, I realized that was not the right way for me to give. They needed that spot for someone younger and healthier than me. It was better for all concerned for me to donate towards purchasing supplies they would buy once they arrived there. There are so many ways to help that we need to keep searching until we find the right one.
This is so great and I hope it causes many people to truly think about what they’re doing! I’ve heard a lot of bad things about international volunteering too – but I believe many people should still be good world-citizens and contribute to the lives of others. The key is contributing though, so we have to be conscious of what the real effects of our actions are.
Number 4 is so important! I had a friend who went on a mission trip and didn’t realize the work it took and it turned into a negative experience for those involved.
Wonderful post, Daisy, thank you for sharing! <3 I actually have a friend who's currently working on earning money for a medical mission to Haiti, and I've been thinking about this subject, so it was really something good for me to read.
I agree that there are some negative vibes associated with international volunteerism. I hope people will go and help for the right reasons and in the right ways!
Great post, as usual Daisy! I’ve never volunteered abroad, but I’m really enjoying you sharing your experience doing so! 🙂
These are all such great points. I’ve volunteered a number of times but have always done so much research into where I’m going and how I will actually be able to help. I get so annoyed with all those gap-year companies that seemingly let anyone volunteer as long as they have the money to do it.
x
http://www.encouragingfate.co.uk
You’re so right! I volunteered within Europe once and it was an awful experience. Now apart from the host being a total idiot and animal abuser, I also was unhappy with the work. I didn’t really think it through before I went there and totally wasn’t ready to do EVERYTHING that was asked of me. I don’t want to volunteer again but if I would, I would prepare much better! But then again, volunteering in Europe is so different than in Asia or Africa. Taking selfies with orphans? Awful!!
You bring up SO many good points. I think from a young age we’re taught that you HAVE to volunteer and do service even if you don’t want to. I realised fairly quickly that unless your heart is in it, it just doesn’t make sense to do this. I 100% agree with everything you’ve said.
xx, Pia
http://gymbagsandjetlags.com
This is such a great article 🙂 Its sort of disappointing to think that some people would volunteer abroad just for selfies :/ I think that considering if you actually have the skills to be beneficial to the community is key. I have volunteered in Thailand at a primary school and I loved it 🙂
Rachel xx
http://www.thedailyluxe.net