Get real upfront – how tough are you when the going gets rough?
Experiences vary from a full year to shorter, more luxurious voluntary work. If you are not sure whether you are mentally and physically prepared for the longer and/or rougher experiences, rather reassess what you really want to experience and contribute. You don’t want to be stuck in a foreign country in a situation you don’t like and from which you can’t escape!
For many people the shorter periods of voluntary work, from 2 to 6 weeks, will be more suitable, and are often combined with holiday trips and experiences.
So be honest with yourself – if you are not sure, ask for the opinions of some respected friends and family members, who no doubt will love to tell you about your weaknesses and give you their opinions!
When do you start to plan?
Many projects require lots of time to set up and organise, so to secure a place it is best to do your research well in advance of your planned volunteering experience, probably a year ahead is sufficient in most cases. Of course, cancellations do happen, so you can try your luck at the last minute, but don’t rely on that approach to work every time!
The A word! Advice and tips on volunteering experiences
• Honestly assess whether you have, or are willing to acquire, most of the following characteristics:
o Flexibility
o Resourcefulness
o Patience
o Reliability
o Persistence
o Communication skills
o Ability to build relationships (people skills)
o Physical endurance
o Willingness to learn
o Determination
o A sense of humour!
• If you are lacking a bit of confidence then find a trusted friend to accompany you
• The size of the organisation offering the voluntary placement is less important than finding out the experiences of the people who have been through their programs. Some programs support you from before you leave home to when you get back, whereas others will provide the absolute minimum support and expect you to work the rest out.
• If you talk to previous volunteers ask specific questions, especially on areas that are important to you, for example, what went well? How was the support when things went wrong? What did you like and not like about the experience? What advice do they have for you?
• You will be staying in a poorer country with people you haven’t met, supported by organisations who have workers of differing people skills, so you will have to be prepared to adapt to the circumstances in which you find yourself. Each volunteer has a different experience, even within the same program, as we all have different backgrounds and expectations. If your expectations are based in reality and on thorough research you will less likely be frustrated or disappointed.
How much is this going to cost?
The answer to this depends on which experience and organisation you choose, and how long you wish to go. Some ask for you just to get there (i.e. your travel costs only), whereas others require many tens of thousands of Rands to fund your experience. Keep in mind that the cost often includes donations to the community in which you’ll be living.
If you feel the cost is worth the money, then it will be!
Obviously the longer ahead you plan your volunteering trip, the longer you have to earn and save money. Have a look at these fundraising tips and strategies to get ideas and advice on financing your trip.
Organised volunteering experiences in Africa and elsewhere
African Impact – volunteering projects in 12 countries in southern Africa and east Africa
All Out Africa – various projects in Swaziland, South Africa, and Mozambique
Africa Inland Mission (AIM) – Christians who wish to make a difference. Based in New York, USA they will organize your experience in Africa
Changing Worlds – paid and voluntary placements all over the world
Earthwatch Institute – expeditions to remote and important areas all over the world
Fauna Forever Tambopata – volunteers needed for research in the Peruvian amazon
Foundation for Intercultural Learning Exchange (FILE) - volunteer programs in Ghana from 4 weeks to 6 months
Friends of Conservation – work with cheetahs in Namibia
Frontier – conservation expeditions to Madagascar, Tanzania, Nicaragua and Fiji
Gap4Africa – travel to Botswana to teach, work and also go on a unique safari into the genuine wilderness of the Okavango delta
Gap Guru – opportunities all over the world in various areas of interest
Global Vision International – lots of opportunities worldwide from one of the leaders in volunteering
i-to-i – many opportunities in South Africa and the rest of Africa
i Volunteer – New Delhi, India – make a difference in India
International Voluntary Service – various projects worldwide
Josephite Community Aid – volunteer to work in Australia with poor and underprivileged
Lattitude Global Volunteering – many different volunteering opportunities worldwide for young people 17 to 25 years old
Madventurer – two, four and six week community projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Fiji, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam and India
Mondo Challenge – opportunities to help with development programmes in Africa, Asia and South America
Quest Overseas – many chances in Malawi, Tanzania, Swaziland and Kenya, as well as South America
Reef Doctor – live and work in south-west Madagascar on the coral reefs
Smile Society – various projects in India - placements include teaching English, construction helper, office assistant, field worker, health and sanitation, music & dance training, environmental awareness, food preparation & distribution, community development projects, and soccer and yoga training to the needy kids.
Ever considered volunteering in Ghana? It is one of the safer African countries in which to volunteer, is mainly Christian, has a tropical climate and there are ten regions with scenery which ranges from tropical rain forests to grasslands and coastal plains. The people speak mainly English (together with the local dialects) as Ghana was a colony of Britain until independence in 1957. The main export is gold, hence the alternative name of "Gold Coast".