How to Become a Volunteer Abroad?

The heart of a volunteer is never measured in size, but by the depth of commitment to make a difference in the lives of others. DeAnn Hollis

Do you frequently wish you were able to make a contribution in improving the lives of those in need? Have you considered moving to a country aid the people that need the support?

If you’re nodding your head or thinking a clear “yes!” then you have got the calling for volunteer work abroad.

Volunteering is undoubtedly one of the best things a person could pour their time into. It is important to clear up that volunteer jobs are not just limited to young people on their gap years. Anybody can assist at volunteer organisations, and all the help is needed with the state of the world we live in.

This article is going to explore the available types of volunteer work abroad for the individuals looking for a really significant and fulfilling volunteering experience. In making the world a better place, its important for us all to willingly dedicate time helping others.

Apart from finding overseas volunteer programs, you can also find teaching jobs abroad, summer jobs and work and travel opportunities on Superprof.

So, Why Volunteerism? 

The attributes associated with “volunteer” are usually along the lines of someone that is empathetic, thoughtful, considerate, selfless and generous. Regardless of what the meaning of “volunteer” is for you, the reasons to become one far outweigh any possible excuses to not.

Understandably, there are plenty people whose loaded schedules and commitments do not allow them to easily give time to volunteer organisations. It is worth prioritising when the time allows, as there are many benefits.

Perhaps the time spent binging mediocre television shows, could be used to volunteer?

Below are reasons as to why volunteering benefits  both the community as well as the individual volunteering their time:

• Volunteering Brings People Together: When volunteering you’ll be introduced to people that share similar values as you, enhancing a feeling of community and igniting the passion to keep coming together for a greater good.
• Taking Time Out to Volunteer Helps the Body and Soul: We all need an escape from our demanding routines, to embrace uplifting tasks that help better communities. It is known that people who struggle with anxiety, anger, stress and depression can benefit from volunteering their time. It makes sense that community service is assigned to those who need to make improvements in their behaviour. Additionally, volunteer jobs boost volunteers’ confidence through seeing the rewarding impact of their time spent helping others.
• Career Opportunities Along the Line: Never underestimate the importance that working for volunteer organisations could have on your career. Volunteer jobs can let you network with working professionals, build your skillset and gain work experience for a career aspiration. Although volunteer organisations won’t pay you for your time, it equips you with invaluable experience and newfound expertise.

Volunteering could never be a waste of time when you evaluate the various ways in which it benefits your personal and professional life, but most importantly the lives and communities needing help.

Types of Volunteering

You’d be mistaken if you thought that helping elderly citizens, cleaning up litter and disaster relief work are all there is to do when volunteering. Respectable sources claim that there are thousands of unique volunteer jobs that could appeal to anybody, irrespective of they interests or age.

Still there are types of volunteer work that are more popular, regardless of which volunteer organisation its at or what activities are done often. Volunteerism can be short-term work done over a week, month or just in a day, and does not have to be a lifetime obligation.

Although, volunteer work done teaching religion or advocating for causes could be a lifelong commitment. As follows, here are the explanations of each volunteerism type and how they differ:

• Formal: This type of volunteering entails consistent attendance and long-term commitment. The work is overseen by superiors and the format is structured. In its volunteering legal structure you’ll come across quality management, policies and procedures. These can include working for big charities’ fundraisers, volunteering at hospitals or being a tour guide.
• Government or Entity Based: If volunteering for government establishments, you’d provide help when it comes to deciding on the ways in which the organisation will further operate. The volunteers base their decision on which volunteer organisations to work for, based off how it would benefit their careers.
• Non-Formal: This is obviously the polar opposite of the work done in formal volunteering. The work settings are unstructured and do not receive public funding. The dynamic that this space creates for volunteers would have them viewing each other as friends. This can include work patrolling neighbourhoods on safety watch or doing local clean ups.
• Social Reasons: This type of volunteer work creates a sense of camaraderie, since volunteers unite and advocate together for the same cause. This can create strong bonds within the group of volunteers. This type of volunteerism is unstructured and doesn’t require you to log off an allocated amount of hours. It requires a lot of passion and dedication. This includes, but is not limited to environmental awareness, political advocacy or endorsing certain research.
• Project-Based Volunteerism: This type of volunteerism is certainly the most demanding and stressful. It is very structured and requires each volunteer to adhere to deadlines with an allocated period of time. Specific skills are required for project-based volunteering.

Now after reading the above, you can evaluate which volunteering avenue aligns best with you. That is your choice to make and whichever you go with is sure to be rewarding.

Keep reading if you’d like to know where you could access more information on where to volunteer abroad!

Where to Find Volunteering Opportunities Abroad Online

You can’t limit the experience of making a positive change and volunteering by putting a value on it. Giving is always better than receiving. We are incredibly enthusiastic about volunteering here at Superprof. We strive to invite every type of individual from all parts of the world to take up volunteering.

Today there are many young people and students pursuing volunteer work for their internships or gap years. This allows them to make a positive contribution in the world before jumping into a job or degree they are uncertain of. Volunteer work abroad does the same thing, but with the added layer of wanderlust for those wanting adventure and a chance to explore a destination.

One would hope there is app to give guidance on how and where to get in touch with overseas volunteer programmes and land volunteer work abroad…

Well the good news is that there are various websites and resources at your fingertips for locating volunteer work abroad. There is an added benefit of being a South African fluent in English, as a large portion volunteer organisations require you to English should you wish to volunteer abroad. Listed below are helpful sites for those searching for volunteer work abroad:

• Go Overseas: This is possibly your best friend and best resource available to you when pursuing overseas volunteer programs. It has reputable good reviews and more than 3700 listings at your fingertips. Volunteer jobs can be browsed under a country’s name. Overseas volunteer programs on a short or long term basis are most popular in Thailand, Peru, Nepal, Costa Rica, Peru and South Africa. If you want to volunteer aboard, the Go Overseas website is just for you!
• Volunteer Forever: This website is comprehensive and lets you explore the range of available options. It takes into consideration that volunteering can be done in a gap year for overseas volunteer programs, for assisting government organisations and that users need help choosing whereabout to volunteer. There are many overseas volunteer programs in need of volunteers. If you are simply considering or wish to volunteer abroad, you can read their available resources and blog posts to understand more and read about the possibilities.
• Volunteer World: This is a superb resource if you’re interested to volunteer abroad in a way that maximises your travel experience and expands your cultural knowledge. This website lets you evaluate your options for both solo and group volunteerism across the world. Definitely give the positive testimonial on the site a read, if you wish to hear of others’ positive volunteer abroad experiences.

Although there are multiple websites that provide information on this, the three mentioned above are stand-out options you cannot go wrong with.

At the end of the day, the fulfilment and benefits that come from volunteering will always outweigh the hard work and and sacrifices. This applies to all volunteer work, irrespective of if you’re advocating for social issues, aiding elephants in Thailand or spending time at your local old age home.