Volunteering abroad is a great way to use your vacation time to help make the world a better place. It’s also an incredible way to explore new cultures, meet new people, and try something outside of your comfort zone. If you’re just getting started with the idea of volunteering abroad, this guide will help you get started with researching volunteer programs, selecting destinations and making sure everything goes smoothly once you’re onsite!
Plan Your Trip
The first step in planning your trip is to research the country and culture you’ll be traveling to says Jeremy Schulman. You can do this by reading travel blogs, watching YouTube videos and talking with people who have already been there. If you’re looking at volunteering abroad as a way to learn about another culture, then it’s important that you make sure that your language skills are up-to-date before leaving home!
If you’re going on vacation with family or friends who aren’t interested in volunteering themselves, make sure that everyone has enough time off work so they can go with you. You might even want to consider scheduling a reunion later on down the road–it would be great if everyone could meet up again!
Consideration Of Costs And Time Commitment
Before you sign up for the first volunteer program you find, it’s important to consider the cost and time commitment involved according to Jeremy Schulman. There are many different types of volunteer trips out there, so it’s important to look at all your options before deciding which one is right for you.
If you’re looking for an experience that will last only a few days or weeks, then a short-term placement may be best suited for your needs. These types of programs usually involve working with local communities in need while staying at an established hostel or guesthouse; they don’t require much preparation on your part (or any financial investment).
Get Familiar With The Language And Culture
- Get familiar with the language. It’s not enough to just know a few words, or even be able to read and write in the local language. You need to be able to speak fluently, or at least have an understanding of what’s being said around you. If you’re volunteering abroad as part of a program that requires speaking only English (or another foreign language), then this doesn’t apply as much for you–but if not, it will help immensely when interacting with locals who don’t speak your language.
- Understand the culture of your host country and community: This one is huge! Not only does it help ensure that everything goes smoothly while living abroad; but also knowing about different cultures can lead into great conversations with locals who are interested in learning more about yours too!
- Know local customs before arriving: This tip applies mostly for those traveling abroad on their own rather than through an organization like ours; however there are still some things worth knowing before hitting up any new place like whether or not taking photos inside certain buildings/monuments is allowed.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a way to make a difference in the world, traveling and volunteering abroad is an amazing opportunity. You can help people in need while also learning about other cultures and gaining new experiences that will enrich your life.
