Volunteer holidays - are they for you?
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Whether it’s working in an orphanage, teaching English, or saving Turtles, volunteer holidays are in vogue. But are they for you?
Most volunteer holidays are a lot of work and if you are looking for a relaxing break then this isn’t the choice for you. Also, remember you are not getting paid so you really need to love what you are doing. Often the living conditions are basic, the cultural differences are a shock and the language barriers are challenging.
I’m not trying to put you off. People who have volunteered will tell you it is a truly rewarding experience but you need to know what you are getting yourself into. It is bad for you and the community you are trying to help if you commit to a project you can’t stick to.
Volunteer for something you enjoy
Firstly you need to decide where you want to go and what you want to do. That may sound simple but with such a wealth of opportunities across the world the choices can seem overwhelming. There are a lot of resources on the internet to help you and get hold of some brochures from big organizations to look through.
The best place to start is with what interests you. Do you love working with Animals? Are you great with children? Do you have a special skill to share?
Where do you want to travel?
Once you have narrowed this down look at places you would like to go. Are you intrigued by Africa? Do you want to learn Spanish in South America? Would you like an English speaking country? Once these two points are established it is time to look at the details of different placements as it is these factors that will affect your overall enjoyment.
Elements of volunteer holidays
Next you need to look at the different elements of volunteer placements such as homestays and language lessons and choose which aspects you want to include.
Decide what the most important aspects of your placement will be. What are the deal breakers? What are you willing to compromise on?
Talk to other volunteers
After doing all this research you will have a good idea whether you think volunteering is something that is for you. A good thing to do at this stage is talk to past volunteers. You might know some, or good companies will be able to put you in touch with someone to learn about their experiences. Ask a lot of questions and clear up any concerns you might have.
There are so many projects across the world that if you are serious about volunteering you will be able to find something that suits you. Happy hunting!
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Short volunteer holidays
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