Volunteering is a wonderful thing to do and if you choose correctly, your experience will be incredibly rewarding. Choose wrongly, however, and you may end up getting ripped off or worse, intruding in the lives of locals who would rather the volunteers weren’t there.
Luckily, there are a few simple steps to making sure you choose the right volunteer program for you. Here’s where to start.
It’s All In אhe Language
Volunteer programs need you and although they will be trying to promote what they are offering, they can either do so in a way that is honest or in a way that is patronizing to the locals and dishonest to you.
Look out for the kind of language the website uses. If they make claims like “you can change the world” or “starving local children need you” then they are probably trying to rip you off by boosting your ego.
Choose a Project That Suits Your Skill Set
If you are volunteering so you can actually do something worthwhile, don’t choose a placement where you don’t have the skills. If you’ve never taught in your life and want to do a teaching placement, check first that your skill level is suitable. Going over to “have a go” at something you can’t do because you have the attitude the people will be grateful regardless is incredibly condescending.
Make Sure the Program Is Selective
If the company you want to volunteer with have no interview process and just care whether or not you can pay, they are probably not as ethical as they are making out. If the placement cares about the work they are doing, they want to make sure they pick the right people with the right intentions. If it’s too easy, don’t bother.
Generally, you should be able to trust your instinct and get a feel for whether the company actually cares about their work. Don’t shy away from asking questions but most of all, do your research and check your own intentions too. If you want your experience to be truly worthwhile, it’s important that you are volunteering for the right reasons and not for a Facebook update.
