Have you ever
considered volunteering? Whether it’s for a church, school, or another place,
many organizations benefit from (and in some cases, completely depend on)
volunteers to help. Volunteers also benefit
from donating their time and effort to a cause they support: they gain a better
understanding of the situation and culture surrounding the cause –– especially
if it’s a volunteer program abroad. If you volunteer in a country where another
language is spoken, you’ll also probably start to pick it up and actually learn
it!
Beyond these core benefits of volunteerism
however, there are also some specific upsides to doing your volunteer work
through an NGO, as opposed to independently. Below, we’ll get into some of
those benefits and explain why, more often than not, you’re best off going
through an established organization.
Opportunity
The clearest benefit of volunteering through an
NGO, rather than as an individual, is that you’ll have more opportunities to
work where you’re needed. To give some sense of what we mean, among the most
notable nongovernmental organizations you can work for are Habitat for Humanity, Doctors
Without Borders, and the international Red Cross. These are sprawling
organizations with global reach that can help you to find the kind of work
you’re looking for and make the impact you want to make –– and they’re only a
few examples! Others associated specifically with IVPA include Globe Aware, Global
Brigades, Good Hope Volunteers, International Service Learning, Projects
Abroad, and American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad.
In contrast to working with established organizations like
these, when you set out as an individual volunteer, finding specific
opportunities is up to you, and it’s not as easy as it may seem. Particularly
if you’re looking to go abroad, you may not always be able to contact a given
church, school, or community. And even if you can get in touch, there may not
be much of a chance to get involved. Which brings us to our next point:
Effectiveness
We just touched on the idea that there may not
always be a chance to get involved with an entity you reach out to as an
individual. And the truth of the matter is that this is a more complex issue
than some might assume. Most of the time, Individual churches, schools, and so
on, simply aren’t prepared to accommodate and host volunteers by themselves.
They may not have space or supplies for you to operate with and there may be
issues with language and translation. They often won’t have liability
insurance, whereas when you work with an IVPA member you’re covered by medical
and liability insurance. In some cases, they may not even be able to provide
meals or accommodations for unprepared travelers. On top of all of these
issues, there’s also a high likelihood that by volunteering without the support
of an organization, you’ll be pulling someone away from their own tasks;
someone will have to assist or train you, such that you are inadvertently
reducing the resource of the school, church, or community that you are trying
to help.
The beauty of NGOs, among other things, is that they take all
of this into account and have thoroughly established processes in place to make
work as comfortable and effective as possible. Indeed, when you volunteer
through organizations that have been vetted by quality affirming entities such
as IVPA, you’re not only supported, but even spared your own costs, in a sense.
The cost to participate is tax deductible against your income (as is any
related airfare).
Travel
When you travel on your own to volunteer –– even
if you mean well and take proper precautions –– there is always the chance that
you violate cultural or societal norms you’re unaware of. For example, if
you’re volunteering in Cuba, you may not realize that Cuban culture all but
forbids people from accepting charity. However, a “gift of
friendship” is acceptable. This is the kind of local detail an NGO will be
aware of, and will prepare you for. Generally speaking, these organizations
will help you to understand in advance what you’re walking into, such that you
don’t offend, embarrass, or even inadvertently endanger the very people you’re
trying to help.
Meanwhile, to briefly touch on a more personal perk, there’s
also something to be said for the opportunity to go abroad! For the most part,
NGOs offer the possibility of traveling across borders in order to participate
in volunteer projects. While many volunteers had to return
home during the pandemic, some
NGOs are starting to send volunteers out once more. If you enjoy traveling,
volunteering for an NGO can be one of the most rewarding ways to appease your travel
bug –– whereas when you volunteer as an individual, it’s not quite as easy
(or sometimes even as doable) to find a reasonable opportunity to do good work
abroad.
Socialization
Humans are social
creatures, and we enjoy
the company of others. Volunteering for an NGO gives us the opportunity to
socialize more than we normally would, which is great news for those of us who
have found ourselves rather isolated over the last few years. Volunteering for
an NGO whose advocacies you support also means that you’ll be in more contact
with like-minded people with similar ideas and beliefs. This not only makes for
more effective work on the ground, more often than not, but also opens the door
to establishing relationships that can result in more service opportunities in
the future.
Language
Have you thought about learning a new language?
Studies show that the most effective way to learn a language is to be immersed
in it. If you’re keen on learning Spanish, for example, you can look for NGOs
that have a presence in a Spanish-speaking country. Chances are, you’ll pick up
some of the language passively. Besides, you’ll be in the perfect place to take
some courses and learn from native speakers.
Job Opportunities
Having a well-known NGO on your resume can do
wonders for your job search. Volunteering often helps you develop certain
skills, such as effective communication and critical thinking – which is
something recruiters keep an eye out for.
On top of this, remember that NGOs don’t depend
solely on volunteers – they also have employees on payroll. An NGO may be more
inclined to hire a former or current volunteer from “inside” first before
hiring externally, which means that you could possibly work for the NGO if you
meet the qualifications for the job.
Volunteering is an extremely rewarding
experience that offers an incredible array of benefits. While it may not be for
everyone, it’s worth taking a look to see what opportunities are out there and
if they (and their benefits) are a good fit for you.
Authored by Rosalie Janelle
Article exclusively submitted to volunteerinternational.org