Long term volunteering

gillo_100 · 29-07-2009, 13:39

Hey, I am looking for some advice regarding volunteering abroad.

Basicalliy, I am currently doing a masters in engineering and set to be finishing up in a couple of months. Due to the current economic climate I am seriously considering going abroad, be it for travel, work or volunteering.

So I am looking for some advice with regards to volunteering. When I said it to some mates the general reaction was "yeah it'd be a good thing to do a week or two" however in my mind I was kinda thinking of doing a fair bit longer, like a month or two, possibly up to 6 months or a year.

Wondering has anyone here done that sort of length of time and what there thoughts are on it? Or anyone who knows of the possibility of doing this sort of thing, as most websites talk about programs ranging from 2-6 weeks ish.

Also for this length of time, whilst I'd be quite willing to fund a certain ammount I couldn't really afford to support myself the whole time, so am wondering how much support (not necessarily direct financial but more food and accomadation) would charities give to longer term volunteers.

The other thing is I would like if I could put my Engineering degree to some use. Now admittably I have very little practical experience, as went straight from undergrad to masters, so probably don't really have the experience charities are looking for in they're paid engineering posts. However it would seem a bit of a waste to not use it, one thing I had thought possibly would be teaching at a secondary school level.

Anyway just looking for thoughts and advice on longer term volunteering quite possibly using my limited enginnering experience, all comments welcome.

dory · 29-07-2009, 18:05

Hello!
Well, I think it's great that you're planning on going for a long time. I know from working abroad there is nothing worse than someone volunteering for two weeks; they arrive, culture shock, obligatory stomack upset, fall in love with the place and make a dramatic exit.
Working for a longer time is really the only to not upset the local set up.

The engineering should come in handy. Have you looked into GOAL and Concern? They both send engineers abroad and as far as I know pay them a stipent. VSO (or VSI - can never remember which) also pays a stipend for people if they deem them useful, with a masters in engineering you should be ok.
I met a guy a few years ago who had gone away with Concern for a year. He couldn't have been more than 24 or 25 so at least at that stage they were taking people with little or no experience.
Other than that the only thing to do would be to do a lot of internet searching and bear in mind that as an engineer who is willing to stay for up to a year, you shouldn't have to pay. I've never paid and I am an Arts grad!
I know one place you could go in Niaragua for the teaching, but you'd need a moderate level of Spanish. How are your language skills?

I'd say your best bet would be to check out the websites of the organisations I listed above. I know GOAL has information nights every now and then but maybe email ahead to ask about experience requirement and don't what ever you do mention the recession when applying!
This Irish organisation way will take time though. They need to make sure you don't have a criminal past, and that you're mentally prepared and all that. Maybe even make you go to a weekend of training. Altogether can take 6 months or so. The googling way is faster but you'll be paying your own way.

Lastly if you're religously inclined check out Viatores Christi, they send people away too. Or just drop into the Irish Aid place on O Connell st or check out volunteeringoptions.ie

Good luck, and remember to take your malaria pills!

29-07-2009, 13:39	#1
gillo_100 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 132 Adverts \| Friends	Long term volunteering Hey, I am looking for some advice regarding volunteering abroad. Basicalliy, I am currently doing a masters in engineering and set to be finishing up in a couple of months. Due to the current economic climate I am seriously considering going abroad, be it for travel, work or volunteering. So I am looking for some advice with regards to volunteering. When I said it to some mates the general reaction was "yeah it'd be a good thing to do a week or two" however in my mind I was kinda thinking of doing a fair bit longer, like a month or two, possibly up to 6 months or a year. Wondering has anyone here done that sort of length of time and what there thoughts are on it? Or anyone who knows of the possibility of doing this sort of thing, as most websites talk about programs ranging from 2-6 weeks ish. Also for this length of time, whilst I'd be quite willing to fund a certain ammount I couldn't really afford to support myself the whole time, so am wondering how much support (not necessarily direct financial but more food and accomadation) would charities give to longer term volunteers. The other thing is I would like if I could put my Engineering degree to some use. Now admittably I have very little practical experience, as went straight from undergrad to masters, so probably don't really have the experience charities are looking for in they're paid engineering posts. However it would seem a bit of a waste to not use it, one thing I had thought possibly would be teaching at a secondary school level. Anyway just looking for thoughts and advice on longer term volunteering quite possibly using my limited enginnering experience, all comments welcome.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

29-07-2009, 18:05	#2
dory Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,047 Adverts \| Friends	Hello! Well, I think it's great that you're planning on going for a long time. I know from working abroad there is nothing worse than someone volunteering for two weeks; they arrive, culture shock, obligatory stomack upset, fall in love with the place and make a dramatic exit. Working for a longer time is really the only to not upset the local set up. The engineering should come in handy. Have you looked into GOAL and Concern? They both send engineers abroad and as far as I know pay them a stipent. VSO (or VSI - can never remember which) also pays a stipend for people if they deem them useful, with a masters in engineering you should be ok. I met a guy a few years ago who had gone away with Concern for a year. He couldn't have been more than 24 or 25 so at least at that stage they were taking people with little or no experience. Other than that the only thing to do would be to do a lot of internet searching and bear in mind that as an engineer who is willing to stay for up to a year, you shouldn't have to pay. I've never paid and I am an Arts grad! I know one place you could go in Niaragua for the teaching, but you'd need a moderate level of Spanish. How are your language skills? I'd say your best bet would be to check out the websites of the organisations I listed above. I know GOAL has information nights every now and then but maybe email ahead to ask about experience requirement and don't what ever you do mention the recession when applying! This Irish organisation way will take time though. They need to make sure you don't have a criminal past, and that you're mentally prepared and all that. Maybe even make you go to a weekend of training. Altogether can take 6 months or so. The googling way is faster but you'll be paying your own way. Lastly if you're religously inclined check out Viatores Christi, they send people away too. Or just drop into the Irish Aid place on O Connell st or check out volunteeringoptions.ie Good luck, and remember to take your malaria pills!