why can't you volunteer abroad for free?

star gazer · 16-01-2010 2:16pm

<Threads Merged>
This thread has a lot of discussion around volunteering abroad and the issue of fundraising.

dory · 16-01-2010 6:14pm

silvine wrote: »

I am interested in doing a week's volunteer work in a developing country this year.I've come across one or two organisations that let you do this but you've to fund raise several grand which is a little off putting. I've no problem paying for myself but I didin't think it'd be so expensive. So am I being unrealistic to expect to be able to volunteer for a week without fundraising or paying several grand?

This has been discussed a fair few times if you'd like to search you'd get more answers.
Basically, think of where you work now.
Then imgaine someone from Japan decides to work for your organisation for one week.
Doesn't speak the language, doesn't have the necessary skills, will spend most of the week adjusting to climate and food.

Now, how much would you like this Japanese worker?

Just because some place is poor doesn't make it any different from any organisation in Ireland. If you're going for one week you will end up helping to pay for the charity's running costs for the year. This type of one week volunteering is a gold mine for charities.

Sincere apologies if you're highly qualified and fit for the job, but still, 1 and 3 will still likely apply. I run a charity and I can assure you, you'd have to give me at least 5000 to organise you visiting for a week. It's so much hassle, you've no idea.
The choice is yours really -a week but pay or longer but don't.

Failing that you can always fly into Kolkata and work there for a week. Mother Teresa's sisters of charity doesn't ask for any money.

valleyoftheunos · 01-02-2010 4:55pm

The first thing for anyone looking at volunteering abroad is that they find out if it is possible to see how any contribution or fee is applied, does it cover your flights and or accommodation? Secondly are you asked to simply pay the fee from your own pocket or are you expected to fundraise the money and will they help you with that.

Fundraising is about more than money, it raises the profile of an organisation and can lead to even greater support in the future which is why genuine charities are so keen on it.

Finally to anyone who is fundraising, there have been studies that show that in times of economic hardship people are actually more socially aware and give more so don't be disheartened. Best of Luck and try to think outside the box a little!

EDIT: I would also add that if you want to volunteer abroad you should choose an organisation or place because it interests you or you think you are suited to it, that will lead to the best experience and results for yourself and those that you are volunteering with, cost should not be the primary consideration.

condra · 10-08-2010 1:36am

piby wrote: »

Actually here it is I found it! It may not be much to look at but it's serves as a link to various other sites that offer free/cheep volunteering.

http://www.overseasjobcentre.co.uk/100_free_volunteer_work_opportunities.shtml

Cheers for that.

Actually cheers everyone. Very helpful thread.

DM addict · 22-09-2010 9:08pm

I did some volunteering with Aviva - they're a pretty small organisation but I had a great time with them. It's not cheap but the accomodation in Cape Town is excellent (I stayed there when I wasn't on shift at Baphumelele). Also they do give a donation to the project you volunteer with.

If you've any questions feel free to ask me.

richy1 · 14-11-2010 12:57am

how can i volunteer abroad (preferably africa/india) for free
hi guys, i want to do voluntary work inside the next year.i am 19.
i havent the money for these voluntary packages that cost thousands.
I know i have to pay my flights, thats fine , but could i do 2-4 weeks volunteering, living off 50 euro a week. i'm going for very hard work not a holiday.do i need to have skills?
can i do it on the prices above?

dory · 17-11-2010 10:32am

If anyone wants to read why many people around here have problems with those companies who charge massive amounts for a volunteering opportunity there is a great article here.

myk · 17-11-2010 10:37am

And another good article based on the same research here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/14/orphans-cambodia-aids-holidays-madonna

Sapsorrow · 02-12-2010 12:55pm

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread!

Quick question: Does anyone have any links to reliable organizations that help you to volunteer through fund-raising? I'm working at the moment and struggling to pay back my loans from college. I'd love to get involved in something by next summer/autumn/winter but I'm not sure how feasible it is financially considering my debt, so fund-raising might be one way to over come that problem!

myk · 02-12-2010 12:56pm

Sapsorrow wrote: »

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread!

Quick question: Does anyone have any links to reliable organizations that help you to volunteer through fund-raising? I'm working at the moment and struggling to pay back my loans from college. I'd love to get involved in something by next summer/autumn/winter but I'm not sure how feasible it is financially considering my debt, so fund-raising might be one way to over come that problem!

I recommend http://www.volunteeringoptions.org/

Sapsorrow · 02-12-2010 1:07pm

Thanks Myk!

dory · 02-12-2010 2:34pm

I summarised a lot of what has been said on this thread in a blog post here if anyone's interested.

I'm soon going to be writing about the different options available and how much they each cost.

valleyoftheunos · 04-12-2010 2:35am

Check out Suas.ie, fantastic organisation, amazing work and its all doen through Fundraising which they will give you great help with.

Applications close in 2 or 3 days so don't hang around!

lady of the flowers · 05-12-2010 7:12pm

Irish aid at the bottom of O' Connell st in Dublin has lots of inofrmation...as does comhlamh, and vsi (both with good websites)....good luck

aimsirbia · 10-01-2011 12:10am

CamillaRhodes wrote: »

Hey Stormwarrior - two answers for you
(1) some 'volunteer abroad' opportunities are, as Karoma says, charities looking to cover their costs - if you only work for them a short time, it may actually cost them money to train you, do the administration etc. Others, however, are profit-making companies, such as i-to-i. Stay well away from these - personnally, I find it morally reprehensible to profit from well-intended people's desire to volunteer.

(2) there ARE volunteer for free opportunities out there! I've volunteered in four different countries around the world (Thailand, Serbia, Australia and... Peru!) and never paid a dime (other than maybe a nominal donation to cover admin costs, e.g. 50 euros). Since you mention Peru, you may be interested in contacting the NGO I worked for, Ayni They're an education / social assistance grassroots NGO.

An Irish NGO who place people on short-term or long-term volunteering projects mostly in Europe but also around the world is Voluntary Service International , I think they charge about 80 euros and then act almost like an intermediary agency, placing you to volunteer with local charities in whatever country you go to.

Another great place to search for volunteering opportunities is IdeaList.org (clever name, eh?) - be aware that some of the volunteering positions posted may be pay-to-volunteer, but this is how I found two of my previous volunteering posts.

Finally, you don't say what your background is or what you'd like specifically to volunteer as. In general, the more specifically trained you are, the more likely you'll find opportunities to volunteer for free. Think about what you can contribute to the organisation. If you were trained as, say, an electrician or an accountant, you'll find it much more likely that an organisation will benefit from your skills. But don't panic if not! Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills.

Last thing, I'm sure you realise this, but if you're not paying the organisation to volunteer with them, it is very unlikely they'll be able to cover your costs for you. The exception is the EVS (European Voluntary Scheme) which Voluntary Service International can tell you about. They'll pay your accommodation, flights, etc, but it's only for volunteering in Europe and you must be under 25. Otherwise, keep in mind you'll have to pay for your own food, rent etc (though in countries like Peru this is very little) - your biggest expense will be your flights.

Good luck, and don't give up! I found it a bit disheartening at first when I thought I would have to pay to volunteer, but it absolutely is not the case if you persevere!

Hello
I'll be lucky if you still follow this thread....
I have been trying to research places to volunteer in bosnia, specifically interested in ecologically orientated/permaculture/food production projects but would also be very comfortable in a community/youth/social/educ setting. My heart is set on Bosnia as I've been reading about it recently, feel I need a pinch to appreciate life a bit more. Would be happy to opt for serbia or montenegro also as travel between should be possible. was looking in vain for wwoof opportunities on bosnia, any ideas on any of the above?mile maith agat

dory · 10-01-2011 10:16am

I live down the road in Kosovo. One thing I will say is that the level of English isn't great in these parts so to work here you would have to speak the language.

One way of doing it would be to not put the word volunteer in your Google search as that brings up a lot of crap websites. Just look for a social or ecological projects. I know there are summer camps that some Americans volunteer at (I also met some of those Americans and they made a massive effort with the language or else they'd be on dish washing duty).

Failing all that, Ryanair flight to Zadar, bus down to Bosnia, and spend some time getting to know people and see if you can help out somewhere.

daisyscience · 18-02-2011 10:47pm

Hey Ive come across a website that might be useful: www.ecoteer.com it doesnt seem to have the same high costs and most placements seem pretty genuine. I plan on using it in the future. Id also recomend that if you are paying anything for a volunter placement to check out the currency conversions and cost of living in the location to see if they are trying to make money out of you. If they are, id consider it to be ecotourism instead. Ive heard some horror stores about 'volunteer' placements.

spindifidus · 24-02-2011 10:40pm

Hello,
Just wondering what is the cheapest way to volunteer abroad (I'd prefer to help people before animals but I'm not picky) I've been on some sites and they all say that it's about 1500 yoyos.... Is this the cheapest I could do it for??? (I'd be hoping for a lot less!!)
aby advice would be really appreciated.

dory · 25-02-2011 8:39am

Read the 'Why can't I volunteer for free' thread at the top.

Basically: Not qualified to help in any way = money
Useful = free

star gazer · 27-02-2011 8:04pm

<Threads Merged>

sandyjc · 06-05-2011 10:47am

Aimsirbia- Totally agree. These agencies like i-to-i should not be allowed operate, they make so much money from people volunteering, its a huge industry at this stage. Have there been documentaries exposing these kind of agencies??

IdeaList is great, I used this and found a great non for profit in Kenya last year. They have a huge list of volunteering options all over the world

Richi- www.volunteeringforfree.org is another site that lists hostels all over the wolrd that house volunteers and link them to projects for free, so no fees paid, just your accomm expenses.

Micky Dolenz · 25-05-2011 7:21pm

Very informative thread. Welldone.

Geoffrey11 · 27-07-2011 6:23am

If you have plans of volunteering abroad then it is great. Usually the organizations charge you for travelling. Search in the internet for organizations that take less money or no money.If look the situation of those people seeking help it is worth paying and helping.

sandyjc · 08-09-2011 12:14pm

Good to see this thread; that people are discussing alternatives is a good thing. These agencies like i-to-i are making huge profits. I looked into the background of i-to-i. Apparently it was set up in 1996 by Deirdre Bounds as a small ‘alternative travel’ company. She sold it to First Choice Travel in 2006 for over 20million GBP!! So they are making huge profits! Even look at their site, they say things like “Book now and get an additional 10% off!!”, they are pretty blatant in their marketing and drive to book more volunteers.
In general, if you are looking to volunteer through an organisation, make sure they have the projects interests at heart, not the volunteers. If they
1.charge too much (over 400 Euro per month or so).
2. are not particularly interested in what skills you have.
3. will book you for a period of 2 weeks.
4. Cannot give specific information about a particular project they are meant to be supporting .
…then they most likely are more interested in making money than helping the projects. This, therefore, becomes profiteering from poverty and is pretty sick in my opinion.
There are quite a few resources out there for those that want to organise an independent trip. Check out Volunteer South America for an extensive list of free and low paid opportunities throughout Latin America. Omprakash.org is a good resource for teachers, it lists teaching placements worldwide (though I think they concentrate on asia). www.VolunteerThailand.org (or something along those lines) gives a list of projects in Thailand. There’s also a site www.volunteeringforfree.org that lists hostels around the world that can help their guests to find volunteer work.
Another trick would be to look at the websites of the companies like i-to-i and find out where they are based and then search through Google for projects in that area, or chat to their past volunteers through their facebook accounts. You can be sure that if i-to-i are sending hundreds of volunteers to an area each year then that area has projects, accommodation, transport infrastructure and restaurants, ie that you can do it independently.
Why hasn’t someone done a documentary exposing these companies? So many people actually think the companies care about the projects they ‘support’ and so continue to book through them.

romick · 30-01-2014 6:12pm

We are looking for a long term Volunteer to run a Therapy Center in a Poor township in Lima Peru.
The Center was founded by an Irishman 10 years ago, and he is now retiring.
The position is one of Administrator, and good interpersonal skills are important,
Also a working knowledge of Book keeping is essential.
A basic knowledge of Spanish is also required, and a willingness to become more fluent by attending an Institute in Lima to improve your Spanish.
Some remuneration can be arranged, and reasonable accommodation can be provided.

This is an Exciting Opportunity, to leave the Rat race behind and enjoy a different quality of life, and a more fulfilling career
More info from; peruchildrenscharity@gmail.com

Shaymoboy · 06-08-2014 11:46am

HelpStay.com launched recently, it's a new low cost way of volunteering and travelling by exchanging a few hours help for free room and board.

why can't you volunteer abroad for free?

Comments