Comments on: How to Ethically Volunteer Anywhere in the World

By: Julia

Julia — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 11:13:46 +0000

Thank you for such a comprehensive and awesome article – it is really so helpful! I have only recently started looking for a volunteer program overseas and it is SO overwhelming and confusing! This article really helped me get my head in gear with some great resources. Thank you!

By: Abby

Abby — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 09:42:20 +0000

Hi, this is some awesome info. I will be traveling in India for approx. 6 months starting next month and I was wondering if you know any organizations I can check out to volunteer for a few months?

Thanks a lot

By: Seb

Seb — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 14:32:09 +0000

I would be generally very careful with review platforms such as abroadreview.com , many of them are connected to companies, fake reviews are common problem and some companies even own such platforms. Do your research by yourself, look for blogs, speak to past volunteers and profesionals. Also get in touch with the program before u arrive and pay.

By: Luca

Luca — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:38:05 +0000

Hello Matt,

As all of your content this is great but a bit outdated. Most of the companies listed are advertising websites where the company that pays the most gets the best placement and not necessarily offer a transparent opinion unless you search for the users reviews, some of the links should be updated and if possible include sites are volunteerforever.com and abroadreviews.com.

By: Afriya Lashley

Afriya Lashley — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 21:26:07 +0000

Hi, I’m really interested in volunteering in other countries. With my passion of travelling and assisting people,I really feel like this is just calling. I’m a single mother of 2 kids (boy 16 and girl 8) and assist in our community by helping the homeless, mentor kids and geriatric care. Honestly I have a passport but no visa but I don’t mind having the experience (at least for 6 months ) then back home to my kids. Thanks for the feedback in advance ?

By: Florence

Florence — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 07:14:40 +0000

In reply to Angela.

Hi Shannon!! Thank you so much for your post, it was extremely helpful. I graduated from high school a few weeks ago, and am taking a gap year next year. I want to spend four or five months volunteering after doing some travelling, but am very aware of the fact that good intentions may not always be enough – I really want to make sure the work that I’m doing fits the people’s needs and truly makes a difference! I’m looking into Myanmar as well – my friend who visited Myanmar last year said that a lot of the children there want to learn English! Do you have any recommendations for volunteer opportunities? Bessie’s website seems to have changed, and I’m not sure I would be qualified to do university prep for Epop as I only just graduated from high school! Thank you so much. 🙂

By: Jack Palmer

Jack Palmer — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 13:52:30 +0000

I really like how you explained that, “…when I slowed down and spent time volunteering I was able to sink into the travel experience in a way that goes beyond photographing the major temples, churches, and iconic sites.” My sister is really interested in doing some medical volunteering in different countries. I think it would be a really great experience for her. She hasn’t made any decisions yet but I thought it would be smart of us to do some research online. Thanks for sharing!

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 05:25:25 +0000

This is a really great post. I’ve been doing my dissertation research on international volunteer tourism. It seems like the more academic work I read the more confused I become. It was nice to read something simplified for the every day reader and of course traveler. It doesn’t help when only academics read about this stuff. Travelers need to be aware of how their presence influencing the locals. Are you unintentionally fostering dependency? Yet, many people swing the other way and insist that volunteer tourism is bad no matter what! I don’t agree. I think that due to the enormous market for volunteer tourism, we can see that there are a HUGE number of people that want to HELP with their travels. The problem lies in making sure that they are in fact HELPING and not hurting. Thanks for your work in spreading this message Shannon.

Also, I’m currently conducting research on the experiences of international volunteers for my dissertation. My survey focuses on the interactions between volunteers and locals, impressions left by volunteer organizations on the volunteers, and volunteers’ behavior in giving gifts and making donations. I think this will illustrate in which ways different companies are addressing these issues and in which ways they are not and need to improve. I ask that anyone who reads this consider taking my survey. Contact me through my blog for more information (and I’m donating $1 to charity for each completed survey, so this is a win-win for everyone! Participants get to vote for the winning charity in the survey).

Thank you so much!

By: Dominic Di Lello

Dominic Di Lello — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 16:32:40 +0000

I Dominic am looking at growing organic crops to feed needy children throughout Costa Rica, it involves farm activity such as digging, seeding, daily routine chores, harvesting etc., it is half day 8 a.m.-12 noon Mon.-Fri. weekends off, the rest of the time to visit beautiful Costa Rica with its beaches, rain forests, volcanoes, friendly people and whatever your heart desires. for an unbelievable rate of $200 weekly/$600 monthly, meals and accommodations included in a fun hostel type setting, meeting people all over the world, respond for more info.

Thanks Dominic

By: Chris Bendt

Chris Bendt — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 10:39:00 +0000

Research, research and research. This will place you in the right genre. Small effort in the right direction is far effective than anything else. If you are happy what you’re volunteering for, the outcome will be wonderful.