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Self-Actualization through Volunteering In India.

Volunteering enables ordinary people to contribute to the transformation of the world. You can change the world’s trajectory by contributing your precious time or skills. The entire process requires a lot of courage and desire for human development.

India has had a precious and an enriching history of volunteerism. It has a traditional philosophy referred to as “Shramdaan” which was inspired by their great leader Mahatma Gandhi.

The core of this philosophy is his belief and teaching that if, you intend to find a tree; self, then you have to lose yourself and invest your time by serving humanity both in the long and short term.

The following are some information that you may want to understand about volunteering in India.

Challenges of Inequality and Uneven Human Development.

The country has great disparities in development, especially among those living in rural and urban areas.

This disparity is what is leading to uneven development in India. Some areas are better off in terms of all forms of development, while others continue to decline.

This also affects the citizens. Therefore, when you volunteer in this country, you can contribute to bring a balance in these unfair balances.

You must not only go into the country as an individual who offers your services, but you can also come in to empower people with education and the right information for the improvement of their well being.

There are some parts of the country which have also been underdeveloped because of government negligence.

Volunteering in these areas can also generate sufficient and justifiable reasons that can formulate supportive policies and frameworks that can reverse these scenarios hence improve lives.

Volunteers Work Among India’s Forgotten Communities.

When you help those who have nothing to give back to you, remember that you will get returns thousand folds. Sometimes your efforts may look meager.  However, your focus should not be on the possible returns.

These forgotten communities are frustrated and most times have little patience with people.

Remember that when you are out and ready to help someone, your focus must never be on the individual’s attitude or opinions that may look discouraging.

When you work with these underprivileged and historically alienated members of the Indian society, they develop a sense of acceptance.

Self-Development Lessons Learnt By Volunteering.

When you do volunteer work and travel in India, the entire action is because of self-will. Lessons learnt in the process lead to intrinsic enlightenment and career progress.

As you handle people’s problems, you also learn about your personal strengths, weakness and points to emphasize on if you are to improve. You will nurture and develop qualities of empathy, compassion and great love for humanity.

As you serve the less privileged or humanity in need, you shape your character into a global balanced citizen.

This quality cannot be learnt in class or in the comfort of your sitting room. It may look a less important character, but in the long term, it is fundamental for developing your leadership and development agenda for humanity.

Top traits of an effective volunteer, especially in the Indian context;

• You must be motivated to serve humanity out of free will and give your best
• You must have an intrinsic sense of caring and sharing even if you have fewer resources
• Develop alliances and cooperation especially in areas where you are enlightened
• Be committed to the goal of volunteers despite the underlying technical issues
• Listen to people and fellow volunteers and make just considerations

Any volunteer must remember that the connection between self and the community is at the centre of the success of his operations.

Working for others without expecting recognition or payment for the rendered services is fulfilling and enables you to actualize human interconnections.

When most members of the society learn this, especially through volunteerism, then human beings are made better especially through self-awakening lessons. It would lead to stronger human bonds and fairness in all aspects of life.

What will benefit you as a volunteer in India?

Recently, most people only visit India as observers. Different things can interest you in this country. Well, how can you benefit from working in such an environment? What would you gain as an Indian volunteer?

There are certain things with which most volunteers may not be conversant. Some of these people may treat voluntary work as a necessary practice to gain the required experiences.

You should look at the positive side of actually getting to be a good worker in an organization. Consider these benefits; they can help you to enjoy your voluntary work.

Voluntary work increases your chances of making new contacts.

There could be several negative sides of volunteering, but come to think of it; different people volunteer from separate regions.

Since such organizations bring people together, you can get to meet others who have similar qualifications as you, and this improves your chances of expanding your circle of friends.

The benefit of creating such circles is that different opportunities may arise in different places and you could be the first to be given an opportunity.

True friends tend to help others out, especially when they have a good working relationship.

Improves your social skills.

As a volunteer, you will most definitely meet different people who have different cultures and understandings. How to treat these people may be hard at first since you may never know how to relate to them.

After some duration of working together, you can discover ways of relating to your fellow employees, and this improves your personality.

Some colleagues could be hard to handle. The opportunities provided in the places of work add onto your experience and the social aspects of relationships. When one day you land a job which demands such skills, you could have the upper hand.

Providing career experience.

Since India is highly populated, there is a likelihood of competition when it comes to the job market.

Your ability to compete fairly in different places will depend on the experience which you have gained over the voluntary works you undertook.

Different professions have geeks who can come up with intelligent ways of competing you for the same position. The job experience obtained from the voluntary works can be important in such cases, and this will take you a step ahead of your competitors.

The satisfaction of serving the less privileged.

After China, India is the second largest populated area in the world. It would be hard for the available resources to be used effectively in providing services to these people.

As a volunteer, you are likely going to make impacts on different lives and the people around you.

There is a general satisfaction which comes with serving the less fortunate. You will feel the need to give more and provide the best services at your disposal. In the end, you could have a shift of focus from gaining the necessary experience to providing the best of your services to the less fortunate.

Most of the voluntary works focus on the service to humanity, and this constitutes the higher majority. You may want to have this feeling.

Voluntary services help you to stay healthy.

Well, you might have never thought of this fact, but voluntary work is one of the best ways to improve your health. You do not have to stay idle, you get to engage your brain and involve yourself physically in different activities.

Since your mind gets to think of different things, you are less likely to encounter unnecessary stresses. Then, with the Indian population and culture, you can get to see a lot of things which will occupy your mind.

There are benefits of working as volunteers. If you look at your options, there are certain things which can be hard to understand unless you get the experience.

Working for different organizations will help you to develop your career and to have the satisfaction of giving back to the community as a sense of responsibility.

Facts You Need to Know Before Volunteering in India.

Many people of good will in and around India are willing to volunteer in support of a worthy cause. These pointers will help a potential volunteer in his preparation process.

Why do you want to volunteer?

The answer to this will help you narrow down your search. There are two broad categories of volunteers

1. Skilled volunteers.
2. Unskilled volunteers.

Skilled volunteers always seek to do the following;

• To practice their skill and gain work experience
• Give back to the community
• Learn to apply themselves in a challenging environment
• Learn to use a new technology or technique in their field
• From a professional network and make new contacts

Unskilled volunteers are visiting India to;

• Pass time on their summer break or college holiday.
• Meet new people
• Experience a non-conventional tourism tour
• Bond with friends and family

There are organizations that can accommodate the needs of all these people. The best way to find one is to get a referral from like minded individuals that have successfully volunteered.

Are you looking to support a specific cause?

Many of the NGO’S in India rally behind a chosen need. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Women empowerment. It includes the liberation of victims of sexual slavery and domestic violence
2. Teaching life skills through poverty eradication methods.
3. Organic farming. Technology such as hydroponics and biological pest control is taught.
4. Slum improvement. Decent basic shelters are put up for deserving candidates.
5. Alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers where troubled youth are assisted.
6. Talented youth get a chance to showcase their skills while undergoing training.
7. Families with physically disabled members receive training and support while their children get education help in other areas of life.
8. Alternative fuel sources and green energy
9. Religion
10. Children protection from abuse
11. Environmental awareness

Liaising with registered voluntary organizations can get you contacts of groups with the above stated goals.

How much are you willing to spend?

All volunteers have to meet basic costs like travel,immigration and vaccinations. The organization you choose may organize your travel arrangements such as flights but you will need to bear the cost.

You may need to research on the vaccinations that are mandatory in your country. Hepatitis B and Malaria vaccines are mandatory in India. It may be advisable to take a temporary medical cover to assist you in case you fall sick while in India.

Additional expenses depend on the organization you choose to volunteer with and the level of comfort you want. You may need to foot the following bills;

• Training fees. You may need to pay for the skills you will be taught.
• Some places provide free shared quarters while others charge for private rooms. In some cases, you may need to find your own accommodation.
• Your meals will not be provided, though some places have communal kitchens where you can cook your own meals.
• Drinking water. There is a scarcity of good drinking water. You can save some cash forbuying drinking water.

Are you open minded?

It is easy to read about poverty and poor sanitation. It is not so easy to live the life you read about. If you have lived in a comfortable environment that has all the basic comforts of life, you may not be able to adapt to the lifestyle you will find. Be prepared to deal with the following.

• Different food types. It is advisable to be adventurous, but also cautious when sampling new foods.
• Cultural differences. The roles of men and women in India are defined and social classes called castes still influence how people are treated.
• Inadequate toilets. You may experience this if you go deep into rural India, where 20% of the population do not have or use modern toilets.
• No running water. This is also true in parts of the country where development is lacking. Temporarily forget your shower head and learn to bath in a basin or bucket. These are the things to consider if you want to volunteer in India. Do not let these weaken your resolve to help. Take on the challenge and make a difference.

What to consider before volunteering in India?

Voluntary work has become a mandatory prerequisite for landing an excellent employment opportunity among the big companies in India.

Several organizations demand proofs from different candidates of the places where they worked as volunteers.

The current demand has made it a norm in India and most people are not sure what to consider before seeking voluntary work in different organizations. Consider some of these options on what to look for before taking a voluntary job.

Compare the standards of the company and your skills.

People do not volunteer for the sake of volunteering. There are some places where your skills may go to waste if any job was to be taken.

Voluntary work is supposed to sharpen your skills. You need to learn a few things which could strengthen your career in the  future.

India has a good number of organizations like iSpiice and since getting voluntary work can be challenging, you may be tempted to settle for anything which will only hurt your career.

You should line your skills with the right activities by  getting the appropriate organization to help you grow.

Consider what you care about?

As an individual, certain things can intrigue you. There is a feeling of an accomplishment when you get involved with such organizations.

When you work for something that you care about, there is a high chance that you will be happier and even volunteer for longer.

Lack of options may lead to the poor selection of places to work, and this will most likely reduce your influence and productivity.

Involve friends and family.

India is a place where people love being around family. Most families would appreciate working together.

Friendship is equally cherished, and people would not want to disappoint such a relationship.

There are different options to consider when talking to friends and families. The connection created makes it easy to land a good place to work.

If the friends and family members select the places where they work, it makes it even easier to work, and voluntary work becomes more interesting.

Search for volunteering sites to help out.

Most people looking for volunteer work in India have no idea where to start. There are several sites which can give you the information you want.

What you need to do is to come up with the desired places or skills you want to gain and search for the sites that offer them.

The unique thing about volunteering is that people have different skills and interests so getting a place that fits your skills may not be hard after all.

If a site does not have the jobs that you are looking for, look out for others.

Look for places where you can learn something new.

Volunteering can be very tricky if you have no dreams and plans of growing. India’s population is high, and there are different things which can be done to the country.

As an individual, you can have preferred interests and how things work depends on your selection and relevance.

Many volunteer organizations in India may not have the capacity to teach you something new. Such organizations can only waste your time.

During selection, have in mind what you want to learn and identify the areas on which you need more information in.

Some of these organizations can teach you more than you thought.

Thus, several factors are to be considered before settling for voluntary work in India.

Your capability to deliver will depend on your selection of the appropriate organization.

Looking out for opportunities constitutes involvement of different faculties like the standards. Your selection should be guided by interests, the available sites, help from families and so on.

Most voluntary works are directed towards gaining certain experiences that would add onto your productivity.

India is currently among the fastest growing nations and competition for employment is very high.

In considering the volunteering works, you may do something different. You can do your job diligently without focusing on the employment part.

The Enriching Experience of Giving Back!

Giving back is one of the most enriching experience. To be part of a volunteer program is a way to give back what you have been given.

India is one of the countries in which you can find some of the most rewarding opportunities.

Here is a summary of some of the experiences people from all around the world are testifying.

Teaching Children in India

The childhood in India is in the most need of help. You will be surprised by the dedication of the kids who are eager to learn. The kids are happy to receive what you have to give. In return, they will fill you with joy and energy.

Most programs are not meant just for formal education. Some institutions have developed true experiences in which their methods are bonded to playing with kids.

This means that the learning process is not done the traditional way. When children are having fun, they learn, and if you can be part of it, you will take the joy that you were giving back as you were making somebody happy.

The best of teaching is that you don’t need much preparation. Your current knowledge is enough to share with others.

Health Programs in India

Mostly health programs are meant for medical students who want to get some hands on experience. There are plenty opportunities to get involved with a health program.

With a local doctor as a mentor, you can learn many things related to health issues. Outside the boundaries of being a doctor, India has a lot to give.

Live with an Indian Family

The volunteering experience starts with your host family. Most programs make arrangements with local hosts. You are given a place with an Indian family that becomes your own.

Most volunteers testify that part of the greatness of the experience has been to be able to share a part of their lives with an Indian family.

The hospitality of families makes volunteers feel welcomed. You will be surprised how host families play an important role in the volunteering experience.

Most people think of their host family as if it was their own. That is because they are treated just as one more family member.

Orientation

When you get to India, you are never alone. The institutions that promote volunteer opportunities in India make sure you receive proper orientation. Depending on where you are coming from, the cultural differences can be shocking.

That is why the organizers put an extra effort on orientation, which is a way to make yours a great experience.

An Experience for all Ages

Volunteering has become popular among young people between 18 and 28 years old. However, it is not exclusively for the youth. No matter what is your age, you can take an opportunity to give back in India. If you are not a young adult, that doesn’t mean you cannot volunteer in India.

If you are older than the average, you just have more things to share. People of all ages have started an adventure in India to volunteer in a program. Most adults who engage in volunteering go back home with the most vivid impressions. It is an enriching and enlightening experience for them as it is for young people.

Why foreign students should become a volunteer in India?

Many students choose to volunteer for community service programs during their studies. Youngsters, who take a gap during studies, try to contribute towards community development during their free time.

Contribution to volunteer programs is not limited to undergraduates or university students. Teenagers and high school students also choose to work with underprivileged community members.

In this way, they not only gain a sense of achievement but also make a difference in the world.

International students and youngsters that offer community building services in countries like India gain man benefits.

If you are looking to spot some internship or volunteer program in India, then it is indeed a great idea.

Here are the personal advantages that you would get apart from contributing to well-being of people.

1. Get to know diverse culture of India.

Visiting India means, to get a reflection of world. The country is home to people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Its people speak more than 1600 languages.

Starting from Himalayas and touching the shores of Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, India has a diverse landscape. Such versatile geographical features make this country ideal an origin of different cultures.

The world still owes to India for providing the magical therapy of yoga.

While acting as a volunteer in India an individual simply increases his exposure. Getting to know people who have different cultural backgrounds is much necessary for the modern day youth; this is because globalization demands ability to deal with every kind of person from every corner of the world.

2. Acting as volunteer is very economic.

Youngsters who are still in college can’t afford the travel costs. They need to rely on families or do extra work in order to fulfil their interest of exploring other places.

There is no doubt that travelling to India is relatively easy for a resident in Europe and America. But for students, things become a difficult. Luckily, travelling as volunteers can make a person to effectively cut on the costs.

Most of the times, it requires few hundred dollars to visit the India as a volunteer. Thanks to so many available programs that facilitate these volunteers and place them with reputable organizations and NGOs.

A person who visits as a tourist has to pay a lot more than a volunteer. For later, it is possible to get cheap accommodation and travel to more far off places; this is because they have back of many NGOs as well.

3. Helping the community gives an insight.

We are breathing in the era of information technology. It is not difficult for an American to know what is happening in India. Still, a face to face experience is something different.

Working directly with victims and sufferers gives a person better idea of how things work. For the youth it has become much essential to have knowledge of what people in different communities are going through.

In fact the achievement of sustainable development is also possible only when people are very much aware with conditions of people.

When youth chooses to help the diverse communities, it gets a first-hand experience of problems. Such experience and knowledge simply makes upcoming generations to get an insight for solving problems.

4. Visit of famous places in India.

India never stops to enchant the world with its charming look. The country has some exclusive pieces of beauty the people always crave to watch.

Most of the volunteer programs in India also arrange for the visits to the historical sounds. Youngsters can listen to the tales that people in Rajasthan have to tell.

They can enjoy the glimpse of Jaipur, the pink city, hike on the mountains of Himalayas and relax at the serene beaches of Goa.

Apart from this, visit of sites like Golden Temple in Amritsar and Taj Mahal in Agra are other such blessings to be in India. A volunteer in India has to do nothing but see different aspects of life all at one place.

12 Celebrities who have already volunteered or done charity.

When talking about volunteering, there are actually quite a number of media figures who have already done it or donated a lot of money to institutions.

Many of them support institutions that contribute to making the world a better place or travel around underdeveloped countries to make the difference themselves.

From actors, musicians to you tubers, they are an example of people that put money aside to see others’ happiness. In this article, we will be revealing many of them and how they contributed to this fight.

Angelina Jolie

She has already improved the quality of life of thousands of people around the world by donating and raising money to important causes.

She already donated 1 million dollars to an appeal from international United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the highest donation yet that the branch had ever received, at least from a single person.

Angelina Jolie currently supports an enormous amount of charity institutions and has given aid to many missions related to the refugees, most of them in Africa.

She has doneanother many philantropical act and it was her mother who Incentivized her to pursue that path.

Jolie has already received a lot of humanitarian awards, including Citizen of the World Award.

Felix kjellberg.

Felix “Pewdiepie” Kjellberg, the biggest you tuber in the world, has already donated more than $3 million to charities.

He and his subscribers have raised money for many other institutions with the most different goals like Charity:Water, which aims to provide water to countries and places around the world where some people don’t have access to water; World Wild life fund, save the children, and many others.

Through these achievements, Felix has proven that his you tube channel is able to raise a lot of help to promote assistance for global issues.

Hilary Swank

Famous star of Million Dollar Baby, Hilary Swank has already done volunteering job in India. In July and August of 2016, She’s worked with children in an orphanage.

For two weeks, the actress traveled to India where she worked as a teaching assistant.

On that orphanage, she gave special attention to poor children who were going through difficult times and helped them improve their education.

Ben Affleck

The actor Ben Affleck who is known by the young adults for his role as Batman is also remembered for helping victims of sexual abuse, including many children. He has done that through an institution he founded called the “Eastern Congo Initiative”.

George Cloney, Brad Pitt, Mat Damon – Not on our Watch

Through the founding of an institution called “Not on our watch”, they raised help and recognition of the genocide that happened in Sudanese territory. George Cloney was even arrested when protesting against the Sudanese government, in 2012.

Oprah Winfrey

She had a huge importance when raising awareness of Aids/HIV besides founding in 2007 a chunk of boarding schools, the so-called Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.

She already raised more than $400 million to invest in education in underdeveloped countries around the world.

Taylor Swift – Won “most charitable celebrity twice.”

Swift has founded a campaign to protect children from online abuse and bullying.  She participates in many institutions like Red Cross, Children in Need,  Wounded Warrior Project, and much more. Recently, she has already been named the Most Charitable Celebrity by Today.com two years in a row, 2012 and 2013.

Mel Gibson

He has already donated $10 million to reimburse hospitals that cared for seriously ill children and is a big supporter of children care institutions like “Healing the Children”.

Justin Timberlake

The very well-known figure Justin Timber lake has already raised money for hurricane katrina victims and regularly donates to Habitat For Humanity, Shriner Hospitals for Children, and Kids Wish Network, working with them and raising funds with his fans. It is an example on how to use fame to raise a good cause.

Lance Bass – Boy Band Member

Lance Bass is a former boy band member that already supported a variety of causes ranging from fighting AIDS and HIV to helping students achieve a possible profession toward a career in special education. He has long started an online celebrity yard sale. Lance has also founded the Lance Bass Foundation in 2001 to help giving poor children a proper health care.

Alice Keys

The gorgeous woman Alicia Keys, besides supporting UNICEF, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and Oxfam, she is the ambassador for Keep A Child Alive as well as travelling to Africa to help kids and teenagers who have lost their parents to AIDS.

Matthew McConaughey

The Film Producer, Actor, Voice acting and Film Director is an important figure in institutions like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Children’s Defense Fund, and the Mississippi Animal Rescue League. He is the founder of a program called Just keep livin.

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in India iSpiice offer visit us here at https://www.volunteerindiaispiice.com

How volunteering in India for the poor changes your life ?

Whenever we talk about volunteering, it is common to think of the heroism it is to help the poor and taking care of the sick people in hospitals, or maybe by helping children without a home.

BUT, we rarely give that same emphasis on the changes it makes to who we are during the course of the volunteering period.

If you do ask a volunteer “Why are you doing this?”, You rarely get an answer that doesn’t include the effects it has on the person’s way of seeing the world. If you’re not sold on this, here are some examples of what volunteering in India may do to you and affect your way of looking at things.

A new perspective.

Let’s take volunteering in helping the poor. If you have a medium-sized salary, a home, went to school when you were a kid, have your things and your passion… You don’t know what is like having a six years old son that can’t go to school or does not have a single toy.

Now, most of the time, when you volunteer to help people in these conditions, you’ll probably enter with the thought of “There is no way I could help them become more wealthy and have better life conditions.” Truth is, it’s extremely hard to change one’s condition, but you won’t understand the feeling of giving a poor kid some old toys and watch her react with confusion and curiosity, then followed by a burst of energy and happiness.

That old saying that people are poor because they refuse to work or they use drugs because it is their fault; these kinds of thoughts and one-sided look at things will vanish when you hear thousands of stories of how families got into the hole they currently are, and chances are you’ll sympathize with almost everyone of them.

Money is not the only resource.

Volunteering is not necessarily working for free. You are free to walk away if you want, but you are getting paid, just not on the conventional money.

When volunteering, you are getting valuable resources that the modern capitalism has put behind money in a matter of importance. You’ll be paid in long-lasting friendships, smiles, people that are grateful to you, stories and people that are willing to listen to you just as much as you were willing to listen to them.

Volunteering is not a win-loss situation; it is a win-win where both sides help each other with the resources they can give.

Being a volunteer makes you realize how many people you had in your life that were selfish and didn’t care about things like these. Because of that realization, you’ll feel much better as a person.
“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” – Camille Pissarro

Coming back.

When helping poor kids, and working for charitable foundations, sometimes you’ll want to come back after some time has passed to see how everything is going on.

People who experienced this once will tell you that there is nothing compared to returning to a poor family you’ve helped and seeing that they are doing much better than when you left them.

You’ll see the new things they bought, the new jobs they were able to conquer, kids are going to school, walls are painted, windows are fixed, and there is no better feeling when volunteering than seeing you’ve helped build that peace.

Makes you more grateful for what you have.

“Let me encourage you to get up every day and focus on what you do have in life. Be thankful for the blessings of the little things, even when you don’t get what you expect” – Victoria Osteen

When you leave your house to enter another much simpler than yours, with simpler, humble people, you start to think about the things you have that facilitate a lot your life.

Volunteering will help with daily stress and anxiety and you’ll feel much more relaxed when you start to thank life for what you got that day, even if it wasn’t optimal.

You’ll also start actually wishing good things to strangers you’ve met during one day, and you’ll feel good about it.

Helps you accept who you are – your flaws and qualities. “You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful.”?

Amy Bloom

When you meet new people in these conditions and start helping them, you’ll start forgiving your past and accepting who you are.

People will be grateful, show love, kids will hug you when they see you and your family and friends will tell you what a hero you are.

You’re not a hero; you’re just planting your seed in the world and seeing it grow into a better one. This is what volunteering will do for your life, and others’.

Things you need to know while volunteering abroad

Things you need to know while volunteering abroad

Volunteering abroad can be a great experience for you.  It can give you not only friendship but also education for the rest of your life.

You may be volunteering for a program of your college or you may be volunteering just because you like it, it can be a memorable experience for you.

Here we will discuss about the things you need to know while volunteering abroad.

Read thoroughly your online briefing

You must be aware of the fact that volunteer program varies from person to person.

This is because a volunteer program that works for you may not necessarily work for another person.

For instance if cold and rainy weather does not suits you then winters time in Europe is not your cup of tea.

Try to learn some of the host language and pack a book

If you are going in a country and do not know the local language spoken there can be a big loss for you.

If you are unable to communicate with even the basic of daily life it can be very frustrating for you.

You should prevent this situation and spend time in learning the language before you go for your volunteering.

You can also carry a smart phone so that you can access some of the apps for verbal translations.

You can also make use of the Word Lens app which can change the foreign text in the text of your local language text.

This app would help you when you do your shopping abroad.

Pack light baggage

You should ensure that you should pack light baggage which can also save you money.

You should pack your basic things like socks, underwear, vest but you should also pack the clothes which you had bought at cheaper prices for volunteering.

Try to get information about the local medical system

This is very important especially if you are a woman. It is quite obvious that you would not like yourself to land in a medical emergency where you do not have any clue about making an appointment or paying for your doctor.

Even if you are able to learn about finding the prescriptions and buying some basic medicines it will be beneficial for you.

Everyone is not your friend

As a young and talented foreign volunteer there will be locals who will try to conspire against you.

Moreover there are some people who make their living by making fool of travelers from other country.

You should be alert and vigilant whether you meet with people on the street or when you meet people who are known to your friends.

You should also understand that you will not face this problem in rural areas but the things can be very different in big cities where there are good numbers of tourists.

You should not have inhibitions about talking to people

Well you should understand that if there are bad people then there would also be friendly and good people in the same area.

You will find some good local people who would just like to tell you about the famous historical building or the main food about their place.

It is a fact that people always want to talk about something about their favorite thing and when you are in a new place you would always like to meet them.   You should try to interact with people and ask as many questions as you can.

Carry a good camera

You should always carry a good quality camera as there will be many places and people that you will like to capture.

This would perhaps be a great opportunity for you. You should try to take some shots with your camera before taking it with you for volunteering.

Carry good quality shoes

The fact is no matter wherever you go for your volunteering you would be required to walk a lot.  You should try to get yourself good comfortable walking shoes and you should wear them before going for your trip.

Carry extra money with you

We do not know that what can happen the very next moment. Due to this you should ensure to carry extra cash with you.

You may require medical help or you may miss your flight or you may even be required to stay in a hotel which is above your affordable budget.

Not to mention you might miss your flight.  Due to this you should try to maintain an emergency fund and it’s not necessary that you will require this money abroad. May be you can use this money when you return home.

These are some of the things you need to know while volunteering abroad. If you are able to keep a track of all these things you can expect a comfortable and useful trip abroad.

Once you know the basics of particular country things become easy for you.