Volunteering Abroad....

[Amylou]

.....is so expensive! Has anyone done it? Worked with the apes/cheetas etc?

Iv had a major life change. My boyfriend of 3 years has left me and i want to get away from this place. Iv always wanted to go and volunteer in Africa or somewhere.

[ron1863]

Have you thought it through or are you just having a knee jerk reaction and running away from your current problems.
If I was you I would wait for a few months and see if you still feel the same way, as you may regret moving away.

It's far better to lose a boyfriend than a husband Amylou.

Here's a link for voluntary work abroad, but don't jump the gun.


Working Abroad: Find Volunteer Work Abroad in Over 150 Countries

[eeyore]

bbc wildlife this month has a top ten list for vol opportunities abroad. My advice would be if you want to go to africa/india/south america etc go with a reputable body like fronteir, ITCV or the durrell trust - yes its expensive but the money goes to the nature conservation projects, not into share holders pockets. For a slightly cheaper option you could go with VSO tho this will be more about helping local people than wildlife.

If you are confident travelling abroad , or aim to go to a more westernised country like austrailia, new zealand. canada etc another option is to just go and sort out the volunteering when you get there.

Like ron i would urge you to think this through rather than acting on impulse - but at the same time this could be an opportunity to make a change for the better and do something completely different with your life.

Also, and i know you probably arent thinking about this right now international volunteering projects are a great way to meet and get to know members of the opposite sex plenty more fish and all that.

[Hobjob]

The volunteer "market" can be a nasty place. In my daughter's experience
most of the agencies take 50% of the money; it is scandalous. They are
riding on the back of gap students with little life experience, and worried
Mums and Dads who want safety for their littleuns, which is understandable.

She found what she wanted by rolling up at the Dolphin Research Centre
and selling herself - but she did have a science degree, passion for marine mammals,
experience at photo-id that they needed, secretarial skills and good
computer literacy. She ended up doing a research based MSc, and getting
married!!

She is on the garden route in South Africa and can put you in touch with
several projects down that way - and warn you off a few too!

I am also aware of a Cheetah rehab place in Nambia that does both good work
and treats its volunteers fairly.

PM me for more info.

Wherever you go, talk to some ex-volunteers before committing yourself. There are some scams around.

I would echo some of the other concerns above too.

My personal experience of working in Africa is that it gets in your blood, but it can be a love hate relationship - great frustration is to be expected.

I understand that VSO is much more inclined to allow short term contracts that they used to be - it used to be 3 years minimum - but usually to those with some specific skill to give; building, medicine and allied professions, horticulture etc..

Have you any special skills to make yourself attractive to the other end?


Good luck

[cmullen]

Hi there Amylou,

I used an ethical vounteering agency to go to Ecuador after I graduated. Ethical volunteering agencies don't take any money away from the organisation and in my experience it worked out fantastically. I used volunteersouthamamerica.com, you pay £10 and they send you a list of organisations from your preferences. I got sent a list of about 100 different oppertunities in South America. I picked Ecuador and went to two organisations there. I had the most fantastic time, worked incredibly hard but it was well worth it. I only volunteered for a month, but I wish I could have stayed longer! I guess it is different for each organisation but I'd recommend volunteering abroad anytime. And I know you should think it over for a few months before booking, but it could be fantastic if you are having trouble knowing what to do with your life. I came back alot more focused and full of enthusiasm!

Good luck with your plans!
Caroline x

[maccyd82]

Theres also a book you can buy called "green volunteers" and also a website where you can get the book and subscribe to get updates on new projects. A lot of the options in there are free or very cheap, and i found it very useful.

[Amylou]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Its been a while since i announced this idea lol, and i still feel like this is my time to do this and i really want to! But, i have been thinking specifically of places to go and i think i would like to try New Zealand. Its not something that is going to happen any time soon as i need to save up some money first!! But i still want to do this. Its not just a reaction to what happened.

A lot more research is needed and it may come down to it that i cant quite afford it for a while yet, but it will happen eventually im sure!

[Vectisbirder]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Have you thought it through or are you just having a knee jerk reaction and running away from your current problems.
If I was you I would wait for a few months and see if you still feel the same way, as you may regret moving away.

Sometimes 'running away' as you call it, can be the best thing. Getting away from a place can give someone a new perspective on things and be just what they need.

Good luck, Amylou.

[Reptilian]

Wow, i was also interested in volunteering and i'm in the "exact" same situation Amylou as my partner recently left me after 3 years. There is great advice here and i will take a lot of it on board before i go, if i go.

I keep reading into it then talking my self out of it so until i feel 100% sure i'm not going anywhere.