Now that summer is around the corner, soon I will be writing vacation tips for singles and families. But before that I want to dedicate one article to writing about vacations for a younger audience, teens and young adults interested in getting out of town and seeing the world responsibly.
I first heard about volunteer vacations from a housemate when I lived in a group home in DC years ago. He is an elementary school teacher and by the end of me he was a bit “crowded out” from teaching and liked to disconnect. He joined an organization in which he had to pay a fee, and then he could sign up to go an volunteer for a few weeks in a variety of countries around the world, doing various things.
The first year Peter went to Spain, and helped in an archaeological dig right outside the city of Segovia. There he met a bunch of people, worked hard and was given room and board, and had the evenings and weekends free. When he got back he told me about a Saturday night that they had gone into Segovia, the whole group of volunteers, for dinner and drinks and then they had all stayed up until sunrise and seen the sun rise through the aqueduct.
The following year Peter went to Turkey, to help a in a small, remote town in the mountains,
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| The Roman Aqueduct, in Segovia |
where they helped build the first stone-paved streets and the first sidewalks in front of peoples’ homes. There he made friends he keeps to this day.
I can also tell you about my sister-in-law Jenny, who a few years back, went to work on a volunteer vacation in South Africa at a wildlife reserve where she took care of lions. Her overall impression was great though she did say that there were quite a few spoiled brats at that one and they ruined some of the fun. Yet she loved it, taking care of lions and being able to play for lion cubs was a once in a lifetime experience.
Volunteering vacations are a great way for teens and young adults to get out on their own, travel the world and do something good at the same time. They are safer than just travelling around because these are places where an organization oversees where they will stay and live and what activities they will be doing. Travelling to the volunteering site is usually the responsibility of the person and it’s common nowadays that volunteers meet up on social media and make their own groups to go together from airport/train stations/bus stations to sites. There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities at many well-established organizations and you can pick and choose where you go. When the travel is to very remote areas, arrangements can be made to get rides from the organization.
Why do I have to pay to volunteer?
Two reasons. The first one is to separate the people with real interest in volunteering, in
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| Volunteers with Volunteer for Peace |
going there and doing stuff, from those who would sign up and later bail out. It’s very appealing at the start to consider travelling to some remote place in an Armenian village to help set up a weaving workshop for the local artisans so they can work in proper conditions during the cold months; it’s another when you have to get your airline ticket and figure out passage from the airport to a spot 200 kilometers away. Let’s face, the human race is fickle, and asking you to pay a donation of a few hundred dollars to show your commitment is a good way to make sure you are really interested in going.
Secondly, there are NGOs running the volunteer programs and they themselves work on donations. Sometimes, when the volunteer work that you will be doing requires a lot of materials for the work, they may ask volunteers for an additional donation. While these are not mandatory, they are a requirement for those specific jobs and if you wish to do what they ask for then you will have to work it out. It comes with the territory, but keep in mind that the majority of these jobs have no additional donation requirement.
Why would I want to go and work on my vacation?
These are not just summer jobs; you get to travel abroad, meet people from many different countries and do something meaningful. There is no greater feeling than knowing that you’re helping make the world a better place, that you’ve made a difference. Also, it’s good information to add on a college or work application, that you’ve traveled here and there to do volunteer work. It will make you stand out from other applicants.
Can I do fundraisers for my costs to go on a volunteer vacation?
Of course! Most of them even have signups to help you create your own fundraiser and
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| Jenny with one of her buddies |
share it on social media and make your own printouts. They are a great way to get people interested and even help you with the travel expenses.
If you aren’t interested in fundraising you can always get a short-term summer job cutting grass or yard work. Be sure to mention why you need work it when you ask around for it or put signs up: neighbors will be far more likely to hire you if they know you are saving for a volunteer program abroad.
How long do these jobs usually last?
It varies, but for young adults and teens there are hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteer jobs that last between one and two weeks and take place in the summer. In some places and jobs it ca last up to a month but, I would not recommend a longer job from the get-go. The first time you try volunteering, make it manageable. If after that, you loved the experience, you can commit longer in the future.
Will I need a visa and vaccines to travel? What will I need to take with me?
In a nutshell, yes. Depending on the country where you will be travelling, they may or may not have visa requirements for your nationality. They may also have vaccine requirements. The organization setting up your work will advise you on the travel requirements of your country of choice when you sign up.
Regarding what to pack, again, it depends on where you’re going and what you’ll be doing. You can look up your site online or ask the volunteer organization what can you expect, most have guidelines for the volunteers when they sign up.
Can you recommend any organizations?
Well yes, I’m glad you asked!
I am going to give you the names of the organizations that Peter and Jenny worked with. There’s no better marketing to me than the testimonials of people who have tried them and swear by them.
Peter used Volunteer for Peace, a much-respected American NGO.
Jenny used a Real Gap Experience, a British organization.
Have a great trip!
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