Skip to main content

Voluntourism 101: The Dos and Don’ts for Planning a Volunteer Vacation

By U.S. News & World Report

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in hopes of sending “the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world.” This paved the way for the hundreds of international organizations today to offer volunteer trips worldwide. Volunteer vacations and voluntourism (volunteer tourism) have become huge trends in recent years, with thousands of people all over the world traveling to underdeveloped countries, such as Colombia, Tanzania, Kenya and Morocco. Working with children in schools and orphanages, nursing injured or ill animals back to health, and building houses are just a few of the programs offered.

The possibilities are endless — and so is the list of organizations and companies offering volunteering opportunities abroad. With more and more volunteer organizations and companies popping up every year, it’s hard for a traveler to know which to trust, which is why U.S. News spoke with Erin Barnhart, an expert in the field of international service and volunteer engagement. She provided tips on how to choose the right organization and red flags to look for when signing up for one of these trips. And fret not, Barnhart strongly believes that there is an international volunteer program for everyone.

Voluntourism vs. international volunteer organizations

First things first: voluntourism and international volunteer organizations are different. Volunteer tourism companies, such as G Adventures and STA Travel, are typically for-profit companies (although some are nonprofit, too) that provide potential volunteers with short-term volunteer placements coupled with vacation excursions. For example, you might work in an orphanage for two days and then go on a safari for the remainder of the trip. Or spend a few weeks backpacking through Southeast Asia completing different jobs such as building a school or working at a daycare. Usually, voluntourism companies allow anyone and everyone to volunteer, not necessarily requiring participants to pass background checks or have prior knowledge of the destination or work being completed. But here’s the biggest difference: Voluntourism is primarily focused on the individual’s experience. That’s not to say all voluntourism companies are lacking a humanitarian focus, but recent studies have shown that certain programs — such as working in an orphanage or school — have detrimental effects on both the community and the children. For example, children can form close attachments to volunteers and face abandonment issues once those volunteers leave. A UNICEF campaign is even aiming to end short-term service in orphanages. After all, how much can you realistically change children’s lives by working with them for just one or two days?

On the other hand, most nonprofit international volunteer organizations, such as Cross Cultural Solutions, United Planet and Global Volunteers, partner with local in-country nongovernmental organizations or cultivate their own projects in response to the needs of the community. They screen potential volunteers to ensure they are placed in the right program and can properly and efficiently aid the community. “International volunteer programs serve as a bridge between the NGOs and the volunteers,” Barnhart said. Many international volunteer organizations also have long-term partnerships with local community NGOs and continuously send volunteers throughout the year. Their primary focus is the development and sustainability of a community, with less emphasis placed on what the community can do for the volunteer and more focus on what the volunteer can do for the community.

Expect fees, fees and more fees

A major factor to consider before deciding whether to volunteer through an organization is the associated project fee. Yes, spending a summer volunteering on the beaches of Madagascar conducting research and saving turtles sounds great — except there’s a catch. Many of these volunteer opportunities come with a hefty price tag (think upward of $2,000), and that’s not including airfare. Paying to volunteer seems like a funny concept. Why would someone pay thousands of dollars to essentially work for free? Many international volunteer organization company representatives said the majority of the fees ensure that the project is run safely and efficiently for both the community and the volunteers. Some of the fees go toward 24/7 in-country staff support, pre-departure information and training, airport transportation, travel and medical insurance, ground transportation, and food and accommodations.

Voluntourism companies typically offer more budget-friendly programs than nonprofit international volunteer organizations, but that doesn’t mean you should go with the cheapest option. As Barnhart put it, “You wouldn’t want to buy the cheapest car because it probably doesn’t run that well.” And the same goes for a volunteer program. Whether it’s an organization or voluntourism company, do your homework and make sure that the majority of the money you’re paying actually goes to the community’s sustainability and development. Most organizations have a breakdown of where the money goes on their websites and are open to answering all your money-related questions. That’s another thing Barnhart recommended: You should do plenty of research about the country and reach out to multiple previous volunteers about their experiences abroad — they’re likely to be the most forthcoming and tell it to you straight.

A cheaper option for going abroad: work camps

If you’re still interested in volunteering abroad, but don’t want to (or can’t) fork over the money, you may want to consider a work camp. Work camps are short-term programs, usually two to three weeks, and focus on projects like building a school, working as a camp counselor or assisting with animal conservation efforts. Work camps are significantly cheaper than going through international volunteer organizations. Most often the only cost associated is the application fee, which ranges anywhere from $75 to $200. Volunteers must pay for their airfare and transportation to and from the camp, but once they arrive at the camp accommodations and food are free. Check out Service Civil International for more information and a list of work camps offered worldwide.

Should you volunteer on your own?

So, is it worth paying an organization to volunteer versus doing it on your own? The answer is yes and no. Volunteering abroad through an organization or company is easy, safe and convenient, all you have to do is book your flight and the company does the rest. An international volunteer organization is great for those who want to volunteer, but only have a limited amount of time or for those who have never volunteered or traveled much. Volunteering abroad on your own takes a lot of planning — you have to make your own travel plans, buy health and travel insurance, arrange in-country transportation, locate your own accommodations and the hardest part: find a place to volunteer. If you’re a seasoned traveler, have been to the country before and feel comfortable and confident making your own arrangements, go for it. After deciding which country you want to volunteer in, you will want to reach out to small in-country NGOs and see if you can work with them. Before leaving, make sure every detail is ironed out — you don’t want to travel thousands of miles only to be told that you can no longer volunteer for the organization.

If you’re still interested in volunteering abroad through an organization, websites like Goabroad.com and Gooverseas.com will allow you to search volunteer organizations by country, program and length. There are also volunteer reviews, so you can read firsthand accounts of what previous travelers have experienced abroad. Another helpful tool travelers can use is Idealist, where the pros and cons of volunteering with an organization versus alone are spelled out.

More from U.S. News

6 Volunteer Vacations to Experience

10 Secrets for Traveling Like a Local

Beginner’s Guide to Adventure Travel

Voluntourism 101: The Dos and Don’ts for Planning a Volunteer Vacation originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote