Summer is on the way which means it’s time to start putting your vacation plans in place. If this year you fancy a trip with a difference, consider volunteering. If you’re someone who loves adventure and helping others, volunteering could be perfect.
If the idea of volunteering appeals to you, have a read of these five tips to get an idea of the best ways to go about organising your trip.
1. Consider how long you want to go for
The first factor that you need to consider is how long you want to travel for. Whatever time you can spare, be it two weeks or two months, it doesn’t matter. You can choose to volunteer for as little or as long as you like. It’s important to work out how long you plan on being away for – this will determine the best projects for you.
2. Take your skills and interests into account
When selecting a project, think about your skills and interests. If you’re someone who loves animals, a project from the great projects, that is based around animals, could be ideal. If you’re someone who’s a dab hand with DIY, maybe a house or school building project would be right up your street? It’s just a case of thinking about your likes and dislikes and choosing a project that’s suitable.
3. Pick a place you’ve always wanted to visit
If there’s somewhere, you’ve always dreamt of visiting, see if there’s a project there. You’ll be putting a lot of time and effort into your chosen project, so picking a destination you’ve always wanted to visit is a good idea. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you’re spending time in a place that interests you. If possible, pick a country you’ve never visited before to make the experience more exciting.
4. Decide whether to invite a friend to join you
Traveling alone as a woman can be a little daunting. That’s why you might want to consider inviting a friend or partner to come along with you. Not only will traveling with a friend make you less nervous about your trip, but it will also make your time away more fun. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that if you travel with a friend, you won’t get to know new people because you will do. When you’re living and working in such close proximity, it’s impossible not to get to know everyone.
5. Work out your budget
Before you book your trip, you need to work out how much you can afford to spend. Most volunteer projects come with a set fee which includes the cost of your flights, accommodation and food. However, it’s important to research this before booking your trip. This is important as you need to know how much money to save for your trip. Else, you could end up struggling to afford everything that you need.
If you want to help others, experience new cultures and meet people from all over the world, volunteering abroad is perfect.
