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Voluntary work abroad 'helps global development'
2011-11-30
by yearoutgroup.org
Taking a gap year and volunteering abroad gives people the chance to actively get involved in international development while making a meaningful contribution to the world. The most common types of global volunteer work are teaching, health work, conservation schemes and community projects.
Voluntary work abroad gives people the opportunity to become actively involved in international development, it has been claimed.
According to Lonely Planet, a gap year abroad is the chance to buck the trend by not just thinking globally, but acting globally.
"Getting out into the world though is a long way from organising a cake raffle for your local church, so you need to prepare yourself for a difficult job that probably won't be well paid," the travel guide stated.
But a year volunteering gives people the opportunity to do good for the world and make a meaningful contribution, it added.
"Some find themselves in a remote African village teaching kids the importance of hygiene, while others help out in a Sri Lankan elephant orphanage," Lonely Planet explained.
The title explained that what people do while overseas depends on their interests and the sort of contribution they want to make.
When planning a volunteering gap year, Lonely Planet urged people to fully research the organisation they would be working for prior to signing up.
"Look for organisations with transparent financial structures and minimal administration costs," it urged. Non-governmental organisations and tourist groups with long track records are a good place to start."
The four most popular types of voluntary work abroad are teaching, care and health work, conservation schemes and community projects.
For people wishing to integrate with a local community, teaching may be the best way forward – for those with or without full qualifications.
Without a qualification, there are hundreds of placements on offer as teaching assistants or helping with students outside the classroom.
In terms of care work, projects range from work in orphanages, hospitals and medical centres to running HIV/AIDS awareness courses.
The nature of these projects is similar to teaching projects from a working, accommodation and length of placement perspective.
Check out all the different gap year programs on offer.
http://www.yearoutgroup.org/news-events/gap-year-news/q/date/2011/11/30/Voluntary-work-abroad-helps-global-development-801225696/
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