So you have been thinking long and hard about this dream of taking an amazing trip to a place you’ve never been, to do some volunteer work. That’s awesome! Now what? Like most people I’m sure you sat down at your computer (iPad, iPhone, Android, Palm Pilot, Kindle Fire, or other amazing electronic device) and opened up Google…but wait, what do you Google?

 

Volunteer vacation?

Volunteer trip?

Volunteering abroad?

Volunteering for moms on the go?

Mission trips?

Mission service trips in far off place?

Volunteer adventure for people who don’t have a clue what they are doing?

 

The list could go on and on. The answer to this burning question is…are you ready for it? Get a pen you might want to write this down.

 

THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER!

 

The type of company or organization you want to travel with is entirely up to YOU. This industry is overflowing with options. There are many different types of trips offered to places all over the world. Each organization or company has its own unique style and offerings. You need to start by figuring out what it is that you want YOUR experience to look like, to feel like and in the end how do you want to serve others?

 

If there is a specific place you want to travel to and volunteer, then I think starting with that would be your best bet. Where in the world has the universe been begging you to go? Once you have found a bunch of companies that offer trips to that location you need to start asking some important questions.

 

The #1, numero uno, most important thing when traveling anywhere for any reason, is your health and safety. If you get to where you want to go and then get sick or hurt, all of the time and effort that you have spent working towards this amazing adventure will have been wasted. So taking care of yourself should always be your top priority. Ask the organization how they handle illness and injury if it were to happen. Also, ask when the last time that they had an incident where someone on their trip needed medical attention was. How did that situation play out?

 

I say this and then want everyone to also know that there are other things that fall just below this most important aspect of your journey. You want to ask questions of the organization regarding the type of work that they are doing in the country you have chosen to travel to. How will your skills be used to help further the mission that the organization is already on course to deliver? Does the organization require people to have special skills or can anyone join their trips? Basically, you want to make sure right away that the company you are looking at will allow you to volunteer in the capacity you are hoping to. You want to find an organization that is a good fit for you.

 

After those top questions, there are a million others that you can now ask! Those questions will be as different as we are from one another. The main thing is now that you have narrowed your search a bit you can begin to see how this company or organization treats YOU! The way they treat you during the inquiry will be a clear indication of how they will treat you throughout the process, and how they treat the people they serve in the countries where they work. Are your questions answered by a real person? Was a packet of information sent to you and then were you expected to make a decision based off of that information? Can you speak to someone who will be with you during the trip? Is that even important to you? Maybe it isn’t, but to some people, it will be. Many people have fears when it comes to travel, especially to a place they have never been.

 

Take other volunteer testimonials into account. Hopefully, they will show up on the website of the organization you have chosen to look at. If they don’t, or even if they do, you should ask for a few past volunteers that you can contact to get information from. It’s always best to ask for a volunteer that is similar in age. The only reason I say this is because if you are a 45-year-old mother who will be traveling alone you don’t want the story a single 19-year-old would tell about his or her experience. Your needs will be different and there are things that person won’t even think about that you will want to know. Someone who is your age will naturally be thinking like you may be. This will also give you a clue as to who takes these trips. If the organization can’t connect you with someone your age to talk to about their experience then you might want to ask why? Is it important to you that people your age are on the trip? Do you hope to travel with people of all ages or would you rather be with a group that is filled with people who are your age?

 

Are you looking for a close to culture experience? What I mean by this is, do you want to live like the locals live or are you only interested in volunteering during the day and then going back to a cozy bed where you can catch a few hours of television before you drift off to sleep? There are many programs that allow volunteers to stay in very nice accommodations and there are also programs that put volunteers right in the mix with the people they have come to serve. How far do you want to test your comfort zone? Depending on the kind of volunteer work you will be doing it may be important to have a quiet, comfortable hotel to go to at the end of the day. Maybe your vision is to stay in a mud hut and experience what it is to be without running water, electricity and internet access. No matter what your expectation is, I can promise you that there is a program perfectly suited for you!

 

You will need to do a lot of research even after you choose an organization that you want to travel with. You should spend some time looking into the following. What is going on currently in the country that you are planning to travel to (i.e. politically, economically and socially)? What have other people’s experiences been when traveling and volunteering to that destination?

 

We live in a time where we can find out in real time what people in any country of the world are experiencing. Take advantage of that. Make yourself a cup of tea and open up Google. Your research will probably lead to more questions (If You Give a Moose a Muffin) that you will want to ask the organization you’re looking into. Asking questions is OKAY and the potential organization you want to travel with should welcome those questions. The person you speak with should be thrilled that you have taken an interest in their program and it should be fun learning more.

 

A volunteer travel adventure can change your life and the lives of the people you choose to serve. A trip like this is a BIG deal and should be planned and thoughtfully researched. Don’t forget, this is your experience and should fulfill your own unique desires of whatever it is that you want to accomplish.

There are many things to consider when you make the decision to travel and volunteer and I can’t cover them all in this one post. Stay tuned for more articles relating to this. I promise to cover things like:

 

What are the emotions that come with traveling to a developing country?

How can I make sure the service work I do really makes a difference?

How to pack for a volunteer trip?

 

And more!

 

If you are interested in learning more about our organization and trips that we offer, please click around our website and ASK questions! We love them and welcome them! Happy hunting 🙂

Leave us a comment telling us where you dream about taking your volunteer adventure!

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If fear is holding you back. Check out this article that might help!