International Volunteer: Do You Have What it Takes to Become One?

Becoming an international volunteer can be a life-altering experience. Young adults with an independent streak and the ability to completely immerse themselves in another culture will benefit immeasurably from aiding others around the globe. However, college students thinking about giving their time to help a non-profit organization overseas must consider the commitment required of them and do a bit of soul searching before signing up for an extended stay in another land.

Health workers in Sefwi-Bekwai - Enjoying a drink in the "city" with the rest of the GHEI volunteers and two community health workers

Time and Financial Commitments

A U.S. non-profit organization that opens up an international office to provide support for a town, a village, or a community must first dedicate staff and volunteers to understanding the area’s social and political realities.  They must learn the language and understand the culture before any help can be rendered. Volunteers must be willing to make a time commitment that will allow them to be effective in their role.  That may mean spending six months or longer prior to the assignment learning the basics of the language and how members of the community live.

Depending upon the organization through which you are volunteering, you may or may not have living expenses covered.  Be prepared that any per diem allowance will be minimal, just enough to cover your basic needs.  In fact, you may be called upon to donate both your time and money to the cause.  The international volunteer makes a financial commitment, as well, by stepping away from the comfortable level of freedom he or she may be accustomed to at home.

Assess your willingness to make these commitments when you are looking for an overseas cause to support.  If you cannot make a long-term commitment, then some international volunteer programs will not be right for you.

Take the Lead

The international volunteer needs to know how to make something happen, to solve problems that arise with the resources available instead of waiting for instruction.  When you factor in the experience of feeling out of place and perhaps a bit disoriented in the beginning of your service, it may be difficult to summon the personal strength to be a self-starter and a resourceful team member.

Nonetheless, it is important to focus your attention on the community you are serving and the tasks you are assigned.  Shifting your concentration in such a way will help you be a valuable international volunteer.

Exercise Your Independence

Another trait shared by those who really benefit from being an international volunteer is the desire to chart your own course and be independent.  Of course there are times when volunteers miss their friends and family back home.  But if you already make your own  decisions about where and how to live in your home country, chances are you will be able to exercise that independent spirit and self-reliance when helping others overseas.

Be Open to New Cultures

The international volunteer has an expanded world view that embraces cultures outside of his or her own.  It is necessary to be open to and comfortable with mores and customs that deviate from the known in order to truly make a meaningful difference within the culture you are volunteering.  If you are open to the experience, then you will become even more culturally aware and open-minded by the time you return home.

Seek to Learn

The successful international volunteer strives to learn, knowing that becoming fluent in the language and learning everything possible about the practices and customs of the people served will promote his or her personal development. Volunteering in your chosen career field will do more to boost your understanding than any textbook.

Your personal development will extend beyond the methods and tools of your career.  Your self-reliance and leadership ability will also grow as a consequence of the experience as an international volunteer.

If you can make the financial and time commitments and are willing to take the lead in a new situation, consider becoming an international volunteer.  The benefits gained from living in another land and by different traditions are priceless.  The international volunteer gains from both a deeper self-knowledge and an expanding world view.

For more information about volunteering abroad, look for these five books on Amazon:

An Insider’s Guide to the Peace Corp: What to Know Before You Go by Dillon Banerjee.  ISBN 014200071X

Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World  Travel by Rolph Potts.  ASIN B000FBFMKM

How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega and Zahara Heckscher.   ISBN 0 7865 3459 1

Poverty and Promise: One Volunteer’s Experience of Kenya by Cindi Brown.  ASIN B0019QZEKA

Environmental Volunteer’s Guide to More Than 300 International Adventures to Conserve, Preserve, and Rehabilitate Wildlife and Habitats by Pamela K.  Brodowksy.  ASIN B0030CVR8Y

Court Order Community Service – Five National Non Profits to Consider

When you are ordered by the courts to perform community service is always mandated what services are acceptable in the courts eyes. The courts do not accept companies that are profit orientated companies to have service performed because of the profit that is involved which makes it against the law to do so. If an individual is ordered to do community service and does through a profit orientated company and does not have it approved by the courts chances are it will be rejected as community service. Therefore when doing your community service make sure before hand you are doing it for a company or organization that is approved by the courts as community service. Typically only nonprofit organizations are the only ones that are allowed to have community service performed other than working for state or city municipalities.

Throughout the United States of America there are literally thousands of nonprofit organizations that qualify as places to perform your community service. However some organizations do not request community service to be performed by individuals that have been ordered by the court and this is their rights to do so. Therefore make sure that you are approved by the organization to work for them under a court order to perform community service and that they will make knowledge to the courts that you have performed services for them.

The American Red Cross is a national nonprofit organization that you may consider to work for through your court order community service. This organization was formed in the late 1800s and has stood the test of time with help and support to others. Many today recognize it as a plasma (blood) donation area that assists hospitals in the supply of plasma to patients that are in dire need and that is just one area that the American Red Cross participates in. They have a vast network of support to individuals throughout America and are usually one of the first organizations to respond to individual needs after disasters yet big or small but a disaster to an individual.

Habitat for Humanity is a national nonprofit organization that does allow individuals to work off their court-ordered community service. This organization is fairly new compared to most nonprofit organizations but has been time-tested with its help towards others. This organization with the help of volunteers create living environments (homes) for families that are unable to afford a home and have been living in homeless shelters for extended periods of time and have nowhere to turn. The organization makes the home and gives it away to the needy family at no cost to them other than working on their own home.

The YMCA yes is a nonprofit organization that has been in existence within the United States for over 150 years. Standing for the Young Men’s Christian Association its initial sole purpose was to help young boys stay away from drugs and alcohol within their depressed areas that they lived. Today the Association is open to all men and women, Christian or not to help mentor individuals and families to cope with problems within a friendly safe environment of enjoyment.

Another nonprofit organization throughout America that has been in existence for quite some time is the Salvation Army. With the help of volunteer individuals and donations of all types their purpose is to supply goods to individuals at a free or a considerably reduced rate. The goods range from clothing, furniture, appliances, and many other daily living materials that a family or individual may need. Throughout the year they collect funds to help their cause that no child be without a present for Christmas that they distribute to thousands of families in need throughout the country.

The Boys and Girls Club of America is an organization that helps to mentor boys and girls to become stronger well rounded individuals in society. We’re schools lacked the funds the Boys and Girls Club of America takes on the challenge in helping the children not to be left behind, not to be left out, and to grow as individuals.

This is just in some of the national nonprofit organizations to consider for your court ordered community service but these organizations and many others in today’s times are in dire need of community help be it financial or volunteering. In searching the area that which you live, you are sure to find nonprofit organizations that will be more than happy to take your help so they may continue their good will towards others.