Volunteer work abroad - any suggestions?
Discussion
I'm lucky enough to work for a company that allows me to book off 2 weeks per year, in addition to holidays, for volunteer/charity work which I'm paid for.
My intention is to take 3 weeks off work this summer to do some volunteering abroad. I'm just after some ideas really and experiences of anyone else that's done it. I'm know it sounds a bit cliched, but, I'm not sure I'd be any good at human aid or working with kids, I'm not very good at 'letting myself go'. Then again, maybe such an experience would help me.
I know it might sound a bit self centered, but I'd like somewhere with nice weather and speaking English won't be a problem, as I intend to use a couple of days at the end of the trip for relaxing. Also somewhere that flights won't cost an arm and a leg!
Any suggestions welcome.
My intention is to take 3 weeks off work this summer to do some volunteering abroad. I'm just after some ideas really and experiences of anyone else that's done it. I'm know it sounds a bit cliched, but, I'm not sure I'd be any good at human aid or working with kids, I'm not very good at 'letting myself go'. Then again, maybe such an experience would help me.
I know it might sound a bit self centered, but I'd like somewhere with nice weather and speaking English won't be a problem, as I intend to use a couple of days at the end of the trip for relaxing. Also somewhere that flights won't cost an arm and a leg!
Any suggestions welcome.
Probably not exotic enough from what you are saying, but I've often considered seeing if it would be possible to work for the War Graves Commission in northern France and to some gardening and grave tending. I have so much respect for those old soldiers that I reckon that would be very worthwhile.
Friend of mine at uni did a trip with Coral Kay Conservsation mapping Belize barrier reef. ie she got a load of people to sponsor her to take a months tropical diving trip. Think theres quite a few of these kind of wildlife conservation projects around that rely on volunteer workers.
Orb the Impaler said:
Probably not exotic enough from what you are saying, but I've often considered seeing if it would be possible to work for the War Graves Commission in northern France and to some gardening and grave tending. I have so much respect for those old soldiers that I reckon that would be very worthwhile.
I didn't know you could do that, sounds like a great use of time. Do you have any other info please?
There are a few travel shows coming up in London over the next few weeks. One Life and Destinations being really good ones and they'll have plenty of inspiring ideas. Check out VSO and www.i-to-i.com too. Depends if you purely want to volunteer off your own back or have something a bit more structured where you can help out with an ongoing project for a couple of weeks. Fair play to you for doing this 
We finance a school/orphanage in South East India and my son has been working there for about 3 months - teaching maths and English - as part of his gap year. The school is looking for brits who can teach English. Needless-to-say, a CRB check will be required. If interested please email me.
Thank you for your suggestions. As for the appreciation, I suppose what I'm intending to do isn't entirely selfless - I'm looking for somewhere that'll allow me to relax in a nice place for a few days once my work's done.
I work in distribution management for a major third party logistics company, so I'm not sure how the skills employed there would transfer. I've never built anything, not even a shed, so I think I'd be more hinderance than help in that respect. That said, I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, so something like trail building or conservation work wouldn't be a problem. I don't think working with kids is for me - I just find it difficult relating to them and it's just hard for me to let myself go. Maybe this will change if/when I have kids. Also, I had a minor brush with the law late last year for a Public Order offense - I allegedly caused distress, alarm and harassment to a speed camera van operator and received a penalty notice which will show on an enhanced CRB. I wouldn't have thought this will get in my way though.
I don't think I'll go down the sponsorship route. I'm not exactly rolling in it - 25 years old and earn £30k basic - but that doesn't exactly make me poor, so I'd feel a bit guilty going down that route. Plus if it's self-funded I'd feel better about it being responsible both physically and financially for some good.
I work in distribution management for a major third party logistics company, so I'm not sure how the skills employed there would transfer. I've never built anything, not even a shed, so I think I'd be more hinderance than help in that respect. That said, I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, so something like trail building or conservation work wouldn't be a problem. I don't think working with kids is for me - I just find it difficult relating to them and it's just hard for me to let myself go. Maybe this will change if/when I have kids. Also, I had a minor brush with the law late last year for a Public Order offense - I allegedly caused distress, alarm and harassment to a speed camera van operator and received a penalty notice which will show on an enhanced CRB. I wouldn't have thought this will get in my way though.
I don't think I'll go down the sponsorship route. I'm not exactly rolling in it - 25 years old and earn £30k basic - but that doesn't exactly make me poor, so I'd feel a bit guilty going down that route. Plus if it's self-funded I'd feel better about it being responsible both physically and financially for some good.
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