Hi,
I’m interested in doing volunteering out of country this summer as I think it would be a great experience. The only problem is that I’m a sophomore this year so my summer is going to be pretty jam packed and I was wondering if this program would look good for colleges? No, I am not doing this just to look good for colleges but the program costs quite a bit of money and if there is something else that is more worthwhile for me to do I can always volunteer later.
Thank You!!!
Anyone?
Please someone! I need direction
If I were you, I wouldn’t pay $2500 (not including airfare, based on the website) to volunteer. These programs are advertised as “volunteering vacations” - I don’t have experience with the particular organization, but I would be seriously asking myself about how much difference I could make abroad on a two-three week “volunteer” vacation in a country where I don’t know what the local needs are. If I wanted to volunteer abroad, I would reach out directly to organizations that work permanently in the country I would like to work in, and see if they needed volunteers, and/or ask to refer me to organizations that do need volunteers. I would be very cautious about “voluntourism” programs.
This is an article that I find very thought-provoking that discusses such “voluntourism” - http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/nov/14/orphans-cambodia-aids-holidays-madonna
I definitely don’t want to talk you out of something you are really set on doing (or sound like a negative nelly in general), but please think carefully about what you expect to get out of the program, what impact you expect to make on the community, etc.