Today was butterfly excursion day at the Sri Ramana Matriculation School. The school is one of our volunteer teaching placements in India.
The school’s principal Mr. Karuna sends us updates regularly on the students’ activities and progress.
The school was founded in 1988 with only six children. Today the school has more than 350 students ranging from 4 to 16 years of age.
Butterfly Day in Tamil Nadu:
India Teaching Volunteer Pointing
The idea of volunteering abroad for free is gaining in popularity.
Especially after the sticker shock when browsing organizations online who charge thousands of dollars for just a short stay abroad.
So yes, the word “free” sounds very inviting when it comes to volunteering abroad. Let’s take a look at some things involved with volunteer abroad for free.
What does “Free” mean?
First let’s define “free” in the context of volunteering abroad.
“Free” means that the volunteer does not pay a program fee to a third-party placement organization. Instead, the volunteer decides to arrange and pay for everything on their own.
As the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. There’s also no such thing as a free volunteer trip abroad.
The “Program Fee” model
Paying a program fee to an organization has become one of the standard options today
for newbies to volunteer abroad. The “placement” organization is typically a non-prot
entity that is independent, secular and unaliated with a school or government entity.
The program fee they charge (sometimes also called a “placement fee”) pays for a
volunteer’s meals, accommodations, airport transfers, insurance, visa assistance,
pre-departure advice, 24-hour emergency support, and the volunteer placement itself.
One way to volunteer abroad for free is to simply self-arrange your trip. This means that that you will not have to pay a program fee to an organization.
Show Them the Money
However, the reality is that unless you have the time, money and a strong personality (and some luck), self-arranging a volunteer trip overseas can end up costing the same or even more as with paying a program fee.
How can that be?
First, even if you avoid paying a program fee, you will still be responsible for paying for items that the program fee would have covered. As I mentioned above, these costs include things like meals, accommodations, airport transfers, and daily commutes to the volunteer job.
Second, there will likely be costs for you to nd a volunteer placement on your own:
1. Time
Before you leave home for your volunteer trip overseas, there will be the “opportunity cost” of spending dozens if not hundreds of hours on the Internet and phone researching and vetting potential volunteer placements abroad.
2. Travel
Then when you finally arrive in the host country, you will have to spend money visiting those potential placements. This means paying for your ground transportation, meals, and accommodations.
3. “Optional” Donations
Most local organizations in the host countries (like orphanages and AIDS groups) “require” volunteers to make a cash donation (which can be as high as $500) in order to volunteer at their facility. These donations are usually not published or requested directly by the facilities; Instead the managers will constantly bombard the volunteer with tales about the facility’s lack of funds, until it’s uncomfortable for the volunteer NOT to donate cash or goods.
4. Emergencies
Most volunteers abroad do not experience an emergency during their trips. However there is a chance that something catastrophic will happen to you such as a medical episode, assault, theft, or natural disaster.
Would you be able to handle a an emergency on your own? Would you understand the importance of pre-departure recommendations like buying travel insurance, registering your trip with your local embassy, carrying emergency contacts on your person, and having access to copies of important documents like passports and visas?
Who should volunteer abroad for free
Volunteering abroad for free is not for everyone. But there are certain types of people and travelers who can thrive in this situation:
1. Experienced Travelers
If your volunteer trip abroad will be the first time you’re traveling overseas — especially if still a minor — strongly consider signing up with a volunteer organization and paying their program fee. Volunteering abroad for free is for those travelers who are accustomed to handling the experience of being abroad independently. This includes things like haggling with taxi drivers, finding accommodations, and staying safe.
2. Those with time on their hands
Don’t expect to quickly nd a volunteer placement that suits you, especially if you are looking for a skilled position like in health care or construction. You will need considerable time to research and investigate not only the volunteer placement itself but also the local community. Then when you finally arrive at the placement, do not be surprised if the reality doesn’t match the “brochure” — in terms of the facility’s quality and the availability and type of volunteer work.
3. Tough Cookies
As one can gather from the above, volunteering abroad for free is suited only for independent-minded self-starters. What if something goes wrong 10,000 miles from home — say with your health or the volunteer work — or if you get homesick and depressed? You must be able to handle such adversity mostly on your own. You will have to negotiate a new culture with its unique customs, work styles and health and safety concerns.
4. Unskilled Volunteers
Volunteer positions that do not require skills or experience are the easiest ones to self-arrange. The most popular ones include volunteering at orphanages, elementary schools, and with sports teams. If you are a skilled volunteer like an experienced doctor or nurse, you will likely benifitted from the contacts and support of a placement agency.
So, just how can you volunteer abroad for free? Here are some methods that work:
1. Former Volunteers
Seasoned travelers are often the best resource when nding a free volunteer project abroad. They are almost always willing to share their experiences — and not just on an impersonal blog or Facebook page. Ask them to have a chat online or even try to meet for tea if feasible.
2. Social Media
Facebook and Twitter can be a good way to find free or low-cost volunteer programs abroad. But again, focus on finding former volunteers, instead of just reaching out to the volunteer placements themselves.
3. Guide Books
Travel guide books (Lonely Planet, Moon Books) are good to consult for their listings of free volunteer projects abroad. These guide books are very popular, so the listed organizations are usually ooded with requests from foreigners looking to volunteer. Contact them anyway — they may have partner organizations who could use your help.
4. Local Organizations
Contact organizations abroad directly, like schools and drop-in centers for children, to see if they have volunteer placements available for you. Send an email or Facebook message but also call them on the phone (the effort of a voice call may make the organization more willing to entertain your request to volunteer). Ask if they have had foreign volunteers before; what are the work duties; is there free room and meals?
5. Just Show Up
Consider simply flying to the host country and arranging everything after you arrive. Have a list of local organizations in hand and literally knock on their doors and tell them you’re looking to volunteer. Don’t have a list? Hang around venues with foreigners like cafes, gyms and bars. Ask locals (hotel front-desk, taxi drivers, waiters) where you can volunteer. These communities abroad are very small — you will find something quickly.
Freelance travel writer and food blogger Lauren Razavi outlines 10 ways students can travel around the world for free (or almost free).
Lauren posted these ideas several year ago, but I like them so much that I wanted to share them again.
And although Cosmic Volunteers volunteer programs abroad are not free, I still believe in sharing ideas on traveling abroad for free. We travelers are all about helping others abroad while learning about different cultures.
So, if you are ready to start thinking about and maybe even planning your summer for 2018, here are some ideas to explore about how you can travel around the world for free.
1. Cultural Exchange and Study
Each year, government departments and private organizations fund a limited number of undergraduates to go on cultural exchange programmes.
One good example is the China Study Tour run by the Confucius Institute. The study tour immerses students in the cultures and traditions of China. In order to keep the tour as affordable as possible, the Confucius Institute subsides the cost of accommodation and activities included in the tour program.
2. Teach English Abroad
Teaching abroad is a great option, especially if you are interested in going to southeast Asia.
There are small schools and community centers in places like Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines that would be glad to have you for the summer. Your role would most likely be as an unpaid teaching assistant who practices conversation and pronunciation with young children.
I suggest looking online for small schools and child-advocacy organizations in the host country, then contact them to see if they can use your help. Some may even give you free accommodations and meals all summer.
Also look at directories like Go Overseas and Go Abroad to find “free” or very cheap placement organizations.
Most teaching positions abroad in summers are unpaid. You typically need to commit to at least a 9-month stay in order to get paid actual wages.
3. Travel Grants
There are organizations whose sole purpose is funding travel. The application process is stringent, so it is not an easy task. But the mere exercise of putting your thoughts together on paper and doing an interview can help you understand your own reasons for travel. One organization is the SPRET Educational Trust. They assist with contributions towards the cost of travel, residence and attendance at conferences, lectures and educational courses.
4. Enter competitions
This one is a long shot. But yes, there are companies running contests with prizes to fund travel abroad. If you’re a poet and you know it, there’s the Amy Lowell Poetry Travelling Scholarship. Also photo contests are everywhere these days. InternationalStudent.com runs a travel video contest with a $4,000 prize — that’ll buy a lot of Pho in Vietnam! (deadline is October 13 so hurry). ACIS Educational Tours has a $1,000 scholarship contest based on your artwork, photography and writing that describes how “…different cultures, communities, and places from around the world impact your daily life.”
5. Study abroad
Some degree courses automatically include a term or year away, but there are opportunities for any undergraduate to spend time abroad as part of their studies.
Launched in 2009, The Bridge Year Program by Princeton allows a select number of incoming students to begin their Princeton experience by engaging in nine months of tuition-free, University-sponsored service at one of five international locations.
Here is a list of colleges where freshman year study abroad is common.
6. Become a tour guide
Consider leading others on their own sightseeing trips abroad as a tour guide. Contact tourism boards and offices, hotels, cruise ships and and smaller tour companies.
For this type of work, you will need excellent English and an upbeat and friendly personality. You will also have to learn about — very quickly! — the local culture and sightseeing spots.
A downside to being a tour guide abroad is that you will probably be taking away work from a native-born tour guide who needs the work much more than you do.
7. Hitchhiking and Couchsurfing
Hitchhiking is now illegal, and certainly discouraged, in many parts of the US. But hitchhiking abroad is not only legal but a perfectly normal and safe part of life.
Especially in rural areas abroad, hitchhiking is often the only way for most people to get around.
This was me hitchhiking a motorcycle ride in the rural beach town of Monterrico, Guatemala in 2017:
Also consider Couchsurfing where you stay a local person’s house for free. Why? People like meeting others from different cultures, and what better way to entice them than to give them a free room!
8. Work on a farm
I’ve casually met tons of farmers around the world who would love to host you in exchange for your labor.
There are organizations online that have formalized the process of connecting travelers with farming work abroad. The most well-known is World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF).
The local farms (mostly organic) usually provide food and accommodation and maybe even a small stipend — all in exchange for your (hard!) labor. WOOF does charge a small upfront fee for membership — but I think it’s worth the peace of mind know that the farm has been vetted by WWOOF.
9. Charity
Make your trip a charity event, then fundraise from the community. Many young people start with asking family and friends for funds.
Consider a faith-based mission trip — they continue to grow in popularity. Most of the congregations I know are very generous with cash donations, especially if you are partnering with a congregation abroad. It is relatively easy these days to find a congregation in places like Ghana and Guatemala who would welcome you to share your faith (and donations) with them.
For secular ventures, potential donors may be more likely to sponsor you if they know you are volunteering abroad with a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity so that their donations are tax-deductible. Try hard to do some sort of presentation to your donors when you return home.
10. New Friends
Make friends with people at your university — especially students from different countries. Those students aren’t hard to find these days — International students studying abroad on US campuses has been increasing annually forever.
Go to events on campus organized by international students. Perhaps volunteer alongside them. Get to know them, ask questions, learn about their life and culture back home.
Let them know you are open to invites to visit their home country in the summer. They’ll probably be proud to have you come and act as your tour guide.
The boxer Mike Tyson famously said that “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
Hopefully you won’t have to take a punch on your volunteering trip abroad.
But don’t be surprised if you find yourself struggling to reconcile your pre-trip expectations with the reality you experience on the ground.
In Delhi once, I asked a teen volunteer what her number one piece of advice would be for future volunteers. She said, “Prepare to be unprepared!”.
Before she left her parents’ home in the UK to volunteer in India, she felt she had prepared well. She talked to former volunteers, read countless books and websites, and watched videos.
Then she arrived in Delhi — and it felt like she “hadn’t prepared at all.”
It’s almost a guarantee — in your early moments in the host country, you’ll quickly forget all of the reasons you went there in the first place (to help others, have an adventure, build your resume etc.)
On my first volunteering trip abroad to Nepal, my own expectations for my trip were rattled before I even left the runway in New York!
On your own trip overseas, the sense of reality differing from your expectations may take different forms:
The question is, how will you react when your expectations are crushed – when you get “punched in the mouth” abroad?
I believe that the way you answer this question is the key to your having a “successful” trip.
Some of the typical bad “answers” I’ve seen from volunteers include:
Fortunately though, most of the volunteers in my programs over the years have reacted positively to their expectations while abroad.
How?
First, take a look at this short video I shot in Ocean City, New Jersey.
That’s Bailee, my parents’ dog, running around the beach. A hunting dog chasing sea birds along the water’s edge. Totally in the moment, no past, no future; dealing only with what’s in front of her (or above in the case of the birds!).
Now, I read recently that some scientists say that it’s impossible for humans to “live in the moment.”. That our brains are simply wired to always think about other things — including the past and future — no matter what we’re doing.
Still, I believe there are some strategies and techniques you can try while abroad, in order to stay-in-the-moment like that energetic dog above:
1. Lose your expectations. Walk off that plane in the host country with zero expectations. Deal only with what’s in front of you – the people, places and situations. Don’t compare any of them to home.
2. Breathe. Take 6 to 10 deep, slow breaths per minute for 10 minutes each day. You’ll get an immediate reduction in stress (with a lower heart rate and blood pressure).
3. Yoga. Ever met a stressed-out yogi? Didn’t think so! (here’s the yoga DVD I’ve been doing for years).
4. “THE”. Stop the runaway thoughts in your mind by saying the word “The” out-loud. It should jolt your brain back to what’s in front of you. (“Serenity Now” can work too!)
5. Smile. Studies have shown that forcing a smile decreases stress.
On a less existential level, try to be the practical person who’s helpful, instead of a lump who sits around complaining:
To me, those are the actions of volunteers who know what it means to live in the moment abroad, without worrying about their expectations for their volunteer trip abroad.
Kaitlyn Scott volunteered with us not only in Ghana but in India as well. Kaitlyn, from Springfield, Virginia, spent her spring break in 2005 volunteering at an orphanage in Ghana. The next summer, as a 17-year old, Kaitlyn traveled to Bangalore, India to volunteer at both an orphanage and school, teaching English skills and doing arts and crafts with children.
After Ghana, Kaitlyn wrote to us:
Thank you so much for organizing my trip to Ghana. It was such an incredible experience! I’m so glad everything worked out, even with such short notice. My host family was so nice, and I loved learning a new language and culture. I had such an amazing experience that I’m eager to do more international volunteering. Thank you for all your help!
— Kaitlyn
While in India, Kaitlyn’s mother Ardyth dropped us a line:
Hi Cosmic, I just got my first email from Kaitlyn today, and she sounds very happy. She said she was going to start at the orphanage in India tomorrow and was starting her Hindi lessons. Thank you so much for checking on the details. We appreciate all that you have done to give Kaitlyn this incredible experience (She said she had ridden a camel yesterday…) Thanks again for all your work!
— Ardyth Scott (Kaitlyn’s mom)
Kaitlyn’s Photo Album from Ghana:
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As we have written before, Cosmic Volunteers does not send volunteers to orphanages any longer.
The studies about the harms of orphanage tourism are piling up year after year and are just too obvious to ignore any longer.
However, orphanage tourism continues to exist, and in a big way.
There is some good news though:
The child advocacy organization Stahili continues to fight on behalf of children who are exploited around the world.
Yesterday Stahili posted an article asking, “Why is orphanage tourism not in the UNWTO draft convention on tourism ethics?”.
As Stahili writes, “…public awareness of the harms of orphanage tourism, its growth as an industry and its links with child trafficking, has risen sharply in recent years.
They cite current developments in Australia, where orphanage tourism could soon be outlawed as part of a Modern Slavery Act.
Stahili also notes a recent report by Lumos on Haiti that highlighted the negative impact of orphanage tourism in sustaining an orphanage “business” which separates children from their families.
We will continue following the issue of orphanage voluntourism, including organizations like Stahili who are working hard to end the practice.
Stahili is a movement of practitioners, experts, individual supporters, teachers and students from around the world who want to make the world a better place for children.
They work in education, child protection and development, and children’s rights advocacy. They help children in institutional care – such as orphanages – regain their right to family and provide access to high quality education. They are members of the Alternative Care Alliance Kenya.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that solo travel is a trend that’s happening more and more around the world.
Recent figures from Britain indicate that 15.4 million Brits are planning to holiday alone, up from 9.6 million a decade ago.
John Noake, manager of the Australian travel company Solo Traveller, said it was a growing trend in Australia.
“Since the beginning of 2005, when we began Solo Traveller, our single travel market has increased and women now make up over 70 per cent,” he said.
Jenifer Bird, communications manager for adventure travel company Intrepid, said: “I think that many people are travelling solo because we are all so busy these days, and as a result often have a specific time frame within which we travel. It is increasingly difficult to find a travelling buddy ready to go at the same time, hence the group environment offers an alternative.
“Intrepid has always appealed to single travellers, largely because we don’t demand a single supplement for going solo. In addition, single travellers, women in particular, like the company and security of travelling in a group. The advantage of Intrepid is that the group remains small, and comprises like-minded travellers.”
Online travel agency Zuji is also noticing the trend towards more women travelling by themselves.
When you volunteer abroad, you will probably have your first “I’m not in Kansas anymore” moment very early on in the trip.
It might go something like:
> A school teacher whacking a misbehaving child with a bamboo stick.
> Your taxi driver offering a marriage proposal.
> The Director not showing up on your first day volunteering at an orphanage.
One volunteer in Ghana wrote to us:
My values and belief systems were confronted daily in Ghana and I had to reconsider things that I had taken for granted. I don’t know if I’m more worldly as a result, but it definitely changed the way that I view societies.
Say What?
Perfectly nice locals in our host countries will often ask seemingly intrusive questions about your appearance, marital status, religion, education level, and income.
Your host family will not understand your desire to come-and-go as you please. They will have a strong paternalistic sense of responsibility for you and will get very worried if you are not home by sunset; they might call your mobile in a panic.
Thousands of pre-teen girls sell goods on the street everyday in our host countries (often in lieu of going to school). Yes this is child labor, but to her family the girl’s income is their only way buying food. Do you ignore the girls or buy from them?
Elders, especially in village areas, expect people to greet them by crouching down with their arms resting on their knees. In Nepal and India, you will even see family member literally kissing the feet of parents before going on a journey. Are you going to do the same?
What To Think?
First of all, understand that you are in a very different country now. You’re living and volunteering in communities abroad that have cultural practices, life experiences, histories, needs, infrastructure (lack of), and world views that are likely very different from yours.
You can either fight this type of reality or learn to adapt to it.
We strongly suggest the latter.
You have to accept the responsibility that comes with being a stranger in a strange land.
This is their house; not yours.
What To Do?
Here are some strategies for dealing with your new culture when volunteering overseas:
Oh, and how does Dorothy deal with her own culture shock in Oz?
I think she said something like, “There’s no place like Philly home…”
Let’s listen:
Native Foreigner has an ebook called “The Ultimate Guide for Homeward Bound Travelers“.
Native Foreigner says, “This comprehensive booklet includes information on steps you should take immediately upon your return home as well as provides advice for ways you can go abroad in the future.”
We also advise our volunteers on returning home from volunteering abroad, but The Ultimate Guide for Homeward Bound Travelers is more thorough.
This ebook includes the following:
For booking flights for our groups volunteering abroad, one of the companies we use is called STA Travel.
For each trip, our organization designates a point person who deals with STA Travel so that you as a volunteer — or trip leader — do not have to worry about coordinating the flights.
Below are some questions from STA Travel’s FAQ for volunteers like you. This will give you a better idea of how things work with flights.
What does the airline consider a “group”?
Most airlines consider a group to be at least 10 or more passengers traveling together.
How soon should I start looking for flights?
Most airlines have their schedules posted 330 days in the future and we would be more than happy to check rates if schedules are available at that time. We recommend inquiring at least 9 months in advance of your travel dates, as this is when you will typically find the best rates. Waiting too close to departure can result in the possibility of limited availability and a higher fare.
Will I pay a deposit when I return the group contract?
Initialed and signed contracts are due back to STA Travel within 7-10 business days from the date of confirmation. Space will be cancelled if a signed contract is not received by the due date listed. If applicable, your contract will include information regarding a required deposit. Ask us about ways to have your deposit waived.
What are my options for providing passenger details?
Booking will be handled with group coordinator (from Cosmic Volunteers) from beginning to end. The group coordinator will be responsible for providing the passenger details and any payments per the contract.
What is your process for payment?
We accept most major credit cards for payment. We also accept university or organization checks (no personal checks) via our credit and invoicing process.
When do we get tickets and other travel documents?
Confirmations will be sent out once the entire group is booked. Tickets and other travel documents are sent out at least two weeks prior to departure.
What are the benefits of booking a group rate?
Group rates lock in the same fare and itinerary for every passenger. When booking individually, fares can vary from passenger to passenger, and fluctuate frequently. Utilizing group space evens out the fares for everyone in the group and avoids price hikes. We can usually hold group space up to three to fours months in advance with no financial obligation. We do require a deposit, unless you have a line of credit with us, in which case the deposit is waived.
Does STA Travel have a price guarantee?
We pride ourselves in accommodating your needs and openly welcome you to let us know your budget and other quotes you have received from competitors. We will be more than happy to try and fulfill your request as we understand the importance of pricing. However, please keep in mind that shopping can actually have adverse effects on pricing. Other agencies are known to hold space with the airline during the quoting process. In this case, STA Travel will no longer have access to that airline’s fares and our low contracted rates, so we recommend that you approach STA Travel first for your travel needs.
What if I am unsure of how many seats I need to hold?
We recommend holding the maximum amount of seats you think you might need as long as you are not within the commitment deadline. It is easier to drop seats, than to add them at a later date.
What is commitment deadline?
After a certain date the airline requires the group to commit to the number of seats being held, otherwise they will penalize you for seats you do not use. The commitment deadline varies depending on airline, and can be anywhere between 30 – 90 days prior to departure.
