Volunteering abroad without bring financially raped...can it be done!?

Question

I saw a similar question from a while ago here and the condescending answers that followed, so I'm hoping someone might actually be helpful... I was disappointed upon research to find that- I can only assume because of unjustifiably self-righteous yuppies- it is now VERY expensive/(chic) to voulnteer abroad. The plane tickets alone to travel to these places are more than the average person can afford to blow, especially when they won't be working for the duration of their trip. I understand room and board, but 599 dollars a month to stay in an orphanage is horseshit; I wouldn't pay that now for an apartment or house with electricity and clean water. You shouldn't have to be wealthy or recieve a 'higher education' to help someone. I don't want to travel on religious missions, or submit to the government aka peace corps... When you're sacrificing months of your life to a cause or several, I think showing you around and making sure you don't die should be cheap if not complimentary...

Answer 1

I agree. Look into ways you can help independently abroad or help from home.

Answer 2

You could look into VSO.

http://www.vso.org.uk/

(Based in the UK, takes volunteers from anywhere, has a six-month "programme" for people 18 - 25) I knew VSO volunteers when I was in the Peace Corps years ago. They are a solid, well-known organization.

The offers you've seen are "vacations with work" for altruists, I believe.

Not to be blunt, but it doesn't make economic sense to fly someone with basic skills to, say, Peru to help paint an orphanage. It would be cheaper to hire a Peruvian to do the work. It does make sense to fly someone with a BA or better to [Peru / Kenya / Tajikistan] to work in an upriver school for two years, since the natives with BA's, no fools they, want to work in the cities that have night life, lots of singles of the opposite s*x, 24-hour electricity and paved roads.

That, however is the Peace Corps, which you don't want.

It isnt clear if you are just ranting or looking for an opportunity that doesn't exist.

Answer 3

With the restrictions you are placing on yourself, it will be difficult to achieve your goals.  You might consider working on a mission trip through one of your local churches, or work in the US.

Answer 4

You do not need to travel in order to 'help someone'. What volunteer activities are you doing now, near to where you live? Local volunteer activities can provide you with skills and experience that might be useful to charities that send volunteers abroad.

Most charities that I'm aware of that work 'abroad' are looking for skilled workers who can commit to long term assignments. What education, training, skills do you have that these charities can use? Have you looked at job postings and descriptions (paid and volunteer) from groups working abroad? Why shouldn't charities use skilled and educated workers?

A volunteer's expenses 'in country' are not cheap; simply providing a warm-body who want's to 'sacrifice months of your life to a cause' may not be as useful to a charity as you seem to think. Most charities have plenty of local people who can fill the unskilled postions abroad; why should you get special treatment to fill one of those positions? You still have plenty of choices; you can volunteer closer to your home, you can obtain the training, skills, and experience that is needed and commit to working long term with these charities, you can find someone 'back home' to sponsor your trip, or you can work at home and save the money to pay your own way. I do not see the use of decrying charities for offering a way for unskilled, short-term volunteers to participate because you think it is too expensive-the more money spent on taking care of you means less money spent on providing aid to those you should be serving.

You claim other answers to similar questions were condescending; but many of the terms and phrases in your question seem condescending or elitest to me..... Trips abroad are expensive for everyone. Why should a charity fund your desire to work abroad?