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How Volunteering Works

The Volunteer Abroad program is based on the foundation that in order to truly make a positive difference with a short term placement, we need make certain that work is done in advance to ensure the placement is a good fit for the volunteer, and that the volunteer is adequately prepared for their placement.

One of the first steps in accomplishing this is our placement assessment process. Prior to placing a volunteer with any placement, our staff visits with the organization to fully understand the work being done, and conduct a placement assessment. Basically we are looking at two critical factors when beginning a new organizational partnership:

• Is the organization addressing a real need in the community?
• Could the contributions of a volunteer help the organization achieve their short and long term goals?

Once it has been determined that an organization is providing for a genuine need in the community, and that volunteer labour could be of assistance, we begin the next phase of the placement assessment process, which is the needs assessment.

The needs assessment really starts with spending some time with the organization and getting a solid understanding of the work they are doing and the issues they are addressing. We look at their current projects and learn from them what needs they have that could be met with volunteer assistance. We gather information regarding any specific skills or experience that the organization would be looking for to assist them with any current or future projects they may have.

Once we have a good understanding of the organizational needs, and the roles to be filled by volunteers; and have made accommodation arrangements for this placement, we create a placement profile and enter it into our placement database. It now becomes an option made available to potential volunteers whose skills and experience match the needs of the organization and placement.

Volunteers have the option to review the placement options available to them and select their top three preferences. The final placement confirmation will come from your country coordinator, and ultimately your acceptance to a specific placement is approved by the placement organization in country

The Application

Our online application is like the volunteer equivalent of our placement assessment process. It is one of the resources we use to ensure that you are matched with a suitable placement, based on your experience and interests.

In addition to information regarding your desired program date, type and duration, we also collect contact details for two references, contact details for two emergency contacts, as well as any pertinent medical information. Upon the submission of your application, the references listed will be notified by email and provided with a link to allow them to type a reference letter that will be visible on your account. Your listed emergency contacts will also be emailed and asked to verify that their phone contact details are complete and correct.

The application also includes an opportunity for you to provide a resume, a skills inventory, an educational profile, and cover letter, as well as answer some short answer questions. All of these details will be viewed by your coordinator, and potential placements, and give them the opportunity to get to know more about you and your experience. It will also help your coordinator get a good sense of what you are looking for, and help them to provide you with suitable placement options, based on your experience and your expectations

Keep in mind that the application is only one tool used to provide you with placement options. We encourage you to work closely with your coordinator to fully explore all options that may be available to you

The Right Placement

Your primary resource in helping you find the right placement is your placement coordinator. While the online application is quite useful in determining placement eligibility, it is only a tool used by your coordinator to match you with placement options. If you have any specific placement requests, or interests, please feel free to share them with your coordinator. They have an intimate knowledge of the placements, and can possibly recommend placements in another program type which may be better suited to your interest, or even provide you with some placement options not currently listed in the database.

They will work with you to ensure you understand the details of the placement options available to you, and can help answer any questions you may have regarding living arrangements, work expectations, and any further placement details.

It is important to be open and honest with your coordinator regarding what type of placement you are interested in, and what type of placement you are not interested in. The more information you can share with your coordinator, the more they will be able to help you find a placement that is right for both you and the placement.

Their number one goal is to ensure that your placement is a success for both you and your host organization.

Pre-Arrival Preparation

We understand that there is a great deal of preparation that each volunteer has to go through, before leaving home. To help with these preparations, we provide a detailed Volunteer Abroad Orientation Handbook that outlines each step of their pre-arrival process, including how to arrange visas for their host country if necessary, what to expect in the field and how to pack for it, what health and medical considerations are there before during and after your time in country, as well as detailing the orientation and what to expect your first week.

We also recognize how important fundraising is to many of our volunteers, and provide a Fundraising Manual as a part of your volunteer kit. Many of our volunteers work to raise at least part of their program fee through fundraising initiatives. We have found that raising funds is an easily achievable goal provided that you follow a structured plan and have the basic materials with which to approach potential sponsors.

Have questions? You can always call our office with any questions, or be in touch directly with your coordinator and get your answers straight from the field!

Getting Started

When considering volunteer opportunities the first step is to choose a destination country and program type. You can review our current placement options to determine if they match your interests and expectations. If you have not already decided upon a destination and/or program type, you can review our current placement options by country or by program type to help you get an idea of the opportunities available in each country and assist you in making the decision of destination and program type.

Once you have decided upon a destination and program type, the next step is to complete the online application. This application provides our field coordinators with the information they need to begin to match you with specific placement options, based on your interests and experience.

After your application has been reviewed, you will be contacted with your acceptance notification, and access details to log into the Volunteer Network. This is where you can then view the specific placement options for which you are eligible. If more than one option is available, you can rank your top three choices.

At this point you will receive a registration package in the mail. The registration pack does not contain any additional details about your program; rather it contains forms that need to be submitted at the point of registering for the program ($400). Placement details and general program details are all available online.

Once your registration has been received, you will receive your Volunteer Kit, which includes pre-departure, arrival, and country details, as well as contact details for your country coordinator. You will be contacted by your country coordinator at this point, and can begin working directly with them regarding your placement options.

Your country coordinator is your best resource to discuss your current, and other, potential placement options, as well as any other country or placement specific questions you may have. After all, they're living there and can speak about it first hand

Who Volunteers

Our volunteer program gives volunteers the opportunity to work and travel abroad while making a difference in the world.

We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support.

Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries

In The Field

Once you land in your host-country, your adventure begins. Our in country staff will be waiting at the airport to take you to the BaseCamp Center where you will have to time to unpack and get settled in before your initial briefing begins. Most volunteers arrive on a Friday. Monday is the official start date for all our programs. Volunteers will spend four hours per day in Language Training and the other half of the day will focus on one component of cultural training and integration.

For those volunteers who need additional language training they will remain in the BaseCamp Center until they complete the requirements for their placement.

Before You Go

A big part of the process of ensuring our volunteers are prepared to take part in our program happens before they even leave home. It starts with our online application, helping us to match you with suitable placement options, and providing you with some choice as to the type of placement you will work with.

Upon registration we provide you with your Volunteer Kit, which contains any pre-departure instructions, such as vaccination recommendations, visa requirements, currency details as well as contact details for your country coordinator.

For those volunteers taking part on a Social or Teaching placement, you will also receive our Teach English as a Foreign Language guide for ideas and assistance when working in a classroom setting.

Travel arrangements, insurance and fundraising are also a big part of the process, and our staff are available with advice and support every step of the way!

Fundraising & Sponsors

Our volunteers work hard. Many will be spending months abroad living in remote communities in some of the least developed countries in the world. They will be teaching, building, assisting with medical programs, protecting the environment or helping out with social programs that really make a difference.

All of these programs are run by government agencies, community organizations or other not-for-profit charitable organizations already working in these countries. However, because these organizations cannot afford to pay our volunteers (the reason they need volunteers in the first place), living and transportation expenses must be paid by the volunteers themselves.

Hundreds of individuals and corporations have recognized the value of the contribution that our volunteers make and have provided them with assistance. This assistance comes in many forms. Some sponsors contribute funds, some contribute equipment and supplies while others simply provide space or marketing support for other fundraising events. All of these contributions are what makes it possible for our volunteers to get out in the world and make a difference. This support is greatly appreciated. We recognize that the task of raising funds will be a new challenge for most of our volunteers. That is why we have developed extensive fundraising support to help our volunteers learn this new skill and achieve their fundraising goals.