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So – you’re sat in front of your laptop, champing at the bit to travel, get work experience, and use your time to do something good. There’s programme options all over the world in all sorts of fields but…..why are there fees associated? I’m volunteering my time so…why do I have to pay? Can’t I do it for free? I don’t have to pay to volunteer here at home – what’s the difference?
Why Do I Need To Pay, and where do the fees actually go?
There are a few reasons why volunteering abroad often comes with a price tag.
Purpose:
When volunteering abroad, you are likely going to be working towards a purpose or on a project. For these to continue to run, they need funds for time, resources, and so on. NGOs, non-profits and charities also have a direct donation to project partners included in their programme fees. This donation goes straight towards the projects they are aiding, thus ensuring they can continue their vital work.
For example, our Psychology and Mental Health programme in India sees volunteers working in a hospital and helping children at our partner foundation work on their mental health and wellbeing. Funds go into providing these services for those in need – making sustainable change in the mental health landscape in India and providing continued vital support for individuals in need. So not only are you making positive change through your time and your efforts, but you are ensuring sustainability for the projects with which you are working.
Provider:
Oftentimes these projects are run by experts in their fields, who will be teaching you particular skills and providing you with training.
For example, Vocational Impacts Law and Human Rights programme in South Africa sees volunteers working at a legal clinic and are being taught by real lawyers, activists and legal experts. Although you are of course there to help, their expertise does not come for free. You need training before you can start making a positive impact!
Provisions:
Because you are abroad (and likely a very long way from home) – you are going to need feeding and housing.
Many fee-charging programmes will provide you with accommodation and meals, which of course, you have to pay for. To take our Ghana programmes as an example – you spend time and stay at our partner project which takes care of children who have lived through adversity. Your fee of course covers your food, housekeeping and stay here, as well as being reinvested into the organisation so they can continue their services to the children.
What is included in the fee will vary by provider. Most commonly, there will be a fee including food, accommodation, training, placement related transport and a few other additions.
Less likely to be included would be your travel insurance, vaccines, flights, and spending money.
Is it ever really free then?
Ehm, no, not really. Even if you managed to find a programme that didn’t charge you to volunteer, you’d still have to get yourself there, sort a visa, vaccines and so on. So you will, almost definitely, have to part with some money somewhere down the line.
Is it ever possible to do it for free?
No doubt, somewhere in the depths of the internet, there will be a programme that you can probably do for free or for nominal fees. However, it is worth bearing in mind WHY organisations charge. If the experience is being offered for free or offered so cheaply, have a good long think about why. Where are you staying? Who are you helping? Will your positive impact be a sustainable one? Have a good research of what is available and be sure it aligns with your own values and ethics. If you need somewhere to start on your research, we have more information on ethical volunteering here.
But – ever the optimists here at Vocational Impact, we’re here to tell you the ways out there to keep your costs minimal.
Grants, Sponsorships, Bursaries
There is help (and large chunks of it) to be had in the way of grants and sponsorships.
If you are still at university or have recently finished, a fantastic starting point is your go abroad, international or careers office. Most universities in the UK and many universities elsewhere have some form of sponsorship for students looking to gain some kind of experience abroad. A very common one among UK institutions is the Turing Scheme. This scheme offers grants to cover a certain amount of costs, depending on how each university decides to qualify students. If your university does not offer the Turing Scheme, they are likely to have an alternative.
If you are not studying, panic not! Many organisations will fund people looking to organise this kind of trip. There are funding bodies based on all sorts – where you’re from, what you’re doing, your faith, your background… a swift search engine voyage will turn up all sorts, and we even have a bursaries page here.
About halfway down you can find a starting point for some UK grants. They give you a great launchpad for the sorts of things you could be after and where to get the ball rolling.
Fundraising
If you’re choosing to volunteer with a charity or NGO (like ours!!), then fundraising is a great way to go.
A great starting place is online fundraising – setting up an Enthuse or GoFundMe (others are available!) and sharing it around. Let people know where you’re going, who you’re helping, and get some funds together this way.
If you’re one for more of a challenge, there are so many ways to fundraise. Check out our ideas and events page for inspiration. From larger challenges to little sales, there’s so many ways you can get funding together in a way that suits you best.
What Do I Get Out of it?
Although the attached fees can leave some people feeling a little bit disappointed, there is still so much to be gained from volunteering abroad.
Volunteering abroad is first and foremost a brilliant way of travelling. Not only are you heading abroad, but you’re staying and working in local communities. This provides a fantastic opportunity to learn about the country from people who live there. This kind of cultural immersion is so much harder to gain from general trips abroad. In addition, you learn so much about cultural contexts and the approaches to the issues your volunteering project is dealing with.
With skills-based volunteering projects (like those we provide here at Vocational Impact!) you also gain real, hands-on work experience. Opportunities abroad allow you to access areas you may not previously have had access to.
“Very few fourth-year graduates can say they have clinical experience, it is just not something that is an option until our master’s programs or beyond. With the knowledge and perspective I have gained from my time in Ghana, working with complex conditions in an environment and culture vastly different from my own, I am able to confidently say I am far better prepared for my future as a clinician.” – Shani, Psychology and Mental Health Volunteer, Ghana.
Of course, there is always the added benefit of making a positive impact – which is part of the reason so many people want to join a volunteering abroad programme. By paying a fee and being sure of where it is going, you are not only contributing to organisations through your time, skills and dedication – but also creating a sustainable future for them.
So while there’s a lot to think about regarding volunteering abroad for free, we’re hoping that you’ve gained a little slice of optimism and motivation. You want to volunteer abroad in order to do something good, and going about it the right way, and paying that chunk of money, will ensure that you do.
