Why precisely do you have to pay to volunteer abroad?

Question

I have been looking at volunteering abroad for about 8 weeks which means that I will be foregoing a salary in my own country for this period which I was prepared to accept. All of the programmes I have looked into want to charge me between £1700 and £4000. Why precisely would I have to pay to volunteer? This seem pretty weird to me...

Also why call it volunteering because it really isn't. It's paying to work abroad!

I could get flights and accommodation in these countries for much cheaper than these companies/organistaions are charging.. so what are they doing with the money? e.g I just spent 5 weeks in Rwanda which cost me in total about £700 for flights, accommodation and food., yet these places are quoting me about £3000!

I can't join the Peace Corps as I'm British...

Answer 1

As a nonprofit director, perhaps I can shed some light on the "pay to volunteer" issue.

Most people who want to travel abroard to "volunteer" are college students who NEED to be able to list volunteer work on their student records. They hope to killed at least two birds with one stone by traveling to a foreign land: 1) getting a "volunteer" gig, and 2) getting an holiday in an exotic place, maybe surfing a bit, partying a lot, and generally being young.

This does not indicate that their heart is in the wrong place, but their willingness and ability to contribute volunteer labor is minimal at best, and time consuming at worse (they must be trained and they are not really that much "into it").

To coordinate and organize projects for these individual volunteers, a volunteer coordinator must be on staff, and that person must be paid. (I wouldn't have that job again on a bet - been there, done that, and it is NOT FUN!).

Volunteers, you see, generally COST nonprofit organizations money, rather than actually contributing much of anything. Organizations need to welcome them, for public relations purposes - you do not want to appear to be unwelcoming to folks who want to help - and most really do want to help - just not much if it interferes with their party and surfing time.

Small fees for volunteering may (but probably do not) alleviate the actual cost of operating a volunteer program for organizations that are themselves operating on minimum funds.

Answer 2

If this seems suspect to you, you are well within reason and your rights to contact a police or other ministerial agency which deals with employment or volunteer opportunities. In the United States, this often can be the state's attorney general. I don't know which agency or bureau handles these matters in the U.K., Canada, Australia, or elsewhere. (Perhaps you can clarify, in which country and province do you reside, without being too specific).

Which kind of volunteering do you wish to do? You might try a more direct route. I for example have gone to the web and used google, yahoo, or other search engines, e.g. putting " medical +'volunteer abroad' " and other combinations. Thus, I've submitted an application for positions in Darfur, the Horn of Africa, and Nigeria, to the International Refugee Committee, and other institutions.

Does the U.K. have anything like America's Peace Corps? Have you considered social service with religious groups, such as the Maryknoll and Jesuits, which take lay (non-religious). There are also International Red Cross, Red Crescent, Hadassah, and others. Don't be discouraged.

I wish you the best of opportunities and success, and please be safe, always.

Answer 3

Read the fine print. That cost may include transportation, lodging, food, etc for the time that you are there. If you want to volunteer without paying for those things, then the money comes out of the agency's budget which, really, is intended for the people they are helping. Alternatives are to talk to your friends, uni profs, etc, and find out if there are other places that someone else knows about where you might volunteer. Contact reputable agencies that are aligned with what you want to do and see what programs they have. Also, ask at your university career centre - they may have some connections as well. I'm sure you will find a program that will suit you well. Though you still may need to pay for your own transportation and accommodation...

Answer 4

Yeah, I've looked into these kinds of things too, but think of it not so much as paying to work abroad, but using your vacation to help instead of just lie on a beach. In the one I looked into, they put you up in a hotel for the whole time and provide meals. They also provide whatever materials you'll be working with, so that explains the cost. The only other alternative is to join something like the Peace Corps. You don't pay anything--in fact, you get paid a stipend and receive thousands toward resettlement when you get out--but it is at least a two-year committment. And the only reason, I'm sure, that the Peace Corps doesn't charge you is because they are government funded, whereas other nonprofits have to bust their humps to fund-raise and keep their projects going.

Answer 5

Contact the International Red Cross. If you have skills they need or if they have the means to train you, it may be a different story. The only problem is that you may have to go at a moment's notice and live under difficult conditions.

Answer 6

The fees associated with these volunteer programs usually cover your room and board, certain insurances etc.

Answer 7

Yeh it is a bit strange. Do you have pay for your accomodation on top of that? If you don't then I guess its for accomodation and food etc.

Answer 8

leave it and try the European Voluntary Service.

Answer 9

wow