International Volunteer

You may have the passion to volunteer abroad and already has an idea what kind of volunteer work you are going to participate into and so on. Here is a checklist for you in order to prepare yourself before finally going to your assignment.

Prepare your passport and check on the place you are going if you will need to have a visa. You have to make sure if you are going to get a travel or a tourist visa, it really depends on which country. The requirements on getting the visa do vary from country to country. You may also contact the consulate of the country that you plan to volunteer to, to know the visa requirements and the travel restrictions and others.

Check on the medical requirements of the country you are going to, there are some international programs where they require AIDS test and other physical tests. There are also some would require you to have malaria vaccinations and so on. If you also wear glasses and contact lenses, make sure to bring extra pair of those, just in case.

Prepare some traveler’s checks, this is one of the safest ways to bring money and mostly it is accepted in all countries yet there are some countries that they don’t accept both credit cards and traveler’s checks. To make sure, better research on the country first than bring any of those. If ever you are able to bring some credit cards, keep them in a safe place together with your documents.

When you pack for your clothes and other things, pack light. Don’t bring clothes that are valuable to you, instead bring some clothes that you would want to leave after. Also bring some photos from home and a journal, you may want to write something about your experiences and show the pictures to the local people that are curious about where you came from.

“How do you describe the color red to a blind child?” The echoes of my past seem to haunt every fiber of my ambition. That was a question asked by my gaunt looking professor in my Psychology class ten long years ago. And until now I was at a lost on how indeed to describe such wonderful color to an innocent blind child.

It made me think how indeed blind people would appreciate the beautiful colors that natures seems so abundant of! That was the first step I took when I volunteered to work abroad for free for a group of blind people. I may not be able to explain the colors of blue, red, yellow, pink but I could do a lot to help these people learn the English language.

I am imagining of future days wherein these children would be living as normal working people inside a call center, university, working as interpreters, call center agent, or even teachers as long as they mastered the art of communicating English. And taking into account that they speak their native tongue well- Spanish language- would mean great chances for them globally.

I was lucky enough to be holding a class as a volunteer teacher of grown up blind people in Mexico. These high school children indeed are taught how to polish their English. They are Spanish speaking people.

A year in Madrid before this volunteer opportunity indeed has a lot to do to fulfill this ambition of mine to teach English in a Spanish speaking country. My Spanish course in Madrid is the mere reason why I was hired for it is very needed to communicate with these blind Spanish speaking students of mine.

I can never describe red to a blind child but I could teach a blind child the difference between a noun and a pronoun. And that is important for me at this time.

“Please meet Annie…and her songs.”

They say we have to volunteer to make a difference in their life but not on my case. I volunteered to be changed. My life was changed when I meet Annie on an orphanage. So she is an ordinary 6 years old child who sung lullabies for younger children. Her voice would fill the place with love. Annie is a very smart and intelligent six years old child. I learned my first Russian from her. She would guide younger orphaned children and teach them how to read and write and sing lullabies while the other attendants are busy with chores in the house.

When I volunteered, we used to sing lullabies together. I taught her nursery songs from my English country and she taught me her Russian songs. We are a partner- Annie and I. I even wrote to my mom and suggested to adopt Annie. I want to bring Annie home.

Looking for this orphanage is not easy. It seems that Europe has lost all these orphanage centers. Yet an organization helped me and I land on an orphanage in Eastern Europe. That is where I meet Annie. How I wish you could meet Annie!

And then one day the orphanage halls and hallways seem so quite without the echoes of Annie’s songs. She is sick. She is in the hospital. Annie is a cancer victim. She has not known her parents for she was left by her parents in the town hospital.

She died in my arms while I am singing lullabies. She died hearing my songs. I volunteered to change lives. Annie changed mine. I never regretted I volunteered abroad.
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Volunteers are needed world wide especially by organizations that cater to issues like education development, health care in poverty stricken places. Volunteers are not a mandatory act but a free choice. A choice to give back to society in our own little ways!

Volunteerism does not have to be paying to help, or working for free though in some cases it exists. Like in some volunteers in the Northern part of the globe pay their travel expenses, accommodation and food to be able to help. That is how they take volunteerism by heart.

As world leaders take note of the importance of volunteerism worldwide, they had made organizations that would cater to the spirit of volunteerism. The EVS or the European Voluntary Service is an EU program that gives opportunities to young people to volunteer abroad.

The EVS projects also need connecting organizations to implement their volunteerism venture. A sending and receiving organization and a volunteer are needed. What is great about these programs in Europe is that the European Commission will assist the volunteers financially. Insurance and travel cost are provided and even a monthly allowance is given to volunteers.

Volunteerism is a tough venture yet AVS made it a little easier with their volunteerism program.

Volunteering is an experience which is worthy to remember and fulfilling as well. The reason why there are various volunteers and volunteer programs it is because it helps individual to find who they really are and what they wanted to pursue in life. Exposing your abilities not only to your country but to other countries as well who needs your help can be a great idea. Perhaps you wanted to share your abilities in the European countries then flocking to Europe to volunteer is advised. If you have the knowledge about health or social care then volunteering in Europe is a great opportunity for you.

Perhaps you are interested in offering or sharing your skills into the small but dynamic charity which is based in UK. In UK there is what they called the Volunteers for Mental Health Program which was established in January 1992 with the group of nurses and psychiatric which is based in London, Birmingham as well as Swansea to help support the growing of the mental services particularly in Romania. The aim of this program is to extend help with the patients of Tarnaveni Psychiatric Hospital within Romania by recruiting, supporting and training teams who has also a previous experience about the program.

The said program usually send of about 2-4 volunteers for 6 month placements particularly in the Psychiatric Hospital, Tarnaveni. The volunteers will be responsible to run for a program of therapeutic activities for the long term patients to decrease distress, stigma and isolation. Mostly, the volunteers will work with the Romanian staffs as well as liase together with the Nurse Managers. The volunteers are given the time to think of the best activities to prepare which are suitable of course about the program’s theme or aims. Through this, it will help the volunteers to enhance and develop the skills that they have.

People volunteer for different reasons yet we have narrowed the reasons, there are actually three reasons why people volunteer. Here are the top reasons why people volunteer.

The basic level about why people volunteer is because they can benefit from it. For example if you are an intern and you have done volunteer work, you can write your volunteer work in your resume or you can actually ask someone to write you a recommendation letter for this. The motive of this volunteer work is personal.

The next level aside from people benefit from this volunteer work is because they were motivated or recruited by a friend to do the volunteer work. This is one of the best ways to motivate people to do volunteer work because of their friends are into volunteer work and the organization. If ten of the people in the organization can actually bring a friend with them to do the volunteer work most probably there would be lots of volunteers for that organization.

The last reason would be passion. Most of the people volunteer because of the first two reasons and eventually they become passionate about what they are doing. They have the commitment and believe in the cause of helping others and so on.

“She walked far and canoed far to get to these rumored boat giving bed nets. To save the life of her four children affected by Malaria; Bed nets that meant life or death by these people. Bed nets that could be given by volunteers like you! ”

Malaria is a disease transmitted by disease-carrier mosquito to the people. People who got Malaria especially infected by Plasmodium falciparum got a very life-threatening situation. It is an illness of the blood. Malaria could be found worldwide. The sad thing about Malaria is science have not yet developed a vaccine against this disease. But we can take medicines to prevent Malaria which is much better than no prevention at all. And people who live in infested area can use bed nets or mosquito nets.

Volunteers are needed by these countries to fight against Malaria. Doctors, nurse, medical staff, anybody from laboratory experts to the common people are encourage in fighting Malaria through prevention.

The next person who can save the lives of hundreds of people could be you. By simply being a part of people who hand out bed nets or mosquito nets as you balance yourself in a boat in one of the rivers in Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia or Angola.

Ecuador opens its doorways to the volunteers. Lending ones big heart, spending money to make a difference is noble act. Yet, getting ones hand dirty for a cause of an innocent child is more than heroic. Just a look on those innocent eyes left by parents and alone with care takers would really melt our hearts and barriers away from us.

Indeed, in Quito, Ecuador volunteers are welcomed with praises and thankfulness. For these volunteers are ready to opens ones heart for the orphans, disabled and impoverished children.

Get those hands working and getting callused everyday as wide-set eyes looked upon you with wonder and love as you pound every nail to their would be homes. Or bask in their toothless smiles as they watch you swathe paint on their would-be classroom. Or perhaps bath one parentless baby innocent with the realities of his existence.

Yes! These children have suffered the hard realities of life in Quito, Ecuador. Yet, an organization would soften these realities through you- a volunteer.

Let us make life a little easier if not totally better. Your two gentle hands getting dirty and callused could make one smile worth while. Find little hopes and little dreams and make them come true in Quito, Ecuador.

Volunteering is one of the best things you can do after graduating high school. This is the best way that gives you insights what course to take before jumping to college. In fact, aside from that reality, volunteering as well helps volunteers to become more mature and responsible. And besides, helping less fortunate people is fulfilling emotions that can be considered as well as a treasure you will never forget; a memory worth to remember forever. Now, as a man you are not already a kid that needs further instructions what to do about your life since you are old enough to handle yourself. It would be your time to watch over kids by volunteering.

Being a big brother with the kids you were never related is somehow awkward, and that’s for the others. However, being a big brother to those less fortunate kids is truly self-fulfilling. If you want to experience the challenge then here’s what you should follow first.

• For further information inquire online—browsing the net is one of the best options you should do. There are many volunteering opportunities in the internet that you can find and choose.

• After reading the inquiries; apply—after you read all the inquiries and requirements they need then you can fill-in their online application if they have.

• After you completely fill-in the online application waits for the coordinator of the program to email you back.

• If the coordinator asks you for a personal interview, get ready for yourself by reviewing some possible questions that he/she may ask you.

• Since you wanted to volunteer as a big brother for the less fortunate kids, inculcate in your mind that the coordinator will possibly ask you about your records since most of their priorities are the safety of the kids.

• When volunteering abroad, it is necessary for you to have at least two references for the coordinators to talk to regarding your ability of becoming a mentor.

• After all of that, it will then be the responsibility of the said organization to look for a kid that suits you.

Volunteering abroad does not have to be in big ways. Some of us got scared in volunteering for we think that we are not qualified to volunteer. In that aspect we are wrong. Little efforts like painting a school, teaching kids the art of drawing and more also counts. We don’t have to be an expert in anything to volunteer. We don’t have to be a doctor, nurse, teacher or any professional to be able to let other know that we care.

What we need to have is one big heart and the sincerity to really help and share what we have. We can do a lot in volunteering abroad

Small ways that really counts! Painting orphanage building in Ukraine may sound tame for an activity abroad but for the people who own the house that is indeed a great help.

Perhaps you would like to give your two hand and build footbridges in Canada would also mean a great help for the Canadians. Perchance build footbridges somewhere in the Philippines used by small school children as they cross the river to go to school.

Maybe, volunteer with refugees in Vietnam, China, Korea or Belgium. Or perhaps take care with orphan babies in an orphanage center and give love freely. Or to just simply offer to carry them as they lack the nurturing touch of a mother.

Wasn’t it great to offer help because we are capable of it? Free love, nurturing touch, boundless smile, inhibited help- are we gonna hold it back for those who needs it the most?