Volunteering - Home or Away?
Volunteering in your home community and volunteering abroad are vastly different experiences. Both are equally rewarding and each has its own individual appeal…Volunteering at Home
Volunteering close to home is a great way of giving back to your local community. It takes a lot less effort and allows you to feel more connected with the area in which you live. It allows you to meet people in your community who have the same interests as you, which is great for people new to the neighbourhood. It’s generally easier, in the sense that it’s easier to commit to, get to, afford and arrange.People who volunteer at home often spend a few hours a week or one weekend a month in a low commitment but continual position. There are also many opportunities for one-time volunteer work, such as trail work days or company sponsored events, which require a very small one-time commitment. Volunteering at home is easy to fit into your schedule, and doesn’t disrupt your daily routine. You are still able to work, go to school, watch television, order takeout, play on a sports team or whatever you do in your spare time.
Pros
Volunteering at home is generally considered easier and doesn’t disrupt your daily life. It doesn’t cost you any money and it doesn’t have to take up much of your time. You can put in a few hours, contribute to your community and still be home in time for dinner. You get to keep all the comforts of home, eat the foods you like, watch television and drive your car to meet your friends for a night out.Volunteering at home allows you to meet people in your community. It’s a social experience. You can volunteer with a friend or family member and spend quality time with them. Plus, volunteering in your community allows you to help out in your own area, where you can see the difference you make every day and can probably benefit from the contribution you give. You can still get a feeling of satisfaction and achievement and learn new skills, while giving back to your local community.
Cons
On the other hand, volunteering at home doesn’t give you the chance to see anything new, to experience new cultures or really challenge yourself. You don’t get to meet people from distant countries or learn about cultures that are entirely unlike your own. Volunteering at home doesn’t challenge you and a lot of the time it doesn’t inspire you either. It doesn't have as much of an impact on who you are or how you see the world and though it can help to make you a better person, it will do it on a much smaller scale.Volunteering Abroad
Volunteering abroad is an entirely different experience. It’s a complete disruption of your every day life that takes you far away from home and even farther away from your comfort zone. Volunteering abroad is generally seen as a more adventurous, more ambitious, more inspiring and, despite some of the dirty work, more glamorous alternative to volunteering at home. You get to see, learn and try new things every day and grow significantly as a person.The rewards can be far greater, but the costs can be too. It often requires a significant leave of absence from your commitments and a considerable amount of funding. Once you’re there, you don’t have most of the comforts that you are used to having at home, an experience that can be scary and uncomfortable at first. In the end, though, it will be this that makes the experience so touching and unforgettable.
Pros
The pros of volunteering abroad are tremendous. It allows you to travel and completely immerse yourself in a different culture. It can give you the opportunity to learn a language and meet people with different perspectives. It takes you further out of your comfort zone and pushes you to do incredible things. It’s more adventurous and life changing and inspiring. You get an enormous feeling of satisfaction and feel that you have made a difference and come home a better person for it.In most cases you will be working with vital projects that help to relieve poverty, conserve fragile ecosystems and protect endangered wildlife. You will see a side of the world that few tourists ever see and get a real insight into the problems faced around the world. What's more, the decision to volunteer abroad will make a real difference to your CV, showing that you are up for a challenge and prepared to work hard for what you believe in.
Cons
The biggest problems faced by overseas volunteers are raising the money and taking time off work. Most jobs don’t allow employees to take a month or two's leave and many people can’t afford to not be earning money for two months either. Taking a career break is one solution to this is to take a career break and to earn cash as you travel by teaching abroad or applying for a working holiday visa.Another factor that you will need to consider is the situation that you are putting yourself in. The chances are that you won't have access to the luxuries that you're used to and this can be quite a shock to the system. Culture shock is common but it passes quickly and regular calls home will get you through.
Volunteering is a great experience, whether you do it at home or abroad, so make sure you get out there and give back to your community or someone else’s (or both)!
