How and why i-to-i differs from organisations such as VSO
There has been a great deal of dispute in the media recently about the pros and cons of volunteering overseas and the differences between charity organisations such as VSO and commercial volunteer travel providers such as i-to-i. In addition to this dispute, there has been criticism directed at volunteer travel providers and the 'worth' of the work done by the volunteers they send to projects overseas. We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the differences between these volunteer programmes and the benefits of volunteering with both types of organisations to help you make an informed decision and choose the right opportunity for you.
It is important to be aware that while i-to-i is a well regarded, established volunteer travel provider with over ten years experience, there are new providers coming into the industry who do not have the same level of experience or established links with overseas communities. To find out more about what to look out for when choosing a volunteer travel provider, read our 5 top questions to ask when considering your volunteer travel organisation.
The value of VSO
VSO is an international development charity and has been operating since 1958. During this time it has sent over 30,000 volunteers to work in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Eastern Europe.
Organisations such as VSO in the UK and Peace Corps in the US have traditionally focussed on placing highly skilled people overseas to train and develop skills in local staff, often with the goal of making the skilled volunteer role redundant. Activities and professions required vary, but a good example would be in the field of teaching where VSO teachers train local teachers, thus creating sustainable and long-term skills development overseas. Positions such as these, by the very nature of the goals, require a long-term commitment, usually of two years, and people with a high level of specialist skills willing and able to take time out of their chosen profession and home life.
Although from time to time criticisms do surface in the media, VSO, the Peace Corps and others undoubtedly serve a valuable and effective function. The concept of highly skilled individuals dedicating two years of their life to the up-skilling of others is laudable and these organisations work very closely with local in-country organisations and governments to ensure aims are met and services are required.
What does i-to-i offer?
Over the last 10 years, another significant and equally valuable method of contributing to development overseas has emerged and one which has been carefully designed to be inclusive in terms of who can contribute.
Organisations such as i-to-i, developed out of the belief that nearly everybody, irrespective of previous experience and age, does (with some guidance) have a huge amount to offer to communities and development projects overseas. This belief was born out of discussions with local projects and initiatives on the ground and has been developed to great effect.
i-to-i has hundreds of projects with whom it has worked for many years. All the projects have directly requested support through the commitment and enthusiasm of travellers of all ages and experience. These local projects have identified roles which are best served through people travelling for a matter of weeks or months.
Immediately opportunities arise for people of all ages, skill-sets and stages of life. Saddled with a mortgage and a career? - no problem, there are hundreds of projects who specifically want and need a two week 'burst' of energy and commitment that a short-term visit can provide. i-to-i has worked closely with established overseas projects to ensure that this level of support fits into longer term goals. Feedback from projects and communities clearly indicate that this system allows for the quick and clear achievement of goals and development which otherwise would not happen.
What are the differences?
Organisations such as VSO will always be limited in their reach by funding - volunteers require local payment, airfares, insurance etc, and funding will clearly limit the number of projects and countries that can receive such volunteer support. i-to-i has no such limits - as long as projects are local initiatives, sustainable and with clear goals, the self-funding nature of i-to-i means that a huge and potentially unlimited number of destinations and projects can benefit.
Interest in i-to-i, and many other similar organisations clearly demonstrates that there is a strong desire among people to travel and directly contribute within communities overseas. This desire, as long as it is supported and channelled effectively, is a great source of assistance which until recently was unavailable. After all, how many people can really afford to take two years out of their lives - even if they want to?
Many people have longer term goals of working overseas either with VSO or in the charity sector but are unsure whether they are suited to this or able to cope with the challenges it presents. What better way to gain experience than to spend up to six months contributing to a grass roots project in a guided environment? Many people who have travelled with i-to-i have found that they are so moved and enthused by the activity on the ground that they subsequently do seek long-term posts overseas.
"But I am not an expert" is the phrase we hear a lot from potential travellers at i-to-i and this very statement is something that could easily exclude someone from making a worthwhile contribution overseas. However, on a little further investigation you can almost always find some skill or experience which can be valuable in a structured environment overseas. With accredited Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL/TESOL) training provided to every teaching volunteer, i-to-i is able to give people the core skills to contribute effectively and quickly overseas. Nobody can make you an expert overnight but by the provision of the core principles of language teaching and communication we can ensure that, in conjunction with your own confidence and commitment, you can make a valuable contribution. Not only is this useful at the project but it is also a skill that remains with you for life.
Who benefits most - the traveller or the project?
The answer is undoubtedly the project, although we can not and should not shy away from the benefits to the volunteer. All experiences are a two-way process after all.
Projects benefit clearly from your contribution and enthusiasm but volunteers also gain first-hand experience of the real challenges facing different communities. What we often see in the media is limited due to time or print constraints and the need to increase readership or the number of viewers. This leads to a degree of sensationalism and the depth of picture is not always accurately presented. However, if you spend time living with and working alongside local communities even for a short time, this will give you an insight into the lives and challenges that you wouldn't get from a lifetime of watching the news or other forms of media.
Local communities tell us in no uncertain terms that they benefit enormously from this interaction as do previous travellers - often through the formation of lifelong friendships! Many travellers who may have spent all their life in their home country talk about their experiences to friends and family - resulting in a better understanding of foreign cultures within their home community. Greater understanding and acceptance of overseas communities, is a major outcome of organisations such as i-to-i and should not be neglected or ignored.
A personal choice
It is virtually impossible to say which option of volunteering is best - the choice that someone makes has to be based on their own personal circumstances, experiences and stage in life. However, both should be united in their goals to assist long-term and sustainable development of people and communities overseas. We truly believe that everyone could and should have the opportunity to volunteer and make a difference.
Bruce Haxton, Operations Director, i-to-i
5 top questions to ask when considering your volunteer travel organisation
1. How do you ensure a project is sustainable and worthwhile?
Since 1995 i-to-i has been committed to community engagement ensuring that any project that we provide volunteers for has asked for the assistance and is sustainable. Our aim is to provide long-term support, sending a steady flow of volunteers to established and worthwhile projects. Prior to any volunteer being sent to a project, we, or our chosen partners in the field visit and research the project and area to ensure that they are both safe and suitable for our travellers. It is our policy and wish only to support projects that are already in existence, we do not 'set up' projects, we leave that job to development agencies and NGOs who are much better equipped to do that. All i-to-i assisted projects are visited frequently by our partners in the field and by Head office staff to ensure that the project still requires volunteers and the right structure is in place to ensure that i-to-i volunteers are suitably employed. i-to-i and its travellers also provide much financial input to communities as we use only local guest houses and homestays which injects a steady flow of money into very poor communities.
2. What checks do you have in place to protect children and vulnerable adults?
i-to-i has a dual responsibility - to the traveller who volunteers with us and to the project that we work with. With this in mind, all i-to-i volunteers who will be working with children or vulnerable adults must undertake a CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) check before they travel. We are one of a handful of organisations that insist on this.
3. How do I know my money is safe with you, what if you go out of business – are you insured?
i-to-i is ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) bonded which means that in addition to meeting the very highest standards in international travel, should we experience financial difficulties we are fully insured and you will be reimbursed.
4. Where does my placement fee go?
The fee paid by i-to-i volunteers goes on a number of services many of which are not immediately apparent or visible, but generally fall into four areas:
- Recruitment and marketing
- Training (TEFL courses and travel safety)
- Field expenses (accommodation, transport, 24/7support)
- Head office administration and overheads
We choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the past two years we have distributed over $250,000 to projects such as renovating and refurbishing a medical clinic in Tanzania, constructing a community centre in Brazil and installing 20 toilets at a school in India. These donations go towards tangible, long-lasting improvements.
5. What training and support do you provide?
We provide extensive travel advice and support before you go. This includes any essential vocational training such as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training for Teaching volunteers. We provide all our travellers with thorough pre departure information and training via DVDs which prepare volunteers for their time overseas including travel safety, culture shock advice and how to be a responsible volunteer. We also provide post travel training with practical advice on how to best use the volunteer experience when applying to universities or potential employers.
While you are at your project, our in-country teams are on hand to support you. We also operate a 24hour phone line here in the UK so that you will always be able to contact someone in the event of a crisis. In addition to this, we employ the services of crisis management specialist Docleaf, who have trained i-to-i staff and assisted us in putting together a comprehensive crisis plan should an emergency occur.
