“It is a really big thing”; “You must be truly brave”; “I admire you”. I suppose that most of the people who decided to volunteer abroad heard some of those statements. Same happened to me, even though I did not expect my friends and family to think about volunteering abroad as a holiday trip which may help to change and develop me myself. All I wanted was to do my best in the orphanage and school in Zambia, where I and my friend were about to start our work in 2015. I was ready to work hard and do everything that I could to improve the lives of those whose lives were not that fortunate. Four years ago, I did not even think that a 20 year-old-girl from Europe with basic knowledge about working with vulnerable children but with good intentions may not be the best candidate for an orphanage volunteer position. Now I am not so sure anymore.

 

Just before the summer holidays, many young people look for opportunities to use their free time as efficiently as possible. Language camps, international exchanges, and internships. Next to them, for the last two decades, we can observe a remarkable growth of interest amongst young people in volunteering abroad. The most popular searched destinations are the Philippines, India, Nepal but also African countries like Uganda and Kenya. Top programs include medical volunteering, wildlife, and conservation but mainly teaching and orphanage volunteering. Some of them last for one or a few weeks, a few months or even a year. There is a great variety of possibilities when it comes to volunteering and everyone can find something for themselves. My main concern refers to volunteering with children. You may ask why? Indeed, it cannot be difficult to help children with their homework, play with them and organise free time activities. But what if they are children who experienced trauma, were abandoned or abused?

 

Young people doing volunteer work, do it mostly during summer holidays, or their ‘gap year’. They want to make their time meaningful so besides travelling they do their voluntary work. Intentions are mostly pure but what about organisations sending them to work in foreign countries? Many volunteering programmes offered by organizations cost a fortune – in order to start working you need to pay fees. The range differs depending on the organisation so you may pay 50$ or even 200$ per week. Obviously, fees do not include the cost of travelling and necessary vaccinations.

 

Moreover, while checking the necessary skills which potential volunteers should have, the answer is mostly ‘You do not need any experience/skills”. Imagine the same situation in your country. You apply for a position as a worker in any institution which requires contact with vulnerable children. Your DBS is not checked, there is no training provided, and you can do with children whatever you think is good for them. As good as your intentions may be, you may do more harm than good without any knowledge.

 

I do not want to discourage you. Volunteering is a beautiful thing but should be beneficial for both sides, not only to boost volunteers’ ego. Before you start working, especially with children, prepare yourself. Ask questions. Ask for training. Ask for safeguarding policy. Volunteer wisely.