Volunteering at Home and Abroad: The Essential Guide for Nurses

Making an Impact by Volunteering Abroad

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The combination of exploring a new destination and being able to help local people or causes is fulfilling and empowering.

For those who do their research and plan for something that suits them, as well as the organization they will be volunteering with, then it can be a wonderful and life enhancing experience that is great for everyone involved. Global Water Brigades in Honduras. For that reason, take a step back from the planning and instead learn more about core problems facing development projects when they bring in Western volunteers and ideas. The best projects are those that receive support from the local population. One of the challenges that people taking a volunteer travel trip may encounter is that the work itself may be quite different to what they were expecting.

While many people think that volunteer travel can involve something quite exciting, such as diving to tag beautiful sea creatures with GPS trackers, the majority of volunteer projects will usually involve a lot of hard work. There are countless types of volunteer opportunities, so identify what it is you would be most interested in. Picking the right organization that offers the right volunteer opportunity for you can often be a difficult choice, as not all organizations will offer the same support and the same experience.

If you are fundraising or have to pay for a fee for your volunteer opportunity, then it is important to know where the money is going and that the money ends up in the right place. It is also important to know how much total contribution you are expected to make, both in terms of the time you need to dedicate to the project and the money you will need to either raise or pay to the organization.

How to Ethically Volunteer Anywhere in the World

As you are considering these aspects, it is also worth considering how much time you are willing to commit to your volunteering opportunity. Do you want to work 8-hour days, six days a week for the organization?

Or, are you looking for a more balanced experience taking up a few hours, three or four times a week? The vital part of choosing the right volunteering experience is to do your research, make sure you are aware of the commitment you are making, and to see what others have said about the same volunteering work. This is because providing volunteers with accommodation, food, tools, health and safety equipment and everything else they need to do their work does cost money.

If you are being asked to raise money or make a contribution before starting your volunteer placement, asking the organization about what this money will be used for is important. Once you have started work as a volunteer, keeping in touch with your donors is also a great way to let them know how their support has helped you to make a big difference for your chosen cause.

Depending on your skills, the type of experience you are looking for and your own interests, there are a variety of different volunteering opportunities available as you travel. As our returned health volunteers testify, the rewards, both personal and professional, generally outweigh these initial challenges.

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My placement has enabled me to share my skills to improve the lives of women and children in Tanzania, and the experience has also made me a better clinician. For nurses and midwives, that means exchanging knowledge of medical practices and procedures in a hospital or health facility. Tasks can be very varied depending on the programme but may include the following:.

Volunteers can increase efficiency in the hospital or health facility by passing on their knowledge of administration systems, such as the careful filing of patient records, and hygiene measures. Working with an NGO can be a one-off experience or a career choice, depending on your situation. As a midwife trainer, you deal with premature and complicated births on a regular basis, again greatly benefiting you professionally when you return to Ireland.

You also learn about working with people from varying cultures and backgrounds, which is becoming increasingly important in a quickly diversifying Ireland. Set up a giveaway. Customers who viewed this item also viewed. Pages with related products.

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The Ultimate Guide To Volunteer Travel

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