HOW TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER FOR OUR PROJECTS?

 

The choice is hard. First, you need to answer some questions: What do you expect from volunteer work? How much time are you willing to spend for volunteering? What are your capabilities?

When you get the answers to those questions, the decisions gets much easier. We do not offer a wide variety of international volunteer work, as we mostly focus on projects we are directly involved with. We believe that personal contact and knowing the projects are crucial for execution of charity works in the right sense. We are closely connected to the locals abroad that are active and provide information firsthand for us. They affect local communities and continual development in a smaller area.

 

The right choice of volunteer work is important for satisfaction of the volunteers themselves, the organization in which the volunteer is active in, and, naturally, for the receiver of the help. We do not demand any special experiences or a higher education. In the case of being interested in the volunteer work abroad, the volunteer must be fluent in at least one foreign language (English), and being fluent in several other languages is certainly an advantage. It is a necessity that the volunteer is healthy and, in certain cases, vaccinated. According to wishes and talents, the volunteer will be appointed to the most appropriate post. 

 

 

Some other aspects are also important, beside fluency in foreign languages and good health condition

·          
    Ability to adapt:

Ability to adapt to new and different situations, with which you deal as a volunteer; to positively react to people you will be living with and help or collaborate with. You will also have to adapt to far less privacy that you have at home. Sometimes you will have the feeling you live in a fish tank.

·   Your skills:

You have decided to become a volunteer and meet the demands of the host country. We prepare you for the job by providing all necessary information regarding language, culture, local customs, and needs. Certain skills and training is needed to participate in some projects. Host country, mentors, and local communities that you help will enable to improve your skills

·   Independence:

Even though you might think that you never work on your own as a volunteer, you may feel lonely at times. You might be the only volunteer from your community, and you will face language barriers and challenge to find your way in this new environment. You can expect to be well received into the new community, but at first, you will have to deal with simple things, such as learning names and getting to know the neighborhood you will live in. A strong sense of self-reliance and independence will help you steer through moment of doubt and tough situations.

·   Positive attitude:

The structure of your working assignments and work itself will probably be less defined than the employment you had at home. Sometimes, work will seem chaotic, and at other times very calm. Positive attitude will ease the passage.

·   Ability to adjust:

As a volunteer you will be located in an environment different from everything you have seen in your home country. Tolerance and ability to adjust will help you face things and situations that come in your way. For example, difficult access to running water, electricity, and other sources. Accommodations are safe but modest. In addition, in many countries the manner of dressing is a sign of respect towards the citizens, and to be accepted into the community, you will have to fulfill the standards of the host country and the local community you will be living in. 

Innovativeness:

When people are adapting to a new environment and culture, they go through unpredictable emotional states – loneliness and isolation, uncertainty, homesickness, and doubts of resolve. Inventiveness helps you to stay open-minded and successfully deal with challenges.

Responsibility:

As a volunteer you are responsible for quality work and have to abide by general rules to stay safe and healthy. For example, as a volunteer you will not be able to drive a car or leave the place of your volunteer work without a prior notice. There are reasons for establishing these rules and they need to be kept.

·   Sense of humor:

To have an ability to laugh at yourself and little surprises in live is a part of being a volunteer. Your tasks are a constant process of studying. Keeping your sense of humor and a positive look at situation will help you learn from your mistakes, without blaming yourself. After all: “Laughter is the best medicine.”

Advantages of volunteer work

It is a life experience, to which you will always turn to. The addition to improve someone’s life will be your most cherished achievement.

There are also other benefits:
- lingual, intercultural, technical training, 
- traveling abroad, 
- living abroad, 
- creating a social network,
- chance for employment in a foreign country,
- chance for gaining experiences in the field of your studies,
- recognitions for your volunteer work hours,
- unique chance for research,
- additional and strengthened sense of individualism and increase in self-evaluation,
- enriched academic experience.

 

Safety and Health

Safety and health of our volunteers is our priority mission. We spend a lot of time to support and inform our volunteers to remain safe and healthy.

Our volunteers can be found all around the world, even in very remote areas, and security risk is a part of the job description. The volunteers themselves can help reduce these risks by respecting local characteristics, typical for a certain area, and by respecting national laws and political procedures. In the efforts to provide a productive, healthy, and safe working experience for the volunteer, we study the work and accommodations ourselves, we collaborate in the development of the project with the local communities and develop projects for the future.

Before we prepare an individual program, we thoroughly study health and safety conditions of the country. Choosing the location for volunteer work, we take into consideration the conditions of work, possibilities for integration, existing living conditions, possibilities for natural disasters, communication and transport, medical assistance, climate, and consensus of the government. IF in any case should the volunteer feel endangered, they can resign and return home.

Supervision

Supervisors collaborate with children, youth, elderly, and help establish positive and long-term relationships with local supervisors and volunteers. They are involved in different activities and help improve problematic situations, trying to achieve continual development with all their means and knowledge.

Supervision is also indented for coordination, help, and daily support, all days of the week. We ensure a constructive assessment and confidentiality to all our volunteers. We try to keep the atmosphere between supervisors and volunteers nice and positive. 

For more information please contact us at info@kidsaretheworld.com