To think about
Some things potential volunteers should consider
When considering volunteering…
Think about your motivation to volunteer. Why do you want to do it?
“Good” reasons include
- wanting to put UWC ideals into practice
- wanting to be of service to others
- wanting to test UWC ideas and ideals out in the ‘real world’
- wanting to immerse yourself in a new cultural context
- wanting to learn how certain organizations (NGOs) work
“Bad” reasons include
- wanting to have something good to put on university applications
- wanting a break from working and studying
- wanting to see a new ‘exotic’ place
- wanting a holiday
- wanting to travel
Think about
- what you would like to get out of volunteering
- what you can bring to volunteering
- what kind of work you would like to do
- what part of the world you might like to volunteer in
- why you want to go to a particular part of the world
Some questions to ask yourself include
- do I want to work for a big or small organization?
- do I want to go somewhere that has had many volunteers before?
- do I want to be with other volunteers or alone?
- do I want to work for a new organization or an established one?
- do I want to have clearly defined work or to find things to do?
- do I prefer to be able to take the initiative?
