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"Volunteer Abroad"
I talked to a former colleague last week who’s from Nepal. First conversation we’ve had in twelve years. We were both English teachers in rural Nepal in 2000. He was not only a teacher but a farmer by trade. I first met “Anil” on the morning of October 12, 2000. I know the exact date [...]
Being caught in a traffic jam stinks, doesn’t it? All those idiots getting in your way, slowing you up, making your commute even longer and more miserable. But what if, during you next traffic jam as you’re ready to explode behind the wheel, you thought the following instead: I’m not STUCK in traffic. I AM [...]
I’m afraid I disagree with Rafia Zakaria’s article The Tragedies of Other Places – That the tragedy in Boston (and Americans’ reactions) shows that America isn’t as complicated as the rest of the world. We are indeed just as “complicated,” if not more so, than any other place. True, we didn’t have 652 bombings last year like [...]
I don’t think a trip to Kenya would be complete without a visit to the Elsamere Conservation Centre (with a “tre”!) – especially for those volunteering in wildlife conservation. I made it to Elsamere a little over a year ago for a one-day visit with a good friend (who’s a former client of mine). Elsamere is the [...]
People go on volunteer trips abroad for different reasons. High school kids perhaps like the adventure of it all, a chance to get away from mom and dad and see what’s out there in life. Most of the parents I’ve dealt with feel the same way; but they’re also excited that their kids’ college applications [...]
So, you’ve booked your flights and arranged your volunteer work abroad. Congratulations! But the really hard work begins when you step off that plane in the host country. One of the most important things you have to figure out is – How can you be a good volunteer abroad? As with most things in life, it’s all about your [...]
The idea of volunteering abroad for free continues to gain in popularity. Many in today’s global economy simply can’t afford to pay 2,000 Pounds to expensive volunteering abroad companies to arrange a volunteer program for them. The good news is that you can arrange your trip abroad independently, so that you can volunteer abroad for [...]
Daniela Papi, the former Director of the Cambodian-based NGO PEPY and a speaker and blogger about development abroad, recently gave a thoughtful lecture on the volunteer-travel industry. Her main message is that foreign volunteers must learn before they can help others abroad. They must understand the context of development in relation to the host country [...]
There are many factors that should determine how to choose a volunteer abroad destination. Where to start? Safety. Safety should be the first and one of the main considerations when choosing a destination for volunteer travel. If you do not feel a country is safe, cross it off your list and continue your research. Choose [...]
When you return home from your volunteer trip abroad, the “reverse culture shock” (also called “re-entry”) can be just as significant as the culture shock you experienced when first arriving in the host country. Returning home is often not a predictable process and can be more stressful than you anticipate. You might find yourself different [...]
My name is Scott P. Burke.
I'm in the volunteering abroad business.
This blog is where I share what I'm learning about it.Subscribe to my Blog
Recent Posts
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