So you come to Latin America to volunteer and you tell locals about what you are doing. In my case, when I tell Colombians I’ve met about what I’m giving my time to, a lot of them say, “Hey, I want to leave Colombia and help in a different country!”
The world is a big place!
I try to help out as much as I can. Listed below are the most important things you can do to get them started with a volunteer experience abroad:
1. Be upfront about costs. While not impossible, it can be difficult to find an organization that will pay for your housing and/or cost of living. People say, “Hey, well I want to do it but I don’t have the money.” They need to know this is an obstacle and that saving a lump sum of money beforehand may be required. Not an insurmountable obstacle: there are sites such as CouchSurfing that can help with free lodging.
2. Lend your English skills. A lot of organizations, as well as sites that locate volunteer opportunities, have the majority of their volunteer positions listed in English. Be a translator, and help them articulate what they want and what they can offer an organization via phone and/or email.
3. Assist with researching visa requirements. Getting a visa can be extremely difficult (especially for Colombians). Make sure they can find all the information they need regarding forms, ID’s, etc…
Did I miss anything? If anyone has any additional tips, please post them in the comments.
Latest posts by mabogota
- Inevitable Stereotypes - March 11th, 2010
- 2009 Wrap-Up - December 30th, 2009
- Accidental Discovery: Weight Loss at High Altitudes - November 23rd, 2009
- Is Bogotá Safe? - October 20th, 2009
- Must Read: Strategies to Empower a Community/Organization - October 14th, 2009
- Volunteering at a Religious Organization When You´re Not Religious - September 29th, 2009
- Be Careful, Self-Deception Can Cover Its Tracks... - September 20th, 2009
- Ciclovía: A Car-Free Revolution - September 8th, 2009
- Teaching English with a Fake Degree I Bought off the Internet - August 31st, 2009
- What You Need to Know About Living in Bogotá - August 25th, 2009
Atlas Service Corps is also a great organization to look at: http://www.atlascorps.org.
Its founder, Scott Beale, is currently living in Bogota.