idealist.org

Why Should I Pay to Volunteer Abroad?

By Flickr user cocoate.com
A common question we're asked is why so many international volunteering organizations and programs require fees—sometimes fairly steep—for individuals to volunteer in another country. After all, volunteering is supposed to be free, right?

The reality is that, while you may be donating your time, it is often not free for an organization to host you. Many volunteer-sending organizations and programs need to collect fees in order to cover costs like lodging, transportation, and meals. And even those NGOs that don't provide things like housing will still need to budget valuable staff time to support and manage volunteers (consider the unique training and resources some international volunteers may need; for example, language support). In fact, even if you decide to volunteer abroad independently—putting you fully in charge of determining your budget—you'll still likely be looking at costs for things like flights, in-country transportation, and other day to day expenses.

The good news is that there are lots of great resources out there to help you budget, save, apply, and raise funds for volunteering in another country. Start by learning how to make your volunteer abroad experience more affordable here in our brand new International Volunteerism Resource Center. You can read up on fundraising and budgeting strategies, explore potential sources for scholarships or grants, and begin researching those volunteer-sending organizations or programs that provide stipends or other financial assistance to their volunteers.

Happy reading and safe travels!

This entry was written by Erin B., our resident expert on international volunteering.