Choosing to work as a volunteer overseas is a great way to open your mind to other ways of life and different cultures and languages. Here are the top seven reasons why people decide to take off on a volunteering adventure.
All volunteer positions, whether they're locally based or a thousand miles from home, offer the satisfaction of altruism, but those who choose to volunteer overseas often feel a deeper sense of happiness in this respect. This type of work often involves long days and having to give up creature comforts and ultimately this sacrifice leads to a great feeling of satisfaction.
Learning a New Language
Any volunteer work in a foreign country will inevitably improve your language skills, although the extent of this will depend on how long you choose to stay there. At the very least, you will learn how to hold a basic conversation in another language, as daily living in a different country necessitates this. Many volunteer programmes offer basic language courses which can be of great use both during and after the volunteering experience.
Improve Your CV
Making the decision to volunteer abroad also offers plenty of benefits to those looking to further their careers. Volunteer work of any kind will help to boost your CV, as employers associate it with people who are enthusiastic, motivated and caring. The additional benefits of working within a team in a challenging environment and learning a foreign language will also appeal to employers.
Another Culture
One of the best things about doing volunteer work abroad is that it allows people to spend a long period of time immersing themselves in a new culture. Many volunteer programmes include accommodation with a local family, so volunteers have the chance to really get involved with the local people and their way of life. Unlike a holiday, during which you explore a place for a few days, a volunteering job will allow you to truly experience what life is like in that country.
New Skills and Experience
Working in a foreign country as a volunteer is a fantastic way to acquire new skills and experience. There are hundreds of different kinds of volunteer programmes, so you can easily find one which is relevant to your chosen career path. Whether you're interested in politics, health care, animal care, social work or journalism, you can find a place which needs help in this area and will allow you to learn some very valuable new skills.
Another reason to volunteer abroad is that it can change a person's character for the better and give you a sense of perspective about life. Seeing the problems of poorer countries and how the people there handle the challenges they face every day is a great way to become a more compassionate, caring and empathetic person.
Lastly, a few months, weeks or even years spent volunteering abroad can give you a great sense of accomplishment. The knowledge that you have made a positive impact on the world is a good feeling to have, as is the knowledge that you are capable of dealing with difficult situations and living without so many consumer goods.
It's certainly worth taking the time out to research and find a volunteer programme which is suited to your skills and knowledge, as a period of time spend volunteering abroad can be a life-changing experience.
Diana Smith writes regularly on volunteer work abroad for a range of travel websites and blogs.
All volunteer positions, whether they're locally based or a thousand miles from home, offer the satisfaction of altruism, but those who choose to volunteer overseas often feel a deeper sense of happiness in this respect. This type of work often involves long days and having to give up creature comforts and ultimately this sacrifice leads to a great feeling of satisfaction.
Learning a New Language
Any volunteer work in a foreign country will inevitably improve your language skills, although the extent of this will depend on how long you choose to stay there. At the very least, you will learn how to hold a basic conversation in another language, as daily living in a different country necessitates this. Many volunteer programmes offer basic language courses which can be of great use both during and after the volunteering experience.
Improve Your CV
Making the decision to volunteer abroad also offers plenty of benefits to those looking to further their careers. Volunteer work of any kind will help to boost your CV, as employers associate it with people who are enthusiastic, motivated and caring. The additional benefits of working within a team in a challenging environment and learning a foreign language will also appeal to employers.
Another Culture
One of the best things about doing volunteer work abroad is that it allows people to spend a long period of time immersing themselves in a new culture. Many volunteer programmes include accommodation with a local family, so volunteers have the chance to really get involved with the local people and their way of life. Unlike a holiday, during which you explore a place for a few days, a volunteering job will allow you to truly experience what life is like in that country.
New Skills and Experience
Working in a foreign country as a volunteer is a fantastic way to acquire new skills and experience. There are hundreds of different kinds of volunteer programmes, so you can easily find one which is relevant to your chosen career path. Whether you're interested in politics, health care, animal care, social work or journalism, you can find a place which needs help in this area and will allow you to learn some very valuable new skills.
Another reason to volunteer abroad is that it can change a person's character for the better and give you a sense of perspective about life. Seeing the problems of poorer countries and how the people there handle the challenges they face every day is a great way to become a more compassionate, caring and empathetic person.
Lastly, a few months, weeks or even years spent volunteering abroad can give you a great sense of accomplishment. The knowledge that you have made a positive impact on the world is a good feeling to have, as is the knowledge that you are capable of dealing with difficult situations and living without so many consumer goods.
It's certainly worth taking the time out to research and find a volunteer programme which is suited to your skills and knowledge, as a period of time spend volunteering abroad can be a life-changing experience.
Diana Smith writes regularly on volunteer work abroad for a range of travel websites and blogs.
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