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A Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) publicationin association with the Global Education Centre

Your guide to volunteering in a developing country

kia ora

With some knowledge and experience you can be part

of creating positive global change. Volunteering is one

way of making a difference.

kia ora

Thinking globally means caring about the lives of other people in other places; it is also caring about yourself and your place in the global community. It is about exercising your global citizenship and recognising that within this global community you have rights AND responsibilities.

Volunteering – working in developing countries with local people to improve their wellbeing, while learning alongside them – is one way of doing this. Volunteering is also giving time and sometimes money while gaining cultural awareness and experiences.

We live in an interconnected world. Whatever affects us here, personally, in Aotearoa, is connected to a web of other global processes affecting people all over the place.

FriEndS in donGobESh, TAnzAniA.

ISBN 978-0-473-12555-4

This booklet has been developed by Te Tu-ao Ta-wa-hi Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA). VSA is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading people-to-people development agency, and it has been working in the field of volunteering for over 45 years. In fact, Sir Edmund Hillary was VSA’s founding president back in 1962. VSA has worked in many countries in Asia, Africa and the Pacific, and the advice in this booklet has come from the knowledge VSA has built up over the years. This advice comes from the volunteers, staff and, importantly, from local people in those host countries.

VSA has been assisted with the contents of this guide by the Global Education Centre and the Just Focus youth network. This guide and other information and tools relevant to development and global issues are available on the Just Focus website: www.justfocus.org.nz... so check it out!

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CONTENTS

VSA WiShES To ACKnoWLEdGE ThE FinAnCiAL SUPPorT oF nzAid in ProdUCinG ThiS booKLET, And SPECiAL ConTribUTorS And rEViEWErS FroM GLobAL EdUCATion CEnTrE, VSA, AnnA STAr, ELizA rAYMond, hUGo LUdbrooK, MEGAn WiLLiAMS, WorLd ViSion’S SChoLArShiP STUdEnTS, And ALL ThoSE Who AGrEEd To bE FEATUrEd And SUPPLiEd PhoToGrAPhS For ThiS PUbLiCATion.

4 What kind of volunteering is right for you? 6 Volunteers talk

about their experiences 8 Challenges and issues – what you

should know about 10 Working out your options 12 Planning

checklist 13 Advice from the field 14 Using your volunteer

experience towards a career 15 Focussing globally, working

locally 16 Where to go for more information

CONTENTS

This booklet has been written for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is your guide to volunteering in developing countries. It is aimed at helping you work through some of the decisions you’ll need to make when thinking about volunteering overseas. It is a guide to understanding:

* If volunteering is right for you

* What makes a ‘good’ volunteering experience

* The questions you need to ask

* The checklists you need to make

* Whether it’s something you could use towards your career.

A developing country is one where the population has a low average income compared to the world average. These countries generally have poor infrastructure, health and education systems, and they are not industrialised or technologically advanced.

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What kind of volunteering is right for you? Testyourself…

9 You’re in a new town where you don’t know anyone, and you’re feeling lonely. Do you:

a) Get on the phone or Bebo and chat to friends/family?

b) Join a club or group?

c) Hang-out on the sidelines of sports games or events and seize any offer to pitch-in/get involved?

d) Show some Kiwi hospitality and invite neighbours and acquaintances over?

10You’re in a country where it’s common to bargain. Do you…

a) Shop in places with fixed prices to avoid bargaining?

b) Get lessons from another foreigner who is familiar with the process?

c) Shop with a friend so the two of you can help each other out?

d) Just go for it, but make sure the seller gets a fair price in the end?

What kind of volunteering is right for you? Testyourself…

Ask yourself honestly: What are my motivations for wanting to volunteer? Do I have the right personality to volunteer?

Mostly ‘a’:

You might not be ready to venture abroad just yet, but you could put your skills to good use here at home and build your knowledge about international issues. Volunteer in your community, fundraise for appeals or join a group here in NZ (like Just Focus – more on page 15). One way to help-out is to give money to support others volunteering overseas (www.vsa.org.nz). Visit www.volunteeringnz.org.nz to learn more about volunteering locally. Remember that you don’t have to volunteer as soon as you finish school or university – many volunteer organisations seek people with specific skills and qualifications. The opportunity to volunteer will still be around when you’re older.

Mostly ‘b’: A well-structured programme where volunteers are given plenty of in-country support and training might suit you. Find an organisation that provides clear guidelines and objectives explaining what you'll be doing on a daily basis. Perhaps start off doing some local volunteer work, and develop your awareness of the world before you leave.

Mostly ‘c’: Group-type volunteering, where you’re working as part of a team, sounds just the thing for you. Look for an experience where the group of volunteers is made up of locals as well as overseas volunteers (see www.spw.org.au for an example of how this works). This will give you a more intense exposure to another culture and boost opportunities to make lasting friendships.

Mostly ‘d’: You might be the type who chooses to totally immerse yourself in the local culture. Make sure you choose a volunteer organisation that has a good, long-standing relationship with the local community. You see building relationships as important for volunteering to work effectively, and you should gain great personal satisfaction from your experience.

What the answers reveal…

VSA uniVol jennY wADSworth AnD AMAlinDA fiSh fArM colleAgueS, South AfricA.

VSA uniVol AnnA StAr, cAMBoDiA.

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Who…what…whereWho…what…where

NAME Mariana WhareaituOrganisation: Te Ora Hou – an indigenous faith-based group that supports and learns from other indigenous organisations overseas working in human rights and development. Supporters give regular donations and there are opportunities to visit and volunteer.

Length: 3 weeks (2 on the ground) Cost: $2000 (approximately)

" In Nepal we met many people who were taking a stand and working towards the betterment of their communities and in turn, their country. We were essentially given the chance to glimpse how another indigenous person lived and the trials they were going through; I was completely out of my comfort zone! It wasn't just that it was all so foreign, but in New Zealand, you're not exposed to that kind of poverty in such an extreme way. And the challenge was to adapt and understand that you weren't there for yourself, but you were there for others.”

NAME Tim ParkOrganisation: Volunteer Service Abroad. VSA’s staff are professional development workers who work closely with organisations overseas. VSA searches NZ for volunteers with the skills and qualifications that best match the needs of these partner organisations, in order to help them achieve clearly defined development objectives. Volunteers usually work closely with at least one local person.

Length: 2 years Cost: No cost. VSA covers airfares and insurance, and pays a modest living allowance.

" As an environmental adviser, my assignment was working with a small community organisation in Tanzania helping find ways for people to reduce their impact on the environment. We worked with village groups and government to educate people and find different and less harmful ways to live off the land, or to find an alternative income. One of the things I discovered early on was the importance of letting go of my expectations, because things were nothing like I imagined them to be. It was important to take time to get to know people and the culture, and to go with the flow and not to make judgements till I understood more about how people really thought and felt."

NAME Emma MarlowOrganisation: Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW) – an organisation that gives 18-28 year olds a chance to volunteer in Africa or Asia, working on health/youth empowerment programmes. Volunteers are requested to fundraise and the amount contributes to having local volunteers working alongside you on the programme. SPW volunteers can apply through VSA in New Zealand for placements in Zambia or South Africa.

Length: 8–12 months Cost: $11,500 (2009–2010)

" Being an SPW volunteer gave me a unique opportunity to experience and embrace a different culture. Living and working with a Zambian volunteer provided a great chance to learn from each other and use our very different skills and experiences as we worked towards a common goal. It was great being part of a community long term as it enabled me to build meaningful relationships and really understand the issues and challenges people faced and how they could best be addressed.”

"...to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for..." KOFI ANNAN

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What kind of volunteering is right for you? Test yourself…

1 Why does the idea of volunteering appeal?

a) It would get me away from NZ.

b) Because my friends are doing it.

c) It would be a fun thing to do.

d) To do something exciting and adventurous that’s also worthwhile.

2 When you take part in a discussion do you…

a) Sit back and let others do all the talking?

b) See how the discussion evolves and participate only when asked?

c) Participate and clearly state your perspective?

d) Generally facilitate the discussion to try and involve everyone?

3 An ideal holiday overseas would be…

a) A nice hotel, a pool, and good food.

b) Returning to a place you’ve been before because you know you’ll enjoy it.

c) Exploring a new and different country that friends have recommended.

d) Exploring a country ‘off the beaten track’.

4 What best describes your attitude to poverty overseas?

a) We have problems in NZ we should be focusing on first.

b) I recognise I should be doing something – but what?

c) We can overcome it if we all pull together.

d) We are part of a global community and the problems in developing countries fall on our

shoulders, too.

5 What do you think you can best offer organisations overseas?

a) Free labour.

b) My desire to help.

c) My energy and enthusiasm.

d) Specific skills I can share with them, if they want.

6 What would you most hope to get out of your volunteering experience?

a) A different kind of holiday.

b) Learning about myself and others.

c) Something worthwhile I could do with friends.

d) The feeling that I’ve done something life-changing for me, that’s made a difference to someone else.

7 What of the following would most disrupt your ability to get a job done?

a) Irritating interruptions.

b) Not knowing what I’m supposed to be doing.

c) Not having the support of others when facing a problem.

d) Pushy, critical people.

8 i most enjoy working...

a) Alongside people I know.

b) In a team with strong direction.

c) In a team pitching in however I'm needed.

d) To tackle challenges with people I might not necessarily know.



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There are dozens of different ways you can volunteer: on your own, in a group, for a few days… months… years! You can mix it with travel, base it on your interests, or link it to an education or career opportunity. Here are just a few examples of what’s on offer…

NAME Nicole MathewsonOganisation: Just Focus is a network for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand that explores issues that affect people here, in the Pacific, and globally (see page 15).

Length: Ongoing Cost: No cost

“ My involvement with Just Focus has created lots of opportunities, which have allowed me to develop my writing skills and extend my knowledge of global and development issues. I've participated through the website and Just Focus events and have met many wonderful people and been to some great places, such as Wellington for a National Global Citizenship conference and the Just Focus National Youth Hui, and to sunny Tahiti for the Pacific Youth Festival.”

NAME Meghan StairmandOganisation: VSA on ADDVENTURE VSA. ADDVENTURE VSA combines seeing the country’s sites (in Meghan’s case, Cambodia), with work on a community project. Some of the funds raised also went towards helping communities access VSA volunteers on longer assignments.

Length: 2 weeks (5 days on a project) Cost: $3500

“ It is really easy to travel to another country as a tourist and see it – but not see it. We spent five days working on a school library, a mural, and teaching English. That all sounds kind of worthwhile, but it’s not till you get there that you realise just what a big impact you’ve made. Everyone piled into the library; everyone wanted to read a book; everyone was interested. We would have liked to have done more, but to the students what we did was a lot already.”

ABOVE: NAylANd COllEgE STUdENTS FROM NElSON wENT TO CAMBOdiA ANd iNClUdEd SOME VOlUNTEER wORk AS PART OF ThEiR iTiNERARy. SEE www.PACiFiCdiSCOVERy.ORg TO FiNd OUT MORE.

EMMA MARlOw (lEFT)

MARiANA whAREAiTU (kNEEliNg)

TiM PARk

NiCOlE MAThEwSON (SECONd lEFT)

MEghAN STAiRMANd

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NAME Mariana WhareaituOrganisation: Te Ora Hou – an indigenous faith-based group that supports and learns from other indigenous organisations overseas working in human rights and development. Supporters give regular donations and there are opportunities to visit and volunteer.



NAME Tim ParkOrganisation: Volunteer Service Abroad. VSA’s staff are professional development workers who work closely with organisations overseas. VSA searches NZ for volunteers with the skills and qualifications that best match the needs of these partner organisations, in order to help them achieve clearly defined development objectives. Volunteers usually work closely with at least one local person.



NAME Emma MarlowOrganisation: Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW) – an organisation that gives 18-28 year olds a chance to volunteer in Africa or Asia, working on health/youth empowerment programmes. Volunteers are requested to fundraise and the amount contributes to having local volunteers working alongside you on the programme. SPW volunteers can apply through VSA in New Zealand for placements in Zambia or South Africa.

Length: 8–12 months Cost: $11,500 (2009–2010)

" Being an SPW volunteer gave me a unique opportunity to experience and embrace a different culture. Living and working with a Zambian volunteer provided a great chance to learn from each other and use our very different skills and experiences as we worked towards a common goal. It was great being part of a community long term as it enabled me to build meaningful relationships and really understand the issues and challenges people faced and how they could best be addressed.”


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9 You’re in a new town where you don’t know anyone, and you’re feeling lonely. do you:

a) Get on the phone or Bebo and chat to friends/family?

b) Join a club or group?

c) Hang-out on the sidelines of sports games or events and seize any offer to pitch-in/get involved?

d) Show some Kiwi hospitality and invite neighbours and acquaintances over?

10 You’re in a country where it’s common to bargain. do you…

a) Shop in places with fixed prices to avoid bargaining?

b) Get lessons from another foreigner who is familiar with the process?

c) Shop with a friend so the two of you can help each other out?

d) Just go for it, but make sure the seller gets a fair price in the end?



Mostly ‘a’:

You might not be ready to venture abroad just yet, but you could put your skills to good use here at home and build your knowledge about international issues. Volunteer in your community, fundraise for appeals or join a group here in NZ (like Just Focus – more on page 15). One way to help-out is to give money to support others volunteering overseas (www.vsa.org.nz). Visit www.volunteeringnz.org.nz to learn more about volunteering locally. Remember that you don’t have to volunteer as soon as you finish school or university – many volunteer organisations seek people with specific skills and qualifications. The opportunity to volunteer will still be around when you’re older.

Mostly ‘b’: A well-structured programme where volunteers are given plenty of in-country support and training might suit you. Find an organisation that provides clear guidelines and objectives explaining what you'll be doing on a daily basis. Perhaps start off doing some local volunteer work, and develop your awareness of the world before you leave.

Mostly ‘c’: Group-type volunteering, where you’re working as part of a team, sounds just the thing for you. Look for an experience where the group of volunteers is made up of locals as well as overseas volunteers (see www.spw.org for an example of how this works). This will give you a more intense exposure to another culture and boost opportunities to make lasting friendships.

Mostly ‘d’: You might be the type who chooses to totally immerse yourself in the local culture. Make sure you choose a volunteer organisation that has a good, long-standing relationship with the local community. You see building relationships as important for volunteering to work effectively, and you should gain great personal satisfaction from your experience.

What the answers reveal…

VSA UniVoL jEnnY WAdSWorTh And AMALindA FiSh FArM CoLLEAGUES, SoUTh AFriCA.

VSA UniVoL AnnA STAr, CAMbodiA.

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Working out your optionsWorking out your options

What skills can you offer?Qualified/trained

People with particular qualifications and work experience are often needed to contribute to the steps a community or country is taking to bring about ‘development’. It is not about you as a volunteer going in and showing people what to do, but working together on problems so that both you and the people you’re working with can learn from and help each other.

In some countries, there are real skill shortages in certain areas, like health, education, law, environmental management, agriculture, and engineering. Organisations like VSA help overseas organisations and communities to work out exactly what skills they need, then find Kiwis with the right personality and experience to work alongside them. Because these new skills are built up and can be passed on over and over, it leads to what’s called ‘sustainable development’. Visit www.vsa.org.nz to learn about the kind of assignments volunteers are involved in, and what you might be able to contribute to – if not now, perhaps in the future.

No specific skills

If you have energy and don’t mind manual work, then consider construction or conservation projects where you’re accompanied by a professional local – assisting with building work, surveying wildlife, building tracks, or planting trees for example. Why not volunteer in NZ first: www.conservationvolunteers.org.nz?

Speaking English can open doors to finding teaching work. An ESOL Home Tutor certificate and at least six months volunteering experience in NZ will help. www.esolht.org.nz

If you’re great with kids, orphanages are often very short-staffed. Get some local experience first by working on school holiday programmes, like with the YMCA. Visit www.ymca.org.nz or make contact with your local YMCA.

If you’re young and confident, some organisations, like SPW, use peer-to-peer (young people-to-young people) education as an important way of teaching about HIV and AIDS, for instance. Drama and art are some of the ways they get around language differences. See www.spw.org.au

A few days/weeks

By choosing the right project and organisation, you can probably achieve something worthwhile even if you only have a few days or weeks to give. It is important that the project you choose is well-organised and something the community really does want – not just something made up by a travel company to get your money! How do you know? Read everything you can about the project. Who is benefiting? The best projects are those that benefit many, especially the poorest in a community. On a short-term project, you may be contributing to part of a ‘bigger plan’, in which case you need to be realistic about how much of a difference you’re likely to see.

Remember, it can take lots of ‘smalls’ to make a ‘big’ difference. If properly managed and with the community’s support, every little bit counts.

Six months or longer

It takes 6+ months before you really start to understand a community. By then you will have mastered some of the language, have made friends, and started to build their trust. Many important insights into what makes a community tick will only emerge after you’ve been there for some time. And learning is an important part of volunteering. In fact organisations like VSA suggest you need two years for effective skills-share assignments because of the time it takes to learn and understand. Being well-prepared before you go by reading books, and talking to people will help.

Sustainable development means meeting people's present needs, without affecting the ability of future generations to also meet their needs.

Get clear about what you can doHow much time can you spare?

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NAME Mariana WhareaituOrganisation: Te ora hou – an indigenous faith-based group that supports and learns from other indigenous organisations overseas working in human rights and development. Supporters give regular donations and there are opportunities to visit and volunteer.



NAME Tim ParkOrganisation: Volunteer Service Abroad. VSA’s staff are professional development workers who work closely with organisations overseas. VSA searches nz for volunteers with the skills and qualifications that best match the needs of these partner organisations, in order to help them achieve clearly defined development objectives. Volunteers usually work closely with at least one local person.



NAME Megan WilliamsOrganisation: Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW) – an organisation that gives 18-28 year olds a chance to volunteer in Africa or Asia, working on health/youth empowerment programmes. Volunteers are requested to fundraise and the amount contributes to having local volunteers working alongside you on the programme.

Length: 5 months Cost: around $10,000

" My assignment was demonstrating organic farming in Uganda. The experience was really full-on and involved a month of training before we got into the community. There was me and three Ugandan volunteers in the group and we stayed with a local family. I felt prepared for being culturally challenged, but not the physical challenges we had to deal with – like walking 1km to get water. But you’ve got to give it all, or nothing. Returning to NZ was actually the hardest part, coming to terms again with how Westerners go about life. It's important that people prepare themselves for the anti-climax of returning home.”


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You have now thought through a lot of the issues about your own motivations, what’s ‘good’ volunteering practice, what you can offer, where and how. Now you're ready to find a volunteer organisation that matches your criteria.

A Google search of ‘volunteering overseas’ brings up close to a million listings. Use your criteria to narrow your search, or go through some of the links found on websites listed on the back page of this booklet. There are also some books that give you details about organisations offering volunteering opportunities, such as: The Gap Year Book, a Lonely Planet publication; Volunteer Work Overseas, by Peter Hodge; How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas, by Joseph Collins, Stefaano De Zerega and Zahara Heckscher; and other titles available in NZ bookstores and through www.goodbooksnz.co.nz (profits support Oxfam NZ Projects).

If you plan to find volunteer opportunities as you’re travelling around, pay special attention to the questions under Point 4 on the checklist, below.

Checklist 1 Think about what you are looking for and what

you have to offer. The information on the previous pages will help to get you thinking.

2Do some research on countries and the concept of volunteering… there are heaps of books and websites.

3 Search for a volunteer organisation (use some of the sites on the back page as a starting point). Check different organisations’ websites by Googling them, and join weblists and discussion boards.

4 When you have found an organisation you think is a good one, check it out thoroughly against your criteria. Who runs the organisation? What are its values? Where does the money you pay go? Does it sort out your visa and insurance for you? What do people who have volunteered with them in the past have to say (ask to speak to some of them)? How much support does

the organisation give you once you’re there? Will your work be part of a bigger project or development plan? Are there enough resources to make sure the project succeeds? What specifically will you be doing?

Before you go* Start reading up about where you’re going. Don’t

just read about what there is to see and do, but include books on the country’s history and culture and try to learn about the people.

* Learn the language (memorise at least 100 basic words as well as several key phrases). Go along to evening classes or find someone who’s a native speaker to help you practise.

* Start saving or fundraising. Visit www.fundraisingideas.org.nz for some ideas.

* Look up the New Zealand travel advisory www.safetravel.govt.nz to check if there’s any safety/security warnings on the country, and to find out what visas or permits you’ll need.

* Visit your doctor to establish what vaccinations or medication you need (you may need to get some well ahead of time). Also check out www.traveldoctor.co.nz

* Think about appropriate clothing to take. Secondhand shops or Trade Me are good places to find out-of-season bargains.

* Sort out travel insurance. Make sure it covers medical and related expenses, baggage or personal effects, cancellation, and personal liability.

* Read and sign the Volunteer Charter – www.volunteeringoptions.org to show you understand your obligations and responsibilities as a volunteer.

Choosing who to go withChoosing who to go with

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There are dozens of different ways you can volunteer: on your own, in a group, for a few days… months… years! You can mix it with travel, base it on your interests, or link it to an education or career opportunity. Here are just a few examples of what’s on offer…

NAME Nicole MathewsonOganisation: just Focus is a network for young people in Aotearoa new zealand that explores issues that affect people here, in the Pacific, and globally (see page 15).

Length: Ongoing Cost: No cost

“ My involvement with Just Focus has created lots of opportunities, which have allowed me to develop my writing skills and extend my knowledge of global and development issues. I've participated through the website and Just Focus events and have met many wonderful people and been to some great places, such as Wellington for a National Global Citizenship conference and the Just Focus National Youth Hui, and to sunny Tahiti for the Pacific Youth Festival.”

NAME Meghan StairmandOganisation: VSA on ADDVEnTUrE VSA. ADDVEnTUrE VSA combines seeing the country’s sites (in Meghan’s case, Cambodia), with work on a community project. Some of the funds raised also went towards helping communities access VSA volunteers on longer assignments.

Length: 13 days (5 on a project) Cost: $5500

“ It is really easy to travel to another country as a tourist and see it – but not see it. We spent five days working on a school library, a mural, and teaching English. That all sounds kind of worthwhile, but it’s not till you get there that you realise just what a big impact you’ve made. Everyone piled into the library; everyone wanted to read a book; everyone was interested. We would have liked to have done more, but to the students what we did was a lot already.”

AboVE: nAYLAnd CoLLEGE STUdEnTS FroM nELSon WEnT To CAMbodiA And inCLUdEd SoME VoLUnTEEr WorK AS PArT oF ThEir iTinErArY. SEE WWW.GECKoTrAiLS.Co.nz To Find oUT MorE.

MEGAn WiLLiAMS

MAriAnA WhArEAiTU (KnEELinG)

TiM PArK

niCoLE MAThEWSon (SECond LEFT)

MEGhAn STAirMAnd

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Focussing globally, working locally

What else can you do?* Learn about the issues – read alternative

media sources

* Join solidarity (or ‘support’) networks

* Volunteer in your own community

* Get behind the Pointseven www.pointseven.org.nz and Global Poverty Project www.globalpovertyproject.com campaigns

* Connect with the development community in Aotearoa New Zealand (see www.cid.org.nz for a list of members)

* Donate to support the work of organisations doing good work overseas

* Be ethical in your purchases – buy fair trade.


Your commitment to creating positive global change does not have to begin, or end, with volunteering overseas. You can start right now! And once you're home from volunteering it's important to share your new experiences and insights with others.

Just Focus is a network for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand that engages with issues of global importance. The key values are youth participation and global citizenship. By being a part of Just Focus, you have the opportunity to:

* Be active in becoming informed about issues facing the world today.

* Discuss these topics with other like-minded young people.

* Gain inspiration and tools to take action.

Just Focus has three parts: a website, regional groups and events offering a range of different ways to gain skills and knowledge, connect up with other young people, and have fun.

www.justfocus.org.nz

Copyright©VSA2007Published by VsA, P.O. bOx 12246, WellingtOn 6144, AOteArOA neW ZeAlAnd, PhOne (04) 472 5759 FAx (04) 472 5052

COPies Are mAde AVAilAble FrOm VsA And tO dOWnlOAd FrOm WWW.VsA.Org.nZ.

Please note: The information in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the official views of VSA. First published August 2007. Revised June 2009.

One great way to learn about global issues and how to take action is to join Just Focus.

VsA ADDVenturer JACKi smith, CAmbOdiA. hAydOm, tAnZAniA. VsA uniVOl stePhen mOllOy, bOugAinVille.

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Volunteering as a career springboard

into development if you specialise in a particular field such as environmental management, IT, agriculture, nursing… the options are endless. A good place to search for the kind of skills international development organisations are looking for is to visit www.dev-zone.org/jobs. Often, a requirement is that you have lived and worked overseas for at least a year or two.

Q What kinds of jobs could I end up doing?

A You could work for organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas, helping to eliminate poverty. For instance, former VSA volunteers are working at NZAID, Development Resource Centre, VSA, Oxfam NZ, RMS, Cambodia Trust, the World Bank, UNDP, United Nations, World Health Organisation and more.

A volunteer experience overseas, however short, is often life-changing. So it’s not surprising that many people return from a stint as a volunteer and make a career for themselves in International Development.

Q What is a career in International Development?

A It is about working together with local people to develop strategies and solutions that will improve their quality of life. At the ‘grassroots’ level, you could be helping a community to develop ways of earning a living, or to deliver better healthcare or safer water. At a ‘policy’ level, you could be helping develop country strategies with the government, or working out ways to make the community function more effectively.

Q How do I get into International Development?

A There are different papers in international development offered by most universities in Aotearoa New Zealand. But you can also get

Miriam Wood, 21, is a VSA UniVol (UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEER)Miriam completed three years of study towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Human Geography at Otago University. She spent a year in Vanuatu as a Youth Coordinator with an organisation called Wan Smolbag Theatre.

VSA set up the UniVol programme as a way of helping students interested in working in development to get practical experience overseas. VSA can only offer a handful of UniVol places a year, and these are highly sought after. Students must be development studies students enrolled at Victoria or Otago universities.

“Being in Vanuatu has changed the theories into practical experience, establishing lasting impressions of what development is actually all

about. It’s more than learning how to help people, it’s learning how to love people, their culture and their life. It’s opened my eyes to where I want to work in the future. It’s exciting because I know the things I'm learning here are going to be foundational lessons for further work in this field.”


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The challenge of volunteering ‘well’

When volunteering is done well, everyone benefits. You have an amazing experience, and the community really gains from you being there.

Think aboutConsider the impact when people:

* flash money about.

* hand out gifts of lollies and toys.

* keep buying bottled water.

* get drunk.

* get into a relationship with someone locally.

* wear revealing clothing.

* take photos without asking.

* lose their cool and yell at people when the local culture makes a point of not showing anger.

* expect hosts to give up their weekends to entertain them.

* take people away from their work to translate for them all the time.

Being aware of these – and other – issues and monitoring your own behaviour and impact on communities is important. Volunteers are guests in a community and will be welcome if they behave with respect and consideration for others.

The challenge of volunteering ‘well’

Good volunteering means...Local people’s needs come first.

Good projects are those where the community has identified what needs to be done themselves and where they have asked for volunteer help and direct what happens.

ideas and solutions are worked out together.

Be prepared to question your assumptions and look for ways of seeing and doing things differently.

‘West’ doesn’t always know ‘best’. The world is full of failed projects where ‘Westerners’ have gone in thinking they know the right way.

Time is spent listening and learning.

Thoughtful volunteers take the time to ask the questions: what, where, how, why, when… They do with – not for or to local people.

Local people benefit.

If you’re paying to volunteer, a good chunk of that money should go to the community you’re staying with. And make sure the work you’re doing doesn’t take jobs away from local people.

Ahakoa iti, he iti pounamu ma- pihi. Although small, it is of the finest greenstone.8

Where to go for more information

www.vsa.org.nz

You can find out more about volunteering for development on the VSA website. The site also posts volunteer vacancies and suggests how you can support volunteers already in the field. All jobs require specific skills and qualifications. You can also find out about the SPW and UniVol programmes for young people.

www.dev-zone.org

This is an Aotearoa New Zealand non-governmental resource centre on international development and global issues. You can access information, search for jobs and join the free lending library. Also check out their guide Volunteering overseas in development: A guide for Aotearoa New Zealanders.

www.idealist.org

Idealist lists thousands of volunteer opportunities around the world. Register online and receive information on job openings, volunteer opportunities, internships, events, and resources. You can also set up Volunteer Profiles listing your interests, skills, and schedule which can be searched by organisations.

www.voluntourism.org

Go to the ‘Traveler’ section for tips on how to choose a programme, organising yourself pre-departure, getting your head around the experience once there, and how to deal with the challenges you’ll face upon your return home.

www.gec.org.nz

The Global Education Centre (GEC) is responsible for the administration of the Just Focus Youth Network. GEC also provides training and resources on Global Education to teachers, teacher trainees, young people, youth workers and community groups in Aotearoa New Zealand.

www.volunteeringoptions.org

This website is run by Comhlámh, an Irish agency promoting social justice, human rights and global and development issues. There is a good quiz on motivations, plus info on issues to consider, choosing a position, and choosing the right organisation. There’s also a Volunteer Charter which you can sign.

www.volunteerinternational.org

This website features an alliance of non-profit NGOs involved in international volunteering and internship programmes. The Principles and Practices gives you a good example of guidelines and standards you should look for in an organisation.

www.ethicalvolunteering.org

This website provides a list of questions you should ask of organisations to help you choose one that’s ethical.

www.tourismconcern.org.uk

Tourism Concern is a membership organisation that fights exploitation in tourism. It is a good site to familiarise yourself with some of the issues around tourism generally. The website includes articles on volunteer tourism.

www.yearoutgroup.org

This is a website aimed specifically at guiding gap-yearers and their parents. The ‘10 things to do before you go’ is a useful summary of advice not clearly presented in the other websites.


Ask about VSA's DVD Volunteering Overseas: More than an

OE. Contact VSA's Development Education Unit, 0800 872

8646, or enquire via the VSA website, www.vsa.org.nz

ISBN 978-0-473-12555-4

VSA 02 06/09Te Tu-ao Ta-wa-hi Volunteer Service Abroad Inc is a registered charity (CC36739) under the Charities Act 2005

IT’S AN EMERGENCY

What do you think?

Some people see ‘buying a volunteering experience’ as consumerism at its worst. They think that it is people from richer countries paying their way into poor people’s lives because it satisfies their own wants and needs – like, if it’s a cheap way to extend an OE. They see it as using people and being nosey.

Others see it as a powerful way for richer and poorer people to learn about each other’s lives and cultures. They see it as a way of working together for a better world. They believe it helps promote understanding, global friendship and world peace.

Consensus is unlikely on this issue, but it is important that you take time to think about how you feel.

IT’S AN EMERGENCYWhen the Indian Ocean tsunami happened in 2004, aid organisations were overwhelmed with calls. Many people wanted to volunteer, but most were turned away. Unless they have the specific skills needed, volunteers in emergency and disaster situations can sometimes be more of a hindrance than a help. They need food, accommodation, and fresh water – all of which may be in short supply for the local people at that time. Fundraising locally to support the emergency and disaster relief teams already working there may be a better way to help. Or volunteer to answer phones or assist the organisation locally.

VSA UniVoL SiMon PoLLoCK, riGhT And EbULE TrAininG CEnTrE STUdEnT. rUGbY ShirTS, SoUTh AFriCA. ChiLdrEn in ArUShA, TAnzAniA.

What does it mean?

Social impact: You may be only one person, but multiply your impact a hundred-fold. In the hill tribe villages of Thailand, children’s teeth have gone rotten from the sweets given to them by tourists; people have become opium addicts – an impact of tourist demand for the drug; villages have been broken apart because one or two families have benefited from tourist income, while others have earned nothing. It’s important to think carefully about what you do.

Environmental impact: You know the saying ‘take only photographs, leave only footprints’. A place should be no worse off as a result of you having been there.

Make it count: You may feel your contribution doesn’t count for much, but when it’s given wholeheartedly and with aroha, it will mean a lot.

9

Working out your optionsWorking out your options

What skills can you offer?Qualified/trained

People with particular qualifications and work experience are often needed to contribute to the steps a community or country is taking to bring about ‘development’. It is not about you as a volunteer going in and showing people what to do, but working together on problems so that both you and the people you’re working with can learn from and help each other.

In some countries, there are real skill shortages in certain areas, like health, education, law, environmental management, agriculture, and engineering. Organisations like VSA help overseas organisations and communities to work out exactly what skills they need, then find Kiwis with the right personality and experience to work alongside them. Because these new skills are built up and can be passed on over and over, it leads to what’s called ‘sustainable development’. Visit www.vsa.org.nz to learn about the kind of assignments volunteers are involved in, and what you might be able to contribute to – if not now, perhaps in the future.

No specific skills

If you have energy and don’t mind manual work, then consider construction or conservation projects where you’re accompanied by a professional local – assisting with building work, surveying wildlife, building tracks, or planting trees for example. Why not volunteer in NZ first: www.conservationvolunteers.org.nz?

Speaking English can open doors to finding teaching work. An ESOL Home Tutor certificate and at least six months volunteering experience in NZ will help. www.esolht.org.nz

If you’re great with kids, orphanages are often very short-staffed. Get some local experience first by working on school holiday programmes, like with the YMCA. Visit www.ymca.org.nz or make contact with your local YMCA.

If you're young and confident, some organisations, like SPW, use peer-to-peer education as a way of teaching about HIV/AIDS, for instance. Drama and art are some of the ways they get around the language differences. You can volunteer with SPW through VSA.

A few days/weeks

By choosing the right project and organisation, you can probably achieve something worthwhile even if you only have a few days or weeks to give. It is important that the project you choose is well-organised and something the community really does want – not just something made up by a travel company to get your money! How do you know? Read everything you can about the project. Who is benefiting? The best projects are those that benefit many, especially the poorest in a community. On a short-term project, you may be contributing to part of a ‘bigger plan’, in which case you need to be realistic about how much of a difference you’re likely to see.

Remember, it can take lots of ‘smalls’ to make a ‘big’ difference. If properly managed and with the community’s support, every little bit counts.

Six months or longer

It takes 6+ months before you really start to understand a community. By then you will have mastered some of the language, have made friends, and started to build their trust. Many important insights into what makes a community tick will only emerge after you’ve been there for some time. And learning is an important part of volunteering. In fact organisations like VSA suggest you need two years for effective skills-share assignments because of the time it takes to learn and understand. Being well-prepared before you go by reading books, and talking to people will help.

Sustainable development means meeting people's present needs, without affecting the ability of future generations to also meet their needs.

Get clear about what you can doHow much time can you spare?

10

Can you afford it?To pay?

Finding and developing good assignments costs the organisation you’re going with. In most instances, these costs need to be passed on to you. For example, someone needs to make sure the organisation you’re going to be working with is doing good work and needs you, and that it’s ethical, trustworthy, and safe. Then there’s business costs every organisation faces: rent, administration and wages. Once you’re there your travel, food, and accommodation all costs money. And sometimes there are materials to be purchased before your project can proceed.

It is up to you to check out how the organisation has worked out its pricing. Cheapest may not be best – or fairest to the people you’ll be staying with and working for.

Some organisations encourage you to fundraise and classify contributions as a donation using profits to fund other programmes. In some cases, donations may be tax deductible.

or not to pay?

The reality is that most volunteer programmes cost, and these charges have to be passed on to you. If you go with a development organisation, like VSA, it’s slightly different. That’s because the work of VSA volunteers is recognised as part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s official overseas development work. VSA gets funding from NZAID because volunteers help build the skills of local people and foster good relationships between our nation and theirs. VSA also gets support from the organisations it works with overseas and the Aotearoa New Zealand public through donations to cover volunteer costs. Volunteers are provided with housing and an allowance, equivalent to what a person might earn in the country. This means they live like local people.

Where should you go?Think about what kind of place will suit you best. Can you speak another language and want to put it to use? Is there a country you’ve always dreamed of visiting? Do you want to be based in a city or would you prefer a village or nature-based experience? How important is it for you to be near an internet café (can you survive without communication from home)? Are there any foods you particularly dislike (e.g. it’s no good going to Asia if you can’t stand rice)? Tip: Often, the places that need volunteers most are not the popular tourist destinations.

Going together or going alone?

Going with a group

pros

* You can support each other.

* Someone to share the memories with.

* You meet other volunteers/travellers.

* There’s often added security.

cons

* You may have less motivation or opportunity to get involved in local experiences or build local friendships.

* You might not get along with others in the group.

Going on your own

pros

* You’ll really challenge yourself.

* You’re likely to get more involved with a community and make deeper local friendships.

cons

* It may get lonely.

* Depending on the support offered by the organisation, there may be no one to help you work through any problems you come up against.

VSA UniVoL AnnA STAr, CAMbodiA. VSA ADDVEnTUrEr jACKi SMiTh, CAMbodiA.

11

You have now thought through a lot of the issues about your own motivations, what’s ‘good’ volunteering practice, what you can offer, where and how. Now you're ready to find a volunteer organisation that matches your criteria.

A Google search of ‘volunteering overseas’ brings up close to a million listings. Use your criteria to narrow your search, or go through some of the links found on websites listed on the back page of this booklet. There are also some books that give you details about organisations offering volunteering opportunities, such as: The Gap Year Book, a Lonely Planet publication; Volunteer Work Overseas, by Peter Hodge; How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas, by Joseph Collins, Stefaano De Zerega and Zahara Heckscher; and other titles available in NZ bookstores and through www.goodbooksnz.co.nz (profits support Oxfam NZ Projects).

If you plan to find volunteer opportunities as you’re travelling around, pay special attention to the questions under Point 4 on the checklist, below.

Checklist 1 Think about what you are looking for and what

you have to offer. The information on the previous pages will help to get you thinking.

2Do some research on countries and the concept of volunteering… there are heaps of books and websites.

3 Search for a volunteer organisation (use some of the sites on the back page as a starting point). Check different organisations’ websites by Googling them, and join weblists and discussion boards.

4 When you have found an organisation you think is a good one, check it out thoroughly against your criteria. Who runs the organisation? What are its values? Where does the money you pay go? Does it sort out your visa and insurance for you? What do people who have volunteered with them in the past have to say (ask to speak to some of them)? How much support does

the organisation give you once you’re there? Will your work be part of a bigger project or development plan? Are there enough resources to make sure the project succeeds? What specifically will you be doing?

Before you go* Start reading up about where you’re going. Don’t

just read about what there is to see and do, but include books on the country’s history and culture and try to learn about the people.

* Learn the language (memorise at least 100 basic words as well as several key phrases). Go along to evening classes or find someone who’s a native speaker to help you practise.

* Start saving or fundraising. Visit www.fundraisingideas.org.nz for some ideas.

* Look up the New Zealand travel advisory www.safetravel.govt.nz to check if there’s any safety/security warnings on the country, and to find out what visas or permits you’ll need.

* Visit your doctor to establish what vaccinations or medication you need (you may need to get some well ahead of time). Also check out www.traveldoctor.co.nz

* Think about appropriate clothing to take. Secondhand shops or Trade Me are good places to find out-of-season bargains.

* Sort out travel insurance. Make sure it covers medical and related expenses, baggage or personal effects, cancellation, and personal liability.

* Read and sign the Volunteer Charter – www.volunteeringoptions.org to show you understand your obligations and responsibilities as a volunteer.

Choosing who to go withChoosing who to go with

12

4. Follow the lead

Gender roles can be quite different from country to country. It’s a good idea for women particularly to respect the local cultural norms with appropriate dress and conduct, especially around men, or where and when they exercise, for instance. You will be more accepted and valued if you show consideration for local customs and ways of doing things.

5. Make plans

The organisation you’re going with will probably work with you to develop a personal emergency plan so that you – and those around you – know what to do in the unlikely event that something may go wrong, like falling really ill, or if a natural or civil disaster is looming. Let people know who to contact if you are unable to use a phone yourself. Plan how to get emergency support should you ever really need it.

1. Seek friendship

The best way to a successful volunteer assignment is through the relationships you form with local people. Be genuine and show interest in others. People will never forget how you make them feel.

2. Go easy

It’s going to take a couple of weeks, usually much longer to feel comfortable in a new country, so go easy on yourself. You’ll find it easier if you’ve done plenty of background reading on the place, people, and culture before you arrive in-country.

3. Be realistic

You’re no longer in the ‘developed’ world so things operate on a different time scale. The politics of the place are also different and ways of getting things done are not likely to be the same as you’re used to. Relax and go with the flow.

Junior Ulu is Pacific Programme Officer for VSA. He is responsible for volunteers in several Pacific countries. Here are his Top Five tips on volunteering overseas...

It’s going to take a couple of weeks, usually much longer to feel comfortable in a new country, so go easy on yourself.

jUnior ULU AT A Pri-SKUL in LUGAnViLLE, VAnUATU.

Advice from in the field

Advice from in the field

13


into development if you specialise in a particular field such as environmental management, IT, agriculture, nursing… the options are endless. A good place to search for the kind of skills international development organisations are looking for is to visit www.dev-zone.org. Often, a requirement is that you have lived and worked overseas for at least a year or two.

Q What kinds of jobs could I end up doing?

A You could work for organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas, helping to eliminate poverty. For instance, former VSA volunteers are working at NZAID, Development Resource Centre, VSA, Oxfam NZ, RMS, Cambodia Trust, the World Bank, UNDP, United Nations, World Health Organisation and more.

A volunteer experience overseas, however short, is often life-changing. So it’s not surprising that many people return from a stint as a volunteer and make a career for themselves in International Development.

Q What is a career in International Development?

A It is about working together with local people to develop strategies and solutions that will improve their quality of life. At the ‘grassroots’ level, you could be helping a community to develop ways of earning a living, or to deliver better healthcare or safer water. At a ‘policy’ level, you could be helping develop country strategies with the government, or working out ways to make the community function more effectively.

Q How do I get into International Development?

A There are different papers in international development offered by most universities in Aotearoa New Zealand. But you can also get

Miriam Wood, 21, is a VSA UniVol (UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEER)Miriam has just completed three years of study towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Human Geography at Otago University. She is currently in Vanuatu as a Youth Coordinator with an organisation called Wan Smolbag Theatre.

VSA is trialling the UniVol programme as a way of helping students interested in working in development to get practical experience overseas. VSA can only offer a handful of UniVol places a year, and these are highly sought after.

“Being in Vanuatu has changed the theories into practical experience, establishing lasting impressions of what development is actually all about. It’s more than learning how to help people, it’s learning how

to love people, their culture and their life. It’s opened my eyes to where I want to work in the future. It’s exciting because I know the things I'm learning here are going to be foundational lessons for further work in this field.”


14


What else can you do?* Learn about the issues – read alternative

media sources

* Join solidarity (or ‘support’) networks

* Volunteer in your own community

* Get behind the Pointseven www.pointseven.org.nz and Make Poverty History www.makepovertyhistory.org.nz campaigns

* Connect with the development community in Aotearoa New Zealand (see www.cid.org.nz for a list of members)

* Donate to support the work of organisations doing good work overseas

* Be ethical in your purchases – buy fair trade.


Your commitment to creating positive global change does not have to begin, or end, with volunteering overseas. You can start right now! And once you're home from volunteering it's important to share your new experiences and insights with others.

Just Focus is a network for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand that engages with issues of global importance. The key values are youth participation and global citizenship. By being a part of Just Focus, you have the opportunity to:

* Be active in becoming informed about issues facing the world today.

* Discuss these topics with other like-minded young people.

* Gain inspiration and tools to take action.

Just Focus has three parts: a website, regional groups and events offering a range of different ways to gain skills and knowledge, connect up with other young people, and have fun.

www.justfocus.org.nz

COpYRIGhT © VSA 2007PUbLiShEd bY VSA, P.o. box 12-246, WELLinGTon, AoTEAroA nEW zEALAnd, PhonE (04) 472 5759 FAx (04) 472 5052

CoPiES ArE MAdE AVAiLAbLE FroM VSA And To doWnLoAd FroM WWW.VSA.orG.nz.

Please note: The information in this booklet was correct at the time of going to print. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the official views of VSA. First published August 2007.

One great way to learn about global issues and how to take action is to join Just Focus.

VSA ADDVEnTUrEr jACKi SMiTh, CAMbodiA. hAYdoM, TAnzAniA. VSA UniVoL STEPhEn MoLLoY, boUGAinViLLE.

15


www.vsa.org.nz

You can find out more about volunteering for development on the VSA website. The site also posts volunteer vacancies and suggests how you can support volunteers already in the field. All jobs require specific skills and qualifications.

www.dev-zone.org

This is an Aotearoa New Zealand non-governmental resource centre on international development and global issues. You can access information, search for jobs and join the free lending library. Also check out their guide Volunteering overseas in development: A guide for Aotearoa New Zealanders.

www.idealist.org

Idealist lists thousands of volunteer opportunities around the world. Register online and receive information on job openings, volunteer opportunities, internships, events, and resources. You can also set up Volunteer Profiles listing your interests, skills, and schedule which can be searched by organisations.

www.voluntourism.org

Go to the ‘Traveler’ section for tips on how to choose a programme, organising yourself pre-departure, getting your head around the experience once there, and how to deal with the challenges you’ll face upon your return home.

www.gec.org.nz

The Global Education Centre (GEC) is responsible for the administration of the Just Focus Youth Network. GEC also provides training and resources on Global Education to teachers, teacher trainees, young people, youth workers and community groups in Aotearoa New Zealand.

www.volunteeringoptions.org

This website is run by Comhlámh, an Irish agency promoting social justice, human rights and global and development issues. There is a good quiz on motivations, plus info on issues to consider, choosing a position, and choosing the right organisation. There’s also a Volunteer Charter which you can sign.

www.volunteerinternational.org

This website features an alliance of non-profit NGOs involved in international volunteering and internship programmes. The Principles and Practices gives you a good example of guidelines and standards you should look for in an organisation. Go to ‘Things to Know’. The ‘How to Volunteer’ section is also useful.

www.ethicalvolunteering.org

This website provides a list of questions you should ask of organisations to help you choose one that’s ethical.

www.tourismconcern.org.uk

Tourism Concern is a membership organisation that fights exploitation in tourism. It is a good site to familiarise yourself with some of the issues around tourism generally. The website includes articles on volunteer tourism.

www.yearoutgroup.org

This is a website aimed specifically at guiding gap-yearers and their parents. The ‘10 things to do before you go’ is a useful summary of advice not clearly presented in the other websites.


Click here to view the DVD

Volunteering Overseas: More than an OE

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