"Volunteer Vacations" - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

mx5me · 01-26-2007, 07:33 AM

Has anyone ever done any volunteering in other countries? This seems like a pretty cool way to see the world, other cultures, etc. I saw a segment about Doctors Without Borders on TV a while back, and that just struck me as the greatest thing ever. Unfortunately the local Engineers Without Borders branches are either relatively inactive or difficult for new members to get in with enough to join trips. I can't believe how much some organizations want to charge to hook travelers up with these types of things! I've heard that it's better to go through organizations within the destination country. Anyway, just curious if anyone's had any experience with this type of thing.

abaya · 01-26-2007, 10:29 AM

I have not taken a "volunteer vacation," but since I am an anthropologist I have traveled in order to do research and work with local populations abroad... so it's somewhat similar. And we get paid to do it, with grants from the gov't.

I got to go to Zambia and camp out in a village for 7 weeks, very rural... no tourist would ever have the same experience that I did. I wish more people could experience that kind of thing, but I think most people prefer to have running water on vacation.

EDIT: Have you considered the Peace Corps? That's volunteer traveling if I've ever heard of it... but it involves a 2 year commitment. I have heard nothing but good things from people I know who did this.

Pip · 01-26-2007, 01:42 PM

A bunch of my engineering friends went on field projects in third world countries as a part of their MSc final project. They got grants for that from our Foreign Aid Bureau. If you're still a student, maybe there is something similar where you are.
They all had a great time in spite of peasant uprisings, indecent proposals and rampant corruption.

01-26-2007, 07:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
mx5me Upright Location: MA	"Volunteer Vacations" Has anyone ever done any volunteering in other countries? This seems like a pretty cool way to see the world, other cultures, etc. I saw a segment about Doctors Without Borders on TV a while back, and that just struck me as the greatest thing ever. Unfortunately the local Engineers Without Borders branches are either relatively inactive or difficult for new members to get in with enough to join trips. I can't believe how much some organizations want to charge to hook travelers up with these types of things! I've heard that it's better to go through organizations within the destination country. Anyway, just curious if anyone's had any experience with this type of thing.

01-26-2007, 10:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
abaya Location: Iceland	I have not taken a "volunteer vacation," but since I am an anthropologist I have traveled in order to do research and work with local populations abroad... so it's somewhat similar. And we get paid to do it, with grants from the gov't. I got to go to Zambia and camp out in a village for 7 weeks, very rural... no tourist would ever have the same experience that I did. I wish more people could experience that kind of thing, but I think most people prefer to have running water on vacation. EDIT: Have you considered the Peace Corps? That's volunteer traveling if I've ever heard of it... but it involves a 2 year commitment. I have heard nothing but good things from people I know who did this. __________________ And think not you can direct the course of Love; for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. --Khalil Gibran Last edited by abaya; 01-26-2007 at 10:42 AM..

01-26-2007, 01:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pip Likes Hats Location: Stockholm, Sweden	A bunch of my engineering friends went on field projects in third world countries as a part of their MSc final project. They got grants for that from our Foreign Aid Bureau. If you're still a student, maybe there is something similar where you are. They all had a great time in spite of peasant uprisings, indecent proposals and rampant corruption.