10 Reasons To Choose Summer Volunteer Abroad Projects [INFOGRAPHIC]
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Would you choose to waste your summer break doing nothing?
Or would you make a sensible choice of opting for a volunteering project and making the most of your time by doing something meaningful?
While the first one is easier to choose, the second one will surely take you a long way and make a mark on your mind that’ll last forever. In the recent past, more and more millennials (including high school/college students and gap year travelers) have taken up volunteering projects in different Third World countries, to bring some effective change in the lives of the underprivileged ones.
Moreover, it’s a coin with two sides – not only will you get to do good for others, but it’ll be immensely beneficial for you as well, and what more can you ask for, when you’ll have a chance of exploring a new country with a bunch of like-minded fellows!
Do you still want us to convince you to do some brilliant work during your summer break? Guess not!
But we have some amazing plans that would not just brighten up your days, but also help you to indulge in a meaningful journey, making a difference to the world and boosting your career graph – all at the same time!
While we have a set of 10 reasons why you should choose to be a part of the Summer Volunteering Projects available across 6 destinations in the world, here are some of the highlights that we thought to mention beforehand.
- Enjoy a set of tailor-made volunteer and travel programs, specially designed for high school/ college students, gap year travelers and budget backpackers
- Experience the bliss of living like a local, immerse in the native culture, go for challenging treks or wildlife safaris
- A chance to learn a new language
- Perfectly curated voluntours for 3/4 weeks, to suit your summer break
- Opportunity to meet like-minded travelers from other parts of the world
- Contribute effectively towards sustainable growth & development of underprivileged societies
The Summer Volunteering Projects are available in Peru, India, Thailand, Nepal, Ghana, and Tanzania.
1. This is your chance to step out of your comfort zone and travel abroad
You must have longed to take that solo trip but every time, something or the other cropped up, and it never turned out to be successful. Also, you’ve been skeptical about the entire thing – how you’ll go, how you’ll manage to live by yourself, about the safety issues, etc. Now, you can ditch all those thoughts and take the bold step out of your comfort zone. Volunteering Solutions has some amazing and affordable Summer Volunteer Programs in 6 exotic locations and if you join any of these programs, you don’t need to worry about anything else! Your accommodation, transportation, food, safety, etc shall be taken care of. All you need is to have the guts to fly abroad!
2. Meet amazing people from other parts of the world.
You aren’t alone in this journey! There would be several others like you, who also have similar aims of helping people and exploring a different nation. This is your chance to connect with like-minded people, share your thoughts and ideas, work together and enjoy the joyride while making a difference. And you never know, perhaps you’ll just find that travel mate whom you’ve been looking for, all these years! You’ll get to broaden your network, know about different cultures and learn things that textbooks could never tell you!
3. Give something back to society in the most meaningful manner.
Volunteering is the best way to give back to the society effectively. Get involved in something that aligns with your tastes and interests. Whether it is about working with children or volunteering at a medical camp – your little contribution can make a big impact on someone else’s life. So wait no further – make a choice and don’t waste your break only by chilling! You’ll surely be able to look back at your summer days and say, “I’ve painted a classroom” or “I made an impact on wildlife conservation” and it’ll make you feel proud for the rest of your life.
4. Be a responsible traveler.
You’ve taken hundreds of trips before this, but perhaps you never realized how important it is to be a responsible traveler (one who knows how to respect nature and value the ethics and culture of the people of a different land). Littering on the road, throwing non-biodegradable items here and there, destroying the flora and being disrespectful towards the natives are few qualities that we won’t expect from you. A volunteering trip will surely change your perspective about traveling abroad and you’ll be surprised to see the changes in yourself!
5. Learn a new language.
What can be more fun than learning a new language? A summer volunteering journey will simply fulfill your wish of learning a new language. While most people in your host country will be able to conserve in English, you’ll soon realize that knowing the local language can add to your advantage. Say for example, if you are in India and wish to travel by auto or buy something from a roadside stall, knowing a little bit of Hindi will help you in bargaining better! Also, knowing the basics of the native language will help you bond better with the locals while working with/for them.
6. Polish your existing skills and acquire some new ones.
Are you good at playing football or maybe you are a creative person with amazing painting skills? This summer, use your skills and put them to some good use. Teach kids how to play, draw, paint and read. You can also use your creativity and make the learning environment more vibrant and student-friendly. As a volunteer, you’ll get ample scope to polish your skills and understand your strengths and weaknesses. Also, while working with a team, you’ll be able to learn a lot of new things from your peers that may be useful in the days ahead.
7. Tickle your adventure cells and try something that you’ve never done before!
This is your golden opportunity to feel the adrenaline rush and try something adventurous. Whether it is trekking in the Himalayas in India or bungee jumping in Nepal, or scuba diving in Thailand or wildlife safari in Tanzania – you can’t just miss out the best that your host country has to offer! Let go of your fears – take a chance and try out something new. No matter what, it’ll surely help you in creating wonderful memories.
8. Boost your CV / Resume.
While most of your classmates/ peers will be doing nothing or at best, taking a luxurious holiday with family, you’ll have a chance of adding some brownie points to your CV / Resume. As a general rule, employers usually lookout for those candidates who have some experience of community involvement, especially international volunteering, on their resume. Thus, your summer volunteering endeavor will help you to create a positive impression, proving the fact that you are more innovative, creative and have better skills than the other candidates who have no prior experience.
9. Become a better human being.
Often in life, we tend to ignore little things and get more engrossed in achieving bigger goals. We take things for granted and skip saying ‘sorry’ for a mistake or fail to express gratitude to someone who did something for us. This volunteering journey will change you for better, make you more aware of the things you have, and help you to learn how to value those. You’ll come across many who don’t even have the necessities of life, and yet you’ll find them to be happy. This will surely be a life-changing experience for you and it’ll help you to be a better person.
10. It’s so much fun!
While all the above reasons are valid and justified – keeping them aside, just go for summer volunteering because it’s so much fun! You’ll be traveling on your own in a new country where no one knows you and you know none! You’ll make friends out of strangers, explore the country’s nooks and corners, visit the sites that you’ve always heard about, savor the delicious local cuisine, spend time with the natives and much more! Can there be any better way to spend the summer break – guess not!
Now that you are convinced, take a quick look at our amazing and affordable summer volunteer projects across Latin America, Asia, and Africa and start planning. In case you need some more information or wish to know more about the projects, don’t hesitate to drop a mail at [email protected]
If you are confused while choosing where to go, then we can offer you a little help! Take this quiz to know which summer volunteering destination would suit you the best. You can also take a quick look at our Instagram profile for some travel inspiration – and of course, don’t forget to follow us!
Start planning ASAP – the world is calling you!
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