Phase one is complete. You have decided which volunteer project will benefit from your enthusiasm, expertise, and time. Congratulations!  Take a short breather because you are about to enter phase two – preparing to leave.

TELL ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE what you will do, where it is, and when it will happen. Help them imagine it by giving them glorious details of what you will see, hear, taste, and smell. Describe what it will be like to do the work and how wonderful you will feel upon completion. This is done, of course, in a non-smug way because your intention is not to instill envy, but gain enthusiasm for your volunteer work.

CREATE YOUR TO DO LIST of everything that needs to be accomplished, not only before you leave, but also while you are abroad. Decide how you want your affairs handled.  Immediate family can do many of the items if you are only gone for a month. If you will be gone for an extended period however, you may need a team of people to keep your home life rolling while you are away.  As this topic is covered in detail through the Briefcase to Backpack program, I suggest a preliminary list of topics to be considered:

• Job
• Legal issues
• Bills
• Insurance
• Mail
• Home – Possessions, Pets and Plants
• Car
• Special Events
• Commitments to others.

Brainstorm other issues specific to you and your trip with your family.

ENLIST YOUR “A” TEAM by enrolling your family and friends in your passion for the volunteer project. They will want to feel connected to your experience even from a distance. When they ask “HOW CAN I HELP?”, show them your list. They may have suggestions on additional things needing to be handled or other ways to be helpful.

When your “A” Team is in place, make a contact list with names, contact information, and what they will do for you during your absence. Distribute the list to your entire team and take a copy with you.

GET PHYSICALLY FIT and plan a training schedule at least six months before your trip, or as soon as you decide to go abroad.

Start with your doctor.  You may need a check-up based in the project selected and possibly shots and medicines specific for our destination. Many routine shots are available from your doctor.  Certain shots come in a series that can take up to six months to complete.  Ask your doctor for strategies for how you can stay healthy overseas.

Specialized vaccines and travel related prescriptions are usually available from the local travel clinic.  These clinics have up-to-date information on health issues abroad, and offer great advice on how to stay healthy. They may also know which medical supplies should be carried from home versus what brands are available abroad.

Consider your current level of fitness and what will be needed for your volunteer work.  Begin any exercise or fitness program WELL IN ADVANCE of departure.  If you will need a certification such as SCUBA, or will work with equipment you haven’t used recently, check it out, clean it up, and get comfortable using it before you go.

Figure out what you do to stay healthy at home (diet, exercise, vitamins, yoga, rest), and find ways to incorporate those practices when you are away.

GET MENTALLY PREPARED and start building momentum for your trip before you depart.  Find out as much as you can about the city, country and culture you will enter.  Begin to explore while you are still at home with as many senses as possible. See if you can speak with people from the actual country, as they can be a great resource.

• Read – Magazines, guidebooks, novels, blogs and newsletters about the specific country
• See – Documentaries, movies, TV shows or travel presentations
• Listen – Take language lessons or use language tapes. See if there are recent émigrés to your area and volunteer to be an English coach.
• Smell and Taste – Locate a restaurant that serves the cuisine. Work with the waiters and the chef to find dishes that fit your dietary preferences or allergies.
• Touch – Go to global markets and fair-trade shows to find products from the country.

The time you spend with due diligence on both the logistics for your home life and researching the new culture can have a huge impact on the overall quality of your foreign volunteer experience.  The more prepared you are as you leave home, the easier it is to move your home life to the back burner when you are away. The more cultural research done prior to departure, the faster you will assimilate and begin making a difference to yourself and the world around you.

I wish you the best and trust you will have an amazing time as an international volunteer!

Additional Resources for International Volunteers

For additional information on how to prepare to be a powerful international volunteer, check out the articles KNOW THYSELF and VOLUNTEER ETIQUETTE.

Other resources that “would be” international travelers and volunteers have found useful include:

Mapping Your Volunteer Vacation by Jane Stanfield – This workbook provides a sequence of steps to follow to find, plan, prepare, pack, go on, and then return from an international volunteer trip.

Journeywomen – A marvelous free newsletter with suggestions from women who travel.

Jane Stanfield has a huge passion for animals, volunteering and international travel such that she quit her job to travel around the world completing 12 volunteer jobs, seven with wildlife, within one year.

Upon her return, Jane established her company, Where Is She Heading, which offers presentations, workshops, coaching and classes on how to find a volunteer vacation to suit your heart, interest, time frame and budget.

Jane’s first book, Mapping Your Volunteer Vacation, assists prospective volunteers find, create, plan, pack, and return from an international volunteer vacation.  Jane offers a class based on the book at Arapahoe and Front Range Community Colleges and teaches an introductory volunteer vacation class at Colorado Free University. Her chapter,  “The Color of Poo”, was published in The Voluntary Traveler in August 2009. Currently, she is getting ready to publish a series of E-Books for international volunteers and is planning her next international volunteer vacation for 2011.

We typically talk about career breaks as pausing your career to travel and volunteer and participate in activities that interest you. Carolyn is not the typical career breaker, but she has taken these three important elements of a traditional career break and put them together in a groundbreaking idea to make the world a better place. She left her stable career behind to pursue creating a volunteer opportunity around travel.

I had the opportunity to speak with Carolyn about her efforts to bring photography to all corners of the world.

You decided to take a very unusual career break in order to travel and give back. Can you tell us what you did prior to your career break? My eclectic career has spanned from being a research scientist to most recently the Director of Discovery Montessori School.

How did you decide to take the career break leap and pursue your goal?
I returned after 12 years to again head the nonprofit Montessori school which I had co-founded in 1990 and guide it through a growth period. I indicated to the board that I would not be the next long term director but would prepare the school for the future, so I already had an inkling of wanting to do/create something else as part of my life’s work. So after 3 years as the head administrator I resigned to make space to create what would become the Dog Meets World project, which at the time was just a collection of loose ideas.

Were your family and friends supportive of this bold move?
My children, Brittany and Austin, both in their mid-twenties, were completely supportive and have become very involved in Dog Meets World, the rest of my family was luke warm. They were interested, but concerned about risk taking and losing income. Friends were mostly encouraging, and many have actually gotten involved and offered help from legal and accounting assistance to participation and support.

Giving a personal photograph to a stranger is one of the best, easiest and kindest things people can do for one another. It is an incredible vehicle for person-to-person diplomacy.

–Carolyn Lane

Most people who take career breaks decide that they want to give back and do so by volunteering, however you decided to create a volunteer opportunity! How did you come up with the idea?
Dog Meets World is a confluence of the things that matter most to me, namely philanthropy or the greater good, travel, photography and children.

An experience in Haiti in ’07 impressed upon me how many children/families in need do not even own a single photograph of themselves. To balance the infinite inequity of me and countless others “taking” hundreds if not thousands of pictures and not sharing with the subjects, this project was conceived. Once cognizant of the dearth of means or access to personal photography for many, I became determined to change this paradigm and recruit others to join a community and practice Take & Give Photography when traveling in the developing world.

Why share photographs? We do intuitively at home. Distributed photographs enable other children and families to see themselves – many for the first time – a visual affirmation of their sacred place in the human family as evidenced in their own image tangibly captured in a photograph. The photographs will preserve for others, like they have for most of us, moments of personal history in time and space. Plus the “return on investment” is so great, an inexpensive gift that is treasured for a lifetime!

After traveling for fun with a little stuffed likeness of my own dog, I realized that people resonate with a toy animal and thus “Foto” became part of the project to serve as a branding mascot, an icebreaker, a prop for children unaccustomed to posing by giving them something to do with their hands, and to link all the children while at the same time identifying the photos as part of an intentional project.

What do you think this career break experience has taught you that you will utilize in your career? I’ve always been a self starter but creating a project from an idea to trying to start a movement has been daunting. What I am most aware of and indeed most thankful for is the support of others. By others I really mean that, friends count, but people I have met and engaged that resonate with my idea and offer real encouragement and recognition that what I have embarked upon is real, has an impact, makes a difference. It’s hard to stay “up” everyday and sometimes one email, encounter, connection etc provides the impetus during periods of doubt. So teamwork and creating a network is important. I’ve learned to listen better.

Do you intend to go back to your prior career field once you get DMW off the ground? No I intend to stay in the nonprofit arena, hopefully guiding Dog Meets World to sustainability as little Foto becomes the worldwide recognizable symbol of photo sharing, of acknowledging others with an indelible affirmations and thereby planting tiny seeds of peace.

The community of phodographers comes together to share their photos and stories on the website. The site is updated with new photos daily from around the world. If you are traveling in remote areas, please consider becoming a ‘phodographer’ and sharing your photos with the people you encounter. You can change the world one picture at a time!

You can find Carolyn and Foto at www.dogmeetsworld.org
Twitter – @Dogmeetsworld

But by including volunteering as part of your travels, you’re able to immerse yourself into a culture and give a little something back as a way of saying thanks. When I decided to take a career break in the summer of 2006, I knew that I wanted to include volunteering into my experience. And there were many factors that I considered that helped me decide what program was best for me.

1. Where did I want to volunteer?
For a while, Peru had been tugging at my heartstrings, yet I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of spending my career break there. I had been to other parts of Central and South America, but had never been to Africa. Did I want to explore another continent?

After some research, I realized that the heart doesn’t lie, and it belonged in Peru. Why else would I have spent the prior year reading up on the Incan civilization, eating ceviche as much as possible, and enrolling in Spanish classes?

2. What type of volunteer work did I want to do?
I’m not a trained doctor, vet, nurse or carpenter, and I don’t have business expertise to offer, so the type of work I’d be qualified to actually do was limiting. I am, however, a photographer and artistically inclined, so I was hoping that I could offer up those skills on some level. During my research, I kept coming across organizations that worked with children and schools, and felt that that would be the best area for me to pursue.

3. What did I want to get out of the experience?
I had pinpointed the type of work I wanted to do, but what else was I looking for? I had spent most of my travels hop-scotching across countries and continents, so I was looking forward to remaining in one place – Cusco. Still, I wanted to be able to explore the area and hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

I also wanted the opportunity to practice my Spanish, something I find much easier to do when I am in situations where I have to use it. A cultural experience was high on my list.

4. How high was my comfort level?
I’m not adverse to new situations, but there were some areas that I felt strongly about. I wanted to bond with members of the community, but I didn’t necessarily feel comfortable doing a homestay the whole time. I also didn’t want to live on my own, as so much of the travel experience is meeting new people. Ideally I was looking for an opportunity to live with my fellow volunteers.

5. What type of organization did I want?
There are many levels of opportunities out there, from the local NGOs that rely on volunteers to be completely pro-active to companies that offer a great deal of in-country support but cost more.

Given that I was going to be in Cusco for just six weeks, I knew I wouldn’t have the time to make the in-roads I would need to find a grassroots organization, plus worry about accommodation. Yet I still wanted a smaller organization that had their roots on a local level but offered volunteer support. I was willing to pay for just such an organization.

6. How to find an organization that met all my needs?
I started my research flipping through Lonely Planet’s Gap Year Book because it offered great resources for this type of experience. However, the book’s audience is more based out of the UK and skewered to the “just graduated high school” level.

I also found that most of the organizations listed were based in the UK and priced in pounds. I was willing to pay for this opportunity, but given the weakness of the dollar, the prices were too high. (Note: they have since come out with a Career Break book.)

So I turned to Idealist – a great online resource I use to find volunteer opportunities and employment on a local level. I decided to give their international resources a test run, and because I had such a strong list of requirements, I was able to find the perfect experience for me!

Peru’s Challenge
Peru’s Challenge is a local organization based outside of Cusco and they work with the local communities on sustainable projects. Because one of its founders is from Peru, the organization understands the needs of the community. And because the other founder is from Australia, they also understand the needs and expectations of the western volunteer coming into the experience.

I had the opportunity to work with the people of Pumamarca, a community whose members survive on their agricultural products but one in which the Department of Education does not support. We helped with the renovation of the school, teaching art and gym classes, and working with the Women’s Group.

I was also able to put my photography skills to use. I photographed the children of the community and helped design a fundraising calendar for the organization. Funds raised went towards an emergency medical fund for the village.

In addition to meeting my “what can I do” needs, Peru’s Challenge also fulfilled my “what do I want to get out of it” needs. Their program fee included housing for me and my fellow volunteers (we did our own shopping and cooking) and great cultural activities, including Spanish, cooking, and dancing lessons. They also offered several tours of the area (including the Sacred Valley) and organized my Inca Trail trek.

My experience was fulfilling on every level and I attribute that to the thought and research I put in beforehand. (Read more about my volunteer experience in Destinations: Cusco, Peru and in the Peru’s Challenge newsletter.)

So make sure you do your homework. Otherwise pre-conceived expectations will only set you up for disappointment. And don’t anticipate your work will change the world – in many cases it’s about an honest cultural exchange.

We’d love to hear from you!

Tell us about your international volunteer experience

For many years, Peru has called me – whether it was the spirit of the Incas, the mystery of Machu Picchu, or the magic of the Quechuan smile, I needed to answer the call.  In the summer of 2006, I did just that. But unlike other travels, where I tried to see and do as much as possible – never staying in one place for more than a few days – this time I wanted to have some roots.  I really wanted to immerse myself in the culture; experience life as the locals; and maybe pick up a bit of the language.

Cusco was the perfect place.  Chosen as the capital of the Incan Empire for a reason, Cusco has a spiritual essence that can’t be explained – it can only be felt.  But if I was going to take so much from this beautiful culture, I also wanted to give something back.  And that’s when I found Peru’s Challenge.

Peru’s Challenge is a local organization that offers a wonderful cultural and volunteer experience.  Founded by Selvy and Jane, they have their finger on the pulse of the community and how best the volunteers can best help their needs.

During my time, we helped the Village of Pumamarca in the construction of the school.  This project was great because we were able to work alongside the members of the community.  And as it’s a sustainable project, the community is required to contribute, so even after Peru’s Challenge leaves, the village can continue to support the education of their children. In addition to painting, painting, and even more painting, we even had the chance to teach some art and gym classes.  The kids were adorable, and at times mischievous, and their smiles were all the thanks we needed.

Peru’s Challenge was also terrific because it gave me the opportunity to learn more about the culture first hand.  Whether we were exploring the outskirts of Cusco on horseback, taking in the beauty of the Sacred Valley, or enjoying the night life in Cusco – they were perfect guides for an inside perspective. And by living with my fellow volunteers in the village of La Rapa, we got to share our experiences together.  Local traffic jams included.

And a trip to Peru would not be the same without a trek on the Inca Trail.  Machu Picchu was high on my list after trekking in Nepal.  Having it be a part of my volunteer experience made it even more special. After three tireless days of hiking through beautiful terrain, my tired body and weary eyes knew it was worth it after watching the sun come up on Machu Picchu.

In addition to the Incan culture of Peru, I got to see another side of it that I never imagined – the gorgeous volcanic landscape of Arequipa and the Colca Canyon.  But the pinnacle of my experience was the time I got to spend with the people of Pumamarca.  They touched my life in a way that Peru will always hold a special place in my heart.

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- Pacific Perspectives with Tom Plate, Asia Media Online

I have not come across a better statement when describing Thailand and its people.  I have had the opportunity to travel to Thailand on three separate occasions, and each time I have found this thought to be true.  The Thais are so proud of their culture and so honored to share it with visitors that you can not help but fall in love with their hospitality and their warmth.

For a year I had the opportunity to prepare volunteers for their Thailand experience through Cross-Cultural Solutions.  After many years of traveling, it was only in 2006 that I decided to combine my travels with volunteering, and did so in Peru.  Upon returning, I wanted to help others discover the wonders of combining traveling and volunteering, and found that opportunity with CCS.

Why is international volunteering so important?  For me, it’s a great opportunity to give back to a community that I’m visiting and an incredible way to be guided through a culture that you would not get to experience if you were there just as a tourist.  It is also an opportunity to learn more about yourself and your place in the world.  Alexandra, a Bangkok volunteer, wrote: “I often stop and just think about how privileged I am and how much I take that for granted.  Thailand taught me how life can be so simple, yet so enjoyable.  I think we often forget that in our materialistic, electronic-run country.”

Sarah, a Trang volunteer, shared that “the warmth of the Thai people really stood out for me.  People there just really take in each moment and don’t hurry about their lives in a busy, frantic state of mind.  They really take time to enjoy life, food, other people, nature, and religion.”

Becoming an international volunteer is also a wonderful way to serve as ambassadors – for most of the world, what they know about us and our culture is what they see in the news and in movies and television shows.  And of course what is portrayed through those mediums are not always representative of who we are.  And as most of the world can not travel to us, by going to them, we can share our culture with them and show that there are people that care.

Alex spent four weeks in the Bangkok program and experienced the Thais appreciation in many ways: “The thing that stood out for me was the overwhelming appreciation of not only the children at the work site, but also all of the staff, and even people we met (at tourist attractions, for example). Before we even began work, I felt that our very presence and motives were enough to make a serious difference. Every Thai person who I told about my volunteering told me ‘Thank you so much for helping my country,’ and the way they said it, it was as if I’d helped them personally. I felt as though my small impact had somehow spread throughout the country, regardless of how much quantitative work I did.  The fact that I was only there 4 weeks had no effect on the quality of my work in anyone’s eyes.”

When I traveled to Thailand the first time, I definitely hit the tourist spots – Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui.  Returning with CCS, I was able to see a side of the culture that most visitors don’t get to experience.  Trang lies in the southern region of Thailand, and though it is close to popular tourist destinations like Krabi and Koh Phi Phi, it has remained off the tourist path.  And because of the large number of Chinese and Malay immigrants in the area, Trang has a unique culture even within Thailand itself. And it won’t be long before tourists recognize this and start to make their way there in order to visit the many mangroves, waterfalls, and of course, secluded islands that dot the coast line.  CCS volunteers in our Trang program have a great opportunity to prepare the community for the future of tourism by teaching English and giving them the confidence to practice the English they know.

Personally, by exploring the world as a volunteer, I feel as if I am so much more apart of a global community.  Instead of just taking on my travels, I am now sharing – both at home and abroad.  And learning can go so much further than just your immediate surroundings.  Brittany, a volunteer in Trang, wrote: “Not only did I learn a lot about the Thai culture, I learned a lot about other cultures that some of the other volunteers came from as well.  I am starting to consider myself a global citizen instead of a U.S. citizen.  I’ve realized how we are all connected despite our differences.”

We’d love to hear from you!

Have you volunteered abroad? Tell us about it! Share here.