How Has Volunteering Abroad Changed?

After more than two years of travel restrictions and a general sense of hesitation about going abroad, the world is opening up to steady flows of international volunteers. With multiple large-scale humanitarian crises developing, from climate change to complex conflicts and beyond, help is needed more than ever.

The landscape of volunteering abroad has changed, but it’s as important as ever!

For this reason, it’s crucial that volunteers think more critically about where, how, and why they go abroad. So what motivates millennials to volunteer?

What motivates millennials and Gen Z to volunteer?

Millennials are said to be more purpose-driven than their predecessors. In fact, late millennials and Gen Zers have been dubbed the “Change Generation” by some for their passion and desire to make a difference.

Maybe this is because they’ve grown up in an age of inflated costs for education and homes, and simultaneously, increased awareness of major global challenges like climate change and a widening poverty gap.

According to a recent study from Deloitte, the core values of millennials (and Gen Z to a great extent) are reflected in their prioritizing social justice and personal responsibility.

READ: What Are the Benefits of Volunteering Abroad?

During the pandemic, more than half of millennials surveyed donated to charities and 44 percent choose the organizations they work with based on personal ethics. So it’s no surprise that millennials are drawn to volunteering abroad with non-profits on issues like human rights, environmental sustainability, or other positive initiatives for change.

This motivation for change is powerful and inspiring. But critical observers will always ask—does volunteering abroad actually help?

Everyone has heard stories of the dangers of volunteering; a lack of training, unclear instructions, or a disconnect between the volunteer’s intentions and the needs of the community they’re trying to serve.

Does volunteering abroad actually help?

Depending on your skills, your volunteer work can help tremendously.

At a time when people face many interrelated challenges globally, volunteer work is vital when it’s informed by experience, incorporating past mistakes, and lessons learned.

In the late 1990s, the term voluntourism was coined in reference to short-term volunteer projects that were added onto vacations, usually by well-intentioned young people from the Global North. Since then, the volunteer sector has become increasingly aware of the harms of ill-informed volunteers and has worked hard to avoid the pitfalls.

READ: 7 Important Questions to Ask Before Volunteering Abroad

Effective volunteers live by some foundational principles. In order to find a suitable volunteer role that’s more meaningful and long-term, here are just a few criteria that all volunteers should keep in mind.

• Partnership and collaboration with local communities. See yourself as a partner, working with rather than working for the local community. After all, what motivates millennials to volunteer is feeling they’re helping out.
• Sustainability. A sustainable project should have local people in charge and should be designed to survive your leaving. When asking whether volunteering abroad actually helps, consider whether you’re using more resources than you’re supplying.
• Alignment of values. Make sure your expectations and values align with your host organization. For example, are you comfortable with religious programming? Do you expect a lot of guidance and supervision? Here are some ideas on how to get started on your search for the right project focus.

READ: 5 Tips for Being the Best Volunteer Possible

How has volunteering abroad changed?

Ethical, sustainable programs are firmly at the forefront of volunteering abroad.

1. Virtual volunteer teams

When lockdown restrictions made travel impossible and PPE supplies became essential, many volunteer-involving organizations (VIOs) had to reduce resources allocated to volunteers. The nonprofit world became especially creative in finding ways to continue.

For example, Habitat for Humanity launched “virtual build” projects in which volunteers could support field workers from their own homes. The success of this hybrid approach showed that volunteers could be connected to global partners and field staff in creative ways.

Habitat was also surprised to see that what motivates millennials to volunteer for their programs is so much more than just the physical experience of being there in person.

Christopher Millora, a researcher for the U.N. Volunteers Programme, recently said to NPR that the influx of remote volunteering during the pandemic could represent a "paradigm shift as to what kinds of relationships international volunteer organizations have toward local communities. The pandemic has shown us there are different innovative ways volunteers are able to provide services."

2. Enhanced emergency preparedness

If you’ve ever Googled how volunteering abroad has changed, you’ll likely find a lot of information about the COVID-19 pandemic. Covid forced VIOs to review their emergency planning, and enhance responsiveness to their stakeholders.

Whether it was about relocating staff and volunteers, or creating safety protocols, the stakes were suddenly higher. A 2021 report by Forum found that about 70% of volunteers surveyed found that their VIO had effective systems and processes in place to respond.

Placement agencies like GoAbroad.com will also likely become more popular for volunteer abroad experiences as people increasingly want the security of having direct support in case of health issues or emergencies.

3. A rise in health consciousness

Volunteers must be aware of the health risks they could pose to communities abroad.

Covid heightened awareness of a myriad of ecological considerations that hadn’t previously been a priority, like work environments, air quality, and how to maintain a safe, healthy lifestyle. Since 2020, there has been an increase in commitments to health and social protection.

VIOs will likely allocate more resources to health research, development, and facilities in the future. There has already been a shift toward more “traditional” volunteering—namely providing basic services to meet peoples’ needs, like vaccine centers and distributing hygiene supplies.

How can volunteers still make a difference?

1. Reduce your carbon footprint

The pandemic challenged everyone to pause and reconsider their lifestyles, including how they volunteer. Consider starting out with a virtual placement to develop your skills and get to know an organization.

There are definite benefits to this method of volunteering, like cutting down your carbon footprint and reducing carbon offsets as climate change becomes one of the top priorities for many civil society groups.

Virtual volunteering can also potentially ease the burden on grassroots organizations when resources are limited. Volunteering in your local community is also a great way to get experience.

If you are volunteering abroad, you can purchase offsets with companies like Cool Effect. Try innovative tools like Book Different, which rates accommodations for eco-friendliness.

2. Support sustainable programs

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that short-term disaster response is not enough; volunteers need to fill gaps in capacity to foster long-term sustainable development.

For example, many remote communities struggled to access necessary medical treatment during the Covid outbreak. Many communities suffered more than others because of poor infrastructure. How can VIOs address these challenges for the next outbreak? Showing leadership and innovative thinking will put you in a strong position as a volunteer.

The ultimate objective of volunteering abroad is to never do more harm than good.

If you learn that the program you’re considering has required foreign volunteers for many years, start to investigate why this is. Maybe there’s an underlying issue that isn’t being resolved. Of course, if the placement is primarily for cultural exchange, high turnover is normal. When you approach as a partner rather than a fixer, your efforts will be more sustainable.

3. Seek specialized training

Another major change in recent years is the proliferation of specialized education and training available online. The public school system just doesn’t offer much practical information that you’ll need to support a VIO long-term.

Low-commitment, specialized training courses like Coursera or Harvard Business School Online can help you meet the current needs of your VIO. For example, courses in fundraising, public health, immunology, refugee issues, and crisis communications will almost always be in demand.

Explore hundreds of volunteer programs on GoAbroad.com

Volunteering abroad is still worth it in 2022

After at least two years of economic hardship, many countries have fallen behind on progress to meet their development goals and need volunteers. While NGOS had to be adaptable with their emergency responses, there’s a need for long-term solutions.

Volunteers who invest time in researching how they best can be of service with the intent of learning and supporting local NGOs can certainly make a long lasting positive impact and would be most welcome additions in pursuing healthier communities.

For more ideas of how to be an effective volunteer, visit amazingvolunteer.com