How To Stay Safe As A Volunteer Overseas 

Volunteer responsibility. As a volunteer, remember, you are under no obligation to participate or continue with a volunteer program. Volunteers are usually responsible for their own health and safety and should not put themselves in a position which could place them, or others, in danger. You should never undertake any volunteer work if you have concerns about your own or others’ health and safety. If you have any such concerns, you should stop the work and raise any issues with the project coordinator.

 

     

 

                        Make sure you’re safe on your trip overseas

Fully research and assess the project and country you propse volunteering in.This will help you to understand the risks that you might face while abroad, so that you’re fully prepared for every, or rather, most situations.

 

When volunteering overseas you will be embarking on a typical cross-cultural experience, where you will be exposed to different ways of thinking, speaking, and interacting, the local people , of course, have and their customs and cultures. There will be some principles which help volunteers to enjoy a positive experience in the country your volunteering in - and help you avoid some possible misunderstandings which can occur in cross-cultural settings.

       

                                                

                                                    Before you go

  • go to the website of your government's overseas and foreign office and check the general travel advice for the country you are visiting. If available, sign up for email alerts and you’ll get the latest updates for that country.
  • register with your embassy or consulate so they can get in touch with you if something goes wrong.
  • never, ever, travel without insurance – make sure it covers you for any activities you are likely to undertake such as extreme or water sports. 
  • Make sure you get the latest health information for the country you are volunteering in, if you need the jabs - get the sorted as soon as possible. 
  • make sure you’ve got correct visas for the country you are visiting and that your passport is in order - in fact, it's better to make sure you have at least 6 months left on it! 
  • take photocopies of your passport and other important documents
  • make sure you fill in the emergency contact details in your passport. This will make it much easier for people to contact someone if necessary
  • tell a friend or relative where you are going  - give them some idea of your itinerary
  • take enough money for your trip and some more ,in a mix of cash and travellers cheque -  make a note of the cheques’ numbers before you go.
  • buy a travel travel guide to help you plan your trip, it's always handy for reference whilst on the move. 

            

      Good Information for Volunteering Overseas is Vital...

                Do Not Leave Home Without Adequate Travel Insurance!

 When you are away:

  • Follow your instincts and don't take too many risks.  
  • don’t openly display valuables such as mobile phones, jewelry or digital cameras.
  • find out about local customs and dress, behave accordingly and obey local laws -there may be some serious penalties for breaking a law.

It is obvious that you are entering a new environment where very little is familiar.  You will probably be disorientated at the start. Some people call this “culture shock”. Experts have suggested that there are four stages of culture shock: 

·        Initial euphoria

·        Irritability and hostility

·        Gradual adjustment

·        Adaptation

 

Almost everyone experiences culture shock to some degree. It can be frustrating and confusing. But there are positive steps that can be taken to minimize the impact.

 

v      Realize that this is normal and that you will live through it.

v      Be open-minded and ready to learn. You will come to realize that there are different ways to do things and that’s okay.

v      Research your new culture. You can begin today, reading as much as you can about the culture you will be experiencing.

v      Look for logical reasons for behaviours in the new culture that you may find strange. With a little analysis, you may find that these different behaviours don’t seem so strange after all.

 

Above all, flexibility, humility and open-mindedness will be your most valuable traits. These may have even been the key qualities that led you to volunteer in the first place, so it should not be difficult for you. 
            

 

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