Volunteering in a thoughtful, responsible way
It’s been 12 years since I decided to start volunteering. After my trip to Cambodia in 2010 I spent 2 years looking at what I could do to help in the region. I didn’t expect I’d end up in Laos but I can confidently say it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. When I first started exploring volunteer opportunities, I came across a guide called “Assessing Volunteer Opportunities”.
The guide emphasizes the importance of being a responsible and thoughtful volunteer, rather than just jumping into any available opportunity. It encourages you to ask critical questions about the organization, its goals, and the impact of the volunteer work. The key is to ensure that your volunteering truly benefits the local community, rather than just serving your own interests. I came across many voluntourism-type programs and wondered if they were really to help people in need or were for the benefit of the volunteer. Many such programs exist.
One of the most valuable pieces of advice in the guide is to consider taking a “learning trip” rather than a “service trip”. The idea is to immerse yourself in the local culture, understand the context, and build skills before into a volunteer role. This helps you make a more meaningful contribution and avoid the pitfalls of “poverty tourism” or unintentionally causing more harm than good. My trip was definitely a learning trip for the first 5 years in Laos – a big learning trip and for me, this is what I got in return for volunteering my expertise and time. It was exciting to learn a new culture and different ways of doing things. Learning the local way of behaving has been fundamental to the 13 years I have spent in Laos. Bringing Westernized ideas often doesn’t work and this I imagine applies to many countries, not only Laos.
The guide also emphasizes the importance of looking for organizations with locally-driven goals and decision-making processes, as well as ensuring that volunteers don’t displace workers or drain the organization’s resources. It’s crucial to think about the sustainability and long-term impact of the work you’ll be doing as I did. So if you are considering helping out I can recommend this guide. The extra effort is worth it to ensure you make a positive, lasting difference.
Laos, Luang Prabang, Volunteering
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