Volunteer Abroad- A Great Way to Travel
Why Volunteering Abroad is a Great Way to Travel
Are you a traveler or a vacationer? Going on vacation is typically an escape from the everyday grind in order to reset the moral button in the brain. This is what the masses often refer to as traveling. Personally I do not find a whole lot of enrichment in having a few cool pictures to post on Facebook, a bronzy new tan and a shot glass with a lizard on it to show for my travels.
A true traveler immerses themselves in the culture of a distant land, absorbing the richness of the experience and coming home as a better person for it. International volunteers not only get a new perspective on life around the world but makes you a global citizen.
The world is not a zoo to look at behind glass walls. Being part of it is what it is all about. By volunteering abroad or having a Gap Year abroad is without a doubt the most powerful way to set your life on a new direction. While anyone of any age can volunteer abroad, students can benefit in ways they cannot imagine.
Years ago students you said they were going to take a year off after high school to backpack around Europe were considered the rebels not ready for college life and commitment. Today a Gap Year is not only becoming more common it is becoming mainstream. We no longer live in a world with Iron Curtains and limited communication. Earth is a much smaller place in the 21st century and we are all citizens of the planetary community.
Internships such as journalism in Moldova, working with the Human Rights Commission in Togo or medical facilities in Addis Ababa not only provide an opportunity to help the world but make a resume shine and show universities a commitment to serve. As a student imagine starting out on your path in life with a great accomplishment already under your belt. It sets the tone for a rewarding and enriching future.
photo by WAVA LTD
For those of us that are long past the college days, are all too familiar with the monotony of daily survival in a corporate world, volunteering abroad will present new horizons and re-open that box of dreams we had when we were young.
There are many Gap Year and Volunteer Abroad organizations out there, but I strongly recommend Projects Abroad. They are the leading overseas volunteer organization that handles every aspect volunteering you could possibly encounter.
New volunteers often think they might not have much to offer and end up putting it off. You will be surprised what you have to offer. I have built schools in Central America, taught English in places I never heard of and worked aboard marine mammal rescue vessels in the Med. Everyone can find something that will be one of the most rewarding experiences of their life.
If you have ever considered volunteering abroad or are just looking for a way to make your life feel accomplished, contact Projects Abroad or ask questions in the comment box below.
