How can I travel as a volunteer?

How to reliably find opportunities for volunteering/working and living in exchange for accommodation was once the most difficult thing for me before I went abroad. I also met many friends who asked me about it, so I wanted to write about my experience. , I hope it can give you some help. I am Wanzi Lili. After graduation, I backpacked alone in more than 30 countries on five continents. I have volunteered at home and abroad, and worked and slept, including the experience of couch surfing. This article mainly shares about volunteering and working and sleeping. story.

1.

First of all, we must clearly distinguish between volunteer travel and work-for-accommodation services

Volunteers: generally engage in public welfare activities, in order to help others and repay society The purpose is not to pursue personal interests (or to achieve self-worth) but to do something obligated. Not only is there no reward in this way, you even have to pay for it yourself. (Poverty Alleviation/Education Support/Natural Environment Protection/Archaeology)

Nowadays, simple travel can no longer meet the needs of the public. Many people want to travel and make friends and make the trip meaningful. I suggest you Choose volunteer travel. Everything will be arranged by the organization (airport transfers, accommodation, schedule, and the issuance of international volunteer certificates...). There is a large part of the travel time, and the cycle is short, usually starting from one week, and the cost will be reported accordingly Group tours are similar (charges vary for different structures)

Work in exchange for food and accommodation: that is, working in exchange for food and accommodation, using one's own skills or labor force in exchange for free food and accommodation. Generally, there are very clear skills or working hours requirements. . (Farm, hotel, homestay) Things you may need to do: check in/out/receive guests/clean the room/buy ingredients/cook or wash dishes

Budget travel/financial constraints/or just want to expand temporarily Friends who have their own vision, I recommend working and traveling. This method usually starts at a minimum of three weeks, with specific work and duration, usually 4-8 hours a day, 1-2 days off a week, and there is no charge. The store will Your food and accommodation are covered, and some even offer commissions and reimbursement of transportation and insurance expenses.

Whether it is a volunteer trip or a part-time job exchange, you are required to have a good psychological quality, an independent personality, and be able to bear hardships and stand hard work. Friends who are too particular about food and accommodation will definitely not be able to bear it.

2.

Domestic volunteers/working and accommodation exchange:

Now most youth hostels have begun to recruit volunteers. You can find them on Douban Group, Lixing, Easin , youth host volunteers and other WeChat public accounts to get information, it is very convenient, I won’t say more.

But there is a question: You will find that the chance of being selected if you sign up on the official account is very small and the procedure is very complicated. However, is the threshold for youth host volunteers that high? Not really!

Its purpose is more to let you help promote its brand. As for whether you can get volunteer opportunities... it is not important to it. So I recommend: Sign up directly with the inn information: email, WeChat ID, Weibo, phone number, etc. instead of signing up through the platform. It’s not that signing up through the platform is not possible, it’s just that this way is more efficient!

At onehouse in Chiang Mai, it was the first time I went abroad to work and stay in exchange, and it made me fall in love with the city of Chiang Mai.

3.

Working and staying abroad /Volunteers:

Weibo/Douban: Nowadays, many Chinese people go to foreign countries to open youth hostels. You can find information on Weibo. I remember that when I was looking, there were many companies in Thailand that were recruiting volunteers.

Facebook: I saw a lot of work and accommodation opportunities in Taiwan on Facebook, and there should be opportunities in other countries as well.

I also recommend the website helpx, which has job exchange/volunteer opportunities from all over the world. The host will introduce in detail the work that needs to be done, the duration, the number of people needed, etc. Contact directly via email. Except for the membership fee for registering the website (Taobao 130 RMB), no fees are charged (some families or organizations will charge a small amount of room and board, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the fees charged by domestic organizations).

I know that there are many projects in China by foreign volunteer organizations that are also available on helpx, and the fee charged by helpx is 1/20.

Some of the more famous international volunteer organizations:

Workaway: Just like helpx, you only need to pay the registration fee to get the contact information of the project leader

IVHQ International Volunteers: mainly in developing countries, providing teaching, protecting sea turtles, teaching monks, etc.

Helpx: also publishes information about work and accommodation and volunteers, most of which are helping in local people's homes, working hours and content Negotiable

Greenway China: Provides high-quality volunteer projects at home and abroad

WWOOF: Most of them help on the farm

4.

Simple and crude type:

The other method is something I will use, but considering everyone’s safety issues, I don’t recommend it. For places that I am particularly interested in, I will directly call or send you an email. I sent an email to the store, or even to a local store, asking if they were willing to recruit volunteers, and told them about my expertise. (I feel like an illegal worker = =)

5.

Registration method:

Generally, the boss will ask you to send your resume and life photos to the mailbox. You can explain in the email your expertise and the purpose of working and sleeping, the time period when you can work, and what kind of experience you hope to get. Friends with special skills can attach your works. The email must be sincere and don't be rhetorical because you want to get this opportunity. Then just wait for the reply, it’s that simple! There are not too many complicated procedures, no need to follow public accounts, repost, comment, accumulate likes and so on.

6.

Why I choose volunteer/working travel

Because I am poor QWQ I have not tried volunteer travel, but many friends around me have participated. But I have worked as a travel experience officer in Yunnan, and worked and exchanged accommodation in Chiang Mai, Semporna, and Sri Lanka. When I said I was going to volunteer abroad, someone said to me, "There are so many mountainous areas in China that need help, why would you go abroad to show your love?" I wanted to say: I don't have such lofty ideals, but of course I will be able in the future. I hope to help more people in the future, but now, the reason why I choose to travel by working for accommodation

Firstly, it is to save travel expenses and give me funds to go to more places. You know After the host includes food and accommodation, the expenses are actually very small. For example, I only spent 2,000 yuan in Sri Lanka for a month, and only 3,000 yuan in 2 months in Chiang Mai (but of course there is some extra income).

Two: I personally like to volunteer in the local area. Traveling is a very tiring thing. My body cannot bear the long hours of running around and working hard. I have always believed that you need to truly understand In a place, you must make friends with the locals and live like a local people

7.

Key points: These are very important!

1. Don’t think that volunteers don’t have to spend money!

2. Before going, you should understand the situation clearly, such as "Is my room a single room, a dormitory, or a mixed room? Is there hot water?" "The length of the day's work, rest time", "The work that needs to be done", etc. wait. Avoid being exploited as cheap labor by unscrupulous bosses and causing unnecessary misunderstandings.

3. When traveling as a volunteer, it is more secure to find an organization with a high reputation.

4. Before going out, please think about the purpose of your trip. After all, too many people get lost on the trip under the guise of finding their true self.

6.

What I gained from working in exchange for accommodation:

1. I have greatly improved my life skills. I can at least cook and do housework. It’s one o’clock

2. Normally, I work and stay in a youth hostel. Where you encounter a variety of guests and emergencies, good communication skills are essential. At the same time, you will also make friends from all over the world, speak English teachers all over the place, not to mention practice English

3. Learn to be alone. During the trip, you will often experience being alone in a completely unfamiliar place. It is rare to overcome inner loneliness and fear

4. You travel to a place just to experience the local customs and customs. This will probably be the best choice

Finally I really want to thank every big family I have visited, including Chiang Mai One House, Lijiang Travel Diary, Semporna Wanderers Inn, and Kangti Helga's Folly. I am very lucky, and every one I have visited, whether it is the boss or the owner, The employees are all super nice, but I know I have a lot of shortcomings. Thank you for your tolerance.

PS: Language problem:

It’s perfectly fine to go out and have fun abroad if you don’t know a little English. It’s still difficult to volunteer or work in exchange for accommodation. English is so important now. It's better to sign up for an English class first and then go out to see the world.

The above is my working and overnight travel experience. My personal strength is very weak. If you think this article is helpful to you,

Please forward it to more people in need. friend.

Thank you for your support

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