"Something I’ve noticed throughout my travels is that volunteering is a huge part of Western culture. It’s almost expected to have some kind of volunteer experience on a resume or CV these days and if you don’t, people even question your dedication. With such an emphasis on building a resume and ensuring that one has some kind of volunteer status, it’s important to take a deeper look at the reasons why you are volunteering.
Do you volunteer because you want to build your resume? To gain valuable experience? To create relationships and network in hopes of a future job? Because of a dedication to a cause? To ‘help others’? Whatever your motive is when you volunteer for any kind of organization, I’ve found that expectations can make or break your experience.
Westerners often come to grassroots organizations in third world areas with the mindset that they have all the answers; that they know how to solve the problems of the organization and community in which they are working. And most volunteers do have new and fresh eyes and an educational background to help out. But are they truly meeting the needs of that community?
Surface level problems will be apparent—lack of water at a school, no clothes or shoes for children, old broken sports equipment, poor gardens, etc. And due to certain backgrounds, you’ll have the capacity to implement certain solutions. They key here is creating solutions with the community you are based in. If you just arrive, create a project, take some pictures, make some friends and then leave—will your work be sustainable? You certainly don’t want it to fall apart after you‘ve gone.
When I came to work for the Amy Biehl Foundation for the second time, I thought I knew what was needed. During my previous volunteer stint with ABF, I saw a place to fill a hole with computer classes in the township; but when I arrived, a greater need had surfaced. You see, all 5 centres urgently needed to be registered due to a new law passed in South Africa. Since most people were busy with other time sensitive projects, I was put in charge of ensuring that the centres were up to date with the new regulations and that all the correct paperwork was in on time. Definitely not what I expected.
Pulling from my one and only semester of Business Law, I poured over legal documents, new laws passed and country-wide regulations to ensure that our Foundation met all relevant criteria. (I didn’t expect to use the English dictionary so much in Africa!) Visiting the centres, talking with principles, teachers and groundskeepers ensured that I kept my Xhosa dictionary handy as well. Several months later and the project has mostly been completed from my side. I’ve liaised with government officials, public servants and people who I never expected to come in contact with---and I’ve learned a lot.
It’s not that my computer class wasn’t a true need. I’m still teaching twice a week and the kids are learning faster than I could’ve imagined. They’re learning. I’m learning. And through the whole thing, the kids are improving their computer skills. It just that the registration took priority over what I had in mind. It makes me wonder how many times I’ve jumped into situations because I thought I knew what was best…
Don’t get me wrong, there are many instances when our perceptions of problems and solutions to those problems are effective and beneficial. And yes, every little bit helps. I guess it all boils down to a few simple things when volunteering abroad:
- Be flexible—don’t think you always have all the answers all the time.
- Ask questions—figure out what the true needs of the organization or community are and then use your background and knowledge to come up with solutions.
- Listen—listen well and uncover the heart of the issues--tackle those.
- Use your talents to do whatever you can to help. The fact that you’re giving it your all will spur others on to come up with creative solutions and join in your development.
And remember, it’s not about you. But you play a huge part in making things happen--don’t be shy :)"
