Marc Zboch has spent the last several years looking for ways of improving his philanthropic and missionary work. The healthcare professional believes he should have the power to give back to the communities he spends time with to try and leave a lasting impact. For travelers on a tight budget, giving back can be difficult because of several factors. Avoiding scams and making sure your travel to a region is impactful are just two of the difficult aspects of foreign volunteering.
1. Study at College
Be prepared for your travels by getting the right education. Philanthropy and charity work are vocations calling millions of people each year. If you feel your future lies in charitable work, you can take one of several courses on offer at colleges across the U.S. Master Studies reports the philanthropic sector is increasingly available to students at all academic levels. Among the courses available are:
- Nonprofit Management
- Development Studies
- Social Work
- Anthropology
By studying for an academic qualification in the charitable sector, you can find yourself at the head of the line as an effective volunteer.
2. Do Your Research
When you are looking for the opportunity to complete your philanthropy options as a volunteer in another country, you need to complete the correct level of research. Go Abroad reports the success of a trip is about more than the traveler feeling good about their volunteer work. Instead, there should be a lasting impact for the local community when the travelers depart for home.
The volunteer sector has become a difficult area because of the growing number of middlemen taking their cut of the money paid by each volunteer. A warning sign for every volunteer looking to maximize their charitable impact is the provision of photo opportunities over the substance of the community work completed.
3. The Best Fit for you
Marc Zboch has been volunteering and completing missionary work for several years. Zboch believes volunteering is easier when a traveler chooses the correct form of program. Volunteers on a long trip have the time to travel to a location and find the perfect volunteer opportunity. Volunteers on a short trip to a developing nation should look for tours offering opportunities to volunteer in specific areas.
4. Question your Hosts
As volunteers become confident in moving to new areas they become more secure in understanding how philanthropy works. The need to ask questions has never been as important to avoid being part of a group with questionable ethics. Ethical and moral dilemmas can be avoided by asking simple questions, such as where is the money going? A transparent approach to philanthropy is available from all reputable organizations, whether they are at a national or local level. Charitable organizations will always be open to sharing details of the level of investment and their financial position with potential volunteers.
Marc Zboch believes the decision to volunteer as you travel the world can have a powerful impact on your future. Well-rounded individuals who have an interest in furthering the experiences they embark on will be sought after in the job market at home and in other countries.