Looking into volunteer tourism - any info or advice you have is appreciated

[Rocknrule]

Nearly two years after graduating from college, I, like probably most people my age, am still trying to figure out what to do with my life. I decided to look into international volunteer/working options, and I just wondered if any of you have experience in this area or advice on some programs that I might want to check out. I've looked a bit into i-to-i and International Student Volunteers, and decided that some of the things I'm looking for include:

- an opportunity to meet people in my age group (18-25), build long-lasting friendships, and who knows, even find romance
- I'd prefer to visit places like New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, or the Carribean, but am open to suggestions
- regarding the focus on volunteer work, I'd prefer environmental conservation
- possibly an opportunity to either work abroad or network to help find jobs when I come back to the states

Again, I'm very new to this whole idea, and it's something that I am just starting to look into, so if you have any tips, advice, or experiences you'd like to share, I greatly appreciate it.

[pitohui]

1. ok here is my suggestion

i very strongly oppose you taking any job as a volunteer that a local would otherwise do as a paid job

an example for my area would be, after katrina, some folks (nice ones) volunteered to help me rebuild, this is a nice gesture but in my situation i could (and did) put together insurance money to PAY a local having a tough time to help me fix up my home -- the volunteers who did USEFUL work were helping people rebuild who had no insurance money, such as the elderly, folks who wouldn't have been able to pay anyone -- see the difference? don't take another's job, there are other jobs going undone that you can do

in many places, the best thing you can do for environmental conservation is to travel there and hire a local guide who is very knowledgeable about the wildlife or eco-system or whatever you came to see -- because of your youth, i suspect you can't afford to do this

however it is extremely counterproductive to come to kenya say and build a wall, the population includes many strong bodies who need work and money, and plenty of them could build that wall...if you come to do volunteer work, make sure you are not taking an unskilled job that "anyone" can do

some so-called volunteer jobs seem to be really tours, where you pay money, to free the turtles or something like that, and you are just kidding yourself that you're doing anything useful as far as work, but at least you're putting money into the local economy

new zealand, australia, and thailand, you can meet kids your age just by traveling cheap & staying in hostels

i am not quite saying "don't volunteer," but i am saying, think a long time about whether your volunteer work is doing more harm than good to the locals -- i realize you want to "network" and come back w. some glamor story to put on your resume but FIRST DO NO HARM


forgive me if this sounds negative, but i beg you...either bring money or skills...don't take an unskilled job, it is not fair to the people you are supposedly wishing to help!

[Brickbat]

2. This.

[Kali]

4. some very good points

[elleng]

3. No experience as such; worked as VISTA Volunteer attorney after law school.

Good experience.

Try Peace Corps?

Best of luck.