Ethical volunteering overseas
In recent years, concern has grown that some organisations are failing to meet the expectations of overseas volunteers and that volunteers themselves have not thought through what their placement will involve. 'Volunteers frequently feel let down by the experiences that they have in their host environments,' says the charity Tourism Concern. 'Many of those who volunteer do not necessarily understand that they will be involved in development work or what the implications of that are for themselves and the host communities.'
So, before you sign a contract or hand over any money, spend time working out what you want from your overseas volunteering assignment and be realistic about how to achieve this.
Questions to ask yourself
For many people, volunteering overseas is a life-changing experience, but a successful placement can only come from matching what you want and can offer with what actually needs to be done. Ethical volunteering is about ensuring the contribution you make is meaningful to the host community and has a lasting, positive impact.
So, start by asking yourself the basics. Why do you want to volunteer overseas? What existing skills and experience do you have to offer already? Consider the practicalities - do you really want to spend months away from your family and friends? Are you prepared to spend time in a country which might not have the infrastructure and amenities you're used to? And are you able to cope with the cost? See our article on finding an opportunity overseas for more information.
Once you have worked out what you have to offer, you are better placed to judge whether your contribution overseas will be meaningful and worthwhile.
It's also worth asking yourself whether you have fully considered the options available closer to home. There are many ways to make a difference that don't first require a 12-hour flight and sometimes it can be better to volunteer at home and be a tourist overseas.
Choosing an ethical organisation
It's easy to assume that if you are volunteering then you're bound to be doing good, but that isn't necessarily the case. For example, by offering to work for free, you might even be taking away a job from a local person. A good organisation will ensure that it works in partnership with local communities to ensure volunteers only provide a service a community genuinely needs.
Ethical Volunteering has put together a list of seven questions to help you pick an ethical overseas volunteering placement:
1. Exactly what work will you be doing? Can the organisation provide you with a brief job description?
2. Does the organisation work with any local partner organisations?
3. Does the organisation make any financial contribution to its volunteer programmes? If so exactly how much, minus any payments for food and accommodation for volunteers, is this contribution?
4. Does the organisation have any policies on eco and ethical tourism practices, and if so what are these and how are they implemented?
5. What time frame is the volunteer programme run on? How long has the programme been running and what are the plans for the future?
6. Can the organisation give you precise contact details for your chosen programme?
7. What support and training will you receive?
Further detail about these questions is available in an Ethical Volunteering leaflet.
Travelling far from home, especially to a developing country, may spark other questions. For example, if the country has an oppressive government, what is the organisation's attitude towards it and relationship with it? Carbon emissions from flying contribute to global warming - what is the attitude of the organisation towards this? These are tough questions with no easy answers. A good organisation should welcome questions and be ready with some options.
Know before you go
If possible, meet a representative of an organisation face-to-face before signing up to a placement. You should also ask them if you can be put in touch with other volunteers - either those still overseas of some who have recently returned. You can meet people yourself through Facebook, Twitter and new volunteering network i-volunteer. Some organisations, like VSO, have their own online communities where you can ask questions and seek advice.
Of course, everyone will have different experiences and one person, is unlikely to persuade you either way. But other volunteers can at least give you a feel for what the placement is like and suggest some further questions you might want to ask the organisation.
The web is also your friend when it comes to digging for information on your chosen organisation - check out review sites like www.gapyearreview.co.uk.
Time spent researching before you make a decision about whether or where to go is definitely worthwhile, and reputable organisations should welcome your enquiries. Volunteering overseas frequently requires significant cost and commitment. And it can go wrong, so never be shy of asking what might seem difficult or obvious questions.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Question Focus: Detail question - asks how volunteers feel about their experience
Correct Answer: B
Why this is correct: The answer is disappointed with the experience because the passage clearly says volunteers frequently feel let down. Feeling let down is a direct synonym of being disappointed.
Passage Reference: In recent years, concern has grown that some organisations are failing to meet the expectations of overseas volunteers and that volunteers themselves have not thought through what their placement will involve. 'Volunteers frequently feel let down by the experiences that they have in their host environments,' says the charity Tourism Concern.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'feel let down' = Option: 'disappointed with the experience'
Tips: When you see an emotion in the question, look for feeling words in the passage and match the meaning, not the exact wording.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Students may choose this because the passage talks about expectations and contribution. However, it never says volunteers think they could have contributed more. This idea is added by the option. This is a Not Given trap.
- C: Students may think this because the text discusses understanding placements. However, the passage says volunteers do not necessarily understand what they will be involved in, which is the opposite. This is a Contradiction trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- let down = disappointed
- host environments = places where volunteers stay and work
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what makes a placement successful
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: For many people, volunteering overseas is a life-changing experience, but a successful placement can only come from matching what you want and can offer with what actually needs to be done. Ethical volunteering is about ensuring the contribution you make is meaningful to the host community and has a lasting, positive impact.
Why this is correct: The answer is how useful the volunteers skills are for the tasks ahead. The passage explains that success depends on matching what you can offer with what actually needs to be done, which means your skills must be useful.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'matching what you want and can offer with what actually needs to be done' = Option: 'how useful the volunteers skills are for the tasks ahead'
Tips: For questions about success or cause, look carefully at what the passage says is essential, not what sounds logical in real life.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Students may choose this because the passage lists many questions to ask yourself. However, the passage says success comes from matching skills to needs, not simply asking questions. This is a Partial truth trap.
- B: Students may think more experience always means success. However, the passage never says experience alone is the main factor. It focuses on suitability, not amount of experience. This is a Not Given trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- placement = volunteer position
- meaningful = useful and important
Question Focus: Inference question - asks about the effect of working for free
Correct Answer: B
Passage Reference: It's easy to assume that if you are volunteering then you're bound to be doing good, but that isn't necessarily the case. For example, by offering to work for free, you might even be taking away a job from a local person. A good organisation will ensure that it works in partnership with local communities to ensure volunteers only provide a service a community genuinely needs.
Why this is correct: The answer is may be doing more harm than good. The passage explains that working for free can take away a job from a local person, which is a negative effect.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'taking away a job from a local person' = Option: 'doing more harm than good'
Tips: When an option sounds very positive or very negative, check if the passage gives a clear reason to support it.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Students may think volunteers are always welcome. However, the passage clearly says this isn't necessarily the case. This is a Contradiction trap.
- C: This option sounds reasonable, but the passage never says unpaid volunteers approach the local community directly. This detail is not mentioned at all. This is a Not Given trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- necessarily = always
- partnership = working together
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what you should ask an organisation
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: Ethical Volunteering has put together a list of seven questions to help you pick an ethical overseas volunteering placement: ... What time frame is the volunteer programme run on? How long has the programme been running and what are the plans for the future?
Why this is correct: The answer is about the period of time the volunteer scheme has been operating. The passage clearly asks how long the programme has been running, which directly matches this option.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'How long has the programme been running' = Option: 'the period of time the volunteer scheme has been operating'
Tips: In list-based questions, match the option carefully to the exact wording of the listed questions.
Why the other options are wrong:
- B: Students may choose this because the passage mentions local partners. However, the question asks whether the organisation works with local partners, not what contribution the partner makes. This is a Paraphrase trap.
- C: This option sounds related to ethics and tourism. However, the passage asks about eco and ethical tourism practices, not views on the local tourist industry. This changes the focus. This is a Context shift trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- time frame = length of time
- scheme = programme
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what a representative should be able to do
Correct Answer: B
Passage Reference: If possible, meet a representative of an organisation face-to-face before signing up to a placement. You should also ask them if you can be put in touch with other volunteers - either those still overseas of some who have recently returned.
Why this is correct: The answer is to meet with you in person. The passage directly advises meeting a representative face-to-face before signing up.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'meet a representative ... face-to-face' = Option: 'to meet with you in person'
Tips: Pay attention to modal words like 'if possible' or 'should'. Do not turn advice into a guarantee.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Students may pick this because social media is mentioned later. However, the passage does not say a representative should direct you to a Facebook page. This is a Wrong section trap.
- C: The passage says you should ask if they can put you in touch with other volunteers, not that they will definitely introduce you. This adds certainty that is not stated. This is a Qualification trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- face-to-face = in person
- placement = volunteer position
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what other volunteers do
Correct Answer: B
Passage Reference: You can meet people yourself through Facebook, Twitter and new volunteering network i-volunteer. Some organisations, like VSO, have their own online communities where you can ask questions and seek advice. ... The web is also your friend when it comes to digging for information on your chosen organisation - check out review sites like www.gapyearreview.co.uk.
Why this is correct: The answer is share views on some reputable websites. The passage mentions online communities and review sites, which are places where volunteers share opinions.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'online communities' and 'review sites' = Option: 'share views on some reputable websites'
Tips: When websites or online tools are mentioned, check whether the question is about information sources or personal advice.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Students may think this because volunteers give advice. However, the passage says one person is unlikely to persuade you either way, so they cannot answer most questions. This is a Contradiction trap.
- C: This sounds logical, but the passage never says other volunteers explain the cost and commitment required. That information comes from research, not volunteers. This is a Not Given trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- reputable = trustworthy
- digging for information = researching
General Tips:
- MCQ questions follow passage order, so use the previous answer location to find the next one faster.
- Always read all options before choosing. The first one that sounds right may hide a trap.
- Match meaning, not exact words. IELTS often tests synonyms like 'let down' and 'disappointed'.
- Be careful with extreme or added ideas like 'always', 'most', or details not stated in the passage.
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