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 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 that 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 doesn’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 for placement. You should also ask them if you can be put in touch with other volunteers - either those still overseas or some who have recently returned. You can meet people yourself through Facebook, Twitter and a 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 passage clearly says that volunteers feel let down, which means they are disappointed with the experience. This directly matches the idea of feeling disappointed.
Passage Reference: Volunteers frequently feel let down by the experiences that they have in their host environments
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'feel let down' = Option: 'disappointed with the experience'
Tips: When you see an emotion in the question, look for feeling words like happy, worried, or disappointed in the passage.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Students may choose this because volunteers reflect on their experience. However, the passage never says they think they could have contributed more. This is a Not Given trap.
- C: This sounds positive, but the passage says many volunteers do not necessarily understand what their involvement will be. This is a Contradiction trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- let down = disappointed
- host environments = places where they volunteer
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what makes a placement successful
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: a successful placement can only come from matching what you want and can offer what actually needs to be done.
Why this is correct: The passage explains that success depends on matching what you can offer with what needs to be done. This means the placement works best when the volunteer's skills are useful for the tasks.
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 reasons, look for sentences with words like only, mainly, or depend on.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: The passage mentions asking yourself questions, but these are a preparation step, not the main reason for success. This is a Partial truth trap.
- B: Experience is mentioned, but the key point is whether skills match the needs, not how much experience you have. This is a Paraphrase trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- placement = volunteer job
- meaningful = useful
Question Focus: Inference question - asks what can be concluded about unpaid work
Correct Answer: B
Passage Reference: by offering to work for free, you might even be taking away a job from a local person.
Why this is correct: The passage warns that working for free can take away a job from a local person, which means it may do more harm than good.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'taking away a job from a local person' = Option: 'doing more harm than good'
Tips: Be careful with words like always or never. They are often wrong in IELTS.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Students may think volunteers are always welcome, but the passage says this isn't necessarily the case. This is an Extreme language trap.
- C: The passage does not say unpaid volunteers can approach communities directly. This idea is never mentioned. This is a Not Given trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- necessarily = always
- local person = someone from the community
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what you should ask an organisation
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: 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: One of the listed questions asks how long the programme has been running, which is exactly asking about the period of time it has been operating.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'How long has the programme been running' = Option: 'the period of time the volunteer scheme has been operating'
Tips: When a question says you should ask, check numbered lists carefully.
Why the other options are wrong:
- B: The passage asks if the organisation works with local partners, not what contribution the local partner makes. This is a Paraphrase trap.
- C: Tourism views are mentioned later as extra questions, not part of choosing the organisation. This is a Wrong section trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- time frame = period 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 for placement.
Why this is correct: The passage advises you to meet a representative face-to-face, so the representative should be able to meet you in person.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'meet a representative face-to-face' = Option: 'to meet with you in person'
Tips: Pay attention to advice language like should or if possible.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: Social media is mentioned as a way to meet volunteers, not what a representative should do. This is a Context shift trap.
- C: The passage says you should ask if they can put you in touch with volunteers, but it does not say they definitely can. This is a Qualification trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- representative = staff member
- placement = volunteer position
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what other volunteers do
Correct Answer: B
Passage Reference: 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 passage says you can check review sites, where other volunteers share their views. This matches sharing views on reputable websites.
Paraphrasing: Passage: 'check out review sites' = Option: 'share views on some reputable websites'
Tips: When websites are mentioned, look for words like review, comments, or feedback.
Why the other options are wrong:
- A: The passage says one person is unlikely to persuade you either way, so they cannot answer most questions. This is a Contradiction trap.
- C: Cost and commitment are discussed by the writer, not described as something other volunteers explain. This is a Context shift trap.
Key Vocabulary:
- reputable = trustworthy
- digging for information = researching
General Tips:
- MCQ questions follow passage order. Use the location of the last answer to find the next one faster.
- Always read all options before choosing. A first good option is not always the best one.
- Watch out for extreme words like always or never. They are often traps.
- If an idea sounds logical but you cannot find it in the passage, it is probably Not Given.
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