Wanna do some good next year? Volunteering is the way to go! But you've got a couple options. You can volunteer in another country if you're up for traveling. Or you can volunteer remotely from home if that's more your style. Both are awesome choices - it just depends on what works best for you. This guide will help you pick the right 2024 volunteer gig.
Volunteering In-Person Abroad With these programs, you physically go volunteer in a different country. Here's the lowdown:
Pros:
- You get to fully experience a new culture by living there for a while
- Opportunities to get your hands dirty doing meaningful work in-person
- Forces you out of your comfort zone for personal growth
- You can see firsthand the positive impact you're making
Possible Downsides:
- International travel ain't cheap with flights, housing, etc.
- Requires a longer time commitment, which may not fit your schedule
- Adjusting to a totally new culture can be tough at first
Popular Options: Saving animals, teaching kids, medical/health work
Remote Volunteering With this option, you volunteer by working online from home. Here are the deets:
The Good:
- Total flexibility to volunteer whenever works for you
- Way more budget-friendly since no travel costs
- Accessible for anyone, even with mobility limitations
- Use your existing skills and experience to help out
Potential Drawbacks:
- Less personal connection working remote vs. in-person
- Distractions at home that can impact your productivity
- Some roles may feel less impactful not seeing direct results
Popular Roles: Online tutoring, creating content, tech support
Picking the Right Volunteer Gig There are a few big things you'll want to think about when deciding if you should volunteer abroad or from home:
What You Want Out of It If your main goal is to learn and grow as a person, going abroad can seriously change your perspective on life. But if you mostly just want to help out where you can, volunteering remotely from your home lets you still make a positive impact.
Your Schedule Situation Volunteer trips abroad usually require bigger chunks of free time all together. Whereas remote/virtual volunteering makes it easy to fit it in around your normal daily routine and commitments.
How Much it Will Cost
International travel for volunteering isn't cheap with airfare, housing, etc. You're looking at spending a nice chunk of change. Volunteering online from home is super affordable since it's just your regular living expenses.
The Type of Work You're Into If you're more of a hands-on, physical work type of person, construction projects or medical/healthcare roles are great fits for going abroad. But if you're more of a computer/creative type, remote gigs like tech support or writing are ideal matches.
How Far Out of Your Comfort Zone
Being abroad pushes you way out of your familiar zone - new language, culture, surroundings. That can be exciting if you thrive on new adventures! But if you prefer stability and the comforts of your usual routines, volunteering from home is probably more your vibe.
How Meaningful Travel Helps Out Whichever way you volunteer in 2024, Meaningful Travel has your back. Their team will:
- Personally guide you to the best volunteer program match
- Only work with legit, verified volunteer orgs they trust
- Provide full support services whether going abroad or online
No Right or Wrong Way At the end of the day, there's no one "correct" choice between volunteering internationally or from home. It just comes down to your personal situation, interests and what you're looking to get out of it.
Abroad immerses you in new cultures while doing super hands-on work. But remote lets you conveniently help out from your own comfy couch.
You know yourself best - just go with your gut. If jetting off to some new distant land sounds like an awesome adventure you'd thrive on, definitely explore those abroad options! But if you'd rather stick closer to home while still giving back, volunteering remotely online could be a perfect fit.
No matter what you pick, Meaningful Travel will make sure it's an incredibly fulfilling experience where you get to make the world a little better in 2024.
