subject: Top 10 Myths About Volunteering in Africa [print this page] Top 10 Myths About Volunteering in Africa
It takes a special kind of person to volunteer. You have to be willing to go with the flow and enter into a new situation without expectations or an agenda. You also have to be willing to forego things like television, regular electricity and maybe running water, as well as some of the other conveniences we all are accustomed to day-to-day.
But it really isn't as scary as you may think. There are lots of myths out there, but many of them aren't true. Here are the Top 10:
10. You have to be rich to volunteer. I can't afford it.
Nope, nope, nope. In fact, if we were to do a poll of volunteers in our projects today, we would most likely get a collective laugh and a few head shakes. Most volunteers aren't wealthy. The cost of volunteering for a month is usually about equivalent to rent and food at home for that same period of time. Many people pay for their trip through donations from friends, churches, businesses or other organizations. In fact, we can help you with a donation letter tailored to your needs.
9. You have to volunteer for months at a time, and who has time?
When you choose one of our worthy volunteer projects, you can stay for as little as one week! The people running the programs you're helping always appreciate the help, no matter what time period you stay, and because Compassionate Journeys gives 80 percent of the volunteer fee to the project, you'll be making a difference that way, too. While some volunteer projects request that people stay for a minimum of three months, most are pretty flexible. If you can stay for at least two to three weeks, which is the amount of time most people get for vacation time from work for the year, we recommend you do it. There is nothing else I can think of that you could do with that time that would be more meaningful.
8. I won't know anyone, so it'll be scary.
I think this is the biggest fear many people have. In fact, when I went on my first volunteer trip, not knowing anyone and worrying about whether or not I would like the other people I metor if they would like mewas probably what concerned me most.
We share some of our host families and hostels with other volunteer organizations, so often (but not always) there are other volunteers with whom you will be interacting. They come from all over the world, which makes it fun. Most of them speak English, even if it is a second language, so communication is not usually an issue. If you do meet other volunteers, what I can guarantee is that chances are good you will make life-long friendships. People who choose to volunteer are special people. You will probably have a lot in common!
If you don't have other volunteers nearby, you will meet them if you go to any tourist-type areas in your host country. Don't be afraid to talk to people, whether they are native people or visitors! You will be surprised at who you find and the friendships you will make!
7. I won't have any food.
While it's true most Westerners don't like much of the traditional African food, you can usually find fried rice, white rice, chicken, beef, loaves of good bread or noodles nearby. Our host families and cooks understand that you are accustomed to a Western palate, and while the food available may not be your normal cuisine, you won't go hungry.
6. I'll get sick from the water.
Contaminated water is dangerous, and there is lots of contaminated water in tanks, rivers, lakes and streams in developing countries. In Ghana, you can find sachets of drinking water, which are small sealed plastic bags of filtered water, everywhere. They cost less than a nickel each, and they are safe. You don't even need to bring a water filtration bottle (unless you want to). Just never, ever drink from any other source, other than sachets.
5. Volunteer organizations are just out to make money - why would I want to contribute to that?
Some volunteer organizations are just out to make money. In fact, even though their fees are much higher, their volunteers are often staying in the same places as ours are. At Compassionate Journeys, we keep our overhead low on the American side so that we can keep our fees lower. We are not out to make big money, we're out to make a big difference.
Eighty percent of your project fee goes directly to the project. Some of that goes toward your room and board, but the rest is helping medical facilities buy equipment; it's helping schools and orphanages pay their teachers; it's helping entire villages buy things like irrigation systems and boat motors so that they can survive. We want the projects to benefit from our program, not our own pockets.
The remaining 20 percent of your fee goes into our development fund. This fund is helping us to bring our program to more places. As of November 2010, we are about to launch programs in Uganda and Peru. In the next five years, we will be helping programs in Costa Rica, Tanzania, Nepal, Argentina, Rwanda and possibly more countries.
We recently heard about programs that were drastically cutting their fees. This concerns us, not because we are worried about the competition, but because they are cutting their contributions to the programs they are supposed to be helping. Even things like the cost of feeding volunteers will now fall entirely upon the already-financially strapped programs. We are proud of what we do and why we do it because we know we will always be making a difference.
Take a look at our latest project here.
4. There will be scary animals.
If I could have a nickel for every time someone has asked me if I've encountered wild animals in Africa, I'd be a rich woman! Forget what you may have seen on Lion King or other movies. There are very few wild animals still roaming through villages, and literally none in urban areas. You are more likely to come across chickens, goats, cows and sheep than anything wild. Even in rural areas, animals stay away from villages because there are plenty of places for them to go where there are no people. They don't want to run into you any more than you want to run into them!
3. It's dangerous in other countries. I'll be a target for crime.
I have never, and I repeat, never, felt unsafe in Ghana. I have traveled by myself and with small children to nearly every part of the country, and I never felt uncomfortable or like a target. Having said that, I have never wandered into areas I was told are unsafe, and I have never walked through streets late at night by myself. I don't carry money in obvious places, and never bring flashy jewelry or clothing there.
There is an overwhelming attitude in Ghana of helpfulness. Total strangers are eager to help you get to where you need to go, and the vast majority of people are extremely friendly. It's not dissimilar to traveling through some of the small farming towns in the U.S. Even the thought of robbing someone doesn't occur to people. And, if you are a Westerner, most people want you there. If someone were to hurt you, entire crowds of people would defend you. It's a unique experience, and nothing to be scared of.
2. I'm too old to volunteer.
It is always amazing to me that so many young people have "it" together well enough to volunteer when they are in their late teens and early 20s. I had wanted to volunteer in Africa since I was about four years old. However, my "it" didn't come together until I was in my late 30s. Like many women my age, I felt a need to figure out who I was as a person, and what I needed. I drew up a list of things that were important for me to accomplish before my body wouldn't let me do them anymore, and volunteering was the number one thing. Then, with help from my family and friends, we found a way and I did it.
You are never too old to make a difference. You are never too old to let a child sit on your lap while you read a book. You are never too old to hold a baby. You are never too old to give kind words to someone who is suffering. You are never too old to volunteer.
1. There are so many problems in developing countries. There is no way I can make a difference.
The problems in developing countries are overwhelming. There is never enough money. There is never enough food. There is corruption from the top downfrom governments all the way down to the very programs that are meant to help people. If you focus on that, you're right. The problems are too big for one person.
But if you focus on the people you are there to help, you very much CAN make a difference. You can help someone learn a new skill so that they can pay for food and shelter for their family. You can teach a child English, math, science or other subjects so that they can get a job someday. If you are a medical volunteer, you can save a life today that may do great things tomorrow. But most importantly, you can give people hope. And really, that's what it's all about.
