Why is volunteering cool?

At first glance, it seems very difficult for most people to fit unpaid work into their already busy lives. Nevertheless, the benefits of volunteering, not only for society, but also for the volunteer himself, are proven by science, and, according to statistics, the popularity of volunteer programs is only increasing every year.

Today about 30% of the adult population in the UK and the US is occasionally involved in volunteer work, and this figure is constantly increasing around the world!

If you haven’t yet decided whether to volunteer, a few reasons to do so:

Do a really important and worthwhile cause.

Many community and charitable organizations that do very important work depend directly on volunteers. The fact is that the outside funding they receive is often not enough to do all the work they need to do and pay the salaries of their permanent staff. Therefore, the activities of volunteers become the only way to continue working for the benefit of the community.

Enrich Your Own Life

Most people do volunteer work for altruistic reasons. Nevertheless, volunteering can enrich and diversify the life of the volunteer himself, completely changing it. In particular, volunteer work allows you to travel, experience new countries and cultures, make friends from all over the world, learn foreign languages and discover new horizons. What could be better if you are doing something useful and noble?

Improve your physical and mental health

Research shows that volunteer work is also beneficial to people’s physical and mental health. It helps relieve depression and loneliness, increases vitality, lowers blood pressure, increases life expectancy, helps cope with obsessive states and distracts from your own problems.

Finally, the experience of volunteering gives people confidence, self-esteem and self-respect. 

Get perks for future studies and work abroad

Volunteer work is very highly valued abroad. If, when applying to study or work abroad, you mention such experience in your resume, it is sure to bend your side the admissions committee of the university or a future employer.

The fact is that participation in volunteer projects for them automatically characterizes the person as a motivated and businesslike person, ready to work for the benefit of peace and society.

In addition, if you already have a specialty, or you are just preparing to get it, volunteer work in the same area will allow you to develop important professional qualities and finally decide on the choice of future life path.

Where else can I look for volunteer programs abroad?

There are several ways to find other interesting volunteer programs abroad.

A simple Internet search

Search for “volunteering abroad,” “international volunteering,” “LMTV volunteering,” “volunteer workcamps,” etc. You will see many interesting sites with suggestions. There is also a wealth of information about volunteering abroad on Russian-language sites.

Volunteer Programs Databases

You can find a suitable volunteer program and learn a lot about volunteering abroad on special sites dedicated to this subject, such as

• Volunteer Match
• Go Abroad
• Global Workcamps
• Volunteer Forever
• Community Organizations Websites

You can also find interesting volunteer programs around the world on the official websites of various organizations, including:

• United Nations
• WWF
• Red Cross
• Peace Corps
• Volunteers for Peace
• Service Civil International (SCI)
• Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations

Finding interesting short and long term volunteer programs abroad is not as difficult as it sounds. Below we will tell you about some of the international organizations that run really cool projects around the world:

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

IVHQ is the most respected and trustworthy volunteer organization in the world. Since its founding in 2007, IVHQ has served over 111,000 volunteers in over 50 countries worldwide and will not stop there!

IVHQ offers volunteer programs of 1-24 weeks with or without dues (starting at $180). Programs range from working in nature reserves and historical and cultural sites to working in the fields of education and health care. The organization covers all continents, you can go to Australia, Africa, or the heart of Europe.

The organization is known for matching volunteer programs not only to singles but also to couples, families, and entire groups!