Overseas volunteer trip (Voluntourism) - Is it possible even in a short period of one week?

*This post was written based on my travel experience in September 2019 before COVID-19.

 

I don't know when exactly, but I had a thought that someday, maybe when I retire, I want to live while volunteering abroad. Of course, there are many volunteer activities in Korea, but strangely, I was more interested in overseas.

It seems that the story of Audrey Hepburn, who spent the rest of her life volunteering in Africa after retirement, and a priest who showed in 'Don't Cry, Tones' touched my heart.

But, in fact, do you really have to do volunteer work after you say 'retirement'? I began to question, and as I went to work, I thought about whether I could use the vacation period to do it. The problem is that it is not easy to find a companion who can be with me in my wish. I was a person who had traveled a lot by myself, so I wasn't afraid to go alone, but I was in a situation where I had no idea what kind of activities to go to.

Are there any organizations that operate such 'volunteer tours' and 'Voluntourism' like travel agencies? I did a search.

As a result, famous NGOs sometimes go on volunteer trips to the sponsored areas for 1-2 weeks by receiving applications from regular supporters. I didn't have a separate regular support, and although I am a Christian myself, there was something burdensome about going on a volunteer trip through the church. Among other Korean organizations, I found one organization that arranges volunteer trips, but it is a place that requires at least a month.
(I know that KOICA also sends volunteers in the form of overseas dispatch, but it is not the short-term of 1-2 weeks I think)

So, I searched for organizations by using the keyword "volunteer in Africa" ​​on Google, and as a result, I found the following organizations.

 

1. IVHQ
https://www.volunteerhq.org/

2. Love volunteers
https://www.lovevolunteers.org/

3. African Impact
https://www.africanimpact.com/

I am a very ordinary office worker in Korea, so it is difficult to take a vacation of more than a week.
I really wanted to go to Africa like Tanzania or Ghana, but I couldn't dare to go there, considering that it would take about 4 days for a round trip.

The candidates were narrowed down to IVHQ and Love Volunteers, which have many networks in Asia.
In fact, both organizations cover similar areas, activities, and costs.
IVHQ is where you can see more one-week programs.
In the end, I decided to go to IVHQ and went to Nepal.

 

In fact, volunteering for a week is really too short. I wonder how helpful my service will be to the region or organization.
However, this is my first time doing 'volunteering abroad', and if it's not easy to make time like me, I think even a week's experience is great.

In addition, I think the experience of living with local families and meeting other volunteers from all over the world and talking about each other's lives is a great opportunity to broaden one's own knowledge.

Above all, through these groups, you can enjoy yourself without danger even if you go 'alone'!

​If you want to try an overseas volunteer trip like me, but you don't have the courage

We recommend that you try out these groups!