As an international volunteer (voluntourist), you are the driving force that helps under-resourced communities around the world sustain their efforts to provide education, housing, health care, animal rescue, and wildlife/land conservation. We call this voluntourism.
Many prospective volunteers are surprised to learn that voluntourism costs to participate. At first, this can seem ridiculous — Why should you pay money to work for free? Aren't you already forgoing income and giving up your time at home? Here are a few things to keep in mind while trying to understand why international volunteers are charged a fee:
The local organizations and projects with whom you volunteer overseas have limited resources and are seldom able to subsidize your trip or cover the costs of housing, feeding and transporting you, among numerous other things.) If they did have the financial resources to pay international volunteers and the costs of hosting them, it would almost certainly be more beneficial and cost-effective to hire a local person instead, someone who already knows the language and culture and is likely to stick around.
- Identifying appropriate host organizations overseas (reputable and safe) and working with them is time-consuming, takes resources, and requires an experienced and professional staff.
- The process of preparing, training, transporting, housing, feeding, and supervising volunteers is not cheap. Additional services such as health care, re-entry assistance, travel medical insurance, and more, all add to the expenses of a program.
- The costs of recruiting volunteers, producing literature, answering the phones, sending mailings, developing a website, and interviewing potential volunteers are significant.
So why do overseas organizations partner with GeoVisions?
Most international not-for-profit organizations struggle to keep their programs staffed with trained and committed volunteers. They rely on a steady stream of people to sustain their work. With meager resources, most are unable to manage or fund a full-scale volunteer recruiting effort nor can they subsidize volunteer travel expenses such as housing, food or insurance. What resources they have are typically spent on basic necessities such as building materials, medical supplies and teaching aids.
These programs partner with us to ensure consistent and reliable volunteer recruiting and training support. We provide the services that enable these projects to ensure their work is carried out. Our job is to match as many volunteers with worthwhile programs as possible without passing any costs onto the programs themselves.
Where does GeoVisions come in?
We research and develop programs that are not only vital to the communities they serve but safe and worthwhile for the volunteers. We employ full-time staff to research projects, maintain close relationships with overseas causes and monitor destinations. Other staff focuses on recruitment efforts to engage dedicated people like you in a working vacation. We also have people who help you prepare for your trip with training and travel guidance designed to enhance your experience and ensure your comfort and safety.
With GeoVisions, you are guaranteed a worthwhile project and a professional support network to guide you through it. This means you spend less time organizing your trip and more time making your contribution in the real world.
What does my fee go toward?
- Knowledgeable travel advisors who ensure that your project fits your goals and schedule and provide assistance throughout your voluntourism adventure.
- Accommodations are often in the home of a local family to welcome you as an integral part of the community; food is also included on most placements.
- 24/7 emergency support system, as well as comprehensive travel and health insurance are included so you and your family back home can rest assured that your health and safety is paramount.
- Experienced In-Country Coordinators and Partners who provide local support and services during your stay.
- Airport pick up and orientation in your gateway city to make arrival at your destination easier.
- Pre-departure information to ensure you are prepared for your trip including visa advice, guidance on inoculations and other recommendations to be sure you are properly equipped.
- In-country Cultural and Learning Activities including excursions to nearby points of interest, special events and discussions with a variety of local cultural, professional, governmental and community agencies and people.
- GeoVisions comprehensive program structure, providing you with a comfortable, safe place to live, the basic amenities, most of your meals, and transportation to and from all GeoVisions placements and programs.
- In-country basic language assistance
- Professional, locally-based staff to provide orientation, supervision and guidance throughout your stay.
- Important documents, including in-depth volunteer materials, orientation information, and in-country information.
- A toll-free 24-hour emergency hotline in the U.S.
What is not included in the program fee?
- Costs associated with obtaining a visa or immunizations (when needed).
- International or domestic airfare and corresponding airport departure taxes.
- Personal Internet time and long-distance (domestic and international) phone calls.
- Laundry service.
Why not volunteer independently?
Walking into a program without a sponsoring organization can prove disheartening and lonely. You don’t have the benefit your sponsor’s long-standing relationships, language skills, cultural orientation or emergency support. You may have issues dealing with foreign governments or clarifying living conditions - this is where local contacts can prove essential. These are just a few of the reasons most volunteers have a better experience working with a well-established organization such as GeoVisions.