Why Pay To Volunteer

Gap year students looking for something different, challenging and life changing to do with their year off increasingly make voluntary part of their travel plans. Not only is volunteering a great way to develop skills, make friends, get some valuable life experience, it is also an excellent opportunity to do something useful.

The concept of paying to do something so valuable may seem a bit strange but is really an important part of keeping projects around the world yesterday. Volunteer providers often come under fire, and it is not surprising, it is far too easy to forget that few volunteers to projects which take a lot of organization, support for volunteers in the country take money and give projects the help they need does not come cheap. It is however important to feel that the money you spend is a good investment, so here are a few points that may help your mind at rest ...

A surprisingly large safety net

Although off into the sunset and make a difference only has a certain appeal, knowing that there will be someone there to help if something goes wrong is always reassuring. Volunteering is no package, there will be no hold your hand every step, but to go through a company that will give you a comprehensive and in-country support networks.

In country, you will usually get a airport pickup and a local project coordinator who will give you full country orientation, take you through your paces and stick around to ensure your adventure is a fantastic experience. Not just a comforting presence, the program coordinator should be a source of knowledge, they will be able to show you the sights tourists never see, and gives you a unique insight into local life.

With companies such as Real Gap, you will also have 24-hour access to a dedicated emergency back-up team, ready and waiting to handle emergency situations like missed flights or smaller concerns like where you can buy shampoo. It's easy to feel brave when you're sitting comfortably at home, but you can never overestimate the importance of knowing there is someone there if you need them.

Keeping it local

Choose your company carefully will go a long way towards determining how well your money is spent. Responsible voluntary societies such as Real Gap only work with pre-established local projects with local project coordinators. This means you can be sure the help you give really necessary and that the work you do will make a lasting difference.

A portion of your fee will cover the cost of your accommodation, food and expenses in-country, all of which will normally be resolved for you. Responsible voluntary providers will ensure that you stay in locally owned accommodation, eating local food and use local materials, which means that you will make a significant financial investment in the local community just by being there.

Be prepared

It is important for companies such as Real Gap to know what they're talking about, so some money goes to visit projects and make sure they are in order and carry out risk assessment.This allows companies to see exactly what to do, make sure that things are as they should be, and to ensure the projects are suitable for volunteers.

This also means that companies can give you the best preparation possible, it is important to match the right volunteers for the right project, so your trip will be carefully selected to suit you, something that would not be possible without all the information in the country.

Dedicated teams spend hours researching and making sure you know exactly what to expect, and are armed with all the resources you need. Before departure packs are a traveling Bible, since the hassle out of planning, they are filled with useful information, from packing tips to visa and currency information! Hive of information at your fingertips!

Better to prevent than to cure

Screw up the door jam of a local school in southern Thailand may seem like an expensive idea, but what if the school has closed? You can see a lot more friendly on your fee when you consider the safety of booking through a company will bring.

Companies like Real Gap ensure that their programs have insurance IPP (International Passenger Protection), which is fundamental means that if the project is canceled, if a company becomes insolvent, or if for other reasons your trip is canceled, you will get your money back.Plus, if your plane was included as a part of the package, they will be ATOL protected, so you will be able to come home and advance reservation will be refunded.

Spread the word

There hundreds of projects that are crying out for help is not good if nobody knows about it.Marketing may not seem like a worthy cause, but it is a huge important part of recruiting more volunteers and make sure that the good work may continue.

Getting the word out there to publicize projects and thus provide a much needed helping hand, it is a part of your fee goes to recruiting volunteers just like you. Offices full of staff in Britain may not seem like a necessity, but they are there to give you support when you need it, and is a major part to keep vital voluntary work in progress.