resources

Lonely Planet Volunteers

Tony and Maureen Wheeler

Image source: Lonelyplanet.com

Inspired by yesterday’s post, I went searching for other great online resources for aspiring volunteers. I’ve written about online portals before: organizations that collect volunteering resources to match volunteers with opportunities. VolunteerMatch is one example, but there are many popping up all over the online superhighway. These organizations are wonderfully helpful. They make the vastness of the information digestible and help overwhelmed volunteers take control of their planning. They provide question-based search tools, helping users whittle down their options. They even provide detailed information about travel options, accommodations, and tourist spots in the volunteer’s chosen country. The one thing they don’t provide, however, is brand recognition. It’s not their fault—this industry is so new and many of these companies are only a few years old—but when an unknown entity is doing your vetting, it’s hard to feel 100% confident about the information you’re getting.

Voluntourism.org: A Dynamite Resource for the Voluntour Universe

Australian Volunteers Working in Marine Conservation

Image source: Adventure.howstuffworks.com

No matter who you are—a young professional, an inner-city high school student with big dreams, an empty nester, a college graduate, or a stay-at-home mom—when you’re planning a voluntour, you need good information. Once you’ve decided to voluntour, you’ve taken the first step, and that’s a big accomplishment. You’ve probably thought long and hard about what you want out of life, what you care about, and how you want to make a difference. It’s a life-changing decision and you’re well on your way, but there’s more to be done!