Thursday 27 July 2017

Disadvantages And Advantages Of Short Term Volunteer Immersions

By Laura King


Some people want to volunteer but does not have enough money and time to go in another place and commit their service there. Spending six months is usually needed for you to learn the language, build relationships and work towards goals that are sustainable. This is difficult to achieve if you are a working or studying individual who wants to make an impact and have a great experience.

Luckily, programs are available where you could spend the limited time you have with impoverished people from other cultures to help them. The short term volunteer immersions are becoming popular with busy individuals wanting to help others during their free days from work or school. But some inevitable disadvantages should be avoided whenever possible.

Traveling somewhere with a very different timezone usually results to a jetlag or having disorientation, disruptive sleeping patterns and headaches. Your body could adjust usually in a week or two but if that is all the time you have there, you need to fight through these symptoms. And the community members would usually warm up to you when your job is almost done.

This means teaching works and other similar ones that require building connection with others in being effective is inadvisable for programs like this. Being sick during this time will mean your days will be spent in recovering instead which is a waste. Your opportunities to laze around to observe the environment and local culture are very small and you will feel rush due to this.

These disadvantages could be avoided if you will plan your trip accordingly and choose a program that fits your desires best. Building school or house projects are preferable since you can accomplish them within a short time. That is why helping an organization with long term goals amidst the changing volunteers is better.

Choose somewhere nearer and within a similar timezone so you can avoid being jetlagged and some money on plane tickets. Research ahead about the place like their language, history and culture rather than just reading the given materials by the organization. Doing so will help adjust with the people easily and quickly make them feel comfortable with you.

If possible, spend more days than what your program has scheduled you for by arriving earlier or leaving later. This will help in preparing yourself of the culture in that place and rest before your work will start. You can also use this opportunity to travel somewhere else instead of using the time meant for volunteering.

Make a strategy to fight exhaustion, jetlag, and illness by adjusting your pattern of sleeping before making the trip. Remember to properly rest on your first nights and have your body adjust and be capable to endure more. Use your extra time with the locals and build relationship instead of idling around only.

You may get a mixture of emotions when first arriving such as being delighted, confused, disoriented and strange. Spend some minutes to quietly meditate in the evening and record the details of ever observations you have. Be positive and recognize your limitations but still do the best you can within the limited days given.




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