Wednesday, 26 July 2017

Short Term Volunteer Immersions Disadvantages And Advantages

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, there are programs available where you can spend your limited time with impoverished people of other cultures and help them. Short term volunteer immersions has become popular among busy individuals who wants to offer their free days in helping others. But some disadvantages are inevitable and should be avoided if possible.

Traveling to a place with a timezone that is very different will make you have headaches, disorientation, and disruptive sleeping patterns or feel jetlag. Your body needs a week at leas to adjust which may be all your available days so fighting through these symptoms is a must. Plus community member will warm up usually to you when the job is almost finished.

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 in fighting illness, exhaustion and jetlag like adjusting your sleeping pattern before the trip. Do not forget to have proper rest in your first few nights so your body could adjust and will be capable of enduring more. And use your extra time in building relationship among the locals instead of just idling around.

Numerous emotions may be felt during your first time arriving like being disoriented, strange, delighted, and confused. Meditated every evening for some minutes and record the experiences you had. Remain positive and perform with your best despite having limitations on available days.




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