![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/givingway.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhy do we travel? To see jaw-dropping sights, to meet exciting people from all walks of life, to come back with stories to share in the pub with our mates? Or because we want to leave our mark on the world, make a difference, and give a little back to our great Mother Earth\u00a0\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udf33? For me, it\u2019s a combination of everything listed above, which is precisely why volunteering abroad has become my 360\u00b0 solution.\u00a0 I want to leave a socially conscious footprint which benefits not just me but also those around me when I volunteer abroad – exploring, not exploiting the cultures which I\u2019m immersed in.<\/p>\n
So why volunteer abroad as part of your travels? As Dr Seuss masterfully pointed out \u201cyou have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose\u201d. We\u2019re the generation who are lucky enough to have travelling as a hobby. We shouldn\u2019t forget that just a few decades ago travelling to another country was something which you could only glimpse in a book (I know \u2013 can you imagine?!). Naturally then, it\u2019s important that we make travelling sustainable by giving something back. Something which not only helps the local community, but *fingers crossed* also means that we can carry on travelling for many years to come.<\/p>\n
Still on board? Then read on for 12 reasons to volunteer abroad that will put you on the path of being a more socially conscious traveller.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udcf7@givingway<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the detail of everyday life. That work presentation you\u2019ve been dreading, the party you didn\u2019t get an invite to, that photo which you wish had never made its way onto Instagram. Things which make your stomach turn at the time will seem trivial once you\u2019ve stepped away and allowed some perspective to shine down on the situation.<\/p>\n Nobody wants Captain Hindsight to come knocking at the door 10 years down the line telling us that we\u2019ve spent too much time sweating the small stuff. Volunteering overseas gives you a break from everyday realities, which means that when you return you\u2019ll appreciate how good you have it. *Disclaimer* in the grand scheme of things, it\u2019s probably pretty darn good!<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7@patchinpixels<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n When you surround yourself with people who don\u2019t have much, you start to question how important your \u201cmust have\u201d items really are. The locals don\u2019t care if the top you\u2019re wearing is from a cool expensive shop or whether you have the latest iPhone. When you strip items back to what you actually NEED, you\u2019ll find it\u2019s really very little. This can be extremely liberating when you return back home, as you place less importance on things, and more importance on living. I found myself giving clothes, shoes and the like to charity shops when I returned from my last volunteer abroad trip \u2013 and FYI, if you haven\u2019t worn it in the last 6 months, it\u2019s probably time to get rid.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7@rafael.v11<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Language development, project management, teaching, construction…These are just a few of the skills you could pick up along the way whilst you\u2019re volunteering abroad. It\u2019s different to just sitting in a class, as you\u2019re learning on the job, so you\u2019ll naturally pick things up way faster than if you were attempting it back home. You could even end up mastering skills which you\u2019d never even dreamed of trying (who would\u2019ve thought that I’d make such a stellar plasterer? Not me, that\u2019s for sure).<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7Christel Andrieu<\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure whether you\u2019re on the right path in life (and to be honest, who is?!) then finding a volunteer abroad opportunity can be an amazing way to work out what matters to you. Separating yourself from influences like family and friends can give you the headspace to work out what\u2019s right for YOU and how you want to spend your life.<\/p>\n Modern pressures from society can often make us feel as though we\u2019re being forced down a career path which we have to stick to, all guns blazing. Volunteering abroad can give you a much needed step away from those pressures, so that you can hit the ground running upon your return.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7@kanebonketravels<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n You never really know a place until you\u2019ve lived there. If you\u2019re volunteering somewhere which includes accommodation (if not, grab a hostel<\/a>) you\u2019ll dive head first into the lives and culture of those around you. From morning ’til night you\u2019ll be living and breathing a culture which is different to your own \u2013 something which just can\u2019t be experienced from the comfort of a tour bus.<\/p>\n Getting to know another way of life by stepping into the shoes of another human opens your eyes, ears and mind to the world around you. You\u2019ll eat like a local, sleep like a local, drink like a local. Which in my case whilst volunteering in Africa meant that I ate plantains for breakfast, plantains for lunch and plantains for dinner \ud83c\udf4c.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7@jessieonajourney<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The welcomes I\u2019ve received from locals in host cities are unparalleled \u2013 endless amounts of warmth, happiness and gratitude. Crossing paths with people who you\u2019d normally walk straight past is, for me, THE most compelling reason to volunteer abroad. Yes, you may get your community tribe vibes from staying at a hostel but the unique characters you meet whilst volunteering are enough to make me want to jump straight back onto that plane to do it all over again.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7@travelinglange<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n No doubt that some of the anxiety surrounding volunteering in a new country is to do with the idea that you\u2019ll feel alone. You\u2019re a long, long way from home and the unfamiliarity of the situation could leave you feeling in need of those home comforts. In fact, taking part in a volunteer scheme can be one of the best ways to meet similarly minded individuals who are setting out to do the same thing as you.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve already got something in common (a shared mission to help others) and you\u2019re working collectively for the greater good. Everything is turbo-charged when you\u2019re travelling, including friendships. You connect and bond with people quickly \u2013 after all, you\u2019re on this journey of self-discovery together which can often result in #friendshipgoals for life.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7@chloerebecca94<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Dedicating your time to something other than yourself shows compassion, good ethics and an open mind. These are all skills which could set you ahead of the rest and land you that job when you return home to the motherland. When you volunteer abroad, you have to think on your feet and take initiative. These are hard things to convey when there\u2019s a CV between you and an interview, but mentioning volunteering abroad on a personal statement is like a subtle way of writing \u201cHey, I care about the world and similarly, I would care about this job\u201d.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7@ecuadorvolunteer<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Volunteering abroad throws you straight into the deep end. One trip could entail you standing in front of a class in Ghana teaching little ones the English alphabet<\/a>, another could involve assisting at a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Amazonian Ecuador<\/a>. There\u2019s no time to be nervous when there\u2019s more pressing matters at hand, so being confident will become second nature.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7@biciceciu<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Let\u2019s face it, the 9-5 routine can sometimes leave us in such a monotonous trance that when something unexpected does<\/em> happen, we are less than equipped to deal with it. Taking part in a volunteer trip couldn\u2019t be further from mundane and this can impact your life post-trip as you start to roll with the uncertainties.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcf7<\/strong>@alexcritchley4<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Just as the chameleon can camouflage itself from one tree to the next, you\u2019ll start to see yourself adapting from one task to another with increased ease. It’s rare that a volunteer abroad trip will be plain sailing and as the needs of the local community may change, you\u2019ll have to follow suit.<\/p>\n2. You Learn How To Live Simply<\/h2>\n
![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/patchinpixels.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
<\/p>\n3. You Learn New Skills…Fast<\/h2>\n
![\"Reasons](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/rafael.v11.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. You\u2019ll Work Out What\u2019s Important To You<\/h2>\n
![\"Reasons](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Christel-Andrieu.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. You\u2019ll Experience A New Culture Completely<\/h2>\n
![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/kanebonketravels.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. You\u2019ll Meet The Greatest People In Host Cities<\/h2>\n
![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/jessieonajourney.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. You\u2019ll Meet Other Like-Minded Volunteers<\/h2>\n
![\"Reasons](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/travelinglange.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. Future Employers Will Rate Your Experience<\/h2>\n
![\"Reasons](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/chloerebecca94.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Your Confidence Will Go Through The Roof<\/h2>\n
![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ecuadorvolunteer.jpg\")
<\/p>\n10. You Begin To Embrace The Unexpected<\/h2>\n
![\"Why](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/@biciceciu.jpg\")
<\/p>\n11. You\u2019ll Learn How To Adapt Quickly<\/h2>\n
![\"Reasons](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/alexcritchley4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n12. It\u2019s A Springboard For Travelling And Vice Versa<\/h2>\n
![\"Reasons](\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/adventuresofsophh.jpg\")
<\/p>\n