An Addiction Worth Keeping: Volunteering All Over the World

It’s an addiction that has no cure, gives heartwarming highs and somber lows, and has people going to the ends of the earth to find it: volunteerism.

Thousands of people leave their homes every year to travel to other countries and volunteer where they’re needed most. And while many people return to their normal lives after their trips, others refuse to let the experience end; it seems that once they start volunteering, they just can’t stop.

Anna Evely, a resident of York in the UK, first volunteered with the Global Volunteer Network (GVN) to do environmental conservation work in New Zealand. GVN is an organization that helps connect volunteers with communities in need in 19 countries. Her trip was a one-time thing, and she planned to use her experience to further her knowledge as a lecturer. But when she returned home, she found herself saving up for the next time she could leave. Since working in New Zealand, Anna has also volunteered at a wildlife sanctuary in Thailand, at an orphanage in Nepal and at primary schools in China.

“Every time you volunteer, you feel like you’ve made an impact,” Anna said. “Instead of using all the paper in the world, you’re planting trees and replacing them. Instead of taking from the country, you’re actually giving something back. I felt like I left my mark by the trees I planted. I can go back in however many years time and see how they’ve grown. As well as going somewhere and taking in all the beautiful scenery, I’m actually helping to make it more beautiful.”

Because every program was unique, Anna had trouble picking favorites.

“All of them were absolutely amazing: seeing the maraes in New Zealand was fantastic; in Thailand, there’s nothing more amazing then waking up to the sound of gibbons; in Nepal, it’s just the whole culture-sitting on the floor, eating with your hands, trying to do you washing in the middle of the village with everyone watching. Every place has given me such an amazing set of memories.”

For a woman who had never taken the train into London alone before, eating with her hands in Nepal dressed in a sari was the last thing anyone expected of her.

“I’d never even been away from home before,” Anna said. “I didn’t even want to live in the university dorm. I never did. I’m so un-brave, it’s unbelievable. I don’t know what happened. I guess I just thought, if I don’t do it now, I don’t know when I’ll ever do it. It took that leap and shocked everybody, including myself. And now I just feel like I could do anything.”

Anna’s friends and family weren’t just shocked by her boldness, but also questioned her new path.

“They think I’m absolutely insane,” she said. “They can’t quite understand why I’ve decided to spend all my money going around and not getting paid for things. My mom was really against it at first. She thought I should be out earning money like normal people. But now she’s really proud of me.”

Anna’s family wasn’t the only ones that needed convincing. Natalie Buckler, a student in California, had some explaining to do when she told her family she wanted to volunteer in Vietnam, again.

“At first, they were like, ‘What are you doing? Are you crazy?’” Natalie said. “The second time I went back, they said, ‘Don’t you want to go somewhere else?”

For Natalie, the answer was no. After volunteering for a month at an orphanage in Dai Loc, Natalie counted down the days until she could return. She originally chose to volunteer in Vietnam after studying the Vietnam War in college and decided she wanted to visit the country, but not as a tourist.

“Leaving the orphanage was the biggest challenge,” she said. “And that’s why I went back. I felt like I had a responsibility to the children.”

It’s this feeling of responsibility, and a passion to make a lasting impact on communities, that has volunteers returning. Nooshin Shabani, a resident of Newcastle in the UK, first volunteered in Nepal in 2003 because she wanted to combine humanitarian aid with travel. But Nooshin just couldn’t put away her travel pack when the trip was over, and set off to volunteer as a teacher in Ghana and at a preschool in the Philippines.

“After my first volunteer experience, I simply couldn’t go home and forget everything I’d seen and done,” she said. “You become addicted to travel because when you have done it once, you realize the world is not just the country you live in.”

While volunteers are discovering that the world is bigger than their hometowns, they’re also surprised to find the similarities between people everywhere they go.

“Everyone is just the same,” Anna said. “They just want to get on with life and get on with each other. They’re just trying to do the best they can with what they have. It was amazing to learn the language in every country and find yourself having the same conversations with people everywhere you go. In Nepal, we had a beauty day with the women and talked about boys.”

As for their addiction, these volunteers won’t be seeking treatment any time soon.

“When you volunteer, you will be moved by how much the people appreciate you spending time with them,” Nooshin said. “A little piece of your heart, a few weeks of your time, will be an everlasting memory in the lives of many. All I can say is, do it once, and I’m certain you will do it again.”

For more information on volunteering check out: http://www.volunteer.org.nz/

For more great articles on volunteering check out: http://globalvolunteernetwork.blogspot.com/

© 2000-2007 Global Volunteer Network

Navigating Through Your New Zealand Travel

New Zealand travel is quickly becoming one of the absolute coolest things to be able to say that you have done. This country is the best kept secret in the entire world, but more and more people are discovering it everyday. There are seven different climatic regions in the entire world and New Zealand has six of them. New Zealand travel is the best way to see golden sand beaches and marine parks that are protected that you can view them from on or below the surface. You will also be able to get up close and personal with active volcanic areas, but do not worry because they are completely safe. The Australian Alps are unlike anything else with their pristine snow caps where you can ski or climb depending on the time of year.

Australia is full of tours that allow you to explore the forests and amazing plant life that is all around. There are basically two different parts of New Zealand: the North Island and the South Island. The North Island is home to Auckland which is the largest urban and suburban area in the entire country. This suburban area has a population of almost two million people and it is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery with harbors and beaches that are to die for. If you are a surfer then you will find this area to be especially unique because there a so many different undiscovered surf areas that will truly open your eyes to a new world of surfing that you never thought imaginable. To the west of Auckland, you can find some rather large vineyards, so if that is what you are in to then plan to be there for the entire day. Auckland has a very strong reputation as being a Mecca for sailors and that has been reaffirmed again and again over the years. It actually has more boats per capita than any other city in the entire world.

Do not worry if you are not a surfer or an avid boater because this city boasts some of the best shopping, galleries and museums in the world. These areas are great because they provide a multicultural environment blending European, Asian and Polynesian cultures. There are many other great tourist attractions so whether you are traveling alone or on a family vacation you will have no problem finding something for everyone to enjoy.