Volunteering in a Community Other Than Your Own

By Flickr user Nadya Peek
We all know that there is a lot for volunteers to do in our own communities, whether it’s pitching in on conservation efforts, delivering meals, helping people register to vote, or tutoring local students. Sometimes, however, we want to get involved in a town or city other than our own.

For many, this means considering volunteering in another country. There are thousands of global opportunities for you to assist with community development, education, environmental protection, disaster relief...you get the idea. Idealist’s new International Volunteerism Resource Center can help you get started with the what, when, why, where, and how of volunteering abroad.

Don’t forget other communities in your own country, though. While volunteering abroad may seem more exciting—international travel with the opportunity to do some good in the world is a pretty enticing idea—volunteering somewhere else within your country also has the potential for a rich cultural experience while lending a hand and can serve as a great stepping stone to volunteering abroad. For example, if you live in a multicultural nation, volunteering in another community can be a great way to learn more about other regional and international cultures, all while already speaking the language and knowing the currency. If your country is multilingual, volunteering in another area can be a great way to learn, or brush up on, another language. Volunteering somewhere else in your own country may also be far more affordable than traveling abroad to volunteer, if for no other reason than the costs for getting there will likely be significantly less.

Finally, don’t forget to consider volunteering online. There are tons of things volunteers can do from their home computer—writing blog posts or grant proposals, developing web pages or educational materials, advocating for causes, raising funds, etc.—to assist diverse organizations and communities, whether they are across town or around the globe.

Ready to get started? Check out our International Volunteerism Resource Center or browse and search over 15,000 worldwide volunteer opportunities here.


This entry is by Erin B., who recently recorded a One Minute How-To on DIY Volunteering.