Impact of volunteering abroad on the community

“I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.” ~William Shakespeare. When you are volunteering abroad, you do so for several reasons, some may be personal, while some may be career oriented. However a volunteer usually has an immense impact on the local community you are working in. The impact may vary in different places, depending on the local’s attitude towards what you are doing for the community, in most cases it is a positive impact, but in some rare cases it can be negative. Here is a brief overview on some impact that your work abroad may have on the locals.
Some people volunteer in programmes meant to build infrastructure in less fortunate places like third world countries. This infrastructure may include schools, hospitals, roadwork among other buildings. In such a case then you will have a positive impact where you get to leave the locals with a form of empowerment, where they can help themselves in the future, for instance if you help build a school then you will help create generations of educated youth, who can help their community in the future, and in turn build more infrastructure in the area
One can have some social impact on the community, you can help the locals get to understand your culture better while at the same time help them understand yours. The social impact however may turn out as a negative, in some cases your culture may clash so much with the local culture to the extent where whatever you may achieve during your volunteer period, may not have the desired impact. The same may apply for the spiritual impact that you may have on the community. If you are volunteering in a missionary capacity, you may run into a situation where your work is not appreciated, for instance if you are a woman volunteering with a community that does not allow women to do the work of a preacher or spiritual leader. So remember to do your research well before volunteering abroad, so that your work can have the desired effect.
On another level, your volunteer work can have an economic impact on the community. As before where you may have helped to put up some infrastructure for the local community, then they may use this to help them make some money, good infrastructure creates jobs for the local community, and also generates new business into the area, all leading to some economic good fortune for the locals, as they say, teach a man how to fish, and he will be able to fend for himself.
One of the impacts a foreign volunteer can have on then locals is an inspirational or motivational impact. If you have the kind of impact where you inspire one person to begin their own programme to help himself /herself and also give back to their community. When one has such an impact on someone else then it helps the volunteer cause because once one person is inspired to give back then soon enough more people will get inspired and more good will be done in the community.

What to do if robbed while volunteering abroad

Being a victim of a robbery can be very traumatising to anyone, the situation can be made worse if you are in a foreign country. Many people get caught off guard in such a situation, and in most cases you don’t know what to do first. If you are in shock, you may find yourself not knowing who to turn to or where to go, so the first thing you should try to remember is to take some deep breaths and try to get a good bearing of where you are, this may be use full to you, later on when dealing with the police, because petty thugs and gangs tend to be territorial. Also try your best not to get in a tussle with the robbers; this may be a sure way of provoking them to harm you

When it comes to robbery especially in a foreign country, then what your motto should be to take at most precaution before it happens. You therefore need to remember a few things, first and most obvious is clothing, do not walk around with flashy clothing or jewellery in your day to day volunteer work or while walking around, this will make you a target of opportunity criminals. Never leave any luggage you may have unattended or in the company of strangers, again you never know who May be watching.

Just in case of anything, before you leave home, make a copy of your passport and visa and leave it with your emergency contact. Also make a copy of your itinerary and leave it with your emergency contact. Always have 2 copies of your emergency contacts number with you, and the numbers of your embassy or high commission office.

First thing you need to do if robbed while in a foreign country is to find the nearest police station. You also need to get an affidavit of all the items you lost during the robbery, either in case your items are found or just in case there may arise a need for its use if you lose any important documents.

Once you have reported the crime to the police, then the next thing you should do is contact your embassy or high commission office. You may do so by phone or go directly too their offices, it is however most advisable to visit their offices in person. Once you visit the offices then the officers of tour embassy or high commission can assist you in a number of ways.

Embassy or high commission officers may help you to get a new passport if you lost yours in the robbery, and in some cases they may send you some emergency cash if you lost your money as well. While doing this, they will also help you to process or cancel any credit cards that you may have lost in the ordeal.

After going through such an ordeal, then you may need to talk to some family or friends to help you to get over what has happened, you can also seek local counsellors who speak your language to help you come to terms with things. Time however is the best healer for such things so give yourself some time and you are likely to get back to your volunteering, and feeling like your old self again.

Eating healthy foods while volunteering abroad

“I enjoy spending time at home or going out for a quiet meal in a restaurant.”- Jamie Redknap. While one is volunteering you need to be full of energy, to give you the endurance and strength to get through the day, especially in a foreign country. Many a time you will find that a volunteer in a foreign country may have to make a drastic change to the diet that they are used to while at home, in addition, they may constantly go for a long period in between meals, which leads to a situation where your body and consequently your mind are not fully charged to properly tackle your volunteer work, not to mention the health risks that may be brought about by this.

While eating healthy foods may mean keeping to a certain diet, it also means avoiding certain foods while abroad, for instance, do not eat any cultural foods offered to you and you do not know exactly what they are made up of, you never know if there is a substance that you are allergic to in the food or used in the preparation of the food. Also as much as it is important to keep yourself hydrated be careful not to drink any water that you don’t know the origin of, this is applies more to those people volunteering in third world countries, where the plumbing systems may not be very clean or hygienic.

When it comes to food your best choice while volunteering abroad would be fruits, vegetables and grains, these foods guarantee your body optimum day to day performance, they also provide you with most of the nutrients you need for a proper diet. Fruits and vegetables also improve the body’s immune system, helping you to avoid any sicknesses that could be avoided while abroad.

No one likes an illness, especially an illness while one is abroad. Along with healthy eating there are some foods that can naturally help you to get better if you acquire a slight illness while abroad, that said always remember that if you fall ill your best and first option should be to see a doctor, and get any necessary medication you may need to get better, but some people are generally untrustworthy of medications that they find in pharmacies abroad. For such people you can make use of a number of remedies in form of food that may be available to you, to get through or help things out in the short run.

If you are suffering from small indigestion you may be well off making use of ginger or chilies in your food, they will help ease the congestion in your stomach, and they also aid with digestion. Those suffering from lung disorders can use onions in their diet, to help relieve them of any discomfort. Lemmon can also be used in a number of ways, this can be in form of juice, or even the peel, and lemons may act as a pain killer or as an antiseptic for any open wounds that you may get while volunteering.

One of the most painful sources of discomfort to a volunteer may come in form of a tooth ache. Most of us don’t like the dentist, it makes matters worse if it is not your personal dentist that you have available and in a foreign country to boot. If you find yourself in such a situation then you can make use of cloves, they will help to reduce the pain you are in and also reduce swelling if there is any.

A good and healthy diet of three meals a day will keep you out of the hospital bed while volunteering abroad; it will also keep your mind working at its highest capacity throughout the day. So watch what you eat while you are volunteering, and you will come away with a positive volunteer experience, rather than one filled with pain.

Eating healthy foods while volunteering abroad

“I enjoy spending time at home or going out for a quiet meal in a restaurant.”- Jamie Redknap. While one is volunteering you need to be full of energy, to give you the endurance and strength to get through the day, especially in a foreign country. Many a time you will find that a volunteer in a foreign country may have to make a drastic change to the diet that they are used to while at home, in addition, they may constantly go for a long period in between meals, which leads to a situation where your body and consequently your mind are not fully charged to properly tackle your volunteer work, not to mention the health risks that may be brought about by this.

While eating healthy foods may mean keeping to a certain diet, it also means avoiding certain foods while abroad, for instance, do not eat any cultural foods offered to you and you do not know exactly what they are made up of, you never know if there is a substance that you are allergic to in the food or used in the preparation of the food. Also as much as it is important to keep yourself hydrated be careful not to drink any water that you don’t know the origin of, this is applies more to those people volunteering in third world countries, where the plumbing systems may not be very clean or hygienic.

When it comes to food your best choice while volunteering abroad would be fruits, vegetables and grains, these foods guarantee your body optimum day to day performance, they also provide you with most of the nutrients you need for a proper diet. Fruits and vegetables also improve the body’s immune system, helping you to avoid any sicknesses that could be avoided while abroad.

No one likes an illness, especially an illness while one is abroad. Along with healthy eating there are some foods that can naturally help you to get better if you acquire a slight illness while abroad, that said always remember that if you fall ill your best and first option should be to see a doctor, and get any necessary medication you may need to get better, but some people are generally untrustworthy of medications that they find in pharmacies abroad. For such people you can make use of a number of remedies in form of food that may be available to you, to get through or help things out in the short run.

If you are suffering from small indigestion you may be well off making use of ginger or chilies in your food, they will help ease the congestion in your stomach, and they also aid with digestion. Those suffering from lung disorders can use onions in their diet, to help relieve them of any discomfort. Lemmon can also be used in a number of ways, this can be in form of juice, or even the peel, and lemons may act as a pain killer or as an antiseptic for any open wounds that you may get while volunteering.

One of the most painful sources of discomfort to a volunteer may come in form of a tooth ache. Most of us don’t like the dentist, it makes matters worse if it is not your personal dentist that you have available and in a foreign country to boot. If you find yourself in such a situation then you can make use of cloves, they will help to reduce the pain you are in and also reduce swelling if there is any.

A good and healthy diet of three meals a day will keep you out of the hospital bed while volunteering abroad; it will also keep your mind working at its highest capacity throughout the day. So watch what you eat while you are volunteering, and you will come away with a positive volunteer experience, rather than one filled with pain.

Volunteering abroad during the Easter holiday

“Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless.” ~Charles M. Crowe. Easter is considered as one of those times of the year when giving to the less fortunate is seen as the best spiritual sacrifice one can make, mainly for those who believe that it is a time when you should give up something of value to you, for the benefit of others. For a volunteer this is most likely their time or expertise. It is easier for someone to volunteer during the holidays like Easter because time off is already available to both student volunteers and working volunteers.

It is never easy being away from your family during the holidays, but you can do a lot of good through volunteering. One way to achieve this is going to the nearest local church and talking to the priest, see if you can get involved in any of the Easter preparations in the church, like working with any youth or children who are involved in the Easter play or working to put together a program where you receive goods and donations for the less fortunate in the society, through the church. You can also help by offering to clean the church or make preparations for the Easter services. This will help you keep busy during the holiday.

Another way to volunteer abroad, during this festive season is to volunteer in the local hospital, maybe in the children’s ward, you can work with any other volunteers or anyone in a situation to help, to put together an Easter goody bag for the children, especially the orphaned or neglected children in the ward who have e no family to visit them during this period. If you wish to volunteer in the hospital and not work with children, you could also read to the older patients or help out the nursing staff wherever they may need your help.

As a volunteer during what is mainly considered a religious holiday you need to be able to keep your secular and religious celebrations during this period separate, many parts of the world have Easter festivals and celebrations that have become a culture, due to the fact that they have been practiced for several years. If you are a volunteer in such a place then getting involved in such festivals will help you appreciate the local cultures, and it can work as a bonding experience between you and some of the local volunteers you are working alongside.

Being in a foreign country, it is sometimes difficult to celebrate holidays. During Easter, you could be in a country that is predominantly Muslim or Hindu, or Buddhist. In these places they wouldn’t celebrate Easter. If you are keen on celebrating the holiday, the volunteer could organize to meet with other foreigners, expats and travelers who appreciate the holiday. When they are together, they could host a party, lay out Easter eggs and have Easter bunnies.

Sacrificing your holiday can be very fulfilling you may lose some relaxation time but as I said earlier, Easter is the time to appreciate the ultimate sacrifice, where you decide to give away what is of value to you for the benefit of others, you do not have to sacrifice your entire holiday, a day or two in a nursing home or a children’s home will help a few unfortunate people also enjoy the holiday.

What to do if you are arrested while volunteering abroad

“You can be arrested and not charged. You can be arrested and have no right to counsel.”-
Harry Belafonte. When volunteering abroad, your biggest hope is that nothing goes wrong during your experience while in a foreign country, but as fate would have it things can often go wrong, and most likely when you least expect it. It will help you a lot if you are prepared for some likely unfortunate circumstances that you may find yourself in. Here are some guidelines in case you get arrested.

A volunteer can get arrested for a number of reasons, ranging in seriousness; one can be arrested for something as simple as a traffic offence, or something more serious like drug possession. Whatever the reason for your arrest, it helps for volunteers to try and not get arrested for blatantly breaking the law of the country you are in. While you are abroad you are subject to the laws of the country you are in, and therefore you have to obey them to the best of your ability.

There are some instances where as a volunteer you could be committing a crime and you don’t know you are breaking the law. In such cases you can’t tell the police officers that you didn’t know you are committing a crime, as ignorance of the law is not a defense. For example chewing of gum in Malaysia is a crime and the punishment is a few days in prison or a hefty fine. To avoid this from happening it is advisable to be properly oriented about the rules and regulations of a certain place. If you are not sure of the rules ask for some help from the locals who will guide you.

If you are in a country and you don’t speak the native tongue it will be hard for you to explain yourself. When you commit a crime, the police will arrest you despite of the fact that you are a foreigner and they won’t extend you the courtesy to try and speak to you in a language in which you understand. As most of the police officers won’t be able to communicate with you effectively and hence defending yourself could be an issue. In such extreme cases ask for permission to call one of the local people who is your friend and who would help with the translation.

If arrested, first thing you should do is contact your embassy or high commission office. Officers from your embassy will help get in touch with your emergency contacts, and in some instances help you get a local lawyer who understands and speaks your language. This is one of your rights, so do not be afraid to ask for legal representation. Always try and be polite and not lose your cool while dealing with the local or arresting officers, especially if you have been arrested for a minor offence, this can help you come to a speedier and simpler resolution and release, also ask if you can be released on bond while the issue is being resolved.

If arrested abroad, ensure that proper documentation is provided for all the belongings that were in your possession when arrested, make sure nothing incriminating has been added to the list of your belongings, also ensure that you thoroughly check your personal effects when released to make sure that nothing is missing.

One more thing to look out for if arrested while volunteering abroad is to make sure you do not put your signature on anything that you have not thoroughly read, and if possible gotten some legal advice on, you do not need to make things any more worse for yourself

5 questions you must ask yourself before volunteering abroad

Volunteering, especially volunteering abroad, is one of those life changing experiences an individual can go through, it can form some of the best moments of one’s life or the worst, and so before a person commits themselves to volunteering abroad, there are a few things you need to ask yourself, to ensure you are making the best choice. Here are a few questions you may consider.


Why do you want volunteer abroad?

There are many reasons why people choose to volunteer abroad, one may just feel as though they need to do some good for those people whom they feel are less fortunate than they are, some do it for the experience of travelling abroad and working with people of different cultures, and therefore in doing so, get a different perspective of the world in general. A common reason for volunteering abroad is simply to make your resume that much more interesting than the next guys, but a good many people do it for reasons that are personal to them. Whatever reason you may choose to volunteer abroad, you should, it helps one to know that the good you are doing for others is also fulfilling to yourself in one way or another, this way your experience becomes worthwhile to you the volunteer as well.


Where do you want to go?

Once you have established your reason for volunteering abroad, then you need to have an idea of which foreign country you want to volunteer in. This is a stage that can be influenced by a number of things going on around the world. For most people this choice is influenced greatly by the media, many people signed up to volunteer in Haiti, Japan, New Zealand and Australia after the earthquakes and floods that occurred there. Again for some the place you volunteer in may be a place that is of personal significance, some people who may have managed to change nationalities in search of greener pastures sometimes choose to volunteer back in their home countries, giving back to the community that they left behind. Culture and language help to influence where you can volunteer.


What are you going to do?

A number of volunteering opportunities exist abroad; they include provision of medical services, teaching, construction, among a long list of other opportunities. You may need to know this so as to make sure you are in the right frame of mind psychologically to handle whatever situation you may find yourself in. It is never easy to work with people who have a lot less than you do, if you are not well prepared some unfortunate situations can lead to you breaking down while volunteering.


For how long would you like to volunteer?

Some people get home sick after just a couple of days away from their home countries, while others can stay away from home for weeks or even make themselves at home away from home in the countries they are volunteering in. the amount of time you are away, will help you with your packing, light or heavy. It will also help you to make preparations for yourself back home, like getting someone to pick up your mail for you or take care of your pet


How are you going to make your stay comfortable as you volunteer

Volunteering abroad can be very expensive with regards to accommodation and food. For some this may not be an issue, while others may have friends or family where they are going to volunteer. If you are not in this category then you can look into volunteer service organizations to help you make your stay as comfortable and convenient as possible.

Cultural greetings while volunteering in South America

South America is a fairly smaller continent than the other places we have looked at before; this presents a fair advantage to any volunteers planning to offer their services in this part of the world. It is an advantage in that most countries in this region use Spanish as their national language. The biggest exception is Brazil, who use Portuguese as their national language.

It follows therefore that if you are volunteering in South America, you will be safe as far as greetings are concerned if you learn how to say hello in Spanish, and denoting the appropriate time of the day, that is: "buenos dias” for good morning, "buenas tardes” meaning good afternoon, or "buenas noches” for good evening. If you are in Brazil then what you need is to learn to say in Portuguese, “ola” for plain hello, “boa dia” for good day or “boa tarde” for good evening.

However as much as having the words to say hello may help a volunteer build a relationship with the locals it helps further if one understands the other social protocols that come with meeting South Americans for the first time and as your volunteer experience continues.

Most nations on this part of the globe use the handshake as the most common greeting in first meetings, but unlike other places here maintaining steady eye contact is expected when shaking someone’s hand, especially among the men. If you happen to be in Argentina, you will be expected to follow an order where you are to start with greeting the oldest person in the room before moving on till you get to the youngest, and when leaving you are expected to say goodbye to all parties present, individually with another handshake.

When it comes to greetings between men and women, it is best to wait for the woman to extend their hand first, before the man does the same. Greetings between women and fellow women may vary depending on the country, for example while in Chile. Women generally pat each other on the right forearm or shoulder, whereas in Brazil women kiss each other, starting with the left cheek and then alternating cheeks.

So as not to be caught unaware, there are some things a volunteer needs to remember while in South America. First of all try and refer to people in their professional title if they have one e.g. in Spanish you will say "Doctor" for medical doctor or Ph.D., "Ingeniero" for engineer, or "Arquitecto" for architect, and "Abogado" meaning lawyer. Also to avoid offending anyone use their sir names to address other people you may meet, however confusing the system may be. A good example would present itself in Colombia, where most people have their paternal and maternal sir names, and they will use them both, the situation is the same in most parts of the continent.

The first introductions are expected to be a bit formal in most parts around here, but do not be afraid to drop names , it is all about who you know, this is why it is always best to wait for a third party to introduce you before getting to know the locals that you are going to work with. Do not be surprised if you run in to nepotism, it is considered a good thing to employ family members who you trust in most countries in South America. Observe and follow any non verbal cues because these form a big part of the communication here, especially in Colombia, so much so Colombians are referred to as indirect communicators. Try also to stick to face to face communication while here rather than formal letters or emails, people here prefer to build a relationship and trust with the people they work with.

Cultural greetings while volunteering in Europe

Amongst both men and women in Europe, the most common form of greeting is the handshake, it may be a different form of handshake in different areas for example in Germany or England, but in a formal setting you can never go wrong with a firm handshake for a brief moment before you let go. One can go an extra mile with eye contact; however it may be discouraged in some parts of the continent like Turkey, where you may be expected to look down as a sign of respect. Be careful to address the people that you are meeting with their formal tittles, wait for an invitation from the local person before you may refer to them in a first name basis. This is necessary to avoid any misconceptions of disrespect between you and the locals.

When in Europe a volunteer may be fortunate enough to run into royals, in the event of such a scenario it will help you to observe a number of protocols, for instance not to speak until spoken to , wait also for the royal to stretch their hand out for a hand shake before offering yours. From the meeting point onwards, use the formal address, e.g. Ma’am or Sir. In this situation it is common for men to bow and for women to curtsy in front of the royals as a sign of respect.

That aside the issue that brings on the most contention when it comes to greetings in Europe is the cheek to cheek kiss in different regions of Europe; however, we also have kissing the hand practiced in some parts of the continent. Hand kissing is mostly done by older men to women as a form of greeting. Here are some guidelines that may come in handy for a volunteer working in Europe.

There are two forms of cheek kissing, lip to cheek or cheek to cheek kissing, depending on the culture in the area you are in. Cheek kissing in Europe is generally acceptable between women and men, women and women, men to men, and also between parents and their children. It’s preferable not to practice cheek kissing with a stranger, or during the first introduction, but an exception can be made to this rule in some parts of Europe like Portugal and Spain it is not unacceptable for strangers to cheek kiss.

Be conservative and try to be aware of what people are doing around you, because the number of cheek kisses vary in different countries and cultures around Europe, it may be just two kisses one in both cheeks like in Croatia or Bosnia, while in other countries like Serbia and Montenegro people cheek kiss three times, starting from the right cheek and ending again with the right cheek.

One more thing you may consider is hand kissing, practiced mostly in Austria, where older men like to kiss the hand of their female counterparts, however when observing this, be careful not to try it as it is not acceptable for male non Austrian citizens to kiss the hand of an Austrian woman. Here women may also kiss men but men never kiss other men.

When you have a general idea of the formal protocols and an idea of what type of cheek kissing or if any is practiced in the region you are volunteering, then all you need is the word to say hello in different countries and languages in Europe, and you can get the most out of your volunteer experience.

Cultural greetings while volunteering in Asia and the Middle East

“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountain” – John Muir. We have looked at cultural greetings while in other places around the world, but in Asia and the Middle East, it all becomes a bit trickier. First and most importantly, remember that when in Asia you cannot assume to know which language someone is simply by their looks, using a the wrong language in greeting the wrong person, may be very offensive, for instance a Chinese person would not take it lightly if referred to as a Japanese person.

Smiling while saying “hello” is never a bad idea, but in some Asian cultures smiling is reserved for informal occasions, if done in formal occasions it is viewed as disrespectful. Do not be alarmed either if some Asians avoid eye contact with you, this is seen as a sign of respect.

In Philippines, cheek kissing can be used as a form of greeting, here the practice is done from cheek to cheek once; right cheek to right cheek. It can be done between a woman and a woman and a woman and a man who are friends. In children the practice is limited to relatives only. It is best to use cheek kissing after a previous introduction has been made; it is not common to be practiced among those meeting for the first time. However in areas of Asia where the culture is predominantly Hindu or Buddhist, cheek kissing is uncommon and can be considered offensive, so avoid this especially in front of the locals.

Some words for greetings in Asia may include the following; in Mandarin we have “Ni hao” and you may say “Salam” and in Japanese you can make use of “Konnichiwa,” where as in Korean you say “Annyeong.” Finally we have “Chao ong manh gioi?” which is the Japanese translation for “How are you?”

While in the Middle East the most important thing to remember is that most locals around this area are very religious. In India we have Hindu, and in Arab speaking countries we have Islam. Around these areas it is best to avoid direct contact with members of the opposite sex, as their religions and customs discourage it, especially if you are not a member of the same religion.

Among Muslims “Assalam Alaikum,” which means “May peace be upon you and may God's blessings be with you.” is the most common form of greeting used. In India you will have to take account of cultures, languages and even social status while communicating. There are a number of languages in India, some not recognised by the central government, your best bet in India would be Hindu, where you may say “Namaste”, it is said with hands folded and a small gesture of bowing, it literally means “I bow to you.” In a more formal situation you may use “Namaskar,” it is usually used to address people of importance and has the same meaning.

Cheek kissing in the Middle East is also quite common, especially between friends, relatives, and lovers. Cheek kissing between males is very common, but, cheek kissing between a male and female is usually considered inappropriate, unless within the same family or between husband and wife. However, keep in mind that it is also best not to use this form of greeting in the first introduction

The information provided here will help you get a general idea of what to expect when volunteering in Asia and the Middle East. However for you to get the best out of your volunteering experience, try and be certain to whom you are speaking with in these areas, it might get you out of a possibly uncomfortable situation, well in advance.

Cultural greetings while volunteering in Africa

“There is no friend like an old friend who has shared our morning days, no greeting like his welcome, no homage like his praise.” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Anyone who has been in a foreign place will attest to this, the biggest hurdle you may run into is the cultural barrier. First impressions matter and the first thing you do when you run into a stranger is get the greetings and salutations out of the way.

Greetings help in establishing a good report with the local people. Once this is achieved it will only make your volunteer experience better. When volunteering abroad it is important to know how to say hello not only for the sake of those you are working or volunteering with, but also to help you and the locals feel at ease with each other, here is an outlook of some cultural greetings in different societies and places around the Africa.

The most common sign of greeting in Africa is the handshake. The handshake should be firm and you should look straight into the eyes of the person greeting you. There are some cultures however where the women are not allowed to interact freely with the men, so don’t take this as a bad sign if you run into such a situation. If you are a female volunteer, it is also in your best interests to try and respect these cultural practices. As far as greetings are concerned feel free to do some research to find out the best way to say hello. But for a general idea you may start here.

In central Africa Angola the main language in use is Portuguese, here the most common greetings are Bom Dia (Good Morning), Boa tarde (Good afternoon), Boa noite (Good evening)

In Burkina Faso you will have to learn to say hello in French: Bonjour but there is also a more indigenous language Afrikaans where you can simply say: Hallo Nigerians on the other hand use more than one local language, as follows we have; Damara/Nama: !gai//oas (spoken in the south and southeast of the country) another way would be in Herero/Himba: Tjike (spoken in the north central and northwest). while volunteering in Ghana you will run into a situation where you will have to learn several forms of salutation, depending on where you are and the time, you will find it convenient to learn Twi: ete-sen or Ga: meeng-gah-bou (spoken in the capital Accra) we also have Dagbani: Kawula (good morning - desibah, good afternoon - anteray, good evening - ana(w)ula and to sum it all up Hausa: sannu (spoken in northern Ghana), to sum it all up for west African countries, if ever you are to volunteer in the DRC Congo (Cote d’ ivore) then you will have a run in with Dioula: in-i-che. but if in Cameroon you will find it best to stick to French.

If you are in Egypt or any other Arab speaking countries, basically in areas of northern Africa the best form of greeting would be : salaam aleikum you will run into the same situation in the sudan and Somalia but in areas around eastern Africa where we have Kenya, it is best to stick to Kiswahili, the most prominently used language in this region of Africa, here you may say jambo or habari

In the southern region of Africa where you find countries like Namibia you can make use of Afrikaans:Hallo, or Damara/Nama: !gai//oas (spoken in the south and southeast) and
Herero/Himba: Tjike (spoken in the north central and northwest) you will have an encounter with Setswana in Botswana, here you will use: Dumela mma/rra (to woman/man). Enter Lesotho and you will have a run in with South Sotho, the most popular greeting being: Lumela or you can resort to English: Hello. in South Africa there are three main local languages and therefore forms of greeting that you will need to consider, they are as follows, you have Zulu: Sawubona Xhosa: Molo and Afrikaans: Hallo

Volunteer abroad: pre-trip planning

There are around 1.6 million volunteers who have left home to go and volunteer in different parts of the world. Some of them planned as early as two years in advance on when they are going to volunteer and what they would do. While for some of them it took less than two weeks to plan and leave home. Depending on the individual, early planner or late planner, it is advisable to plan in advance for a volunteer abroad trip. Advance preparation helps the volunteer to: make everything ready before leaving; taking advantage of budget deals; get time to sort out finances; have more options and avoid last minute problems. Volunteers who use volunteer travel organizations don’t have to plan much as they are helped by the organizations and they oversee everything. However volunteers who are travelling independently will be forced to plan in advance so as to make the most of their trip. Here are a couple of more reasons to plan in advance:


Travel warnings

Every country has travel advisories on various destinations. The countries use their embassies to get information of the country they are in. The embassies provide their governments with regular advice about travelling in that country. These regular updates are used by the governments to warn its citizens about traveling in a particular country. They warn about the safety of travelling in a country. They warn against terrorism threats, government being overthrown and natural disasters. Volunteers should pay attention to these warnings especially during these times when many of the governments in Arab nations are being over thrown. The travel warnings also help avoid natural disasters like the one in Japan and New Zealand. With these warnings the volunteer could have adequate time to change the country in which they are planning to go to.


Volunteer program

When the volunteer has picked a program months in advance of their departure date they can find out as much as possible about the volunteer abroad program. They can talk directly to the organization that is providing the program. They can find out exactly what they will be doing; the expectations; rules and regulations; dress code; and what they can bring. There will be adequate time to find out about the country. During this time they could research about the country find out about: currency; culture; national language; norms and population. They can time to read through guide books and look at maps to know how to move around.


Accommodation

During pre-trip planning the volunteers will look at where they will be staying. They can find out about the accommodation that will be available to them, form homestay, hotel, hostel, dormitories and group homes. They can also decide which option is the best accommodation that will fit in their budget. If they are going to stay in a homestay they can communicate directly to the host and find out if the home is a perfect fit for them. During this time they can find out what is being provided in each hotel, hostel and group home.


Pre-trip check list

The checklist is prepared to make sure the volunteer will have gotten everything they require for their trip. The list could include: things to buy; vaccination required; passports visas and flight insurance; air tickets and many more. Making a list will help be organized and help them to prepare for everything in a timely manner. This way they will be able to deal with unexpected issues that could crop up on the way.

5 things to know before hosting an international volunteer

“Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” - Robert Frost quotes. There are many people out there who love meeting new friends and making connections. They don’t get satisfied with meeting only people of their area and sometimes they choose to broaden their horizons by making international friends. Becoming a host of a home stay is a one of the ways for him/her to meet people from different cultures. A home stay is a form of tourism or study abroad program whereby the host offers a bedroom(s) to foreigners who want to learn the local culture and languages. Most hosts are paid directly or indirectly by the international volunteer. Although in others, the host offers their home for free. There is a slim profit margin to be made in hosting a volunteer as such many hosts due it not to make money but to expose themselves to new cultures. The main benefits of hosting international volunteers or students are: meeting new people; experiencing and exchanging cultures; broadening world views; long term friendships and tax cuts (in the USA). Before hosting a volunteer here are a couple of things the hosts should consider:


Room

Most international students and volunteers expect to get a bed, table light and an electric terminal. During the winter and summer season, the volunteer will expect air conditions and room heaters. Some volunteers do not mind sharing a room with another person. The number of volunteers should be two per room. If the room is large enough to accommodate more without interfering the comfort of the volunteers, then more could share it. Some hosts go the extra mile to provide free internet, a small fridge and a television. Other amenities that could be thrown in are mosquito nets, beddings and laundry services.


Meals

Some hosts get intimidated by hosting foreigners and they try to make food that the international volunteers are used to. The host should cook food that they normally eat with or without the volunteer. They could make the effort of going the extra mile of cooking local delicacies that are only found in that area. However, the dietary requirements of the volunteers should be considered. There are volunteers who are vegetarians, vegans and some who don’t eat certain kinds of foods (Muslims avoid pork). They would eat the food so as not to offend the host but they will not be comfortable. From the first day, the volunteers should be made aware of what times to expect meals.


Safety

Safety and security are the cornerstones of homestays. When volunteers signup for a homestay they expect to be put in a safe home and they don’t want to feel insecure. Some volunteers carry expensive items with them, for example cameras, laptops, money and clothes. They would expect their belongings would be safe when they leave them in the home. As a host, s/he could provide a lockable drawer or somebody to watch over their belongings. If the host lives in high risk areas (in terms of security) they should give advice to the volunteers on how to behave so as not to compromise their safety.


Cultural exchange

While living with foreigners the hosts would be exposed to different cultures. They will learn how the volunteers cook, live and how they carry themselves. The volunteers too will learn the same things also from the host. The hosts’ lifestyle is what the volunteers are coming to observe and appreciate. With students and volunteers who have come to learn the language, the host should be patient and help in teaching them the language.


Risk

Being a host is good experience all in all. But being a host, one is exposing him /herself to some risks that they are not used to. This is especially true if the host has children and they get a volunteer who is immoral. There are also cases where the volunteer would have some habits that the hosts are not comfortable with for example drinking, smoking, drug abuse etc. to avoid these situations they have terms and conditions that the volunteers should abide too. Also before welcoming somebody to their home they should properly vet them.