Overseas Volunteering - Costs and BenefitsPaying to volunteer While government sponsored programs such as Peace Corps and UN Volunteers actually provide living and repatriation allowances to their volunteers, most volunteers (especially younger volunteers with less work experience) will find themselves faced with significant fees to enter their desired programs. At first it may seem odd to be required to pay to work for free, however it is important to consider the kinds of organizations that are in need of volunteer help. Ideally, a host organization could offer to house and feed you in exchange for the work you do, but most have little financial resources, thus the need to employ volunteers to begin with. Similarly, third-party placement organizations charge fees which cover volunteers’ expenses (in addition to admin costs to place the volunteer) which they would otherwise be responsible to pay out of pocket (housing, health insurance, spending money, etc.). The financial commitment required to volunteer long-term is extremely important to consider. For placement agencies/fee-based organizations, you are making a fairly substantial financial commitment, but will still need to have spending and travel money available to you. You should spend a substantial amount of your time thinking about a reasonable budget for your stay. Having to break your commitment for financial reasons can be very detrimental to your host organization, leaving them without expected manpower and causing delays in the completion of projects. While you aren’t being paid, you should treat your volunteer work as you would any other job and only make a commitment that works for you. Funding Your Volunteer Experience >>>
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