Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to Vietnam with my mom (I called it #Vietmom2019—you can feel free to copy me!). We were given the chance to volunteer with Kaya Responsible Travel, an organization that offers volunteer projects and internships in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with over a hundred different programs to choose from. We were deeply honored to be able to get an inside look at such a cool and comprehensive program provider (and we were pretty stoked to dive into that world-renowned Vietnamese food, too!).
I volunteered abroad with my mom, and it was the trip (and experience) of a lifetime! You should try it sometime.
Some context: My mom is a teacher, so when we decided we wanted to volunteer abroad together, she knew that she wanted to do a project with children. Kaya offers two programs in Vietnam, both of which are in Southern Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, and both of which have an impact on kids—specifically, through community volunteering and volunteer teaching development. So, needless to say, the recipe for success was there right off the bat!
However, traveling abroad with a parent can be an intimidating undertaking, and family volunteer opportunities sometimes fall victim to the expectations vs. reality mindset. Our time in Vietnam was both enriching and challenging, so—no surprise here—I learned quite a few things from volunteering abroad with my mom.
7 lessons of volunteering abroad with my mom
1. Your mom might take to volunteering like a fish to water!
Sometimes when traveling abroad as a solo woman, I get into a habit of not wanting to draw attention to myself. I’ve been lucky to visit countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, and this often gives me a starting framework for how I think I should behave in a new country. It also makes me a little bit quiet, and sometimes I keep it to myself when I am surprised or delighted by what I encounter.
My mom, on the other hand, had a different experience. This was my mom’s first time in Asia and she did not have any expectations for the country or any reservations about being fully herself. It was incredibly fun and refreshing to travel with someone who was not worried about drawing too much attention to herself or wondering what people would think of her. My mom befriended shop owners, street food vendors, hotel staff, and, of course, the teachers and orphanage leaders of the Kaya projects.
My mom LOVED volunteering abroad—and yours might too!
2. You will find many opportunities for real impact.
Family volunteer opportunities abroad don’t have to be gimmicky. In fact, they can (and should) be exceptionally fulfilling. Kaya’s on-site director, Miss Thuong, told us a lot about the different needs of the community in Ho Chi Minh City, where the volunteer projects are located.
Two major needs are medical/health education and knowing how to work with kids with severe disabilities. My mom has worked with children with disabilities for decades as an early childhood teacher, so she was prepared to make a difference.
My mom was surprised to hear that the need for help was so great, and kept asking questions about the strategies and resources for supporting these children in Vietnam. This experience planted a seed with my mom, and who knows, maybe someday she will volunteer solo!
By sharing your volunteering experience with your mom or your family, and by asking deeper questions, you can bring home a rich experience and valuable knowledge to share with the other people in your life (who might be subsequently inspired to make a difference themselves!).
3. You should volunteer no matter your age.
Volunteering with my mom was an incredible experience because I got to see her in action. She has a real talent for connecting with children of any age, even if she’s only known them for a few minutes. We hadn’t even been at the orphanage for five minutes before I looked over to see my mom leading a rousing song of “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” for about seven children gathered around her.
A couple more were peeking out from behind the corner of the wall, too shy to join but so incredibly entertained that they couldn’t stop watching. As someone who very much values working with adults every day rather than with children, this was very inspiring!
Whether younger or older, you should never let age keep you from volunteering abroad.
Whether you love kids or have something else that makes you light up, you have experience and knowledge that is valuable in a volunteering project—so it’s false to think there’s a “maximum” age for volunteering, or that you’re too old to really make a difference.
Oftentimes the ups and downs of a long life and the wisdom that comes with age can make you even more valuable to a community and to a project. Your walls are down, you can be vulnerable, and you understand that life includes some challenges along the way.
4. It might not be easy….
My experience volunteering with my mom was mostly delightful, but of course there were some challenging moments. It goes without saying that family volunteer trips abroad might not be the easiest thing you ever do. Most of the time, these trips will take place in developing countries where the creature comforts of home won’t always be readily available—meaning your family member might be prone to culture shock, especially if this is their first time abroad ever.
Remember to stay patient on family volunteer trips abroad. If you’re a seasoned traveler, then you’ll know exactly what your mom is going through, because you’ve probably been there too. Different climates, a lack of the usual conveniences, cultural differences, language barriers—these can all quickly take a toll on a newbie. You might even end up feeling like a babysitter at times! However, you need to keep calm and carry on. How often has your family member done the same for you?
If you stay patient with your family members and keep an open mind, you’ll all have an experience that’s just THAT much more enriching.
5. ...But it might be easier if you have a plan.
To crack down on culture shock and prevent frustrated arguments, it’ll be helpful if you have a plan for family volunteer opportunities abroad. What kind of project do you want to work on and what will that entail, both emotionally and physically?
Where do you want to go, and what are the must-pack necessities? It always helps to speak with your program coordinator, too. Do your best to prepare your mom for what’s in store for her, especially by utilizing the resources made available through your volunteer program. And remember that all in all, your mom can probably take care of herself—she raised you, after all. Keep the faith and don’t worry TOO much.
Case in point: One of the recent Kaya volunteers who was in Vietnam for two months was a teacher in the kindergarten placement. She was trained as a teacher and made lesson plans and had a very clear structure each day for the kids. By the end of her time they were understanding directions in English, which they previously didn’t know!
This volunteer was successful because she knew what she wanted to do and was happy to put in effort to make it happen. If you’re considering volunteering abroad, consider choosing a destination or project length based on the needs of the community and your own skills. If you have knowledge that can really fill a gap in a local project, you will be so much more impactful than if you just randomly choose a placement.
You never know what kind of connections you might make on family volunteer trips abroad.
6. It’s a total bonding experience.
Naturally, I learned that volunteering abroad with a parent is a total bonding experience. You’ll be spending nearly every waking moment together (and probably sleeping moments too, depending on your project and location!), and working and experiencing life together. Family volunteer trips abroad are near-guaranteed bonding sessions—with each other, with the community, and with the culture.
Plus, if your family or parent is a travel newbie, they will finally understand your passion for your crazy travel lifestyle. They’ll understand why you put all those pins in the world map on your wall back home, and why you used to spin your globe round and round for fun. And you will learn a new thing or two about your family, too—like how adaptable and flexible they are, how they deal with unforeseen challenges, and whether there’s another trip abroad for them in the future or not.
7. Moms (and dads) are incredible people. Duh!
Sure, I already knew that my mom is an incredible person—but seeing her in action was a powerful reminder. When you volunteer abroad with your family, their amazing qualities will be put on full display for all to see.
You might stop and think, “Wow. This person raised me, and now they’re halfway across the world with me trying to make a difference.” Your family has always been there to take care of you, and now you’ll see how their strength and compassion can benefit other children abroad, a whole community, or whichever project you’ve chosen to work on together!
You and your mom will surely face challenges during family volunteer trips abroad, posed by the environment, your project responsibilities, your relationship, and more. But, that just means you’ll ultimately end up in awe of each other as you confront those challenges head on, help each other, and overcome them together.
So...is volunteering abroad with your mom worth it?
Volunteering abroad with your mom will be what YOU want to make it—so it’ll probably be pretty darn amazing.
Well, OBVIOUSLY. Do you even have to ask? If you’re thinking about meaningful travel with your mom or a parent, get out there and enjoy family volunteer trips abroad! You might be wondering: Will there be a #Vietmom2020? Maybe! And maybe my mom will fly solo next time. You never know!
I hope you’ll consider volunteering abroad, whether in Vietnam or further afield. If Vietnam isn’t your style, consider one of the thousands of other volunteer opportunities out there. Think about your skills, your interests, and what fires up the passion in your soul.
And I highly suggest bringing your mom.
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