You can volunteer abroad for one week and still make a difference. But there are some things you need to think about first! Are you eager to join a volunteer experience abroad, but short on time? Not to worry. Many volunteer abroad organizations, including GoEco, Maximo Nivel and Cross-Cultural Solutions, offer short term volunteer trips abroad for travelers young and old.
Get to know yourself in a new way—get to know yourself as a volunteer abroad!
Volunteering in another country for one to two weeks is often a reality, since not everyone can take much more time away from their studies or work.
Though not ideal (we always advocate for longer-term commitments to maximize your impact!), these can be a great stepping stone to future iterations of your life as a volunteer abroad.
The question is whether or not volunteering abroad for a short duration is for YOU. Read on to learn the pros and cons of short-term volunteering abroad!
Is it smart to volunteer abroad for such a short amount of time?
Volunteering abroad for one to two weeks allows participants to get a taste of what it’s all about! If you're hesitant, try turning an already-planned vacation abroad into half a volunteer experience.
If you find that your already-planned vacation is lacking cultural immersion, a volunteer program may be just the solution—especially if you join a program that includes language lessons and/or homestays with local families.
Furthermore, choosing a program in your field of study can allow you to get a quick taste of your future work so you can make a more informed decision about your academic studies.
As with all things, volunteering for a short duration also has its cons. There is always the question of how much of an impact can be made during a short-term duration. Certain types of volunteer programs tend to benefit more in the long-run, as well.
7 pros of volunteering abroad for 1-2 weeks
Even in a short amount of time, you can have an impact!
1. Get a Taste of Volunteering Abroad
If volunteering abroad has always interested you, but you are not quite sure what the experience will really be like, dip your toes in!
Before you commit to a one-month or more experience, choose a program that will accept volunteers for a shorter duration.
If possible, try to combine volunteer experiences over the course of two weeks; Perhaps during your first week teach English in a kindergarten and during your second week join animal conservation efforts.
This will help ease you into being abroad and adjusting to new cultures while also helping you discover which communities you feel most passionate about helping in the future, for a longer period of time.
2. Turn an Existing Vacation into an Eco-Friendly Experience
Already purchased plane tickets to be in a different country for two weeks? Since most of the carbon footprint of traveling consists of fuels from planes, why not make the most of your time abroad by giving back to the environment with an agricultural program?
Since work is constantly needed on sustainable, local farms, finding an eco-friendly agricultural program in the country you are already planning to visit should be a breeze! If you’re one who prefers to spend vacations on the beach, many marine conservation programs as well will accept volunteers for short durations.
Joining this fun volunteering programs are just two simple ways to turn your existing vacation into a more eco-friendly experience abroad!
3. Discover a New Culture
One week may not seem like a long time, but if you choose a volunteer program that involves cultural activities, or homestays for an accommodation option, you would be amazed at how much you can learn in just seven days!
One week is an ideal time to get a proper introduction to a new culture, without feeling overwhelmed by a more extensive and immersive experience.
4. Make a Difference on a Small Scale
Whether you want to contribute to marine conservation, teach English or assistant in a health care clinic, every volunteer can make a difference during their time at the program. Every hour of assistance can help relieve overwhelmed staff. Every hand can speed up a construction project.
Even if you are volunteering for a short-term duration, your dedication and hard work will allow you to make a difference.
Furthermore, many volunteering organizations hire staff members whom are locals, therefore empowering the local community by providing jobs. If the organization is dedicated to sustainability, they will have the resources necessary to take the impact from a short-term experience and ensure that it has a long-term, positive effect.
Choose from a variety of short-term volunteer projects, like construction, crafts, and education.
5. Fall in Love (with Volunteering Abroad)
It may be hard to imagine now, but just one or two weeks in a new country, providing aid to local communities, can inspire you to return in the future to dedicate even more time.
Host family accommodations are the ideal way to gain as much exposure and immersion to a new culture as possible, and these bonds that you can create will last. By joining a volunteer opportunity or internship abroad for just two weeks, you can create relationships and bonds with both the local people and fall in love with the cause.
Contributing to programs focused on construction can be fun to return to – you can point out where you helped, and compare before and after photos to see how you contributed.
6. Save Money
Volunteering abroad is not only an amazing experience and extremely rewarding, but it is often a cheaper alternative to planning a vacation by yourself.
By volunteering for one to two weeks, you can save by living in volunteer-specific accommodations or homestays instead of overpaying to stay one week in a hotel.
Many volunteer organizations also include meals, therefore saving you even more money. You can still experience a new country and new culture, but in a more financially-smart way.
7. Kickstart Your Career
While shadowing a doctor or teaching young children English for one to two weeks may not exactly qualify as extensive experience, you can get a feel for your field of study.
If you’re a freshman studying health science, try to join a medical volunteer program for one or two weeks. This way you can see what your life could be like if you continue with your major, and can therefore make a more informed decision regarding your higher education.
If you find that your volunteer experience proved you may have chosen too hastily, at least you provided assistance to communities in need and can now explore other options.
3 cons of volunteering abroad for 1-2 weeks
Are short term volunteer trips really all they're cracked up to be?
1. Limited Impact
The first con of volunteering for less than three weeks is rather clear – the actual impact that you will have can be limited.
The reality is, you will not be able to improve a child’s English literacy level or save the entire Great Barrier Reef in just one to two weeks. What you can do, however, is give your all to a meaningful project with the time that you have.
Just like how every penny counts, every effort and hour counts as well. If you are eager to see tangible results, a construction project may be the way to go—that way you can at least physically see what you have built (even if it isn’t an entire house or school just yet).
2. Certain Causes Benefit More
As introduced above, volunteers’ impact varies greatly based on the amount of time spent at a specific type of program.
This means that while short-term volunteering opportunities are available in different areas, the ones that benefit most usually include construction or animal care.
Programs such as marine conservation generally need longer-term volunteers (it can take a week just to get a scuba dive certification for those who are not already divers).
There is also the debate about whether or not short-term volunteering is beneficial or not to school children. This limits options greatly, but can also be ideal for wildlife lovers who wish to assist veterinarians for a week or two abroad.
3. It Can Still Be Expensive
While volunteering abroad is generally a cheaper way to experience a new place, certain programs are definitely more costly than the average volunteer (college-aged student) can afford.
It may be the case that you will need to take some time to save, or even fundraise, in order to afford plane tickets and the program cost. Most organizations do not include plane tickets in their programs fees.
Furthermore, if you end up loving your short-term experience volunteering, you may be tempted to return (and for a longer duration!)
Next steps to finding 1-2 week volunteer abroad programs
- Decide where to go. Figuring out where YOU should volunteer abroad for 1-2 weeks is paramount. Have a short list of locations that sound ideal for your goals and skills—and ideally is easy to get to and won't be terrible jetlag-wise. Don't let anything hold you back—choose a place that's right for you!
- Pick your project. We outlined a few common causes that international volunteers support above. Do some reflection on what skills and knowledge you bring to the table, and which project would best benefit from your time and energy.
- Choose from the best volunteer abroad programs in Morocco. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, program/university reputation, location, and how the project's needs match your skills. Some programs may even share contact info for ambassadors or past participants if you want the REAL dirt. Here are more considerations to make as you figure out how to choose the right volunteer program for you. Pro tip: You can use MyGoAbroad to compare programs side-by-side.
- Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge on travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Be sure to raise a little extra money to donate to the organization that you'll be working with. Learning how to fund your volunteer abroad adventure is essential prior to your travels!
- Get prepared! Preparing to volunteer abroad is as fun as it sounds. With the days til departure number dwindling and your excitement boiling, it can be easy to overlook the details. Lean on us to help guide you through your pre-departure process—that's what we're here for.
Are short term volunteer trips for YOU?
Short term volunteer trips can be a great stepping stone to longer-term commitments in the future.
At the end of the day, volunteering abroad is an absolutely amazing experience to be had. It is more affordable than a regular vacation, it allows for immersion into a new culture and of course helps the local communities that are in need.
Volunteering abroad is the best of both the travel and volunteer worlds, but keep in mind that the programs that that benefit most usually include construction or animal care. Lasting impacts can be difficult to achieve in such a short duration, yet it can certainly be achieved!
Many of GoAbroad’s Top Rated Organizations have years of experience ensuring that their programs know how to make the most out of both long-term and short-term experiences.
Although volunteering abroad for one to two weeks may not produce the most tangible results, the fact that you have decided to dedicate time abroad to helping local communities, ecosystems or wildlife is something to be proud of.
Putting a smile on a child’s face is definitely possible with a one-week experience! Every volunteer counts, and every hour of your dedication counts in the long-run.
If the organization is dedicated to sustainability, they will have the resources necessary to take the impact from a short-term experience and ensure that it has a long-term, positive effect.
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This article was written with help from GoEco, a volunteer organization that offers excellent nursing volunteer opportunities around the globe.
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