Volunteer Management Programs Abroad

Maybe you are a natural-born leader or maybe you are so passionate about a cause that you want to recruit and motivate others to help out. Whatever the case, becoming a volunteer manager abroad is an incredible way to gain career and interpersonal skills while increasing the breadth of your impact.

Working as a volunteer manager abroad not only provides you with on-the-job training, it will provide you with immeasurable life skills. Volunteer managers typically works with international volunteers from a multitude of countries and backgrounds. International volunteers not only require basic management, they need counseling as they experience culture shock and homesickness, need medical advice and support when they fall ill (the local hospital staff will consider you a regular), and seek out social guidance as they try to find their way in a new city or town. Volunteer managers can take on all of these roles and more, and the lessons learned quickly lead to becoming an “internationally mature” individual. 

As a volunteer manager, you find out what type of leader you are, your strengths, and your weakness (er, areas for improvement). You really gotta walk your talk to be successful! You will have to figure out the best ways to explain tasks, document results, maintain enthusiasm, and encourage growth and perseverance through setbacks. You’ll also learn so much more about the organization and cause you are working for, the needs of the community, and which programs are most effective and why.