Tons of people are interested in volunteering abroad – or the idea of it at least. How do you make the decision to go?

Each case, like each person, will be unique, but here are some common reasons why people don’t go…and my thoughts on overcoming them.

The financial cost: This is generally something you just have to adjust to. You don’t necessarily have to pay a placement organization to volunteer – one option is to volunteer directly with an organization, and pay your own costs of accommodation (visit sites like Independent Volunteer, the The EcuaTraveler, Volunteer South America, or True Travellers Society to find listings of local organizations). Even if you go this route though, there are some unavoidable costs, like flights and vaccinations. In the end, you just have to view it as a worthwhile cost; most people who do it feel that it is.

The career cost: aside from the investment of money, for most people, volunteering abroad anywhere for longer than a week or two has implications for life at home.

First of all there is just the practical matter of getting time off work. If you volunteer long term, there is also the questions of getting out of step with your career. People at home who aren’t well-versed in the nitty gritty of volunteering (future employers and so on) will generally have at least some vague notion of what organizations like the Peace Corps and VSO are all about, and in fact, may see that as more valuable than volunteering independently. One way of addressing this though is to be clear to yourself about what you are doing and what you gain. Volunteering abroad is a good use of your time – you need to be prepared to explain why.

Come back soon for some tips on dealing with another common barrier: the fear of the unknown.