How to Find an Ethical Volunteer Organization

Written by Gonzalo Duarte and Mark Franklin

Volunteering overseas can be extremely rewarding—but how can you be sure you're really helping?

In an impoverished barrio in Managua, a young woman from an American volunteer-sending agency throws handfuls of cheap candy off the back of a pickup truck to the hungry children running behind it. She turns to her friend and says, “I’m having an amazing experience here in Nicaragua!”

This true story happened years ago, but it clearly shows the importance of ethical volunteering. What kind of organization had taken her programme fees and set her up in this unsafe and counter-productive scene? This well-intentioned, but poorly-primed volunteer needed three essentials: preparation, partnership and perspective.

Ethical volunteering is characterized by an honest and shared understanding of what you are doing overseas and why, who you are doing it with (not for) and how to do it effectively. Having that clarity before hitting the ground keeps you focused on offering genuine service, while learning a lot about yourself and the world in a fun and challenging way.

Ask Pointed Questions

Before stirring up dust in another country, volunteers can do a lot to ensure they are working with an organization that does more than deliver short-term gratification and power trips. Looking beyond glossy brochures, flashy websites and goodwill buzzwords, volunteers can ask pointed questions. For example, what preparation materials and resources do you provide before my departure? What would my weekly schedule look like? Does it include a healthy balance of volunteering, cross-cultural living and recreation? How will I have an authentic opportunity to explore and reflect on the political, economic and social cultures? May I speak with some returned volunteers?

Since every reputable volunteer experience relies on in-country representatives, one of the most important questions is who are the organization’s local support people and what are their roles and responsibilities? Where does their co-ordination of the placement end and my knowledge, skill, and openness to learning begin? Can they provide orientation on topics like body language, clothing, gender roles, poverty, history, health and safety? Are they available to assist with unforeseen issues and emergencies?

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