Why Pay to Volunteer Abroad?

If you think you're just paying for the privilege of working for nothing, think again.

Paying to volunteer can seem a strange concept to the uninitiated. Why should someone charge you to work for free? But this is a common misconception about volunteer travel—the volunteer work is not what you are paying for.

If, like thousands of others around the world this year, you decide to do supported volunteer work overseas, you are probably hoping use your time to make a difference on a project that could use your help.

Chances are, the overseas organization you will be working with has precious few resources, and is not in a position to cover the costs of hosting you. Costs such as feeding, housing and transporting a volunteer can add up quickly—and, if such funds were available, they could likely be better used to create employment for local workers, who have relevant language skills who are more likely to stay with the project long-term.

So where does your money go? It often pays for the cost of your housing, food and transport, as well as your training, preparation and supervision. It also goes toward the identification of worthy projects and host organizations, as well as the costs of recruiting you and other volunteers.

If all goes to plan, you may see very little of some other important services that you paid for. Confused? It gets better. This doesn't necessarily mean you didn't get your money's worth. Because one of your biggest investments when paying to volunteer is in your peace of mind—having someone there in case of emergency. A local election raises political tension in the area; an earthquake disrupts the transport system; or you simply fall ill the moment you arrive. These are all things you are better off dealing with when an organization is behind you.

For a company to set up this kind of infrastructure around the world takes a lot of time and money. So at the end of the day, it is fair that they charge for the service.

Not to say that paying to volunteer is for everyone. You might already have the contacts to get worthwhile volunteer work overseas, or simply enough time on your hands to make them as you go. Or perhaps you are just too damn independent to have someone looking out for you all the time.

But for first-timers, people without time, people who want to gain experience in a particular field, or those who want to be part of a community when they travel, supported volunteer work can be just the ticket. Some even say it is life-changing. But that bit is probably down to you.