Volunteering abroad can be a life changing opportunity, especially for young people who are still finding their feet in the world. By exploring new cultures you’ll gain valuable perspective on your own. You’ll learn new skills, greater awareness of the world and you’ll be empowered in the future to try new things, whether on a personal or professional level.
Volunteering abroad is a fantastic opportunity; let’s take a look at some of the unique values provided by this experience.
1) Expand The Way You See The World
We all grow up in our own narrow cultural niche; usually surrounded by people that look like we do and think in similar ways. By signing up to volunteer abroad, you’ll expose yourself to radical new cultures that challenge all your assumptions about life. By immersing yourself in new communities you’ll expose yourself to new perspectives that can massively expand the way in which you see the world.
2) Develop New Language Skills
Whether you studied a foreign language at school or not, the best way to pick up a new language is by being surrounded by it. “Even a short spell abroad, immersed in a new culture and surrounded by a foreign language will inspire you to pick up the vocabulary and start communicating with the locals,” says John Jackson, a travel writer at Writinity.com and Researchpapersuk.com. “Learning a foreign language has been shown to have a positive impact on a range of cognitive skills, so volunteering abroad can have a big impact on your capacity to learn in the future.”
3) An Empowering Challenge
When we’re young, insecurity and anxiety can often hold us back. It’s hard to fulfil new challenges or to live our best life. Volunteering abroad can be a hugely empowering experience that wakes you up to your own ability and you can reap great benefits from the impact this has on your personality in later years. Often, the structure of volunteering provides a safe way to explore these challenges, yet you’ll surprise yourself discovering what you’re capable of.
4) Witness Cultural Pluralism - New Ways Of Living
Not everyone around the world lives in the same way we do; from hot showers to squat toilets, or just different ways of living together as a family, there are infinite ways to live your life and all of these are of equal value. Yet it can be easy to be stuck in our bubbles and think there’s just one way to live. Volunteering abroad will bring the multitude of cultural pluralism to life.
5) Gain An In-Depth Understanding Of Other Cultures
Travelling can provide a glimpse into other cultures but often this is only trivially touched on if you’re in and out of a place in a few days. By volunteering, you’ll touch another culture in a much more profound way, discovering how deep it runs. You’ll interact with communities in meaningful ways and make connections that can last a lifetime.
6) Meet New People
Volunteering abroad is an opportunity to meet people you might never come across in your daily life. Both amongst other volunteers as well as the community you’re working with you’ll make friendships that can last a lifetime.
7) Career Opportunities
“Volunteering abroad can advance your career in a number of ways,” says Jesusa Gipson, a blogger at Draftbeyond.com and Lastminutewriting.com. “For one, it demonstrates to employers that you’re a creative and energetic individual. It also provides you with skills that are hard to acquire elsewhere; meaning you’ll be an employable candidate and stand out from the crowd.”
8) Unique Experiences
Lastly, volunteering abroad can provide experiences you simply couldn’t get otherwise. From intimate access to communities to practical skills and language learning, volunteering abroad offers so many unique experiences. When all is said and done, these are memories that will last a lifetime.
Ready To Roll
Take a leap into the unknown by signing up to volunteer abroad. Challenge yourself to learn new skills, make new friends and have experiences that will last a lifetime. Volunteering abroad can be a formative experience that will change your life forever.
Author - Ronal Cain
Ronald Cain is a tutor at Dissertation writing services UK. He is a professional writer, a blogger, and a contributor to Gumessays.com. After volunteering in South East Asia after college he discovered the magical wonder of travel and he’s been exploring the world ever since seeking to have a positive impact on communities everywhere he goes