How Safe Are You When Volunteering Abroad?
Ever worried about your health and safety while considering a volunteer program abroad? Your concerns are valid, given the unfamiliar environments and the potential risks involved. However, don’t let these fears rob you of the incredible experience and life-changing opportunities volunteer work abroad can offer. With the right knowledge, preparedness, and guidelines, you can ensure your health and safety when volunteering overseas.
Understanding the Health Risks
While embarking on a volunteer journey abroad, the last thing you want to worry about is falling ill. However, health risks can be a reality in some countries due to factors such as inadequate healthcare facilities, contaminated water, and different hygiene standards. Therefore, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the health risks associated with your choice of destination and take necessary precautions.
Before you leave, consider visiting a travel clinic to get updated on necessary vaccinations and health advisories. A good health insurance plan covering overseas travel is also a must-have. This not only protects you from unexpected medical costs but also gives you peace of mind.
Ensuring Personal Safety Abroad
Beyond health, personal safety is another significant consideration when embarking on a volunteer program abroad. It involves factors such as political stability, crime rates, cultural norms, and even wildlife encounters. Fortunately, there are trusted resources available online that provide updated safety information about various countries.
One such resource is the Coyote Communications safety guide for volunteers. This guide offers a comprehensive set of safety considerations for any volunteer, regardless of their destination. It covers everything from cultural sensitivity and conflict avoidance to guidance on how to conduct oneself in different social contexts.
Developing a Safety Plan
A detailed safety plan can provide you with the confidence you need to fully immerse yourself in your volunteer experience. It should include emergency contact information, including the local police, hospital, and embassy. It might also include travel advisories, the location of the nearest hospital or clinic, and any emergency evacuation plans.
For an illustrative guide on developing safety plans, you can check out this Safety and Security Highlights document by Peace Corps. While it’s designed for Peace Corps volunteers, its principles apply to virtually any volunteer setting.
Safe Travel Tips for Every Volunteer
A few general tips go a long way in ensuring your safety while volunteering abroad. These include:
– Always let someone know your whereabouts. It could be your program coordinator, host family, or even a friend back home.
– Take time to learn a few local phrases. It will help you navigate through the community and could even get you out of sticky situations.
– Be vigilant. Pay attention to your surroundings and trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
– Be respectful of local customs and traditions. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
For female volunteers, there are specific safety considerations to take into account. This list of safety tips for female volunteers provides helpful insights on how to stay safe while volunteering abroad.
Choosing the Right Program
When it comes to ensuring your health and safety while volunteering abroad, choosing the right program is key. It should be reputable, transparent about its safety protocols, and willing to provide past volunteers as references.
As a seasoned volunteer abroad expert, I recommend checking out these 10 best volunteer programs. Each program is uniquely designed to offer safe and impactful volunteering experiences for teens, students, families, and seniors alike.
Health safety while volunteering and overseas volunteer safety should never be an afterthought. With these guidelines and resources, you can adequately prepare for a fulfilling and safe volunteer experience abroad. Remember, an informed volunteer is a safe volunteer.
Healthcare Evaluation
A significant aspect of ensuring your health and safety abroad involves an evaluation of the available healthcare facilities, given the unique health considerations inherent to your volunteer destination. So the question becomes; how do you access reliable medical facilities whilst overseas?
Indeed, global healthcare disparities lead to significant inconsistencies in the quality and availability of healthcare services across nations. Thus, it is essential that volunteers take necessary precautions in relying on regional healthcare facilities during their volunteering experience.
In places where there is limited access to appropriate healthcare facilities, acquiring a comprehensive international health insurance plan can be a lifesaver. According to the American Red Cross, a volunteer should ensure their insurance plan covers medical treatment, evacuation, and even repatriation to their home country if necessary.
Promoting Health Safety Abroad
Health safety abroad should not only concern your safety, but also the well-being of the community you’re working with. Engaging in practices such as frequent hand washing, carrying sanitizer, maintaining personal cleanliness, and respecting local hygiene and sanitation customs go a long way in promoting personal and community health.
Volunteers can also potentially be carriers of illnesses that are otherwise uncommon in the host country. A good example is the influenza virus, which can be especially damaging to regions that have limited access to vaccines. As an overseas volunteer, it’s essential that you ensure that you are up-to-date on all vaccinations ahead of your travel.
Travel Policy Inspection
Even the most meticulously-planned volunteer trips can face unforeseen circumstances. Natural disasters, political instability or even a sudden outbreak of diseases in your host country might force you to cut short your volunteer trip.
In such situations, does your travel policy cover the cost of an unplanned return trip? Is there a specific clause in the policy that deals with such issues? According to Global Engineering Brigades, having a comprehensive travel insurance plan can shield volunteers from unexpected expenses and distress in unforeseen circumstances.
Consideration of Local Laws and Customs
Cultural disparity can be one of the most significant challenges in volunteering abroad. While working in a foreign environment, law enforcement systems, social customs, business conduct rules, and daily practices may starkly differ from a volunteers’ home environment.
Understanding and respecting these customs is not only essential for maintaining a convivial relationship with your host community; it’s also crucial for your safety. Violation of local laws, even unintentionally due to ignorance, can result in serious offenses carrying fines, imprisonment, or deportation. In some cases, what might be considered as an innocuous act in your home country could be seen as a serious offense in another.
It is also beneficial to equip yourself with knowledge about the local traditions, norms, and daily rituals to gain the locals’ respect, develop fruitful relationships, and make the most out of your volunteer experience.
Emergency Preparedness
Emergencies and disasters can creep up on us at the least expected times. From natural disasters to political unrest, being prepared for such incidents is crucial for any volunteer traveling abroad. In fact, safety preparedness is so important that the Engineers Without Borders USA has a dedicated Health and Safety Officer Role and responsibilities to ensure emergency preparedness.
Important preparation steps include familiarizing yourself with local disaster response procedures, emergency contacts, evacuation plans, and regularly updating your family and organization back home about your status. The good news is, there are numerous resources online that offer in-depth guides and tips on how to stay safe in case of emergencies abroad.
Building a Support Network
Creating a support network goes a long way to ensuring your well-being while volunteering abroad. This support network could include co-volunteers, local community members, or even friends and family back home whom you can turn to if need arises.
Building relationships with local community members can not only provide emotional support but it also serves as a vital resource for local intel such as areas to avoid, fairs to purchase from, and customs to respect. Having people who know your whereabouts and well-being could be that critical factor that ensures your safety abroad.
Online Safety
Even as you focus on your physical safety, it’s essential to consider online safety. Identity theft, hacking, and scams are ever prevalent in today’s digital-based society. Just like in your home country, refrain from sharing sensitive data, like bank details, over public Wi-Fi, even if you trust the public network.
Overall, safe travels and a successful volunteering experience go hand in hand. Understanding these tips and investing time in preparation can alleviate safety concerns and allow for a more fulfilling experience.
