VOLUNTEERING: SORTING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF

Is handing over thousands of pounds to a volunteering company really the best, most efficient way for us to become involved in local community projects abroad?

With such huge, expensive marketing campaigns and high salaried managers behind some of the UK's largest volunteering companies it seems that vast sums of money are being grossly mismanaged in an industry designed to aid those in need. To be sure that thousand pound participation fees are being used most effectively perhaps prospective volunteers should be enrolling on schemes run by smaller companies they've never heard of, rather than contributing their valuable finance to one of these big branded companies. Atleast then they won't be bankrolling an extravagant marketing budget or funding excessive salaries demanded by managers, but injecting money directly into the project they wish to support.

Alasdair Harris, co-founder of Blue Ventures says that they don't even have a marketing budget. The web is their biggest marketing tool, and if you see an ad in the paper they won't have paid for it. It is this attitude that enstills confidence, and reminds us that a common goal is being shared. The Haller Foundation has opportunities for volunteers interested in helping to develop their farming and educational initiatives in Tanzania, but is far too cost conscious to be spending money on a marketing campaign or on agent commissions. Volunteering opportunties need to be opened up and not confined to those willing to spend thousands of pounds to assist in a development project for a month or longer. There needs to be an option for anyone to get involved for any length of time.

There are projects that require lengthy training prior to volunteers being able to engage fully in a project, and such opportunities are best kept for the longer term participant; but there are plenty of initiatives all over the world that would benefit from the passing contribution of an independent traveller. Initiatives that don't involve 'buying in' with thousands of pounds, nor require months of planning or preparation in advance. Finding these projects and knowing that they exist at all is a problem that Make Travel Fair and Your Safe Planet are trying to solve by raising awareness of small community based initiatives. Through their extensive contact base Your Safe Planet has gained a great deal of knowledge about these small scale projects, ideal for independent travellers eager to spend a few days or weeks volunteering whilst on their travels. If someone wants to volunteer some of their time to a worthy project then their good nature needs to be embraced and the opportunities made available.