Are You Going Solo On Your First International Volunteering Trip?

Travelling alone to a new place, especially international can be daunting for both men and women, especially if it is the first time you are travelling out of the country. It goes without saying that one must research the area you plan to travel to, always be mindful of your surroundings and not take any unnecessary risks.

There are many websites that talk about several safety measures a traveller can take to reduce the risks and help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience while travelling alone.

At Volunteering Solutions, we take the Safety of our participants very seriously. We have several measures in place to ensure that our participants have a safe and enjoyable experience during their journey with us. In fact, Safety is so important to us that we were awarded winners of the 2022 Community Choice for Safety by GoOverseas.

Here are some of the things we have put in place to ensure the safety of our participants:

Airport Pick-up

Volunteering Solutions offers a comprehensive airport pick-up service to ensure that you reach your destination safely. We make sure that you are picked up by one of our local contacts and taken to your accommodation.

In-country Coordinator

We have experienced in-country coordinators in all destinations who are available to assist you with any queries or issues you may have while volunteering abroad with us. Details of our in-country coordinators are provided to you in the pre-departure booklet. We strongly encourage our participants to follow the safety guidelines given by the coordinator during orientation.

Host Family / Volunteer House Accommodation

We provide comfortable and secure accommodation for our volunteers in either host family homes or volunteer houses. This allows our participants to enjoy the local culture and cuisine in addition to the safety of a volunteer accommodation.

Orientation

We provide an orientation program for all our volunteers upon arrival at your destination. The orientation includes information about the country, its culture, customs and the do’s and don’ts in the specific destination.

24 Hours Emergency Contact Number

To ensure safety in any emergency situation, we provide a 24/7 emergency contact number to all our volunteers.

Added to our Social Media Network

We have a strong presence on various social media networks including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, so you can stay up to date with the latest news, updates and information about our volunteering programs. You can also find posts from other participants planning to travel at the same time as you or reviews and feedback from past participants which can help you make your decision.

Travel Insurance

At Volunteering Solutions, we understand the importance of safety and security. Therefore, we provide a comprehensive travel insurance coverage facility at a small additional cost for all our participants to ensure that they are adequately covered for any medical or travel-related expenses. However, participants are free to take travel insurance from any company of their choice.

Pre-Departure Information Booklet

Last but not the least, the pre-departure information booklet that is provided to you once you book your programme has all the essential information about the country you are going to, your project details, and much more. This booklet will be your go-to-guide for any information you may have before and during your travel. Our pre-departure booklet has a section dedicated to Safety and Health advice for the particular country.

Volunteering Solutions have put these safety measures to reduce any risks and help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience to our participants while travelling alone as international volunteers. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so take the time to plan ahead, do your research and make informed decisions.

Happy travels!