Voluntourism

I was recently fortunate enough to be between jobs which meant having a bit of spare time on my hands. Split between going on a great holiday and adding a little something extra to my CV I decided to volunteer for a project in Zambia for a month.

A huge number of companies have sprung up to cater for the needs of the more altruistic tourists who go on holiday not only to lie on the beach but also perhaps to build local schools or teach local children.

It can be an extremly rewarding experience if you go with the right company. Just make sure you do your research - some are definately better than others.

Projects tend to break down into the following categories:

Environmental
Teaching/Education
Sports
Medical
Long-term Infrastructure

It is wise and sensible to choose a project that matches your skills and current aspirations. Alongside this I found the location a key decision maker. Although you are likely to be working pretty hard Monday to Friday often the weekends are your own. I wanted to pick a destination where I could make the most of my spare time - Zambia certainly ticked this box and I would thoroughly recommend it as a destination for volunteer work.

I've come back to the UK full of enthusiasm and ready for my next challenge. To be honest I'm not sure that the people I was ostensibly out there to help benefited as much from me being there as perhaps I benefited from the experience but working so closely with people in abject poverty has given me a fresh insight and new understanding for which I am most grateful.