Volunteering Abroad
Volunteering abroad during the summer months is a great way to gain insight into different cultures, see the world and build up your CV. In this section you can read about the experiences of four Trinity students who have spent summers volunteering in Tanzania and in Kolkata with different organisations.
Danny McGrath is a Business, Economics and Social Studies student who volunteered in Tanzania last summer with The Volunteer Projects after meeting the organisation at the Trinity Volunteer Fair in 2010. He recommends that if you’re thinking about volunteering abroad you should get advice from those that have gone before you. Read about Danny’s experience here.
Grace Duffy is a mechanical engineering student in her final year of study at the moment. She has volunteered with Camara in Tanzania and in Uganda and continues to volunteer in the Camara workshop on Thomas Street. On Thursdays she drops by after college for 2 or 3 hours as they're open late. Volunteers in Dublin repair, clean, package and prepare computers for shipment to Africa. Read about Grace's experience here.
Nicole Byrne is a final year Sociology and Social Policy student who spent ten weeks volunteering with SUAS in the Vikramshila Education Resource Centre in Kolkata (Calcutta). She worked on an ‘Education to Employment' scheme in a secondary school for boys. She worked with these students to improve their confidence and communication skills, culminating in an English language public speaking event. Nicole also spent two days a week as a teaching assistant at Nabadisha centres for street and slum children in areas of the city with particularly high crime rates. Read about her experience here.
Oliver Welfare is in his Senior Sophister in Medicine and spent summer 2009 in Kolkata working and learning with MOVE (Medical Overseas Voluntary Electives) in the Premananda Memorial Leprosy Hospital ). Over the past 30 years, Trinity medical students have worked with MOVE in developing countries all over the world including Samoa, Malawi. MOVE also raises money to buy equipment, supplies and medications for these hospitals in order to improve patient services. Read about his experience here.
If you have spent time volunteering abroad and would like to share your experience on this site, please e-mail the Civic Engagement Officer.
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Above: Volunteering in Uganda with Nurture Africa
Danny McGrath's The Volunteer Projects (TVP) experience
Why did you decide to volunteer with TVP?
In the last few years I’ve been involved with a group that travels to Lourdes each summer. This gave me experience in volunteering abroad. I’ve always had an ambition to travel to Africa, and having realised that volunteering was something I enjoyed doing, I decided I wanted to travel to Africa as a volunteer worker.
After researching a number of organisations running volunteer projects across Asia and Africa, I decided on TVP having stumbled across their stand at the TCD Volunteer Fair. Some of the reasons I chose TVP are the low costs they charge, their stance on development and how friendly and well organised the people in the organisation were. A number of organisations charge massive amounts of money even before you’ve booked flights, paid for vaccinations, and covered living costs. TVP aim to keep costs down, ensuring that almost everyone who wants to volunteer abroad is able to do so. TVP are a relatively new organisation, and there is a fantastic buzz around the development work they are involved in across Tanzania and Cambodia.
How did you go about applying/organising everything?
I had to submit an application to the guys at TVP. This involved giving some background information about myself, outlining any previous volunteer experience, putting forward why I thought I would make a good volunteer for TVP’s work in Tanzania, and listing my preferred project area from the list of projects that TVP are involved in.
After hearing from TVP that my application was successful, I paid a deposit to TVP and set about organising else that comes with volunteering abroad. This included flights, a number of vaccinations and malaria tablets, travel equipment, local currency and US Dollars, visas, passports, and time off work! TVP were great in this respect, providing advice on all aspects of the trip over to Tanzania, as well as confirming that I would be collected from the airport by the in-country manager when I arrived at Kilimanjaro Airport – a massive luxury after 36 hours of travel!
Before travelling to Tanzania, I had to attend a group meeting with TVP in their offices. In this meeting, TVP representatives went through everything I needed to know about Tanzania, introduced me to some other volunteers I would be working with, the project I would be working on, and how the volunteer house was run.
What were the highlights of the experience for you?
The trip I made to Tanzania was undoubtedly the best experience of my life so far. There are too many highlights to try and list, so these are just a subset; I worked on teaching and construction projects over the course of my time there, and the people I met in these schools and orphanages were incredible. Living in a volunteer house with people from all over the world is also a great experience, and I now have connections all over the world, including Australia, Canada, Spain and Denmark. During the weekends off I went walking through the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro with the other volunteers, I went on a safari across the Ngorongoro Crater, and sampled some of the nightlife with the locals! The experience was made only more authentic by the cold showers, eating in the dark, and the interesting porridge, maize and rice served in the schools!
What was the toughest part of your experience?
The part about Tanzania that I found hardest to comprehend was the level of poverty of some of the people that I met. Some of the children in the schools TVP work in only get one bowl of porridge a day. TVP has done tremendous work to try and change this and have recently fundraised for and built a kitchen for one of the local schools. The second thing I found tough about volunteering in Tanzania was how much work TVP and their partners had to put in to ensure that corruption had no place in their dealings with the local people and to ensure that all of the money they raise goes directly towards the projects being supported by the organisation.
Has your perspective on things here at home changed?
It’s close to impossible to feel the same about issues here at home having spent time in Tanzania. Even months later, I’m remembering little things about my trip and applying them to situations that arise here. Ask anyone who has taken a trip like this and they’ll admit to a new found appreciation for all of the features of living in a country like Ireland, and at the same time they’ll admit to dissatisfaction at how much emphasis we place on our unnecessary luxuries such as our laptops and phones. The experience I had in Tanzania has shown me that I want to complete further volunteer work in the coming years in international development.
What kind of advice would you have for students thinking about volunteering abroad?
Look for advice off people who have travelled abroad before. They hold a wealth of experience, ranging from which organisation to travel with, flights, what to bring and what not to bring, and when the best time to go is. Research where your money goes, don’t let it go on administration costs before it can reach the project you’re working on. Figure out where you’ll have the biggest impact given the amount of time you plan on staying. Lastly, go to the Trinity Volunteer Fair. There are plenty of volunteer organisations showcasing their projects and it’s hard to find so many organisations in the one place at the one time.
For more about TVP and other organisations who participated in the 2011 Volunteer Fair, visit our news section.
Grace Duffy's Camara Experience
Why did you decide to volunteer with Camara?
I've always wanted to do something along the lines of spending some time in Africa. A lot of it was for selfish reasons too I suppose – seeing a new part of the world, discovering different ways of life, etc. I wanted a new experience but to also make it a worthwhile venture.
A friend that I met in college had spent time in Uganda working with Camara during the summer of 2007. That is where I first heard of the charity. It was always in the back of my mind. I had a look at the website one day and downloaded the application form, which I sent in soon after. I liked the Camara ethos, and also the fact that it was 4 weeks of work abroad. As a student, the money I do make during summer work is so important, so I didn't want to give that up completely!
How did you go about applying/organising everything?
I had to make a short presentation on an IT-related topic to some Camara staff and other potential volunteers like myself. I was nervous about it, but it turned out that it was all very relaxed and it was nice to meet some other people in the same boat as myself. 
I had to spend a certain number of hours working down in the workshop on Thomas Street before I could go away, and I learned lots here and got to know a lot of people, which was great. We also had to spend a weekend doing a course from Comhlámh which was a nice way to spend more time with the people I would be going abroad with.
I have made a lot of new friends and we always have the craic! I like that volunteering at the workshop [in Dublin] is so casual. You can pop in anytime during the week to give a helping hand. Also, there's aboslutely no obligation to travel to Africa with Camara. If you would prefer your input to be closer to home, the workshop is always open and in need of extra hands.
What were the highlights of the experience for you?
Working with Camara has given me some of the best experiences of my life so far! Not only the time abroad, but the time in the workshop. I was in Tanzania in 2009, and I enjoyed myself so much that I ended up volunteering with Camara again in 2010, this time in Uganda. There are early mornings, strange food, cold showers, etc., but that's what adds to fun of the experience. I didn't realise how much I would enjoy teaching, but now I'm looking at applying for teacher training for next September.
What advice would you have for students thinking about volunteering abroad?
I think if someone is even considering it, they should definitely go for it! I'm not very technical or IT-knowledgeable, I'm a very fussy eater and I sunburn badly. I wasn't sure it was for me...but I'd do it again if the chance came up! There are so many different organisations offering different opportunities that there is something to suit everyone. I've yet to meet someone who has regretted their time spent volunteering.
For more about Camara, take a look at their information in the 2010 volunteer fair booklet or check out their website: http://camara.ie/web/get-involved/.
Nicole Byrne's Suas Experience
Why did you decide to volunteer with Suas Educational Development?
A number of my friends had participated in the Suas programme in both India and Kenya and came home raving about the experience. Voluntary work overseas was something I had wanted to do for some time and SUAS had a great reputation. They provide training for volunteers and a key feature of the volunteer programme is that the work is sustainable, which is vital.
How did you go about applying/organising everything?
I applied to volunteer with Suas early in 2009. The application form was lengthy and detailed. This was followed by an hour-long. On selection, all volunteers participated in three training weekends before departing for India. These provided a chance to get to know your team of ten, to learn more about India, to get some teaching support and health and safety advice including vaccination information. The preparation also involved fundraising. I held a table quiz, bag packed and had a coffee morning, each of which I enjoyed. Apart from raising money for the partner organisation I was working with in India, [fundraising] provided a great opportunity to tell people about how I'd be spending my summer and they often had advice for me in return.
How was the volunteer experience different to the tourist experience?
Having had the chance to do some travel around India after volunteering I can honestly say that there are important differences between living and volunteering in a place and visiting as a tourist. I will just mention one: [when volunteering] you get the chance to form relationships with the children you are teaching, the staff you work with, your neighbours, the local chai seller! Every day on my way to school, I was greeted innumerable times with a friendly "hello m'am, how are you today?" By the end of my time in Kolkata, I really felt part of a community and this was largely due to the unquestionable welcome offered by all the children, their parents and the local people.
What were the highlights of the experience for you?
Having the opportunity to teach such wonderful children and seeing their progress is certainly up there on my list. The first day in the secondary school, many of the boys were reluctant to stand up and answer our questions in English and yet, by the end of just ten weeks each and every one of them stood up on a stage in front of an audience of two hundred other students and spoke all on their own about everything from their hobbies to their favourite cartoons. The transformation was incredible and I was so proud to see this.
The unbelievable excitement in relation to our presence and the eagerness to learn among the younger children in the Nabadisha centre was also an extremely enjoyable part of my experience One day I took out a set of dominos I had made and the children just squealed in delight and spun around, that enthusiasm and energy was so moving and encouraging and definitely one of the my highlights from programme. I left the Nabadisha centre at the end of every day with a massive smile on my face.
What was the toughest part of your experience?
India is an extremely different place to Ireland in so many ways, and things are done differently. Seeing extreme poverty on a daily basis was obviously very tough. Things that are unacceptable in Ireland are often acceptable in India and it's hard to come to terms with that. Also, saying goodbye to all the students and staff I had worked with over the course of the placement was difficult and upsetting. That was something I had not anticipated when considering the challenges before I arrived.
Has your perspective on things here at home changed?
It would be impossible to return from over ten weeks volunteering in Kolkata and not to have a changed perspective or different views in some way. I think it will take me some time to realise just how much this experience has influenced me but one thing I can definitely say is that following this Summer I will have a long term commitment to volunteering and issues surrounding education in India and development in general.
What advice would you have for students thinking about volunteering abroad?
Do it!! My time in Kolkata volunteering with Suas has been one of the most, if not the most, incredible experience I have ever had. Think it through fully and realise that there will be a lot of work involved, lows as well as highs. If you still want to go ahead and you and believe that you can commit to it and give your full 100%, then I would highly recommend it.
For more about Suas, check out their website: http://www.suas.ie/.
Oliver Welfare's MOVE Experience
Why did you decide to volunteer with MOVE?
H aving been there [in Kolkata] 3 years earlier ( travelling with friends on my GAP year) there was some feeling and buzz about the place that drew me back. For me, it was a matter of finding a suitable hospital in Kolkata.
How did you go about applying/organising everything?
I found out about the hospital, The Premananda Memorial Leprosy Hospital, on a list of Kolkata hospitals on the internet. It was run by an international, though originally Irish , charity called The Leprosy Mission or TLM. I emailed the hospital and the charity's Dublin off ice and heard back very soon . I met the director of the char ity in Ireland for an interview and he then sent an email of recommend ation to the Hospital Superintendent. After that, I was in direct contact with the hospital to organise the details of my placement. Meanwhile I had been using all means possible to fundraise with MOVE- from corporate sponsorship to table quiz zes, bag packing and nights out etc.
How was the volunteer experience different to the tourist experience ?
I loved it then, [when visiting as a tourist,] but you cannot get the true feel of a place until you live and wor k there . As a tourist you stay around the backpacker haunts, follow the crowds and no matter how individual you feel you are being, there is always someone else who was listening in on that special advice or tip off you got from a friendly Bengali. When living in the city you get to know the people around you, not only those you are working with. I was working in an area called Maniktala which does not see many volunteers and so the locals made special efforts to chat to me and make me feel welcome. Also, learning a few phrases of Bengali so as to hold the most basic of conv ersations with the fruit-seller makes s hopping the next day a pleasure- h e may even throw a few plums in for free, without any regard to how hard you try to pay for them!
What were the highlights of the experience for you?
I would always leave the hospital quite drained, both physically and emotionally. Having said that, every day I would also see something that has changed someone's life forever. A patient might be able to leave the hospital and work again as she has h ad a new prosthetic leg fitted or the physiotherapists might have sufficiently mobilised a patient who has had their foot amputated so that the patient can get to the bathroom and not soil their bed. The smallest breakthroughs can be the most important for the patient as it gives then the confidence to proceed with their treatment. In my first few days, some of the inpatients were a little wary of me but by the end they greeted me li ke an old friend. S ome , in particular , would call me over and chat to me in broken English for a few minutes, just to ask me how I was liking the hospital?!
What was the toughest part of your experience?
One case particularly affected me. He was being treated for leprosy but was having a reaction to one of the drugs. This was causing him unbelievable pain in his ulnar nerves in his elbows; imagine hitting both your funny bones incredibly hard and having 5 times that pain 24 hours a day for 3 weeks. He could not sleep or eat, and he was crying silently all day. There were not enough advanced pain drugs to control it and he was coming close to death, a ll because of pain. He would deteriorate further every day. His wife stayed by his side to support him but would come to beg us to help him whenever she knew he wasn't looking so as not to hurt his pride. It was heartbrea king to watch him dying. Miraculously , I heard he was on the mend in an email a couple of weeks after I left, something which the doc tors could not have predicted!
Has your perspective on things here at home changed?
When there I vowed never to complain about the HSE or NHS again, as although not perfect, they give a decent service, and we don't know how lucky we are to have free or subsidised health care. (Just look at the struggles Obama has been going through!)
What advice would you have for students thinking about volunteering abroad?
It was one of the toughest experiences I have ever had, but also one of the best. I got to work with patients I would never come across at home and live in a different culture. It is such a special privilege that should never be passed up. It is not always easy to get in contact with the people in charge if you are organising yourself rather than through an organisation used to dealing with volunteers, the key is persistence. DO NOT GIVE UP. If you do, you will be missing one of the greatest experiences of your life.