Travelling and doing social work at the same time - this way you get to know the culture and the people of a country much more intensively.
Fulfill your dreams - life is too short for later.
Volunteering also offers the opportunity to provide support where help is needed and desired. This aspect makes the work on site a meaningful and enjoyable experience. These were definitely the reasons why we decided to volunteer abroad. And of course there was a little bit of adventure. 😊
As a professional, how do you find the ideal volunteer project?
In order to find the right project as a working person, you should ask yourself a few questions. In which field of activity would you like to help? Are there preferred countries or countries that you do not want to travel to? What foreign language skills do you bring with you? How long should the stay abroad be?
In Austria there are different organizations that offer volunteer work. In order to find the right project, an agency is recommended. Our research and visiting a volunteer fair brought us to the organization Weltwegweiser. They sent our application documents to several organizations with possibly suitable projects. One of them was International Volunteer Service (IFE). In a first information evening of the IFE we learned more about the concrete procedure of an operation. After an individual initial interview, our applications were forwarded to other organizations with specific, suitable projects. This led to final talks with Caritas Vorarlberg projects. One of them was our current assignment in Armenia, Emili Aregak.
Why we chose the Emili Aregak project in Armenia
It was important to us to find a project in which we could both contribute our professional experience in the best possible way, which of course wasn't easy. Where the journey would go was secondary.
After discussions with employees from the projects, we finally decided on the Emili Aregak project, because we had exactly this opportunity here. In addition, we liked the project and the coordinators straight away. 😊
Preparing to volunteer
Of course, there are contractual obligations to be met when you start and also during a stay abroad. These may vary by organization. But as a rule, these are contracts with privileges that employees in Austria have. You have health and pension insurance, you are entitled to holiday and your flight, visa, relevant vaccinations, board and lodging on site are covered. The deductible varies depending on the organization or country of assignment. The only thing is that you don't get is a monthly salary, but you might get a little pocket money.
Tip: The deductible can be declared as a voluntary donation when making the transfer and is therefore tax-deductible.
Part of the contract can also be attending a preparatory seminar before and a reflection seminar after the assignment. That was the case with us.
Our preparatory seminar in Batschuns, Vorarlberg
Once the suitable project had been found and the departure date was set, we completed our preparatory seminar in Batschuns, Vorarlberg. Together with like-minded people, we devoted ourselves to the topics of intercultural differences, challenges during a stay abroad, security aspects, gender issues, health and medicine and also how to conduct conversations.
Thanks to our seminar leader Anna Katharina Weber and her experience abroad, we were able to get to know new points of view and perspectives, which we are happy to take to heart. And after a few weeks in the project, we can say that the course is really very helpful!
Drop tents and just leave?
If you leave your apartment or house behind, you also have to think about it. From garden maintenance to regular payment obligations, rubbish collection and postal delivery, there is a lot to be arranged.
You also want to keep in touch with your loved ones. No more difficulty these days. But the question of whether WiFi is available everywhere and what options there are for making cheap calls abroad still arises. In this case, for example, the project coordinators on site can provide answers.
Of course, a proper farewell should not be missing. So there was a fun farewell party with a barbecue and everything that goes with it. Equipped with delicacies from Austria from our First Aid Kits, we were well prepared for the long journey.
I'm packing my suitcase...
What should be in the luggage is of course a question that has to be answered individually. But it also depends on the country of travel. Anyone working on a project near the equator will probably get by with light clothing.
In the case of Armenia, things were a bit more complicated. Very cold winters and warm summers at an altitude of 1500m require summer and winter clothing, additional prescribed medication and you are faced with a full suitcase. But isn't renunciation part of this adventure? In the end we managed to start the journey from Vienna to Yerevan with very creatively packed suitcases.
Here you will find a list of things that should not be missing in your luggage and tips what you might need to arrange beforehand at home:
Volunteering travel checklist*
Arrival and departure
Flight
Visa
Visa extension: when, how
Arrival at the airport
Insurance
Travel Health Insurance
Liability insurance
Travel cancellation insurance
Baggage Insurance
Special insurance (camera,...)
Finance
Cash
Account required on site?
Bank card: Is it possible to withdraw abroad?
Bank card (possibly activate region/country)
Credit card (possibly activate region/country)
Credit card (clear TAN via app or SMS)
Account authorization for relatives, friends
Set up standing orders for ongoing payments
Arrival
Transportation to destination
Arrange pickup
Local currency for transfer
Documents
Passport validity
Tickets
Passport photos
Additional photo document
(international) driver's license
(international) student ID card
Credit card
Cash for visa and first days
Insurance Policy
Important phone numbers
Copy of passport, visa, ticket, driver's license,...
Technology
mobile phone, charger
camera, charger
laptop, charger
Socket adapter
External hard drive, music
USB stick
Cables + adapters for devices
Power bank
Useful stuff
pad, pens
Travel literature
Dictionary
Closable transparent sleeves for tubes (airplane)
Sunglasses
Hand luggage
Change of clothes (in case luggage doesn't arrive)
Toothbrush, mini toothpaste
Comb
Big luggage
Lock for suitcase, backpack
Backpack for hiking
Sewing Kit
Games
Books
Favorite Music
Mini photo album with family pictures
Ev. mosquito net
Hut sleeping bag
Headlamp
Hygiene
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
floss
Deodorant
razors + blades
brush, comb
Shampoo
Shower gel, soap
Nailbrush
Nail file, nail scissors
tampons/pads
ear plugs
Towel
Damp wipes
Contact lenses + cleaning liquid
First aid kit
Varies by country and should be clarified in consultation with the responsible medical officer of the organisation.
Mosquito repellent
Cold remedy
Painkillers
Ev. Malaria medication
Diarrhea medication
Antibiotic
Skin and mucous membrane disinfectant
Wound disinfectant
Wound Ointment
Fever thermometer
Band-Aids
Dressing material
Tweezers, scissors
Ev. sterile needles, syringes
Sunscreen
Ointment against sunburn
Cooling pad
Clothes
underwear, socks
Clothing adapted to the climate
Shirts, blouses: long, short
Shorts
Long pants
1x fine things (invitations, parties,...)
scarf
Warm clothing (fleece, hat,...)
Hat, cap, sunscreen
T-shirts
At least 2 pairs of shoes
Hiking shoes (recommended)
Swimwear
Towel
Rain cover
Shoe shine kit
Hospitality gift
Ask at project first
e.g. chocolate, toys,...
Other
Post: Pause/unsubscribe advertising, subscriptions, memberships, register invoices for digital transmission
Notification of absence RSA/RSB letters at Post
Check the validity of important documents, extend them if necessary (passport, credit card, e-card, ATM card, identity card, driver's license,..)
Organize local SIM card or cell phone number (Where is this available abroad?)
Speaker for smartphone
Deregister/decommission vehicles
After returning
Register GIS again
Register magazines
Cancel contracts from abroad
*created based on the preparatory seminar template
Living as a volunteer
As a rule, a volunteer lives with a host family. In this way you get to know the language and culture much more intensively and better. In our case, it was challenging for our coordinators to find a suitable room for two people in a family. So the people in charge went looking for an apartment.
It remained exciting until the end, because we only received the information shortly before we left that a suitable apartment had been found.
Flight into an individual adventure
Flight and visa costs are usually covered (excess baggage excluded). The timely organization of the visa is the responsibility of the volunteer. The volunteer is also responsible for extending his or her visa. In our case, registration with the Foreign Ministry’s service was also mandatory. If the worst comes to the worst, you want to be informed in good time about a return home.
After a pleasant afternoon flight, we obtained a SIM card for Armenia directly at the airport. The saleswoman spoke to us promptly in German. Then we got to know Vahan and 2 other colleagues, who took us to our new home in 2 entertaining and fun hours. And we were visibly surprised, because we were standing in a spacious apartment a short distance from our future place of work. Equipped with a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom and an extra room, the apartment offers more space than we expected.
Finally arrived at the project!
The following day we started comfortably at 11 a.m. with our project coordinators. After getting to know each other and talking about how our time here could be structured, employees showed us the premises, the nearest ATM and supermarket and the fastest way into town. And after lunch with the staff, we drove to the Aregak Bakery together with Vahan. If that isn't a perfect project start!
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