uVolunteer General FAQs
How long should I volunteer for?
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We recommend a 3-6 months month stay as it is the most economical for the volunteer and the most beneficial for the local community or project. Projects and communities we work with have to spend a considerable amount of time and effort to make sure that a volunteer gets settled in. By having longer term volunteers, volunteers are able to apply the skills and knowledge that they have acquired, during the later stages of their participation.
Long term volunteers also generally have a better experience because it normally takes 4 weeks to really become a part of your new community. After four weeks, you will most likely have overcome any intial cultural shock, become familiarized with the local language and will have found your function with the community. But again, each individual is unique and your adjustment period may be longer or shorter than 4 weeks.
This is not meant to discourage short term volunteers, as short term placements can be just as rewarding. uVolunteer understands that people have limited time and resources to travel and as a result, we offer project placements as short as 2 weeks. Regardless of the the length of time that you plan on volunteering, if you demonstrate enthusiasm and keep an open mind, you will invariably have a gratifying experience.
Last update: 2007-07-22 15:56
Author: Nathaniel Manu
Revision: 1.7
