Posts Tagged global volunteering

A look at: China

Quick facts

Despite its size, all of China is in one time zone.
One in every five people in the world is Chinese
By the fourth century B.C., the Chinese were drilling for natural gas and using it as a heat source, preceding Western natural gas drilling by about 2,300 years
China is often considered the longest continuous civilization, with some historians marking 6000 B.C. as the dawn of Chinese civilization. It also has the world’s longest continuously used written language
China is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada, and the U.S.). It has an area of 3,719,275 square miles (slightly smaller than the U.S.) and its borders with other countries total more than 117,445 miles. Approximately 5,000 islands lie off the Chinese coast
The Chinese invented paper, the compass, gunpowder, and printing.

Since its birth 5000 years ago, China has cultivated a phenomenal reputation for itself. The fact that China has the world’s biggest population (a staggering 1.34 billion people) seems to be the fact people remember the most, but its status as one of the world’s largest economic and industrial powers means that there’s a growing interest in the Chinese language and culture worldwide.

Only the USA can rival China in its economic glory, and indeed, many areas of China have become extremely prosperous as a result of their rapidly evolving industries. The internet, in particular, has been welcomed with open arms and there are over 210 million internet users in China. However, admittedly, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube are censored, and bloggers are constantly being removed from cyberspace if their words go against governmental protocol.

This governmental approach can also viewed in rural parts of China. As the economic growth rate increases by roughly 10% each year, standard of living in the inner cities is increasingly consistently, often at the expense of the poorer areas. However, do not let this deter you from volunteering in this wonderful country. Like many of Lattitude’s placement countries, China offers a phenomenal level of diversity, from the subarctic conditions of the north to the subtropical climate of the south. One day you could find yourself walking along the Great Wall of China, the next seeing Shaolin monks, or perhaps even viewing the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, or wandering around the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Why you should go:

Being an English teacher will allow you to immerse yourself in Chinese culture and take part in a knowledge – and language – exchange. In return for your teaching of English language and culture, there will be abundant opportunities for you to enrich your knowledge of Mandarin, which is fast becoming a crucial language for networking – a fact that a huge number of employers will find extremely impressive on your CV! Teaching within a Chinese community will also allow you to jump right into the authentic Chinese experience and really understand the lives of the people who live there.

The potential for travel is incredible, too. Due to the sheer vastness of the country, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to explore all of it in just a few months, but local airports mean that weekend trips to more far away locations are possible. Each province differs greatly so it’s a fantastic chance to learn as much as you can about one of the world’s most interesting countries.

Chinese might currently be one of the world’s most in-demand languages, but the Chinese consider English to be highly valuable. This means that your teaching will be phenomenally appreciated and you’ll be welcomed warmly by a community who want to learn more about your way of life. You’re considered a teacher and not a volunteer, and any wisdom you impart will be met with incredible enthusiasm and gratefulness. This makes China a great place to improve your teaching technique whilst enhancing your transferable leadership and communication skills.

Ultimately your time in China will be extremely valued by those you are teaching, but you may well feel that you gain just as much from your experience.

Find out more about volunteering in China

Lattitude volunteer, India talks about life as a volunteer in Neuquen, Argentina

Lattitude Global Volunteering Launches Campaign For Real Volunteering

November 2011: Lattitude Global Volunteering will be celebrating 40 years of sending young people on meaningful, long-term placements in 2012. To mark this milestone, the charity today launches its ‘Campaign For Real Volunteering’.

Lattitude Global Volunteering has been around since the birth of the gap year industry; in fact the term ‘gap year’ came from its original name (GAP Activity Projects). The charity has become quite disheartened at how the positive concept of the gap year has now been overshadowed by the profiteering of tourism companies who have moved into the industry, so is vowing to fight back with real and meaningful overseas volunteer placements.

Nick Adie, UK marketing manager says: “Over the years many new organisations have begun offering voluntary placements overseas, from small companies to tourism giants. However, with this expansion there seems to be a drift from worthwhile and selfless volunteer placements to short term placements more concerned with what ‘fits in’ to a gap year, around travel or tourism plans.

“The dumbing down of placements and quick turnaround of volunteers is diluting the perceived benefits to the extent where gap years are quite uniformly criticised and mocked. Even more worrying is the seeming lack of responsibility towards the host communities that are supposedly benefitting from volunteer help. In many cases these short term placements can actually create a great deal more harm than good.”

The advice given by Lattitude Global Volunteering is to avoid these so called ‘voluntourism’ activities and think about the reason to volunteer in the first place. The charity states that there is nothing wrong with travelling, and many volunteers do travel after a long-term placement, but they do it with better knowledge and understanding of a different culture and people, greater confidence and better understanding.

Volunteering overseas is undoubtedly a fantastic thing. It offers young people the opportunity to experience a different life, to develop in skills and confidence and enjoy the world. All the while making a real and valid contribution to a host community. But only when it is done properly.

Lattitude Global Volunteering now has a specific area of its website dedicated solely to the campaign with hints and tips to help prospective volunteers navigate the gap year volunteering industry and help them choose an organisation that can provide a volunteering experience that is worthwhile as well as help with weighing up the costs to get the best value for your money and the chance for personal development.

For more information please see: www.lattitude.org.uk/real-volunteering

My best experience with Lattitude Global Volunteering. Video

At our last returned volunteer debriefing session we asked a few of our volunteers about some of their best memories whilst they were away volunteering. This is what they said:

For more videos of our volunteers please click here

UCAS points and Volunteering…A good idea?

With the announcement of the release of the ‘Certificate of Personal Effectiveness’ there has been much ado in the newspapers of late around the subject of whether or not young people on gap years should be able to earn academic credits. The Certificate of Personal Effectiveness can generate up to 70 UCAS points which could contribute towards university applications.

There is predictable outrage from some newspapers that young people could gain academic points from going on a ‘jolly’. As the Daily Mail puts it:

“They can put experiences such as whale watching, trekking and diving towards a Certificate of Personal Effectiveness – equivalent to an A grade at AS-level.”

…And we all stand back in horror that this should be allowed etc.

However the article does pick up some very valid points. Most notably, as people pay to have these experiences it is automatically segregating those that cannot afford these gap years, and would therefore appear completely unfair that it is an opportunity open only to those from richer families.

However putting it into perspective 70 UCAS points is not a great amount, it is not to be scoffed at but as Professor Alan Smithers, director of Buckingham University’s Centre for Education and Employment Research, rightly points out: ‘To get into Oxford or Cambridge, I’m not sure these gap-year A-level points will make any difference. They are not going to rate very highly among A*s in physics, maths and chemistry.’

That of course does not make it right that it is only open to those that can afford it.

But are academic points right to be awarded for gap year activities anyway? I believe so. There are elements to the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness that I believe have merit.

It has long been proven that there is much benefit both academically and in terms of personal development from the activity of volunteering. Look at the recent Demos report for proof. In the correct way, a gap year spent volunteering really can be beneficial and I do not see why this shouldn’t get the credence it deserves.

Overall I do think that the Certificate of Personal Effectiveness is a good idea, yet is currently far from perfect. I believe the modules surrounding it should focus more on spending the time productively and less on the ‘experiences.’ I also believe it is something that should be considered for the government’s International Citizenship Scheme as well as those who volunteer in the UK, opening up the certificate to those who otherwise may be held back by financial constraints.

Gap Year opportunities for the ‘twitter generation’

Volunteering in area of interest is beneficial to both volunteer and community

With the SQA results being released yesterday and with A Level results just around the corner, this is the time of year that many begin to think about taking a year off. Many people may scoff at the idea of taking a year off but when you consider the options available and the benefits in the long run it could actually be a wise decision.

There are many options open to young people but the important thing is to ensure the time spent away is productive. A productive gap year can promote responsibility and self reliance and according to Liam butler writing for the Independent Schools Council blog; ‘it also equips youngsters with transferable skills that can be used in many aspects of life back home.’

This idea is supported further by Matthew Parker, national recruitment manager for accountancy firm KPMG . He states: “Applicants who have done volunteer work in their year off have far more experience to talk about and can draw on real-life examples of how they have developed the skills we are looking for”

Those young people that have a particular interest are encouraged to volunteer with a charity in order to help affect change. For example, somebody looking to study medicine can take time out to volunteer in a hospital. Not only is this making a tangible difference to people’s lives it will also be, as Butler writes: “fulfilling on a personal level and will give valuable experiences that are likely to benefit a CV”. Universities and employers are looking for anything that makes a candidate stand out and this will do just that.

A recent survey by Milkround revealed that three-quarters of UK students and graduates would consider their study furthering their study overseas, perhaps alongside voluntary work as part of a structured gap year.

Just graduated?

Just graduated? Not sure what to do next?

You’ve worn the hat, shaken someone’s hand, got your degree certificate and smiled for the camera. Well done, we hope you feel proud of your achievement; you most definitely should. But along with the celebrations, is there a nagging feeling in the back of your mind of ‘what shall I do next’?

University may have been the time of your life; you may have made friends for life, decided on your career choice or simply learnt to cook! For some, leaving university may mean the start of your career, you may have a job already lined up or are about to embark on an internship. But for others, you still may not know what you want to do. You may be feeling at a slight loss as everyone goes their separate ways, and you may be looking for the answer to the constant question of ‘so, what are you going to do next’?

Do not despair! There are so many people in your position, so turn it around and make it a good position to be in! Why not take a break? Why not get out there and explore? Why not challenge yourself further? Leaving university does not have to mean the end of fun, the end of excitement or the end of doing what you really want to do. Take up a new challenge: volunteer.

You could set out for Africa, and spend 5 months teaching English in Ghana, passing on the skills you’ve learnt through your time in education whilst challenging yourself to stand up in front of a class of 50 expectant 7 year olds and make learning English fun! It’s your chance to teach it your way; whether that be through singing, painting or puppetry, or simply writing and repeating from the blackboard. You could continue that passion for football that you followed all through Uni, make your own team, start your own league - nothing can be more rewarding.

Or why not spend 5 months in South America? You could do a Community Care placement in Ecuador and take the chance to improve your Spanish through immersing yourself in the Ecuadorian way of life and living with an Ecuadorian family. Spend your time working with street children to enable them to ‘be children’, play with them, draw with them, sing with them; small things can change lives.

So really, life does not end after University! Life is just beginning. Don’t miss an opportunity to do something different, who knows what it will lead to next…

The great university place debate

A gap year could help you decide what to do with your future. Debbie volunteered in Fiji

So it begins: The Telegraph’s article, “Third of students face missing out on university places” is the first we anticipate of many such articles between now and the end of August.

As the article details, experts have already told of a “collapse” in the number of students opting to take gap years to make sure they avoid a near tripling of the cost of a degree.

We think at this point we should really reiterate that a gap year not only benefits a CV in future, but also gives you time to think and decide what you want from your future. Taking a university place solely for the purpose of dodging the fee hike is not the right reason. This is three or possibly four years of you life, and it is expensive, so consider it carefully. For some the decision is easy. For others it simply isn’t. If you feel like you can’t decide on a degree course, or even if university is right for you, then maybe a gap year would suit you better.

We offer placements from three months right up to a year. This gives our volunteers time to reflect on what they want to do with the rest of their lives while also helping out in areas of the world that need it. If it’s outdoor adventure you want to clear your head, then how about a year in Canada working at an outdoor activity centre. If it’s getting close to nature that gets you, how about four months working in an animal rescue centre in Cosa Rica.

Whatever happens on results day, don’t panic. There is always another option - and it might even change your life for better.

Try a Gap Year in the Co-op, really Liz Jones?

The tragedy in Thailand of three young men sadly passing away whilst on their gap year, and of course the heartless comments of journalist Kia Abdullah has sparked a lot of discussion this week around the subject of gap years. We do not think it pertinent to talk too much about this particular incident. The morality is obvious. It was indeed a tragedy, her remarks evil. Whether she actually ‘meant’ them or through callousness she was wrong to make them.

However, we would very much like to comment on the resurfacing debate of the benefit of gap years particularly in reference to Liz Jones’ recent article in the Daily Mail entitled ‘Want to learn about real life? Try a gap year in the Co-op.’

In the article Liz discusses her belief that young people see the rest of the world particularly impoverished countries as a ‘playground and learning curve.’ She also implies that many communities do not need volunteers and in many respects UK volunteers are being patronising in going. Furthermore she sees no personal benefit to taking a gap year, stating, as the article suggests young people would be better off working for a year in the Co-op

As a youth development charity focussed on obtaining the greatest gain for our volunteers through challenging and educational placements it is obvious which side of the fence we sit. And we would like to counter Liz’s article.

Firstly, the inclination that the mentality of young people in this country to see other, more impoverished parts of the world as “a playground, or a learning curve, for the better-off” is a comment that is not only sweeping and terribly judgmental, but also saddens us greatly. And from our experience of working with young people, is not true at all. Nor is her comment that gap years are sold on the premise of gaining confidence.

It is true a placement has and will continue to give young people confidence. But why is that a bad thing? Further to that, the vast majority of young people passing through the doors here at Lattitude Global Volunteering do not go for their own benefit, but are desperate to help a community in any way they can. It would be untrue to say that they do not know it will benefit them also, but what is wrong with mutual benefit?

Which moves us onto our next point of disagreement “There is no merit in a gap-year’s exploits being placed on a CV.” Again we beg to differ and there is much evidence to support us. For example the recently published report by the Institute for Employment Studies that states in many different ways the benefit of a structured long term volunteering placement in reference to obtaining gainful employment.

Liz makes reference to her walking trip in India, where she claims that the villagers she met would have no need of volunteers. That maybe so, but I do not think that one experience is a strong enough case to settle the argument she is trying to make; that everywhere is fine thank you very much, we don’t need volunteers to come and patronise us. It is true you do not see ‘Indian teenagers in remote Somerset villages telling ancient farmers not to leave big piles of tyres in the fields because of possible damage to the eco-microstructure.’ But you can find Indian teenagers and other nationalities, such as Ghanians, Ecuadorians, Mexicans and Argentinians working in care homes, schools and outdoor activity centres in the UK. We know this because we facilitated this for them. They, like many young people want to help by volunteering and they also see the merit in doing so. You may also notice that the UK is not an impoverished country, but that does not mean there aren’t communities that still need and appreciate the help of volunteers, like many other parts of the world.

We really hope that students and parents alike do not take these comments to heart. Despite what Liz has stated, there is masses of benefits, both altruistic and personal to be had from taking a structured gap year.

One more thing, many volunteers do work (some maybe in the Co-op) to help pay for their placement before going. Looks like they get the best of both worlds…

Ben Fogle, GAP Activity Projects and the ‘year he found adventure and himself’

In a recent article, celebrity adventurer Ben Fogle revealed the ‘the year he found adventure and himself‘ (Daily Telegraph 20/06/2011). In the article he describes his gap year in South America as a ‘pivotal moment’, a year where he gained confidence and where the foundations of his life were laid. As part of his year in South America, we are proud to say that his 6 months in Ecuador were as part of a GAP Activity Project placement (as Lattitude Global Volunteering was previously known). We are delighted to have been part of this experience for Ben and we are of course glad to see he has gone on to do so well. Although Ben’s experience was unique, as all volunteers’ experiences are unique, the transition of gaining confidence, skills and new understanding is shared by hundreds of our volunteers every year. This is ultimately a profound and life changing moment for many.

As a youth development charity looking to soon send our 40, 000^th volunteer (in 2012, in line with our 40^th anniversary – very fitting!), we feel immensely lucky to have been involved with this development for so many people. We feel even more fortunate to be able to work with so many communities around the world. The communities that need volunteers year after year to aid with teaching, with caring, working in hospitals and their local environments and so much more. Being able to create a relationship between the two groups for the mutual benefit of everyone is truly a privileged position to be in.

Although not everybody can share their experiences with as many people as Ben has, we hope they will look back at it as fondly and encourage others to experience it too. Thanks Ben, and here’s to the next 40 years!