I needed to build my knowledge and skill internationally, and also get a diversity of experience, that would be of help to my profession, especially since I work with developing communities in fragile and emergency contexts.
Additionally, I needed an environment that would expose me to a different cultural context from my own and the chance to network with various people that share similar passions like my own towards sustainable development.
I actually organized everything on my own without assistance. I organized the entire trip from my own salary, which was actually a big motivation. It game me a direction to focus on, and allowed me to set clear goals for the program.
I think anyone planning to join the program should join firstly because they really want to build themselves professionally and want to extend a hand towards the communities in need of help, before joining because their parents are forcing them to do so or just because they want to tour.
Some volunteers travel for the wrong reasons and they forget that they did not only go to tour but to also lend a hand, and this doesn't show a good image. Volunteers should also know that the volunteer destinations and program environments are different from their homes, and should not compare the two environments but just try and fit in, as it makes life easier.
It basically involves, breakfast from 7:00am, working at the program sites from 8:00am till noon depending on the weather conditions (when it's really hot, work at the construction site ends earlier), and personal time in the afternoons which could involve a tour activity or resting.
I do have a terrible fear of heights but I met this wonderful lady that became my friend at the program. She, on the contrary, wasn't afraid of heights so she dared me to do the three big jumps; the gorge swing (96 meters), zipline & flying fox (96 meters), the bungee jump(111 meters), including an abseil (53 meters), and made me promise I would do them all to get over my fears.
I did all of the jumps, cried my heart out one after the other, and literally passed out a few times. Coming back from these experiences alive and well taught me that in every fear comes a strength. I may never do the jumps ever again, but knowing that I've completed them once reminds me that I can do anything I put my mind to, no matter how terrifying.
I recommend that travelers are flexible, willing to learn, and open to new experiences.
The world is like a very big house, which has different rooms, that all need to be visited. But we shouldn't expect all the rooms to be the same. Different countries have different cultures, ways of life, different people and different things to offer.
In order to have the best experiences, we need to fit into the different rooms, instead of judging, criticizing or even comparing them to your own and hoping they were the same. There is art in every mess and a beauty in every terrain, Let's all try our best to see more of the beautiful side and to have the best of our experiences.