Volunteering or working while on the road
 

Does anyone have any good resources, tips, websites, etc for volunteering or working while on the road?

I know of one website/organization–*the Muskoka Foundation (The Muskoka Foundation | The Muskoka Foundation). The organization also goes under the name of Do Good As You Go. It's a great resource. I'd like to find more.

I did a search for 'volunteer' and 'volunteering' on this forum and there were no results. I find it hard to believe no one is volunteering or working while on the road. I'd like to help people as I go as I'm sure many of us would.

Of course visas would prohibit work in other countries often but I'm sure there must be opportunities in our own countries.

Thoughts?

HelpX (https://www.helpx.net/index.asp)
Have not tried it yet, but possibly will check it in Australia.

Most people on the HUBB are understandable sceptical about volunteering for 1, 2, 3 weeks, as it only makes the volunteer feel a bit better but does nothing for the people.

Which jobs allow you to contribute within one week after joining? Unskilled jobs! And in developing countries they have enough unskilled labour. Help them by not taking their jobs.

Another thing is, that almost all volunteering organisations are moneymaking schemes.

I agree to poul, about the volunteering schemes, unfortunately...

I did "workaway" which is pretty much the same then helpx, but it comes down to the point that you will not earn any money, which you need on the road. They offer food and accomodation, for a reasonable amount of working hours each day.

I did it in GR, but didn't feel good about it. So I won't try this again!

I guess this topic was started more about asking in a way to get money for travelling further!??
Unfortunately I don't have a lot of experinece working on the road and making a reasonable amount of money. I worked in Italy for a few weeks this summer, what was rather easy to deal because I'm citizen of the European Union. In Turkey I didn't find anything reasonable. Just very low paid jobs and "black work"...:( Nothing to focus on to get money for future travelling. So I decide to move back to my home country for several months and then continue travelling again.

If anybody has any good advices, I'm sure many guys will appreciate it...!!!!!!!!:mchappy:

All the best

Alex

Thanks everyone. Thanks Hemuli... HelpX seems interesting, I will look through the site more thoroughly. It's a start certainly. It would help all travelers who want to extend their travels by saving money. I would like to 'do good as you go' with people that need help, not work for businesses particularly. It depends what their work is I suppose.

pbekkerh brings up a good point that I hadn't thought of before... would have to be careful that whatever whoever volunteers is not taking away jobs from the communities we're trying to help. It is also good to be advised that most volunteering organizations are money-making schemes. Good for us all to know.

dakaralex... that's a whole bunch of organizations listed on the Volunteer South America board. Thanks!

I'll do some more research. If I find something good I will let you all know.

What a load of rubbish. I can't disagree more with the view that volunteering is a waste of time or just a money making venture. I'm sure it can be but that doesn't mean it has to be.

I volunteered on my trip a couple of years ago, enjoyed every second of, was happy that my money was going to a good cause and hope I did more good than harm.

Volunteering can use your skills, I'm a teacher, so I taught in south Africa. Not taking jobs from anyone. And I helped on conservation projects in Central America, again, not taking anyone's work.

I wonder sometimes if comments like the ones I read above are made by people who want to discredit voluteering to make themselves feel better?

I'm not saying volunteering solves the worlds problems but with a little research a biker can enhance their journey, make a positive difference and learn something. That's got to be better than just being negative...

Or could it be that volunteers do it to make themselves feel better whether they really help or not? :oops2:

Volunteer
 

I did volunteer many times and in many countries but I have to agree that it is sometime difficult to find real Charity to help out. The important part is that no matter what you think ,the people you helped ( even for a day ) need you and appreciate your effort , that all you should remember. I cannot beleive travellers will expect to make money working abroad for some charity doing labor work , come on guys this supposed to be help you are giving not a job to help you travel more , board and food are already a great thing. I went away for few month sometime and I will do it again in my next RTW but I do it because I like to help that all .( I still do volunteer work here at home ).I sometime contact those organisation in advance but it also happen that when on the road I meet some of these guy I just ask if they need help. REMEMBER that what ever you give (time or money ) it should be from your heart and that should be enough for you , if not its only business and you should have other way to make some hopefully.

Load of rubbish.

If you go to ANY animal/wildlife organization in ANY country, you will find yourself welcomed with open arms. And that includes the United States. These places are begging for help. Fix something, walk the animals, clean cages, website work, etc etc etc. The list goes on.

Click here for a world wide directory at worldanimalnet.com Search

If there isn't an animal org in the area you want to travel, just get there, and ask the locals for where the animal lovers hang. You will not be turned away.

Lorraine

I think you really need to be a bit more specific about the type of volunteering.
Several of the posts here are correct depending on what you want to do.

There is doing a bit of research yourself and then rolling up and volunteering on the spot or with maybe a little advanced notice or even by chance meeting with some locals.

But there is also the "gap year style" which some people are talking about where companies take an amount of the cost for them self and donate a portion to the charity or group as well as providing support or advice about getting there ect. More often than not certainly in some of the animal refuges I looked at you could also roll up or give a few weeks notice and do exactly the same type of volunteering giving more to the organisation in financial terms and not paying a middle man.

There is also charities set up for the simple idea of making money from volunteers although these do appear to be few and far between.

If you are going to work with animals make sure you get all relevant shots for that country before doing so. And remember its not all cute monkeys and fluffy kitties or puppies. You may also come across damaged feral beasts which may have lice fleas and ringworm as well as a tendency for random fecal matter spraying and projectile vomiting and on top of these gap year students you have the animals to deal with as well.

Volunteer
 

I never volunteer with animal but visited plenty of animal shelter in SA and USA the thoughest things to deal with was for me the sadness of the animal anything else we can deal with . When I volunteered abroad or locally the hard things is to keep a balance with personal life , the more I help the more I know and feel like what I do make a difference so its sometime difficult to do not do more and more.

As far as helping people is concerned, if riders really wanted to help they would do it in their own country. The poverty in the US and Uk is terrible.But you dont have travel fun on your bike helping out there. And it's not glamorous.

Unless you're a specialist with something to offer, you could always not travel and donate the money saved - if your motive is to help of course. If you choose not to do this then you know that you are a traveller, nothing more.

If a traveller floats into town or village, dispenses wisdom and warmth and then rides away, he is shown to be what he is.

I just found this website that I thought was very interesting:

Volunteer abroad and see the world, South America, Africa, Asia - Motorcycle Memoir

Interesting views here.....!! To stumble across this thread I must be sitting on the fence wondering which side to hop down onto....
Bikers have always been linked to 'helping out' and I've been down that road before with 'Enduro Africa' and soon realised that it was a complete money making affair for many involved and a 'thrill seek' for me.....
When me and my partner actually set off on our travels we genuinely want to be involved with helping out as we travel. She is a big wig in child safe guarding and therefor would focus on that aspect. If anyone has any links to genuine organisations like the drain kids of Reo or Ulanbatar then post up.
Once again some good points on this thread, be nice to get it activated again..!!!
Cheers Mez & Sue