Do you love to travel? Are you a passionate person who loves to volunteer for a cause? Well why not do both? There are many opportunities to do volunteer work abroad almost anywhere in the world. To start, why not try doing a little research first to see which opportunity captures your interest. Whether it’s installing water purifiers in houses in Ghana or planting trees in Cambodia there is something out there for you. One really great resource I recommend to all is goabroad.com/volunteer-abroad. Here you can do full searches on a number of volunteer programs. You can either search by location (country/region), the type of volunteer work, or by duration of the project. Whatever you are passionate about can be found just a click away.

Volunteering for any cause can be an extremely beneficial and rewarding experience especially if you have really thought of pursuing a project that’s in another country or region. Not only does volunteering abroad allow you to grow as a person but also gives you the chance to explore sites you never dreamed of being in. If you have ever traveled anywhere in the world you most likely will discover a lot of things not only about other cultures but how we interact with each other. Combining both the volunteer element into the globe element generates unique opportunities for involvement and service to the less privileged in need of assistance. A common reason why many do not decide to volunteer their time abroad is in part due to the high fees in order to join these programs. Many of these programs can range on cost depending on the duration or location. So how are you going to cover these costs? How about fundraising. If you do not plan on spending your own money why not fundraise. From here you can begin fundraising however you wish whether it’s emailing friends and family or setting up fundraising events. In the age of the internet, spread the word through social media (i.e. Facebook & Twitter) to keep people updated on your progress. Also get others involved and see if you can spark their interest in joining your efforts. Turn your passion for travel and volunteer work into an un forgettable experience. In the great words of Ghandi, “be the change you wish to see in the world”

Pennies for Pugs: What I Learned from my First Fundraising Experience

My very first fundraising experience was a full-fledged disaster. My parents owned three pugs and my grandma had two, so I grew up around them. And I loved them. I decided that I needed to do something to better the lives of pugs around the world. I resolved to launch a gardening service to raise funds to give to organizations that helped rescue pugs. It went wonderfully–until two girls down the street got wind of my idea and started doing the same thing for cheaper. I was devastated. Looking back, I would’ve just countered their offer, added an extra service to my features or maybe even scrounged up enough money in my piggy bank to hire an ip attorney. I’m mostly kidding about the attorney, but I wish I wouldn’t have thrown in the towel so soon. There are a lot of things you can do to keep your fundraiser afloat even if it seems to be taking a lengthy trip on the fail boat.

1. Utilize Your Resources

In the age of the Internet, there are endless sources of information about every topic imaginable. Community based volunteering organizations and local nonprofits have websites that could prove useful for your fundraising endeavors.

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