International Volunteering vs. Local Volunteering: ¿what is the difference?

 

Volunteering is one of the most effective ways to generate positive change in the world. At Mumbai Smiles, we have been prioritizing local volunteering over international volunteering for years and in this article we explain why.

International Volunteering: A Transformative Experience

International volunteering involves traveling to another country to participate in community, educational, or development projects and it is an opportunity to learn about new cultures and contribute to the solution of global problems.

Volunteering internationally allows you to live in a different environment and learn new customs and ways of life. Volunteers often live within the same community where they volunteer and this can allow them to learn a new language and a culture completely different from their own. In addition, leaving your comfort zone forces you to face new challenges and helps you grow as a person. In fact, volunteering internationally helps with personal development.

Working in the areas of need can have an immediate and visible impact, as, for example, you help build a centre and can see the real progress of your collaboration. However, this impact that you can make as a volunteer is temporary, as projects are usually short-term and changes in the community cannot be sustained over time. If a person only spends two or three weeks in a place, it can be difficult to adapt to the new culture and this affects the ability to contribute effectively.

Local volunteering: accompanying within

Local volunteering refers to participating in projects within your own community or country. This type of volunteering is crucial to building a more just and equitable society from within.

One of the most important advantages of local volunteering is the in-depth knowledge of society and culture that the volunteer has. This knowledge of the local reality makes these people better understand the needs, customs and dynamics of the community, which allows them to provide more effective and culturally appropriate solutions. In addition, by living in the same place where you volunteer, the commitment is usually longer, which favors the continuity of the projects and, therefore, a more lasting and sustainable positive impact on people.

Although it is true that in a local volunteering program you can work with people who are not originally from the country itself, this volunteer knows the challenges and needs of the beneficiaries and there are usually fewer cultural and linguistic barriers.

For Mumbai Smiles, the work of social cohesion generated by local volunteering is very important. It promotes solidarity and mutual support within the community, thus strengthening the social fabric.

Mumbai Smiles and volunteering

The work carried out by the team of volunteers at Mumbai Smiles is essential to the organization. Thanks to their time, skills and effort, we can reach more people and achieve the goals we set ourselves in the peaceful fight against human trafficking and for Human Rights.

At Mumbai Smiles, we firmly believe in the power of local volunteering to generate significant and lasting change in communities. Thanks to local volunteers who get involved in the long term projects, we can ensure that the projects they participate in are sustainable and that the impact lasts beyond the initial participation. In addition, by working with people from the same community, greater trust and cooperation is fostered, as well as being more environmentally sustainable.

Focus on the real necessities

One of the main things about volunteering is to focus on the real needs of the communities and the organization. At Mumbai Smiles there are many volunteers who do great social work. At Mumbai Smiles we offer the opportunity to volunteer to university students, especially those studying social work. It is a way for them to experience first-hand the needs and challenges faced by an organization and to contribute their knowledge to a good cause. Recently, in an exciting collaboration between Urja trsut and St. Xavier’s College Mumbai, three students of P.G. Diploma Expressive Arts Therapy, trained in Clinical Psychology, along with their supervisors conducted four sessions at Udaan Home with Udaan beneficiaries and their children. Session themes included emotional well-being, compassion for self and others, mindfulness tools, healthy communication and conflict resolution, and others.

There are also volunteers who participate in the different solidarity activities that we carry out, such as offering time management session, career guidance workshops to our adolescent students and some offer workshops for the financial knowledge of our younger students.

But if a person is not available or cannot travel, there is a type of volunteering that always helps: spreading the word about our cause! Being aware of the problem of human trafficking, of the vulnerability in which those who suffer from it live and talking about it. Being informed, trying to act accordingly so as not to perpetuate the problem and raising awareness in your environment is one of the simplest, but also most effective ways to collaborate with an NGO and make this world a better world.

If you want to collaborate with Mumbai Smiles you can find out more information here and can fill out the form.