Usually, we decide to leave as a volunteer for a combination of reasons or because we feel the time is right: “it’s now or never!”. It can be the altruistic desire to help and contribute to communities in need along with personal motivations such as the desire to experience a culture far away from one’s own and to challenge oneself by improving one’s soft skills, such as the ability to communicate, collaborate and exercise leadership. Or simply the need to have an unconventional experience.
THE REASONS FOR VOLUNTEERING ABROAD ARE MANY. WE GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS AFTER LISTENING TO MANY VOLUNTEERS ON THEIR RETURN.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
The volunteer members are involved by YearOut and the host partner in planning and developing programmes, becoming active participants. We create spaces and opportunities where volunteers can collaborate with partners. We try to support them so that they can bring new contributions to the projects in which they will work, even once they have returned as members. In the course of our activities, we have identified specific areas in which volunteers can work, also considering their own inclinations and aptitudes:
Volunteering both abroad and in Europe will make you happy. You will be in close contact with extraordinary and original people like yourself. It will be an opportunity to have fun and experience situations outside your routine. You will also be able to make yourself available to others by doing what you like. Your hobbies and passions will be an inspiration to everyone you work with!
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A NEW CULTURE
TRAVEL IN A DIFFERENT WORLD
MAKE NEW FRIENDS
WIDEN YOUR HORIZON
IT IS GOOD FOR YOUR BODY AND MIND
An international volunteering experience will help you get to know yourself better, understand your personal and professional aspirations.
It offers you a non-formal learning pathway, which today is highly valued by companies themselves. The transversal skills acquired will strengthen your professional profile and give you more strength and confidence in the world of work. Leaving as a volunteer is already a sign that you are a resourceful, courageous and altruistic person!
As a member on your return you can actively collaborate in achieving YearOut’s mission.
A volunteering experience abroad is also an opportunity to acquire university credits (CFU) relevant to one’s course of study and may be recognised as an Internship abroad, again at the discretion of the university and the relevant professor.