12 Crucial Questions to Ask Before Volunteering Abroad
Reading Time: 10 minutes I was overcome with a wave of relief as locals literally waved at our tourist bus weaving the unpaved roads to the rural town of Coupe in the Dominican Republic. So here I am today discussing the uncomfortable topic of volunteering abroad. “They want us here,” I thought with content. I’m one of the most skeptic travelers when considering the role of big brother and/or disrupting foreign cultures. I’d signed up to volunteer in the Dominican Republic, to join Americans seeking to “make a difference” in a beautiful black-Latino community. I watched thirty Americans awe-eyed by a culture so different than their own, attempt (and succeed) in teaching English. Finally, a program that’s doing it right! As I introduce an overview of English courses offered by Impact, Fathom Travel offers volunteer experiences in entrepreneurship with local artisans (making chocolate or craft art), reforestation and environmental education...