WHITE PAPER Increasing Volunteer Participation on International Service Projects

MAY 3, 2015 THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: ENGL 4567S

Mckenzie Wirtz

Abstract: In the past few decades, the world has seen an increase in nonprofit

organizations that offer opportunities for people to volunteer abroad. This paper

examines how nonprofit organizations can increase volunteer participation on

international service projects by looking at the different aspects of five prominent

nonprofits offering international volunteer opportunities. The organizations

receiving the highest numbers of volunteers are well established in communities

abroad and are able to provide information like the location of the project,

estimated cost, dates of travel, and safety measures well in advance to potential

volunteers. Conclusion: To increase volunteer participation, nonprofit

organizations should establish long term partnerships with communities abroad,

and provide easy access to information on their websites.

Key Words: Volunteer, International, Development, Service, Abroad

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Introduction

In the past few decades, the world has seen an increase in nonprofit organizations that

offer opportunities for people to volunteer abroad to combat some of the world’s most prominent

issues like poverty, disease, and inequality. With so many organizations, and so many different

causes to support, it’s difficult to understand what prompts an individual to volunteer abroad

with one organization over another. Despite the incredible projects and opportunities offered,

some nonprofit organizations have a very difficult time gaining enough volunteers to support

their projects abroad. How can nonprofit organizations increase volunteer participation on

international service projects?

Methods

For this paper, five nonprofit organizations providing international service project

opportunities were examined: Nourish International, United Planet, Cross Cultural Solutions,

Global Volunteers, and Peace Corps. In examining different aspects of each organization, it is

possible to find what makes one organization stand out over another. The research process paid

special attention to the following aspects of each group: Year organization was established, ease

of website, causes supported by organization, number of volunteers, who volunteers, number of

countries served, number of projects available per year, length of partnership with community

partners abroad, cost, dates, training, safety, length of project, and group verses individual work.

A summary of the research findings can be found in the attached Table A.

Results/Analysis

Many similarities exist between each organization evenly across the board, some so

similar that it can became difficult to distinguish between the organizations. Each of the five

nonprofits examined strive to improve hunger, health, education, environmental sustainability,

and poverty (Cross Cultural Solutions, 2015, a; Global Volunteers, 2002, g; Nourish

International, 2015, c; Peace Corps, 2014, a; United Planet, 2015, a). Each of the nonprofits

provide a variety of service opportunities with varying objectives in multiple countries, allowing

volunteers to choose a preference as to which countries they want to work in and the type of

impact they would like to make. While the safety plans for volunteers appear more extensive in

some of the organizations than others, like Cross Cultural Solutions’ plan versus Nourish

International’s weaker safety plan, every organization does have some type of safety plan in

place for volunteers (Cross Cultural Solutions, 2015, d, g; Global Volunteers, 2002, a, e; Nourish

International, 2015, e, f; Peace Corps, 2014, a, b; United Planet, 2015, b, e).

While each organization had many similarities, significant differences exist. The

differences were especially apparent between the older organizations and the younger

organizations. The Peace Corps has seen over 220,000 volunteers since its origin in 1961, and

Nourish International has only had 622 volunteers since its birth in 2003. In many ways, the

drastic difference in numbers makes sense. Nourish International is a younger organization with

the exclusivity of only allowing students to volunteer on their short term international projects,

and the Peace Corps is an older government backed organization that pays its volunteers for their

2 year commitment (Nourish International, 2015, a, d; Peace Corps 2013 & 2014, a, c). A more

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fair comparison to Nourish International is Cross Cultural Solutions (CCS) which has seen

34,850 volunteers since its origin in 1995. CSS has a small number of well-developed projects

with long term community partners abroad, while Nourish International forms a large number of

brand new partnerships every 2 years (Cross Cultural Solutions, 2015, g; Nourish International,

2015, f). CCS’s long term partnerships have allowed them to provide a fairly accurate estimated

cost, available dates, and extensive safety plans for their potential individual and group

volunteers (Cross Cultural Solutions, 2015, b, g). United Planet established in 2002 and Global

Volunteers established in 1984 also offer estimated costs, dates of trips, and extensive safety

plans for their short term projects on their web pages (Global Volunteers, 2002, f, i; United

Planet, 2015, b, e). Trainings varied, or were not listed, for each project and seemed less

important for the public than other pieces of information.

In an interview with the Ohio State University Chapter of Nourish International’s

International Project Director, Abby Mackey was asked what hinders the organization’s ability to

recruit project volunteers. Mackey stated, “It’s really difficult for us to get volunteers to make a

commitment because we don’t know the cost or dates of our projects until after our volunteers

make a commitment. Most people want to know what they’re getting into before they commit”

(personal communication, May 1, 2015). A Nourish International project volunteer, Jorge

Oquendo, offered insight as to what compelled him to volunteer with the organization: “I really

wanted to go to South America, and I liked the sustainability aspect of Nourish International’s

project. I also liked going with a group of people.” (personal communication, May 1, 2015).

Discussion

In examining the five organizations, it is possible to see what qualities are important for

an organization to have in order to attract high numbers of volunteers. Volunteers need options in

terms of location of the project, estimated cost, dates of travel, and strong safety plans. The

organizations receiving the highest numbers of volunteers are well established in communities

abroad and are able to provide the latter information to all volunteers well in advance of

departure. In order to best provide the latter information, nonprofit organizations should establish

long term partnerships with communities abroad, and provide easy access to information on their

websites.

Establishing long term partnerships with communities abroad would have a significant

number of benefits for any organization providing volunteer service opportunities abroad. If

organizations establish long term partnerships, than they can better predict what the cost of

volunteering will be for individual participants. Travel dates can be set well in advance. Projects

can be better established and evaluated for sustainability. Advice about safety, cultural emersion,

and travel excursions can be developed and provided to each volunteer pre departure, and work

training for participants can be developed and perfected over time to ensure the highest possible

impact on the communities being served.

In the age of technology, the first place potential volunteers look for information is the

internet. Organizations should have well designed and easy to navigate websites. Access to

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information including location of the projects, estimated cost, dates of travel, and safety plans

should be easily accessible online.

In short, the best way to increase volunteer participation is for organizations to establish

long term partnerships with communities abroad, and provide easy access to information on their

websites.

Table A: Summary of Organizations

Organization Nourish International United Planet Cross Cultural Solutions

Global Volunteers Peace Corps

Year organization

was established

2003 2002 1995 1984 1961

Ease of website medium easy easy difficult easy

Causes supported by organization

Sustainable poverty reduction

Children and education,

environmental

sustainability, global health

Poverty, hunger, Ensure healthy lives

and well-being,

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality

education, gender equality

Hunger: School and Household Gardens,

Child Nutrition,

Micronutrient Supplementation,

Improved Stoves Health: Nutrition and

Hygiene Education;

Malaria and Dengue Fever Prevention,

Deworming, HIV/Aids

Education Education: General

Education, Girl’s

Education, Potable Water and Sanitation Facilities,

Psychosocial Support

Education, Health,

Environment,

Community Economic

Development, Youth in

Development,

Agriculture, Peace Corps Response

Number of

volunteers

622 since 2003 Not Listed 34,850 since 1995 Not Listed 220,000

Who volunteers Students Ages 16 and up

depending on the

project (age requirements differ

for each project)

Must be citizen of

United States or

Canada

Anyone

Age 18+ or at least 8

if accompanied by parent or guardian

Anyone U.S citizen

Age 18 +

Number of countries served

28 countries since 2003

35 countries 9 countries 35 countries 64 countries

Number of projects

available per year

113 projects since

2003

Multiple/

individualizing service opportunities

available in each

country

10 projects Estimated 300 100+

How long has the

organization been

in partnership with

community

partners abroad?

New partnerships are

established every 2

years

Not Listed 10 + Years Long term Long term

Cost to volunteer Varies by project:

Volunteers don’t know until after they’ve

committed to

volunteering

Listed on website Listed on website Listed on website No fee.

A monthly living and housing

allowance

Full medical and dental coverage

48 paid vacation

days

Dates of projects Varies by project:

Volunteers don’t know

until after they’ve

Listed on website Listed on website Listed on website

Varies by project,

known in advance:

apply 9 months before departure

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committed to

volunteering

Training for volunteer

Created by students on a project by project

basis using online

research and communication with

community partners

abroad

Varies by project: most have several day

training sessions pre

departure and on the first days of trip

Not Listed Not listed 3 month training on site

Group or individual Group Both Individual and

Group opportunities

Both Individual and

Group opportunities

Both Individual and

Group

Individual

Length of project 6-8 Weeks Short term: 1-12 weeks

Long Term: 6 months +

1-12 weeks, options for longer trips

2-3 weeks (shorter and longer trips available in

some places)

2 years

Safety Safety and risk

management form.

Varies by trip

one-on-one

assistance, emergency

travel and medical

insurance, all staff

members participate in health and safety

training, and are

available at all times by 24-hour phone

line, full emergency

contact list, register all of our volunteers

with US Department

of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment

Program (STEP)

In country staff for

support and safety

Living facilities:

regular safety inspections, first aid

kit, lockers, fire

extinguishers, smoke alarm, CO2

detectors

Food: trained cooks,

clean water, food

making and storage handled safely

CCS Vehicles: regularly inspected,

first aid kit

available, seatbelts

team leaders participate

in annual training

(includes CPR and first-

aid certification, and

protocols for managing personal and national

emergencies), register all

team members with the attending U.S. Embassy,

travel insurance,

emergency contact is available 24 hours a day,

seven days a week, safety

precautions in manual, Food, lodging and

transportation arranged

for volunteer teams are done in a manner to

maximize health and

safety.

Safety plans vary

by trip

Notes Community based Personalized

volunteer experience based on interests

Community based,

home base location in each country

Community Based,

Partnership with UNICEF

Supported by U.S

government

References

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