Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, make friends, or feel useful, volunteer work is one of the best ways to make a positive impact. However, it can be difficult to decide what kind of volunteering experience suits you. It’s important to choose a project that matches your skills and interests, but if you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry! Using the Worldpackers platform, it’s easy to message other travellers who have been there and ask them for tips.

Throughout history, the types of volunteer projects have been very different depending on where people are living and what their goals are. For example, many volunteers help the sick and elderly. This can be as simple as running errands or accompanying individuals to appointments, but it is still a hugely important task and one that can have a significant impact on lives. Other types of volunteer work include environmental conservation, animal care, and teaching.

In the age of globalization, volunteer work is becoming more common in almost every country. It is an important part of a healthy society and has been shown to improve mental health. It’s also a great way to try out a career before making a commitment, and it often exposes volunteers to professional organizations or internships that they wouldn’t otherwise know about.

But while volunteering is a noble goal, it’s not without its critics. Illich argued that volunteers were often used as a tool for colonialism, and similar critiques have been offered by Paulo Freire and bell hooks.