Looking after yourself as a volunteer abroad
In this section we will look at how best to protect yourself from some of the more common problems that travellers and volunteers occasionally encounter. The general advice offered here is important so please take five minutes to read it before you travel.
Food and Drink - what can I eat and drink?
Part of the fun and experience of travelling and volunteering abroad is experimenting with new foods and drinks. To get the most out of your trip hopefully you'll be prepared to try out almost anything! Don't be afraid to try out new things but there are some essential guidelines that you should attempt to follow to make sure you stay as healthy as you can. Afterall you do not want your volunteering experience ruined by carelessness with food and drink! So basic precuations are:
Water
In many poorer countries there is no system of treating mains water to remove the nasty bugs, parasites and amoebas that like to freely swim in it! Therefore you need to take care when drinking it, using it to prepare and wash food, washing your teeth in it and even showering in it. The best advice is to avoid swallowing it wherever possible and take the following advice...
- 1) Drink bottled water - check that the seals are unbroken before you buy it.
- 2) If you cannot buy bottled water and have no access to any form of water treatment, then you should ideally boil water well for about 15 minutes minimum before drinking it.
- 3) If you cannot do any of the above then you should treat water with iodine or chlorine tablets. These can sometimes give the water a slightly unpleasant taste but you can buy neutralising tablets to counteract this.
- 4) If you don't like the idea of chemical treatment of water (iodine should only be used as a short term measure in any case) then have a look at the iStraw which filters water as you drink it.
- 5) If it is just a drink you are looking for then canned, bottled or carton drinks should be OK, especially brand names, which are found almost anywhere these days.
If you don't do the above and want to take a chance, be prepared for a long spell on the loo or, if you are particularly unlucky, some time in hospital. You don't really want any of that to interrupt your trip so it really is best to play it safe in this area.
Food
Enjoy it! But beware washed salads and fruit. You may be able to check if the restuarant or cafe uses boiled water to wash their food or you may not. If you don't know, depending on where you are eating, we would recommend you probably avoid the washed salads, but that's up to you. Beware eating from street vendors too, you can make up your own mind on whether their standards of hygiene are worth the risk.
Check out the looking after your health section for more information on protecting yourself against illness.
Protect yourself from Crime
Whether we like it or not it exists. It should not be a major problem if you following the advice given here. If you are a victim of crime, report it to the police and try not to let it adversely affect your overall volunteer experience.
So, you like wearing nice clothes and a nice watch, perhaps some other jewellery too. You've got a nice camera and a full wallet. You wont be the only person that notices such things. If you want to reduce the chances of being robbed then the simple answer is to dress down. It works. Wear clothes that are as plain as you are happy to wear, but also comfortable depending on what your voluntary work is. If you want to wear a watch buy a cheap one before you travel. Nice clothes and jewellery are not necessarily compatible with volunteering and travelling, especially if you are working in poor areas or poor countries. Unfortunately poverty brings desperation for a rogue few and inevitably if they see someone who clearly looks wealthy they could target them. You do not want such unwanted attention so don't look wealthy!
A money belt is a good idea, but don't wear it in areas where thieves will easily notice an unexpected bulge! They should ideally be kept under clothing and perhaps in areas such as around the waist so they are hidden by the clothes around your waistline. Do not carry lots of cash around on you if you can avoid it, and when you do, try and spread it about your person so that if you are robbed you only lose a part of it. Maybe use your shoes, socks, pockets, moneybelt, clothing, bags or be even more inventive. Bear in mind travellers cheques can be replaced if stolen, the only disadvantage is that it is not always easy to change them into cash in some countries (check before you go). If you carry or use a debit or credit card keep it somewhere relatively safe.
Do your research and find out the places and areas where there is a higher prevalence of crime so that you can be more aware or avoid such places.
And if someone does try to rob you it is generally advisable not to put up a fight and part with a little money. You don't want to spend your trip in hospital or somewhere even less salubrious.
Cultural Issues
Find out a little about the culture you are visiting before you travel so you can avoid offending people unwittingly.
People
Most people are friendly and meeting interesting people and making new friendships is one of the most rewarding aspects of voluntary work. Do be wary of things that are too good to be true and of people seeking to take advantage of you. Not everyone will have your best interests at heart so take care of yourself. It is safer to travel in groups, or at least in pairs, whether you are male or female. This is especially important if you are travelling in countries where there is a risk of kidnap. Avoid areas where this may happen. The UK foreign office website is a good source of advice as are well-written guide books. If you want to take your relationships with the locals a stage further than friendship then do use condoms. Take some with you before you travel so you don't have to scramble around for one or be tempted to not use one. It only takes one careless encounter to catch something that could affect the rest of your life.
Alcohol and drugs
Alcohol - enjoy it if you like a drink. Be careful where you choose to drink, there are places where you should be in complete control and fully aware of what is going on around you. Make sure you are. Furthermore, be aware that culturally it may be unacceptable to drink in public in some coutries, make sure you know about the country you are travelling to - buy a comprehensive travel guide.
Drugs - don't do them. It's your decision but that is the best advice you will get. Do not leave yourself in a vulnerable position and know the law of the places you are visiting - buy a good travel guide!
Miscellaneous
Register your presence in a country if you are going to be there for a significant amount of time with your embassy and perhaps give them a copy of your passport if they will take one (they may not need to). Also keep a copy of your passport for yourself. The embassy can be a useful source of help and information if you run into severe difficulties.
Each country will have its own specific problems as well as the more general ones detailed here so do ensure you do some reasearch before you travel and buy yourself a good guide book. Further information about specific threats in individual countries can also be found on the UK's foreign office website - click here
If you have any comments or feedback on this section, please let us know.