How To Volunteer Abroad including Ukraine

There are different ways to volunteer abroad including Ukraine. Some organizations take care of the details – lodging, the site, transportation, meals etc. Other places such as Ukraine, is more of a do-it yourself project. Decide what is your comfort level or skill set. I am a nurse and wanted to help soldiers on the front. Ukraine requires a six-week commitment in that field and I am unable to do that length of time. They also require combat nursing training. You may have to have a Plan B when unable to do your first choice.. One gig for me when nursing fell through, was the Lviv Animal Shelter.

Follow your passion and dreams

What part of the world would you like to go? What type of volunteer work is interesting or in your skill set? One couple are avid scuba divers and enjoy exotic locales. They joined Earth Watch for an exciting time scuba diving and working with coral in the Pacific Ocean. Another time it was counting koalas in Australia.  They like that organization for arranging logistics and specific volunteer opportunities.

Other people have built homes in Asia with Habitat for Humanity. There is a sense of community with the other volunteers. They had meals together and did some sight-seeing. Volunteers may be staying with a host family which helps get immersion in the local community.

In some other volunteer situations one is mainly on their own. This is what happened to me with Ukraine. Luckily my neighbor’s son-in-law spends most of his time in Ukraine and is very well-connected to volunteers and volunteer opportunities. She gave me his email and we later connected on Whats App. He put me on lists with individual volunteers. They were so helpful answering my many questions. Although I arranged this volunteer experience myself, I had plenty of advice.

Another volunteer gig was cutting up vegetables for hours. I met other volunteers, swapped stories and felt connected to the others. Wee sang while one volunteer played the guitar. At first it did not seem like an important job. Then a Ukrainian woman took me to a room where the vegetables were freeze-dried. In the next room they were packaged in individual bags for the soldiers on the front. What may seem trivial initially can turn out to be important.

After selecting a country, study the logistics where to volunteer. Some places are easier to get to or are safer. Do an online search for volunteer opportunities in several cities. Go to the city which is the best match for your interests. I decided upon Lviv as it is the easiest to go from Europe with buses from Krakow, Poland. The other volunteers suggested the city center for my accommodation. I went on Booking.com and found a fantastic hotel/apartment within walking distance to historic sites and volunteering gigs. Being on my own, it was crucial to be centrally located and avoid taking busses at night to an outlaying area.

The city square was across the street and a park nearby. Outside exercise is important to me, so I checked a map first before booking.  In my downtime, I could walk everywhere and explore this magical city frozen in time from the Middle Ages. Take time to visit local sites. Soak up the local culture. One of my favorite places nearby is the Lviv Cat Cafe. I missed my own and enjoyed the company of the felines with great food.

Accommodation

If you will be in one location for a while, consider getting accommodation in a hotel with apartments. You can cook meals which saves a lot of money. Since it is also a hotel, the reception desk staff were wonderful helping me find cool places to hang and interesting historical sites.  I recently called there a few months later, to arrange lodging to return this year. When the receptionist recognized my voice and asked if I wanted my same room, I was so pleased.

Some volunteers are happy in hostels and feel it a great way to meet people. There are volunteer opportunities which have the accommodation included. One was for a camp nurse which included meals as well. I wanted to be in a city, so passed on this one. Think about what you want out of this experience and what is your comfort zone.

Reflection

Volunteering can change a person in a positive way. You may notice it at the time or it can hit you after you return. I survived three bombings in Ukraine where people died. It took a little time to recover from that when I got back home. The intensity of how the Ukrainians enjoy life to the fullest each day encouraged me to do so too. My stress level is lower now, following their great example. Helping people can boost one’s self esteem.  Reflect upon how your experience has changed you. What did you learn about yourself?