Learning Service: The essential guide to volunteering abroad

by Claire Bennett, Joseph Collins, Zahara Heckscher

Want to help? First you must be willing to learn. This year, over ten million people will go abroad, eager to find the perfect blend of adventure and altruism. Volunteer travel can help you find your place in the world―and find out what you’re made of.  So why do so many international volunteer programs fail to make an impact? Why do some do more harm than good?  Learning Service offers a powerful new approach that invites volunteers to learn from host communities before trying to 'help' them. It's also a thoughtful critique of the sinister side of volunteer travel; a guide for turning good intentions into effective results; and essential advice on how to make the most of your experience. This book is for volunteers and educators alike. If you’re wondering if volunteer travel is right for you; if you’re getting on the plane tomorrow; or if you’re trying to adjust to life as a returned volunteer―this is the book you need in your bag. 

Genres: Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

Published September 4, 2018

Reviews

[Alysha Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, do I ever wish that this book had come out sooner! I would highly recommend Learning Service to anyone thinking about going abroad to do volunteer work (and even just for travellers thinking about how to deepen their learning experience while overseas).

Having lead students on several experiential education trips abroad, I always try to remind them that the experience is for their benefit and that they are not going overseas to save the world. This book provided me with much needed context to frame international experiences for my students and helped me unpack many of the feeling I had myself about international development work.

Learning Service is an approachable guide for anyone considering going overseas to volunteer. The authors emphasize a focus on learning first before trying to make any type of impact. The book is full of anecdotes from dozens of volunteers and examples of voluntourism gone wrong. I had experienced similar stories and it was powerful to see these through a critical lens.

I had the chance to read this book at the same time as one of my 16 year old students. This book encouraged his critical thinking about why he was travelling and deepened his overall experience and cultural learning on trip.

[Emily TwoDustyTravelers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely essential reading for anyone thinking of volunteering abroad!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about responsible travel and the legacies of colonialism on our everyday lives!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a little long and tedious, but the message of this book is valuable and timely. So much "voluntourism" does more harm than good and this book makes the point that the real value of such trips lies in the learning for the traveler rather than "help" for others. As I research this topic in depth, this book was a good start to understanding the broader implications of matching "goodwill" with the real challenges of the world.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great info but could have been half as long...very circular and redundant.