First of all, it should be mentioned: Volunteering is a good thing, because it involves voluntary work. This means that in addition to one's own personal education, completion of an internship and broadening one's horizons of experience, altruistic action in an often non-profit project takes on a central role.

 

The answer to this question is quickly given and quite simple: Volunteer work costs money! As a rule, more abroad than at home. Even if one's own services are offered voluntarily, costs are still incurred in every volunteer work project, for example through accommodation and meals. In addition, there are material and personnel costs within the project. Many projects take place in remote regions in the midst of nature, which is why logistical supplies in particular can prove extremely costly.

 

In addition, projects that are not funded by governments, foundations or NGOs are often dependent on finding other ways of funding. In this context, the contributions of volunteers help to keep the projects alive and to be able to implement important ideas and charitable initiatives in the first place.

 

 What are the costs of organizing a volunteer program? 

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Organizing a quality volunteer project is a complicated matter. It is necessary to satisfy the wishes and needs of three interest groups:

 

1. The volunteers

2. The project that receives the volunteers (e.g. a school or a nature reserve)

3. The users of the project in which the volunteers are involved (e.g. the orphanage, the teachers, the caretakers of the protégés, etc.)

 

Therefore, the costs start preparing long before the volunteers start working:

 

• The living area, of the volunteers must be furnished, the sanitary facilities must be kept up to western standards and various wear and tear must be regularly repaired!

• Experienced, full-time employees take over the care of the volunteers: 24 h contact and accompaniment, catering and cleaning, administrative work for the volunteers and all these employees on site must receive a salary.

 

Information and selection of potential volunteers. Then, the project must be publicized.

This involves:

 

• Printing costs for brochures,

• fees for participation in trade fairs or

• Costs for the creation of a website.

 

Again, employees have to be paid to answer the questions of interested people and possibly select the right volunteers.

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Costs at the assignment location: more than just room & board

 

Staying at the assignment site is not free either, even if the cost of living is comparatively lower than in Europe. "Well, sure," some are saying now, "Of course I'm willing to pay for room and board." But unfortunately, that's not the end of it.

Have you thought about these things, too?

 

• Transportation costs to and from the airport

• This item alone can add up to more than 100€ for projects where you are taken in an SUV (purchase and maintenance costs!) to a project located in a rural area.

• Personnel costs for the people who will help you with problems, if necessary.

• Organization of trainings or meetings of a volunteer community

• Preparation for the volunteer's area of work, as an example: In the Maasai villages, the assignment is discussed and prepared in advance with the residents and this is associated with considerable costs because especially in our area, most women, women's groups do not live with us!

 

Even after the return, the expenses continue:

 

Costs for reports, because the use of the volunteers must be recorded just as from each client/inside, to the responsible office in Arusha.

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Office, personnel, administrative costs

Throughout this process, the volunteer organization incurs the same costs as other organizations:

 

• Rent, electricity, water, heating

• Accounting

• Telecommunications

• Office equipment and computers

• Insurances of the employees

• Legal assistance

• etc.

• In many cases both in their home country and in the target country.

 

 

Even if the profit is 5-10% (in reality it is often rather less) this means that from a participation fee of 2.000€, only 100-200€ are not swallowed up by the costs. Conversely, this also means that the project would still cost 1,800-1,900€ even without the company profit.

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Now do you still think that volunteering should be free?