Volunteering abroad: why college is the perfect time

by Adam Britten
Syracuse University

After ringing in the New Year, many students start to worry about their plans for the upcoming summer. Some scramble to obtain an internship, some make sure they have the same hometown job as last summer, and some have no idea what they will do. Last summer, I was fortunate enough to experience something that I had always wanted to accomplish: I volunteered as a schoolteacher in South Africa. In just over two months, I gained more global perspective and empathy than I could ever gain on campus or in a domestic workplace. The children that I met changed my life forever. If you have ever dreamed of volunteering in a foreign country, you should know that college is the prime opportunity to go through with it.

My placement was at Christian David Primary School in Muizenberg, South Africa, a town about 45 minutes outside of Cape Town. The school I worked at was across the street from Capricorn Township, a small area of land overrun with people living in tin shacks with no floors or plumbing. Before this experience, extreme poverty was something that I had only seen presented by the media. Time after time, I was shocked at the conditions around me. The kids in my class didn’t even have basic supplies. Instead of glue sticks, they shared one common bucket of glue that they would dip their fingers in. For a pencil sharpener, they used a small blade and would accidentally cut themselves very frequently. The school fed the children one small meal every day, and for many of my students I knew that their Friday meal was the last meal they would eat until school on Monday. Despite the conditions in their lives, these children were happier than any people I have ever known. They got so much joy from running around, laughing, and just being together.

While in the classroom, I worked alongside a full-time teacher, but she was more than happy to let me control the class whenever I was in. She could obviously use the time to take a rest from her draining job. I helped my students gain a better understanding of English through reading and writing lessons. Because I am a marketing major, I branched out a little and taught the kids things that I have learned at the Whitman School of Management. They loved to draw, so I would have them design advertisements for their favorite foods. More than anything, the children loved to hear about America and my way of life. They were filled with questions about American pop culture, politics, and sports. It came as no surprise that all of the girls in my class knew the lyrics to several Justin Bieber songs. Many of the students in my class were exceptionally bright but held back by their surroundings. With a better educational system and family life, I’m sure that they could be very successful in many different fields.

Most of the other volunteers were students like me, and from talking to them about their journey I found that we all agreed: college was the perfect time to do this. My friends there had positions teaching kids to surf, play soccer, or paint. Some even worked in an orphanage. While internships have their merit, and earning money is necessary for the collegiate lifestyle, the value from taking a few months to volunteer is limitless. Additionally, future employers or graduate school admissions boards will respect the decision you made to volunteer abroad. Most important, many communities both domestic and international have a very strong need for the support from even the commitment of just a few weeks.

Finding an international volunteer placement is easier than ever with more information readily available online. Organizations like Projects Abroad have a reputation for facilitating projects, although many of these groups seem to charge higher fees than other ways of obtaining a placement would cost. Your school’s career office or volunteer resource center are great places to start the information search, as well. For my work, I went through International Volunteer HeadQuarters. Personally, I found that an organization with a trustworthy background was a safe bet.

There are so many things I’ll never forget about South Africa. In my short time there I was able to not only connect with incredibly inspiring children, but also visit beautiful beaches, sample exotic foods, and even sit in the audience of a game at the World Cup. It can be an intimidating idea, especially if you are like me and have never left North America. However, I firmly believe that college is the time to embrace any desire you feel to volunteer abroad because it is an experience you will always treasure.