The best way as a student to become immersed in a new country’s culture and “give back” while studying abroad is to volunteer. Students benefit from volunteering while studying abroad in three ways.
The first is that students have an easier time adjusting to the new culture. Volunteering allows students to meet people outside of the university at which they are studying, showing the students what the community and life in a new country feels like.
The second is that students build connections in the community. This allows the formation of deeper friendships outside of the group of fellow study abroad students. These relationships also make it easier for a student to come back and visit the beloved country they are visiting.
The third benefit of volunteering is that it creates relationships with new organizations for students that could one day lead to a job. A student who chooses to take their time to invest in the community (whether at home or abroad, really) shows a lot about the character of that person and definitely is a person worth considering for a job down the road.
Indeed, many universities offer opportunities for their students to get involved off campus. If you want to volunteer while abroad, go to the university you are visiting and look for opportunities! You may also independently look for community service projects to volunteer in by checking out local churches, elementary and secondary schools, or nonprofit organizations!
photo credit: Anuraj Singh DCC Tutoring-20 via photopin (license)
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Sarah Derrick is a second year Honors student at Radford University. She is studying journalism and communication studies.
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