Sustainability in international  volunteering

In this article, we will examine the roles of international volunteers in sustainable development projects – or programmes. What is sustainability and does volunteerism even have a role to play?

Sustainability – a word with growing power and meaning which is relevant to our daily lives. For many of us, “sustainability” makes us think about how we can have our own needs met, without compromising the ability of future generations to have their needs met. This goes for natural resources, as well as social and economic resources.

 

However, the word “sustainability” also reflects the ability to continue a defined behaviour indefinitely, because it makes sure that all factors involved – environmental, social, and economic – are in balance.

 

What is “sustainable development”?

Sustainability is the ability of an organisation to continue its mission or programme far into the future. All projects must end eventually, but the impact of the project should be substantial, positive, equitable and long-lived.  For this to happen, many different aspects need to be considered:

The projects need to be long-term and therefore have leaders who are personally invested and dedicated to making it happen, even when the going gets tough. In fact, it is better to talk about “programmes” rather than “projects”. Programmes are long-term, projects are short-term.

The development programme needs to be based on the needs of a community that has knowledge about the problem and who also understands what solutions would work. Also, for a community to function well, the rights of minorities and individual persons need to be secured.

The programme needs to take the environmental limitations and possibilities into account. One cannot negotiate with nature. We must implement solutions that will work together with nature and not in contradiction to it.

In short, a sustainable development project or programme needs to be in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals as set out by the United Nations.

How can international volunteers ensure the sustainability of a project?

You cannot. But you can look for projects that bear the hallmarks of a sustainable project.

As stated above, you can choose to volunteer with an organisation which has long-term aims and has programmes that are deeply rooted in the communities they set out to serve.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that you, as an international volunteer, need to be there for the long haul. It simply means that you are there for a limited time to join in with already functioning activities or programmes. When you, as an international volunteer, leave – the programme activities go on as before.

Long-term and short-term roles

Defining the correct role for you as an international volunteer is key. How you think about your role and how you talk about it also matters.

For instance, if you are volunteering at an Early Childhood Development Centre that provides day-care and activities for young children, they already have long-term caregivers and kindergarten teachers who form relationships with the children and whose job it is to secure their development.

It wouldn’t be profitable for the children to have short-term volunteers who come and go in an endless stream to play with them. In fact, it would most probably be detrimental to the children’s emotional development. Being abandoned time and again is certainly not what children need.

So, if caregivers who are indeed there for the long haul take care of the social and educational needs of the children – what is then your role as an international volunteer? What can you do?

A positive addition

As an international volunteer, you can support the Educational Development Centres by doing tasks that the busy caregivers cannot manage.  For example, you could contribute by building a playground with local materials, together with the parents and the local community. That would be a contribution to the programme that would be “on top” of what the caregivers can manage in their busy daily life, a positive addition.

However, it is important to note that contributing with a “positive addition” as an international volunteer, doesn’t mean implementing some random idea that you happen to get. Most kindergarten teachers are polite and accommodating of your needs, so if you suggest something like “let’s make a library!” as an international volunteer, you might not experience a lot of resistance, on the contrary. Most kindergarten leaders would probably let you make that library, but in reality, perhaps a better “positive addition” would be something else. A shaded area, a new latrine or a vegetable patch.

Don’t make assumptions

So – don’t assume that you know what the needs of a programme are. Be patient and let things settle before you hurl ideas and good intentions at your hosting NGO. Listen and accept that you don’t necessarily know anything about the real needs of the project in the beginning.

In short: The presence of an international volunteer should be a positive addition to an already functioning long-term programme that will continue to succeed after they have left.

Do what is needed, based on what solutions your hosting NGO has identified.

Some things to think about

It is important to address local workforce gaps when you embark on a volunteer project and be extra careful not to affect the local economy negatively. It sounds drastic, but think about it: If you go to a foreign country and you start doing volunteer work in areas where members of the community could be employed – are you doing good or bad? Would it be more sustainable for the community if the local bricklayer did the job instead of you?

Responsible volunteers aim to assist communities that are already organising themselves to take action in order to improve certain conditions. This type of development is sustainable because the leadership is anchored in the community it serves.

Identifying needs and planning are important aspects to consider before you embark on new project activities. Consult the local community and work in cooperation with them to address issues which they have a hard time solving on their own. Remember, you can add a valuable dimension on top of the long-haul efforts of the sustainable development programme.

Measuring success

The same goes for establishing goals and measuring success – if you do not involve the community how can you be sure what you are focusing on will have any benefit for them? It is easy to get lost in creating goals before you are familiar with the situation and reality.

Avoid measuring your effectiveness and satisfaction by false parameters. Again, it is the long-term effects of the programme that will determine whether it is sustainable or not. Accept that your contribution might be “a drop in the ocean” – and find other ways to measure success.

Sustainability Volunteering: People to People

In the end, sustainability in development work and international volunteering is not about anyone’s individual fulfilment and personal success. It is about long-term, step-by-step, communal efforts that over time will bring positive and lasting results.

Enjoy the journey with all its ups and downs and cherish the experiences you get along the way – it’s an exciting and rewarding life to learn and to teach, human to human, people to people.

What is the Volunteer for Change programme?

Watch the explainer: