Scheduling a volunteer trip is an exciting experience. Whether you're headed to Africa to build schools or working on an organic farm in Chile, volunteer trips are a great way to travel and make a difference at the same time. Before you leave, though, there are several things you need to do. Follow this handy checklist to ensure that you're well-prepared before stepping onto that plane:

1. Think About What You Want to Gain During the Experience

Why are you volunteering? Do you want to learn a local language? Participate in a community cause? Interact with animals? Make new friends? Interact with new people in a different part of the world? There are thousands of different volunteer opportunities available today and it's important to find the one that best suits your interests. If you want to work with elephants, for example, you might not enjoy digging trenches and building schools in Sierra Leone.

When you find a cause you're interested in, make sure you know all the details about the work that will be required and what you will actually be doing. Programs that seem similar might actually be vastly different; for example volunteering to teach English may involve spending six weeks in one classroom or visiting a different classroom in a different school every day, depending upon the program. Search around, do some reading and make sure that you sign up for the program that best aligns with your volunteering desires.

2. Research, Research, Research

There are a myriad of volunteer opportunities available and, with so many options, it can be tough to know which one is right for you. Because of this, it's important to do ample research before you commit to taking off. Certain volunteer programs have specific requirements and may demand a specific set of qualifications or experiences before acceptance. Others offer a much looser format and fewer restrictions.

Additionally, many so-called "voluntourism" agencies require interested parties to work through a middleman to set up trips. Although this can be helpful for individuals who have never volunteered abroad before, some people prefer to work directly with the organization in question. Regardless of what your personal preference is, do your homework beforehand so you know exactly which approach, agency and volunteer opportunity is likely to be the best fit for you.

3. Talk to Other Volunteers

Most reputable volunteer agencies will provide interested parties with past volunteer reviews. Read these closely and see if you can get in touch with anybody that's been through the program you're interested in before. Talking to a volunteer about their experience with different organizations will help you narrow down your options and decide which ones have the potential to offer you the best opportunities. Additionally, previous volunteers will have real-world travel tips and advice about what to pack, what to look out for, what to be excited about and what to avoid.

4. Consider Housing

For people who want to fully immerse themselves in the culture of a local area, there are low-cost programs that offer housing in the form of host families or housing communities. This approach allows volunteers to hear the language, enjoy home-cooked, traditional meals, hear stories from elders in the community and interact on a daily basis with the area's locals. For people who prefer a more familiar environment, some organizations will put volunteers up in hotels and provide Western food during mealtimes.

Although there is no "right" or "wrong" form of housing during volunteer opportunities, there is likely one option that is better for you personally. Your comfort is important so take some time to look into housing options and decide which will suit you best.

5. See a Travel Doctor

One of the most important preparations you can make before volunteering abroad is to see a good travel doctor. Travel doctors specialize in caring for people traveling to foreign places and can often be found at public health departments or private travel clinics. Depending upon where in the world you're headed, you might need additional vaccines, anti-malarial medications or boosters. If you need a yellow fever vaccine, you'll need to find a registered provider to administer it. Look up providers near you using the Yellow Fever Vaccine Clinics Registry. Keep in mind that some medications need to be taken for weeks before landing in the new country, so you'll have to plan accordingly.

6. Get Travel Insurance

Even if you do see a great travel doctor, that person can't guarantee you won't get sick or injured while you're away; that's where travel insurance comes in. In addition to the risk of illness and injury, traveling abroad also presents the risk of delayed flights, lost luggage and even natural disasters. As the saying goes, hope for the best but prepare for the worst and buy yourself robust travel insurance, just in case, that offers to reimburse those sudden travel mishaps.

The Case for Volunteering Abroad

There is nothing quite so rewarding as knowing that you have made a difference and volunteering abroad is a great way to do important work, build travel memories and gain new experiences all at once. Although volunteer work can be challenging, it is a worthwhile endeavor and, if you're interested in heading overseas, this easy checklist can help you ensure you've done your homework and selected your volunteer opportunity carefully.

Related Articles

• What You Need to Know About Voluntourism
• Volunteer Your Way to a Great Trip
• What is Ecotourism All About