How to Be an Amazing Volunteer Overseas: Rules of the Road, Stories from the Field

by Susan E. Gibson

Overview

Do you want to travel and make a positive impact on the world? This book is designed for you.

How to Be an Amazing Volunteer Overseas will give you essential advice on how to decide what to do and where to go. It will help you to prepare for life in a new country. And most importantly, it will set you up to get the most out of your experience by learning from local leaders and contributing in a meaningful way.

Full of practical tips and personal stories from the author’s experience having worked and volunteered in 70 countries, How to Be an Amazing Volunteer has been endorsed by leaders in the international development community, and is a must-read as borders begin to open up post-pandemic, and as purpose-driven Gen-Zers around the world look to broaden their horizons while making a positive impact.

Net proceeds from book sales will go to support education programs in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya and a First Nations community in Canada.

“People who change the world are not necessarily ‘special’ people. They are everyday people who do not hesitate to respond to outside signals. Volunteering is about discovering what you can do and about getting to a point to take your own first steps. This book chronicles Susan’s journey to discover herself – you’ll enjoy being a co-traveller with her.” — Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2006

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781988025698
Publisher:	Barlow Publishing
Publication date:	10/19/2021
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Susan Gibson has been working and volunteering in the non-profit world for more than 35 years in 70 countries for NGOs, UN agencies, and donor governments. She is a philanthropist actively engaged in NGOs in areas of refugees, human rights, and education for girls. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and teenage son. 

Editorial Reviews

"Susan’s depth and breadth of real-world experience in overseas work is unmatched. While the book ostensibly is about volunteering, it’s really about international assistance, even the paid kind. Every Peace Corps volunteer, every international aid worker, manager, and executive of any kind — from NGO CEOs to World Bank experts — should devour How To Be An Amazing Overseas Volunteer and assign it to their teams. It will be a text in my courses. A game changer!” — Kim Wilson, Sr. Lecturer, Fletcher School, Tufts University

“Invaluable guidance for anyone volunteering locally or internationally. The list of dos and don’ts paired with stories is a great way to share important experience—authentic, not theoretical.”—Wanjiku Kibui,  Finance and Operations Consultant

“Susan is very frank and gives direct advice. The book is a lesson on understanding humans, on dignity, and on how to treat people that you believe need your help. The depth of her truth forces the reader to reflect on their intentions. You have represented us in the developing world very well.” —Sidee Dlamini, Director of Stakeholder Management, African Leadership University

"This is an amazing compilation of information, personal anecdotes, real life lessons, and fun-to-read stories. You have demonstrated that you have to know your privilege to truly set yourself in a position of service to others; that it is working alongside communities and individuals who ultimately teach you more than you could ever teach them.” — Elissa McCarter-Borde, CEO, Vitas Group

"Whilst COVID may have delayed some plans for potential volunteers, the human urge to explore and contribute will still be there once the pandemic is over! I certainly plan to reference it when I talk to new potential volunteers and indeed staff who want to take first assignments abroad.” —Sanj Srikanthan, CEO, Shelter Box

"I really appreciated the overall tone of respect and deference to the knowledge, experiences, priorities and needs of organizations and/or peoples of the countries that we set out to "help". It is so important to take our cues from them and to position ourselves "in service" to people and communities. Despite today's "wokeness", the international aid industry still suffers from "first worldism" where "developed" countries still play the role of experts advising the "developing" world.” — Ghada Jiha, Regional Gender Expert - Middle East, UN World Tourism Organization

"The opportunity to volunteer with global organizations is a privilege to not only give of oneself, but to learn from local leadership and respect the wisdom to be obtained.” —Shelly Whitman, Executive Director, The Dallaire Institute

From the Publisher

2021-10-15
A guide to volunteering in other countries that offers welcome touches of realism along with idealism.

In her debut, Gibson, a longtime microfinance consultant who’s served on numerous boards of nongovernmental organizations, offers the reader a book that’s part memoir and part volunteering primer. The book begins with an introduction by Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Prize–winning economist who developed the system of microfinancing; Gibson first began volunteering in this field, which led to a career in international development. The author draws on her extensive experience, offering anecdotes, letters, and diary excerpts to show readers how they may have a meaningful and safe experience working overseas for nonprofits. This book is full of everyday advice for international volunteers, although some of it is fairly obvious, such as dressing for the weather, showing respect for local mores, and being careful regarding water and uncooked food. In fact, the advice on eating locally may well be discouraging to vegetarians, vegans, or people with other dietary needs. However, there are other bits of advice that a reader may not have considered, such as simply listening to a favorite song for easy self-care. The book is also fully up to date as far as Covid-19 safety considerations. Although this work is strongly based on the author’s experience with microfinancing, this book will be useful for would-be workers in many other areas of international development, and it’s full of suggestions for how to get your foot in the door of such organizations. Gibson offers especially good advice about doing homework on NGOs to avoid a mismatch between oneself and their missions. Overall, the book is skillfully organized with chapter summations and plenty of links to other resources.

A useful and anecdotal manual for those who wish to work for international nonprofits.

Kirkus Reviews

11/08/2021

“Volunteering is about connecting to people, being of service,” writes Gibson in this straightforward debut. Springboarding from her own extensive volunteer experience, including working in over 40 countries across the world, she walks readers through the step-by-step process of discovering volunteer opportunities that are “uplifting, rewarding, and life-changing,” focusing on partnering with NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) to deliver valuable assistance where it’s needed most. Gibson includes snapshots of her personal diary entries and family communication for levity as she organizes her clear-eyed advice around four main steps: “deciding to go on a volunteer trip, preparing to travel, adapting to a new country, and readjusting to life back home.”

Readers will appreciate Gibson’s succinct, easy-to-follow guidance. Her insights include a rundown of reliable methods of determining the legitimacy of NGOs and volunteer sites, a breakdown of fees volunteers should be prepared to pay for the experience, and different medical needs that can arise when traveling outside your country of origin. She emphasizes the importance of anticipating culture shock and offers advice on how to combat it, and readers will enjoy the travel stories she shares—such as her refusal to accept one flight’s offer of a full bottle of vodka with her plane ticket, or a colleague’s mishap with culturally inappropriate clothing.

Throughout this succinct guide, Gibson emphasizes the remarkable opportunities that volunteering overseas can provide, encouraging readers to “do with others, not for others.” She includes touching memories of helping one woman realize her lifelong dream of learning to write her own name, alongside more emotional recollections of impacting lives awash with trauma. Gibson’s packing lists and checklists for safety and common language phrases to learn are the icing on the cake. Anyone who enjoys travel and wants to add value to others’ lives will find this a satisfying place to start.

Takeaway: A highly practical guide that simplifies what it takes to volunteer abroad.

Great for fans of: William MacAskill’s Doing Good Better, David Nott’s War Doctor, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s A Path Appears.

Production grades Cover: B Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: A

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