Does the volunteering experience really help?
When we think about living the international volunteering experience, it is normal for questions to arise:
Does it really have an impact? Wouldn’t it be better if local communities did everything by themselves? Is my contribution as a volunteer enough to make a difference?
At Cooperating Volunteers we believe it is important to talk about these topics with complete transparency, because the best way to grow is through information and reflection. The participant does help, but it is also necessary to demystify certain ideas and understand how it really works.
Myths about volunteering
- “Volunteering is just disguised tourism”
There is a belief that traveling as a volunteer is simply a different way of doing tourism. However, the difference lies in intention and action. Living this experience responsibly is not just about visiting a country, but about collaborating with local projects, accompanying development processes, and contributing time, skills, and energy in service of the community. It is up to us to choose how we spend our time in that destination.
- “It doesn’t change anything”
It is true that one person alone cannot solve all the world’s problems, but that does not mean individual action lacks value. Our motto is: “Small actions to change the world” because we believe in the strength of teamwork. Each person contributes their grain of sand: from teaching a child to read, to helping build a school, or collaborating in the conservation of a beach. Change is achieved by adding small actions that, together, have a great impact that endures over time.
- “It creates dependency”
One of the most widespread myths is that external help prevents communities from progressing on their own. The reality is that responsible volunteering projects are designed to strengthen local capacities, never to replace them. It is about working with communities, not “for” them. In fact, at Cooperating Volunteers, we completely move away from the idea of wanting to change a community. They do not need us, but together we add up.
- “Anyone can be a volunteer without preparation”
Although you do not need to be an expert, it is essential to have prior training, cultural sensitivity, and guidance. At Cooperating Volunteers, for example, we offer orientation and support so that each volunteer arrives prepared and can integrate positively into the project, as well as training and advice to know in which project you could give your 100%.
Realities of volunteering
- Impact on the community
This experience provides human resources, support, and visibility to projects that often have limited resources. In education, health, the environment, or animal protection, participants help strengthen the work of the local team, and a cultural exchange takes place that is beneficial for both sides.
- Personal growth
As mentioned earlier, the help is mutual. Participants not only offer their time, but they also gain deep learnings: they discover new cultures, develop empathy, teamwork, and resilience skills. It is an enriching exchange in both directions that also allows us to step out of our comfort zone and understand the importance of opening our eyes beyond our daily routine.
- Building international networks
Each project connects people from different countries, ages, and backgrounds. These support and collaboration networks transcend borders and generate global alliances around common values: solidarity, social justice, and respect for the environment. In addition to contacts in different parts of the world for future collaborations and joint projects.
- Promotion of responsible tourism
The responsible volunteering experience also promotes another way of traveling: more conscious, more respectful, and more connected with local reality. People not only visit a destination, but they live it from the inside, supporting the local economy and moving away from mass tourism, thus directly contributing to the community.
So… does this experience really help?
The answer is yes, when it is done responsibly, consciously, and in collaboration with local communities. It is not about “saving” or imposing solutions, but about accompanying processes, learning mutually, and joining forces to achieve sustainable impact.
At Cooperating Volunteers we believe it is an opportunity to generate real change, both in the communities that receive support and in each person’s life. Because helping also means sharing, listening, respecting, and building a better future together.
We are waiting for you around the world.
