If you are traveling soon with Cooperating Volunteers to experience your first volunteering trip, this post is for you.
For many, packing can become a major headache… Suitcase or backpack? What should I take? Will I have enough clothes? How much footwear should I bring?
And obviously, depending on the destination you have chosen for your trip, some things will be more necessary than others.
Suitcase or backpack?
At Cooperating Volunteers, we recommend bringing a suitcase for the simple reason that you will not be moving from the location where you will be staying for the duration of your volunteering experience. We also recommend bringing a small backpack so you can pack a couple of changes of clothes if you go away during your free time or on weekends. A large backpack instead of a suitcase is also a good option if you plan to travel before or after your volunteering experience. It’s a personal decision, and neither option is wrong. Whatever is most comfortable for you will be the right choice.
Essential items
It is important to bring comfortable clothing for attending different projects and for daily activities. This clothing should be appropriate and meet certain minimum requirements. After all, you will be working with children in schools and orphanages and staying in countries with entirely different cultures and religions, which must be accepted and respected above all. It’s important to research a bit before traveling.
We recommend preparing a small first-aid kit with essentials: anti-inflammatory medication, oral rehydration salts, antiseptic… Sometimes, the body does not react as expected to certain foods or changes in routine, and although it’s likely you won’t need it, it’s better to have it than to miss it. You can consult your doctor to know what would be indispensable depending on your destination.
Mosquito repellent and sunscreen. Regardless of where you are traveling, these are two products we strongly recommend bringing. You may not have chosen a hot destination, but we still suggest using sunscreen.
A toiletry bag with your essentials: shampoo, shower gel, toothbrush, toothpaste… Everyone knows what they normally use. Can I bring my skincare routine? Of course! As we said, each person knows their products and what they need.
Comfortable footwear suitable for the destination. For example, in many parts of Africa, the ground is dusty or muddy, so we recommend proper shoes for that environment. Most importantly, they must be comfortable and not prevent you from carrying out your daily activities.
In many destinations, rain is a common occurrence, while in others, you might not see a single drop. For rainy locations, we recommend bringing a raincoat. For hotter areas, a cap or hat to protect yourself from the sun. Even if the country you’re traveling to isn’t cold, we suggest bringing a sweatshirt—some places get chilly at times, and you may also feel cold in airports or on planes.
It’s important to bring towels, as you won’t find them in the accommodations. You may also need them for excursions. There are compact towels that fold into a small size and take up minimal space—we highly recommend them to avoid overpacking.
For sleeping, we recommend long pajamas. If you’re visiting a very hot destination, choose a lightweight one.
Many of you ask us about donations because you want to bring items from home to the destination you’re visiting. At Cooperating Volunteers, we are very open to you contributing, but we recommend purchasing what is needed at the destination. Once there, you will better identify the real needs, and by buying locally, you will also contribute to the local economy. However, if you have already bought something, you can bring it without any problem.
Additionally, if you will be working with children, we recommend bringing some prepared activities or games—this will help with your initial interactions. If you need ideas, feel free to ask us for help.
And finally, for the entire Cooperating Volunteers team, there is one thing that is absolutely essential, and you must bring no matter what: an open mind, free of expectations and judgments, to fully enjoy this wonderful experience. We distance ourselves from the image of the white savior—our work at the destination is not essential, but it is very helpful. It is important to remember that although we are not indispensable, we can achieve a lot by working as a team.
You will receive all these recommendations once you have reserved your spot, so don’t worry if you have any doubts about packing or anything else. Rely on the team, who will be available to assist you 24/7, and enjoy this experience, which we know will be truly unforgettable.