Hello All,
In this time of Spring 2020, when coronavirus Covid-19 is ravaging the world, physical international volunteering has taken a pause. Many countries have closed their borders to international travelers or have imposed quarantine restrictions. I read this morning that the only continent in the world that the virus hasn’t reached is Antarctica. The time will come when we can again feel safe traveling internationally but it might depend upon the development and distribution of a vaccine. In the interim, there are ways we can help now.
In this newsletter, you will find two articles that discuss how we can currently help. Other articles include a link to a newsletter that has the latest on the pandemic and international job vacancies related to it.
The balance of the pieces in this edition discuss preparing yourself for your first solo international trip, development in Bangladesh, and a volunteer whose timing of a volunteer trip to Patagonia ran into Covid-19 travel restrictions at the conclusion of his stay.
I always appreciate feedback and information that might be of interest to the readers of this newsletter. Please contact me if you have something you feel other readers would like to know.
Thank you for reading.
Happy Volunteering!
John Dwyer
9 Places to Volunteer Online
This is an excellent time to hone your skills by volunteering online. Jackie Medjivar, on DoSomething.org, writes about nine organizations that seek online volunteers. The organizations have needs for many different skills and backgrounds. Read Volunteer Online
Here’s How You Can Change Lives in A Pandemic
Nicholas Kristof is an opinion columnist for the New York Times. His columns have often focused on poverty, global health, and gender issues in the developing world. In the following column, he offers suggestions as to how we can help those in need in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read at Change Lives.
DevEX Covid-19 Newsletter
Devex is “a social enterprise and media platform for the global development community”. Among their publications is a Weekly Jobs Newsletter which lists current job vacancies in global development, health, and humanitarian relief. Their Covid-19 newsletter that includes the latest international information on the pandemic as well as a list of job vacancies related to Covid-19 issues. Read at Devex Covid-19
Choosing Volunteer Opportunities
Finding worthwhile volunteer opportunities can be difficult. Writer Sneha Mahale, in the India Times, offers some excellent suggestions to consider when choosing a volunteer opportunity. Read Voluntourism The Right Way.
Stuck in Patagonia
In what is perhaps a cautionary tale for those of us interested in international volunteering, Leonardo Casteneda, in The Mercury News, writes about a U.S. volunteer stuck in Patagonia due to Covid-19 flight restrictions. Read Stuck in Patagonia
Confidence to Travel Solo Over 50
Australian writer Nadine Cresswell-Myatt did not start traveling alone internationally until she was 61. In this article. on the website Travel Awaits, she offers some great pointers about how to prepare yourself for your first solo international trip. Read First Solo International Trip
Development in Bangladesh
I have worked on two volunteer missions in Bangladesh. I was very impressed with both the people and the non-governmental organizations of the country. Of particular note was the spirit and dedication of the women’s organizations in the villages. Writer Erik G. Jansen, in the Dhaka Times, writes about the current situation development in Bangladesh in How Bangladesh Has Changed.
