| To go through a company or not: that is the question, | | | | Websites like offer a resource for those who are |
| whether it's better to throw on a rucksack and go it | | | | qualified and looking for work. While it's more of a |
| alone or book through a company! The tricky thing is | | | | challenge to do it on your own you can take a large |
| there are no easy answers; rather it's a matter of | | | | chunk of the risk out of it by using an organisation. If |
| taste and a question of what you want to do with | | | | you get qualified with a company they will often include |
| your trip. | | | | a guaranteed placement at the end of the course. In a |
| First of all it's important to make sure that any | | | | competitive market its best to take advantage of their |
| company you consider is a responsible travel | | | | knowledge. Access to contacts all over the world is |
| company that has at its heart a commitment to ethical | | | | something new teachers appreciate, at least while |
| travel. It's important to build a sustainable form of travel | | | | they find their feet. |
| that can benefit everyone. Such is the bad press that | | | | If I use a company will I still get an adventure? |
| mainstream tourism gets; often many companies get | | | | If you arrange volunteering or teaching through a |
| tarred with the same brush. In fact there are many out | | | | company it won't be like your typical package holiday, |
| there who act responsibly and have a really positive | | | | but that's why you're doing it! It's true that the company |
| contribution to make, finding the right one just means | | | | should make sure that the project or school is safe but |
| making your choice carefully. | | | | after that you'll be free to set off and explore. Aside |
| If you're volunteering | | | | from the pre-departure information and the initial |
| If you decide to spend your time away volunteering | | | | introduction on your arrival you'll probably forget about |
| then there are a few advantages to organising it | | | | them altogether unless you have any problems, or |
| through a company. Firstly the quality and safety of | | | | remember to send them a postcard! Getting a little |
| the projects is guaranteed; most good companies only | | | | inside information on a country actually gives you the |
| work with projects that do real benefit to the | | | | tools to have more of an adventure. You'll have the |
| community as the projects were set up by the | | | | confidence and knowledge to explore further. |
| communities themselves. Secondly you're certain to be | | | | Travelling independently |
| safe while you're away as there will normally be some | | | | If your travel dreams are more about setting off and |
| kind of support network to help you should you need it | | | | seeing the sights than volunteering or teaching then |
| during your trip. Volunteering independently and getting | | | | there is less reason to travel through a company. |
| involved with projects yourself may add a little | | | | Indeed, there is no reason at all. You can travel much |
| excitement to the plane journey but it is something of | | | | more cheaply by booking flights independently, avoiding |
| a gamble. | | | | package deals and sorting your own food and |
| If you're teaching English | | | | accommodation out. For truly independent travel all you |
| You can get qualified and find TEFL jobs | | | | really need is a good guide book, and we highly |
| independently, and one of the joys of teaching abroad | | | | recommend the Lonely Planet series. Happy travelling! |
| is the sense of freedom and adventure it gives you. | | | | |