Volunteering has previously opened up many new places, people, and opportunities for me
Having moved back to Australia in time for 2024, I have one last piece of news for Autism Adventues Abroad before the bells ring out – I am excited to have joined a partnership with Worldpackers that will coincide with my time down under.
I’ve mentioned volunteering several times in the past on this blog, but it is something that requires a leap of faith to break into for many. For those that don’t know, Worldpackers is a community based on collaboration and honest relationships that make travel more accessible to those seeking a profound cultural experience. Through its online platform, Worldpackers connect travelers – looking to exchange their skills for accommodation – with hosts from all around the world (currently over 100 countries). It provides an excellent opportunity for those looking for slower and more immersive travel. Both of which are something I have started to value during my recent trips.
Volunteering gives you the chance to learn new skills, perspectives, and knowledge
As a solo traveler (who also happens to be autistic) I want to dispel the myth that autistic people are incapable of traveling. A lot of people don’t quite realize how diverse a disability autism is. Being a spectrum, we all have our own strengths and challenges that present themselves differently from individual to individual, and there are no 2 autistic people the same. That is why generalizations regarding aspects of the disability are often unfounded and should not be conflated. Some autistic people can travel, some cannot, and some do – and do it frequently.
Volunteering for me has personally been an excellent way to travel to destinations cheaply, meet other travelers with common interests, engage in a meaningful way with locals and their culture more closely, learn new skills, about different ways of life, and other perspectives.
Another benefit of volunteering is being able to visit and engage with an area and its people on a more profound level (and usually more cheaply too!)
One of the best ways of dealing with past bouts of depression for me has been to literally escape and get out to see previously unexplored realms of the world through my own eyes. My lowest points in life have all been attached to a time and a place, and I think it would have been very easy to fall into the mindset of everything out there is the same but, stepping outside my comfort zone and putting myself in new settings, surrounded by new cultures and people is for me the best way to ground myself in the here and now. It’s as if nothing else matters except this current moment that I have found myself in.
Having volunteered several times in different countries across the world in the past, I have encountered the good and bad and everything in-between. My personal advice to ensure a positive experience is to always add as much information as possible to your own profile, read the description of any experiences that catch your attention, check any reviews that may already be posted, and don’t be afraid to ask questions prior to making any commitments to the volunteer host. It’s only by asking as many questions as you feel you need to ask that you will be able to ascertain whether this is the right opportunity for you. If the host appears evasive or irked by your questions regarding the post, then it’s not the right opportunity for you, so I would say cut your losses and move on to another experience.
When considering which volunteer position is right for you, it is vital to closely read all available information - and ask any further questions to the host as necessary
There is every type of person out there, and you want to make sure that you will have a good relationship with your host as you will be working together for an agreed period, and you want it to be an enriching experience, not a draining one.
Worldpackers offers an incredible amount of volunteering opportunities, and you should aim to work with someone who recognizes your worth. A lot of autistic people have a profound dislike for unchallenged authority, so in my experience, the best volunteering I have done has been with hosts who treat others as equals, respect different methods of work, are not overbearing with rules, and/or are open to suggestions from the volunteers. You might wonder if such hosts really exist, and I can tell you that there is no shortage of such people on the site. It’s easy to get the gist of a host’s general demeanor based on their style of writing for the vacancy and any queries you may still have after reading the information available can be quickly pinned down by asking questions.
The ultimate goal of any experience should be to walk away happy and fulfilled
It is extremely important to know yourself – what are your individual wants, needs, desires? Think about all of these when deciding on your volunteering aspirations. Do they align? Will it allow you to step out of your comfort zone, without pushing you past your breaking point? Are there any personal triggers that might contribute towards a meltdown? These are all important questions that I ask myself before committing myself to anything that requires an expectation on my part. It is important that any experience you have is memorable for all the right reasons.
Travel and volunteering can be deeply enriching experiences, but it is important to do so within your own constraints. Being autistic can pose additional challenges, but that doesn’t mean that you should miss out. Knowing yourself and what triggers to avoid are great first steps in moving towards independent travel and branching out to volunteering.
My urge to continue my own personal development is just as insatiable as my appetite for travel. So, I am extremely excited about what my time in Australia and my partnership with Worldpackers will have in store for me, and I am now in the process of planning my future Worldpackers experiences for the coming months!
If you are interested in volunteering through Worldpackers, then be sure to sign up using this link to get $10 off your membership. For full transparency, I will receive a small commission for each person that joins using my personal link as an affiliate. You can find my affiliate disclosure at the bottom of page!
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