Would you prefer to volunteer in a group, or would you be happy volunteering as an individual for an organisation that might not have other volunteers there at the same time? Think carefully about how you would feel about having to navigate a new place and culture on your own.   If you think this might be tough for you then look at projects where you are guaranteed to be volunteering in a group. 

This is a really important one as it might make or break your trip! Some things to think about are:

• Would you prefer to be in a rural or an urban setting? An urban setting in some countries might be really noisy and crowded but a rural location has the potential to feel quite isolated.
• How far from home are you happy to be? 
• Have you travelled before or had previous experience of volunteering abroad? If so, remember that each volunteering opportunity will be unique, and different regions / countries / projects will offer different experiences. 
• Have you travelled in the region you are considering before or is it all new?
• How do you react to cultures which are very different to your own? Poverty might be very visible – would this upset you?

Try and talk to people who have visited the country you are considering before you commit.  They will be able to give you some valuable insights regarding what it is really like, which might be quite different to the brochure-type pictures you see on the trip adverts.

It’s really important that you feel your volunteering has a positive impact, but you also need to be realistic about what you can achieve in a relatively short space of time! Some things to think about are:

• Have you got experience of volunteering for this cause in the UK? It is recommended to get some experience volunteering on these issues in the UK/ your home country before volunteering abroad.  
• What are your expectations of the project, are they well matched to the organisation’s expectations and the experiences of previous volunteers?  Ask the organisation if you can talk to previous volunteers to find out about their experience.
• Have you thought about how the resources available for volunteers and activities might be limited and how you would handle this? For example, if you are volunteering supporting teaching English, there may be less resources, staffing, and lesson plans than you might be used to in the UK or your home country. Are you good at adapting or would this stress you out?

Talk to previous volunteers / read their blogs to find out more about what it will be like, remembering that each person's volunteering experience is unique.

What kind of accommodation will you be comfortable living in? This can vary massively and could include a guest house for volunteers, a shared dorm, a homestay with a family, a local hotel or even camping in the jungle!

Meal arrangements will also differ. Will you be happy to eat different foods that you aren’t used to or would you prefer to cook for yourself? Access to international food will differ according to country but remember that rural areas might have less access than cities as well.

How would you cope with limited internet access or Wi-Fi? If you can’t cope without your daily dose of social media you need to take this into account in the choices you make!

It’s surprising how much jet lag, coping with different weather, language barriers, unfamiliar food, and navigating a different culture can impact our mood and mental health.  Think honestly about your own personal resilience when choosing a trip and where you think your boundaries lie.  What things might act as triggers for you and your own mental health?  Are you good at handling challenges potentially on your own, or do you know you can feel overwhelmed in these situations?  

If you have any pre-existing health conditions or wellbeing issues, think carefully about how volunteering abroad might impact on these and whether it is appropriate to travel.  If you do choose to apply to volunteer with pre-existing conditions or wellbeing issues you should inform the organisation as early as possible, and a specific risk assessment should be undertaken. 

• Prior health / mental health conditions can be affected by conditions overseas and can flare up unexpectedly. Speak to your GP / counsellor / appropriate support staff for advice before choosing a project. 
• Consider how you will take medication abroad to your destination. Is the medication restricted in any way? Is it available in-country in case it is lost or stolen? 
• Consider how you will access any support services you might need (i.e., counselling) whilst overseas. 
• You should also ensure that your travel insurance will cover any pre-existing conditions.

Regardless of whether or not you have pre-existing health conditions you should think carefully about what you usually do to keep yourself healthy, well, and safe. Then consider what might be different whilst you are abroad in the country that you are travelling to and how to adapt your strategies for staying healthy, well and safe.  For example, if you usually run to keep active or speak to a friend online every day to support your mental health, what would you do if it is not possible to do those things? What could you do instead? Check with the organisation or previous volunteers to see what is realistic.