Packing Tips When Volunteering Overseas
Clothes, Gear and Supplies for International Volunteer Trips
Many people find as they return from a vacation that there were things that added weight to the luggage that never came out of the suitcase. When traveling today where luggage size and weight are under scrutiny, there are ways to pack to include only what is really needed and will be used during during the trip. With careful research and conversations with those with the information, it is easy to determine what to take, what to leave behind, and what to buy upon arrival.
Volunteer Placement Agency and Previous Volunteers
If volunteering for a program that has been going for some time, ask to speak to a volunteer who recently returned from the exact location. Find out if previous volunteers have left behind clothes, shoes or necessary equipment. No sense in bringing heavy or bulky items from home if they are already on site.
From your research, if clothes or necessary equipment haven’t been left behind, ask if there is an inexpensive yet reliable source close by. Find out if there is a thrift shop, a youth hostel (a potential source for sleeping bags or bed nets) or another source of equipment easy at hand to the volunteer site.
Sets of Clothes, Laundry and Communal Supplies
For a volunteer vacation between 2-4 weeks, consider three sets of work clothes and one set of nice clothes. The daily selection may be limited but there are still options if all the pieces mix and match. Bring the additional set of nicer clothes for vacation and travel days.
Will laundry service be available at the volunteer hotel or site? If not, get ready for daily hand laundry. Depending on the location, cotton t-shirts and jeans may not be the best option especially in the tropics. Fast drying pants and shirts can mean clean clothes daily in almost any climate.
Plan ahead on how to pack sharable supplies within the family or group. Cut down on multiple sets of things such as shampoo and toothpaste. Carry only a small amount of each at departure and plan to buy large sizes upon arrival. With careful planning, the consumable items should run out on the day of departure.
Luggage Weight for the Return Flight
Many volunteers bring specific clothes from home or buy them locally knowing that they will only be used at the volunteer work site. These clothes are then left behind for future volunteers. This plan opens up room in the luggage for souvenirs.
The best advice for travel, especially in today’s environment, is from Antoine de Saint-Exupery “He who would travel happily must travel light.”
The less carried from home and bought along the way, the less there is to worry about during a volunteer vacation.
Clothes, 3 Sets Work, 1 Set Nice
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