Skilled Professionals Apply Their Expertise Through Volunteer Tourism
Jun 5, 2009 | Filed Under Meeting Planning, Travel and Volunteering
It’s not too difficult to identify volunteer opportunities for individuals with specific skills around the world, but what about corporate groups? Doctors Without Borders is great if you’re doctor, but what about all you accountants and graphic designers? Is it possible to find compelling volunteering projects for skilled corporate people?
We think so!
Xola works frequently in parts of the world where adventure travelers are volunteering on community projects. Now we’re also turning our attention to how corporate travel groups might lend their professional expertise to projects.
Although these projects are not easy to find and the outreach and matchmaking can take some time, there are great rewards when appropriate projects are identified. In many countries there are enough people to dig ditches and paint schools – what’s often really lacking is professional expertise. When we bring this kind of volunteering to organizations the effects can be thrilling.
For most companies, the project management aspect of placing a group of skilled volunteers can be outsourced (to Xola! ☺). And if you’re taking it on yourself? Here’s a basic checklist of the things you should ask your corporate group to determine whether a potential project might be suitable for your team.
First, get to know your team:
– What cause or issue area is your company/group most aligned with?
– What are the main skill-sets your company as a whole offers?
– What are some of the services that you may be able to provide at no cost to a community or agency in need of those services?
– What products can your company donate and contribute to the project?
– Are there vendors or partners that your company has that could contribute product?
– What financial contributions could be allocated to the project?
– What skills can the individual volunteers contribute?
o Second Language / Translation Skills?
o Training or Teaching Skills
– Is there an area that the volunteer would feel comfortable training or educating a group of people on? For example, Computer training, How to…, Making a…
– Special areas of study/expertise? Culture, arts, sciences, history, technology
– Trade Skills? Artist, musician, wood work, welding, painting, stucco, other
Once these questions have been carefully defined, draft a one-page resume on your corporate group of volunteers and what the volunteer group is offering. This document will help recipient agencies decide if this is something they have a need for and are able to accommodate.
Also remember that group volunteer projects can sometimes be disruptive to the day-to-day operations of a non-profit trying to facilitate a service to the community. Corporate volunteer project managers can remove additional labor and potential disruptions from the project and make sure the volunteers are fulfilling a true community need.
I think we’re on the edge of something big in this industry - it’s somewhat uncharted territory but offers great promise for good. Now’s the time for us to figure out new ways we can support each other and share skills, resources, knowledge and expertise. Have you or your company participated in any skill-based volunteering? Let us know how it went and your thoughts!
– Elise Rollinson
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