Here is a list of general things and advices you should think about before you go away as a volunteer.


• Do you have good contact with the organization that you should work with ?
  ( Is there someone who is going to meet you ? )
  
  
  
• How are you going to get to the meeting place where you should meet the
  volunteer organization ? (Train, buss, car, walk, bike etc. )
  
  
  
• Have you changed currency to the local money so you have a smaller reserv
  incase you cant pay by card etc ?
  
  
  
• Have you been vaccinated ?, Remember that some vaccinations need to be administered
  over a period of time and can take a long time before you are ready to go.
  
  
  
• Can you speak the local language ? Or something else similar just alittle,
  then check a bookstore or some electric translator.
  
  
  
• Don't forget your camera/video camera and/or a travel notebook,
  it can be fun to document the trip.
  
  
  
• Do you have you a valid visa for the country you are travelling to ?
  ( Should you stay longer and make a visa run perhaps ? )
  
  
  
• Say goodbye of family,relatives and friends and try to keep contact through
  the internet if you are going to be gone a longer period
  ( Don't forget address/E-mail list of all people )
  
  
  
• Create a checklist that you can look at before you leave to
  make sure that everything is done.
  
  
  
• Something that you also need to think about is when you are going home;
  are all of the arrangements made for that ?
  
  
  
• Get yourself a guidebook to bring with you, or borrow one from the library
  before you go away and study it before you leave.
  
  
  
• Take a visit to the pharmacy in your town and ask about what kind of
  medicines they recommends that you have with you ( for headache etc. )
  
  
  
• Take copies of all your valuable papers like passport, airline tickets,
  travellers cheques, and all kinds of cards etc. Keep it in a secure place
  separate from the originals. Try also to save it on the net for easy access
  ( mail it to yourself etc. )
  
  
  
• What kind of materials do you need as a volunteer ? ( pen and paper etc. )
  it might not be necessary to bring it, but it saves some cash for
  the volunteer organization and that might be a nice thing.
  
  
  
• Look up where the nearest embassy for your country is from the
  volunteer organization you are working at.
  
  
  
• Check just before you go if the plane has any time changes.
  
  
  
• Take some sunscreen with you if you are going to a sunny country.
  It can also be a good idea to have a long-sleeved t-shirt with you.
  
  
  
• Are you a group of people or do you have a child with you? Be sure to check with your
  ( municipality, state, government ) If there is any special rules.