Why You Should Volunteer in the Philippines

Written by Leslie Martine. As someone who considers herself as a citizen of the world, Leslie often finds herself jumping from one country to another. During one of her travels, Leslie realized how she could make the most out of her every adventure by integrating volunteer works to it. Since then, Leslie has been dedicating most of her free time to writing about voluntourism and the endless benefits it offers.

In recent years, volunteering has been continuously gaining popularity — and for a lot of good reasons. Aside from providing individuals with the perfect opportunity to share their blessings and give back to the community, multiple studies have shown how acts of kindness such as these could help ease various mental health issues as well. According to an article by The Balance, volunteering can effectively help you reduce loneliness, improve your social skills, develop emotional stability, improve your self-esteem and even alleviate the symptoms of different mood disorders such as depression.

If you want to experience all these and more, there’s no better place to do so than in the Philippines. In a previous post, Frank Stovall explained how volunteering in the Philippines could be extremely satisfying. With opportunities that help you connect with others, learn new skills, and boost your confidence, the Philippines is a great destination for volunteering, but there’s more to the country:

Beautiful, natural destinations

Thanks to its wide array of pristine islands and coasts, the Philippines has understandably become synonymous with beaches. One of the Philippine beaches that has been making waves all around the world is Boracay. A little over two years ago, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte decided to temporarily close Boracay, to pave the way for various rehabilitation initiatives. Today, the world-class tourist destination is now open for local tourists. In addition to the majestic beaches, the Pearl of the Orient also boasts tons of beautiful land formations. From the hand-chiseled Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao to the cone-shaped hills that turn chocolate brown during the dry season in Bohol, the number of breathtaking natural destinations you can visit once you’re volunteering in the Philippines are endless. If you are someone who loves the great outdoors, programs that aim to preserve nature and the indigenous people that inhabit them will be right up your alley. Try checking out the programs offered by Tribes and Natures Defenders Inc.

Hospitable, friendly people

Aside from its astonishing destinations, the Philippines is also known far and wide because of the very people that live there. In his article on Hospitality Net, Jule Grass even went as far as saying that the hospitable nature of the Filipino people is probably the most compelling factor that’s driving word of mouth and attracting newcomers to this corner of the world. During your volunteer trip to the Philippines, you can expect the locals to welcome you with open arms, treat you like family and help you in whichever way they can. Culture Trip’s write-up about the things that will make you love the Philippines mentioned that the Filipinos will even ensure that your belly is always filled and that your lips are always curled upwards with their impeccable sense of humor and contagious positivity. In return, you can join programs that give basic school supplies and daily (sustainable) school-based feeding program such as the ones offered by Tarambid Inc.

Inexpensive, yet fulfilling experiences

One of the main reasons why a lot of people shy away from voluntourism activities is cost. Sometimes, the cost can be so steep that the program fees can run into thousands — causing volunteers to spend more than they normally would if they simply travel to that specific country. On top of the fees, the price of goods, activities and services in some countries can also be pretty high. If you volunteer in the Philippines, costs would be the least of your problems. An article by Coffee With A Slice Of Life detailed how the total travel expenses for two people in the Philippines could be as low as $73 per day since the average cost of accommodation is at $25.40 per day while food expenses could be a bit shy of $14.75 per day.

Now, more than ever, everyone should work hand in hand (not literally, of course) in helping those in need. Fortunately, with voluntourism programs, you and your friends can participate in meaningful activities and have some fun at the same time. Once the ongoing crisis subsides, try participating in voluntourism programs and don’t forget to check out our list of volunteer opportunities in the Philippines.

Head to our blog for more stories, tips, and volunteering inspiration! You can also check out our Volunteering Online & Around the World Facebook Group to connect with other volunteers and nonprofits! 😁

The material and information contained on the GivingWay blog is for general information purposes only. GivingWay will not be liable for any false, inaccurate, inappropriate or incomplete information presented in the GivingWay blog.