Vansh TiwariLast updated on July 21st, 2022 at 04:34 pm
Reading Time: 7 minutesIt was the first time I was visiting Goa, and alongside got an opportunity to Volunteer in Goa.
How Exciting is that!
To get a Volunteer opportunity was a job where I sent numerous messages, phone calls took place & a lot of other things occurred before somebody gave a final thumbs-up to proceed.
I will share my complete Volunteering experience in Goa with you in the article, so keep scanning the entire article thoroughly.
But Before getting an opportunity –
I have been seeking several ways to get a chance to explore Goa for a long time because, honestly speaking, I haven’t seen a beach & am fascinated to see plus explore Goa.
Yeah, you’re right. Films had created a fascination towards Goa!
You have to admit that the First timer to Goa shows a wonder to explore.
If you haven’t been to Goa yet, you must be curious!
But, if you didn’t understand, what’s Volunteering? I have tried to summarize my thoughts in the most simplistic form for you.
Table of Contents
What is Volunteering?
Volunteering is like being a helping hand to others.
The benefit provided in exchange could be like a barter system, where you will be given something in exchange for Volunteering.
It’s not always a barter system in Volunteering. But, it depends from Organization to Organization.Â
So, there are different types of Volunteering.Â
In paid Volunteering, you will be getting paid in exchange for your Volunteer work.
How to Get Started for Volunteering Work?
There’s no guided pathway to walk on the Volunteering route, but the first thing you can do is recognize your skills & interest.
Below are the points I think are necessary to get involved in Volunteering.
1. Identify Your Skills & Interest
You’ll acknowledge that individuals have the power of the skill that will keep on improving when worked upon consistently.
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For e.x I love to capture and show my perspective. But on the other hand, I can create a combination of visual and written storytelling & can present it in the form of articles like the one you are reading right now.
So, I believe the first thing even before researching Volunteering options is to identify what you can provide in exchange so that the Volunteer work falls on your behalf.
Do not identify skills only for the Volunteering purpose. Instead, the aim should be to grow in life with your skills.
2. Research for the Organization that accepts Volunteer
Furthermore, when you have identified your skills & interest.
Look for the Volunteering work that suits your skills.
The Best way is always to search on Google.
Do not bother if you haven’t found the Volunteering work that instantly suits your skills and needs.
Keep trying!
Suppose you want to Volunteer in a travel field; in that case, there is no way better than looking upon tourism boards and travel brands.
Always keep an eye on social media, particularly the new brands. More precisely, new investments like if someone had just started their hostel, etc. Essentially, the new investments require a helping hand more seriously than others.
In my case, I got to know about the Volunteering in Goa opportunity from social media instead.
The Websites like Worldpackers are an example of bringing diverse Volunteering opportunities beneath one shelter.
3. Read the Volunteering Responsibilities and Get Started
Once you find a suitable organization that fits your needs and skills, look no other way and get started.
Read the responsibilities and deliverables of the Volunteering work, and send them a mail. Then, if you want more help, get in touch with them and have a call scheduled.
Get crystal clarity of what exactly remains required from your end. Then, proceed with no confusion moving ahead.
That is how I believe one should be approaching if you’re looking to Volunteer in Goa or Volunteer overall.
Did you spot any particular words I mentioned in the above three-pointers?
Yeah!
Skills and Interest, Deciding things in life.
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Everyone must have their lines on Volunteering, and I could explain my thoughts here.
Coming back to my experience,
How I Got an Opportunity to Volunteer in Goa?
Likewise, I mentioned that I was researching online to get Volunteering work in Goa at the beginning.
One day, I thought to look upon various hostels & cafes’ social media pages that operate in Goa.
I sent several messages about whether they accept any Volunteers in Goa.
Although some haven’t responded until now, I am keeping it aside!
While searching, I saw a page where a hostel is looking for someone to Volunteer in Goa. Within an hour, I sent them a mail that I wanted to join as a Volunteer.
One Pro Tip
The demand for Volunteers in Goa increases near the New Year period. So, if you are looking to Volunteer in Goa, then it would be a good opportunity for you.
They reverted me in a few days with a question –
What can you provide us in exchange for a free stay and food for 30 days?
I promptly responded that I could click photographs and write a travel-related article without much thinking. Further, I can interact with the visitors and help if anything is needed.
They agreed!
I received a call with the list of deliverables that needed to get provided during the 30-day stay.
Deliverables Needed During Volunteering in Goa
The deliverables asked to provide are as follows –
| S.No. | List of Deliverables Needed |
|---|---|
| 1 | Give good quality and high resolution 5 pictures daily. |
| 2 | Give good quality and high resolution 1 Video daily. |
| 3 | I am creating an Atmosphere and guest interaction continuously. |
| 4 | Help at Reception whenever needed. |
| 5 | Help on a case basis. |
Let me tell you that pictures and videos could be of anything.
I can explore Goa and click the photos and videos alongside providing them with what remains required at the end of the day. The main focus of the deliverables was the pictures and videos to get sent daily.
However, making polished videos is not my forte; I need to submit short clips.
I consider Volunteering as an excellent way to strengthen your skills more regularly.
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Arrival in Goa
Upon arrival, the first place I visited was the beach, Mandrem Beach.
Recollect, I stated earlier in the article that I hadn’t seen a beach, so curiosity took me there as quickly as I arrived.
In no time, Volunteering in Goa started. That was the Solo trip to Goa, and I would spend one month.
I was required to travel within Goa for pictures and videos. Therefore, I researched the most suitable options for commuting around Goa.
Upon researching from various places,
The expense of renting a scooter was Rs.300-Rs.350 per day everywhere. Moreover, it was a peak season because it was the month of New Year’s. So, I didn’t think of renting a scooter because I felt it would cost extremely high while living in Goa for 30 days.
Alternatively, I fancy walking to the nearby places and using Goa local buses for distant travel or hitchhiking if someone allows. It eventually cut the cost of exploring Goa. At the same time, the stay and food are upon them.
You would not believe it! For a few days, I walked about 15-20km. Those days I was unfortunate to get a lift from the people, and there was no clue of buses inside the streets of Goa.
This way, I used to explore and Volunteered in Goa for 30 days and saw many places during the visit.
Those 30 days were unusual because it’s a one-time shot that may not come back.
Nonetheless, I don’t go out daily to explore and capture images. But, I try to walk out towards the evening on the beach to watch the sunset.
Some of the images I captured while exploring Goa –
And you can further go on my Instagram to see more of the shots I snapped in Goa.
Aside from Exploring and Taking Pictures as a Volunteer in Goa
To Volunteer in Goa, my responsibility includes interacting with the hostel guest.
I am not good at interacting with strangers till then. But, confidently, a lot has been improved!
However, I took it as an added opportunity to learn and make myself more confident talking to strangers.
Days passed, and some of the guest visitors became buddies.
Allow me to tell you something –
A Funny Incident with one of the Hostel Guests
One of the hostel guests arrived to attend the Sunburn festival. We sit and discuss the happenings in life.
The next day, the hostel guest has a flight to catch when the Sunburn gets over.
We were all sleeping, and he returned at approximately 3:00 a.m from Sunburn, and his flight was 10 a.m. At the same time, he slept after setting the alarm.
Guess what!
The guy woke up at around 8’sh, and it was impracticable to reach the Belgaum airport, which requires almost 3-4hrs from Goa.
We sat and discussed the other ways. Lastly, end up deciding that bus in the evening would be a likely possibility in this case.
This time, I dropped him in his hired scooter at the Panjim bus stand about 1hr before the bus departure time to remain on the safer side.
The purpose behind telling this was that I was Volunteering in Goa to explore the places just for Volunteering. But also about creating lifetime memories & learnings coming throughout.
I still have his number and laugh upon remembering that day!
That’s it from Volunteering in Goa.
Tell me by heart if I could create curiosity in you to try Volunteering at least once?
Wow what a experience it must be, that too in Goa ,???
Never been there , but someday I will
And all of your clicks were amazing ? ?
Yeah, it was once in a lifetime kind of experience.
Thanks for reading and appreciating. Until then, Goa awaits!