Anne Eichmeyer on Meaningful Volunteering

June 30th, 2010

Hello! I am thrilled to be starting with Meaningful Volunteer. I have volunteered in many capacities, before, including a volunteer stint abroad in Ghana, through another volunteer agency. Although the experience of going abroad and meeting like-minded people changed my life, there were specific criticisms I had about the volunteer agency.

Having met Malcolm through this volunteer stint and knowing that he was also frustrated with some of the same aspects, I was ecstatic to hear that Malcolm was beginning a new volunteer agency: Meaningful Volunteer! Meaningful Volunteer, with its incredible staff and important projects improves upon and exceeds what I had previously known as a volunteer abroad agency.

Here are the three main ways I feel that Meaningful Volunteer improves upon my previous experience with a volunteer agency:

1. Preparation: Other than a couple quick emails about where I’d be picked up at the airport and what items it was suggested I bring, I really did not feel prepared in going to Ghana. If I would have known ahead of time, the curriculum of the students I would encounter, I probably would have been more effective in tutoring them.
Meaningful Volunteer provides individualized care as you prepare to leave to your project abroad. Although nothing and no one can completely prepare you for the dynamic experience you are about to face, Meaningful Volunteer wants you to be successful and get what you want out of your volunteer experience, so Meaningful Volunteer believes your project starts the minute you decide you want to volunteer.

2. Corruption: The local organization I was working for had a corrupt leader; in fact, he bought (another) car with the money from the volunteers. I remember participating in a camp clean-up day and he drove by slowly, yelling through a megaphone at the volunteers and other members of the organization to keep working!
Meaningful Volunteer has a No Corruption Policy. Not only are all financial statements broken down for each volunteer to see (you will know EXACTLY where your money is going), Meaningful Volunteer doesn’t partner with local organizations that have their own policies and procedures- it hires locals to be the staff of Meaningful Volunteer. This means that first and foremost, all staff must adhere by the “No Corruption Policy.”

3. My talents not being utilized: When I volunteered in Ghana, I was never asked, “What are your talents? What makes you special and unique? What can you bring to the table?” Instead, I just tried to fit in with the already-existing projects... Although I felt a big impact was had on me as a volunteer, I’m not sure any impact was had on the people on the camp.
Meaningful Volunteer thinks you have something unique to offer. We won’t just fill spaces, we’ll ask you about interests, values, and talents, and help you align those with the opportunities of Meaningful Volunteer. You have ideas and suggestions? Great! We want to hear them.

I encourage you to challenge yourself and do something different. I believe that traveling abroad and experiencing new ideas and cultures is an amazing way to grow as an individual. I joined this organization because I have thought long and hard about the act of volunteering abroad; from experience, this act needs to be done carefully. Meaningful Volunteer prioritizes making the most out of each volunteer interaction; for your next learning opportunity, adventure, and project, consider Meaningful Volunteer!

Until next time-
Cheers!
Anne Eichmeyer