I am regularly reading posts and getting emails from unvaccinated young people who want to “get away” from the lockdowns in their own country by volunteering abroad. And these people are stunned that I respond with my very strongly-worded assertion that this is a horrific, selfish idea.

If you are being told by health authorities in your own country that you shouldn’t be gathering with others because it’s not safe, why do you think you should be allowed / approved of to go abroad?

The main office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA sent out this tweet at the end of March 2021:

When you’re fully vaccinated for #COVID19, you can start doing some things again, like gathering indoors w/ other fully vaccinated people. Still protect yourself & others in public places – wear a mask, stay at least 6ft apart, & avoid crowds. More: https://bit.ly/3btJaFU.

The CDC’s guidance here goes for volunteering abroad too.

For people who want to volunteer abroad now: please, please note that there is a global pandemic happening right now. As of the end of March 2021, around three million people were counted as having died from diseases associated with the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), primarily COVID19, and not only is that death toll probably a gross underestimation, it also doesn’t count the many more who have died because they could not get the medical care they needed because of how many resources have had to be diverted to treating COVID-19. In addition, there is no number regarding how many people have been permanently disabled from the disease.

Travel by non-vaccinated people spreads the disease, and spreads the variants of the disease to new areas. In short, travel by non-vaccinated people kills people. And that includes people traveling abroad to “volunteer” because, you know, lockdowns are such a bummer.

The Peace Corps is NOT sending volunteers abroad right now, both because it wants to keep volunteers safe and because it wants to keep communities abroad safe. There is no ethical, credible volunteer hosting or volunteer sending organization that is mobilizing foreign volunteers and sending them abroad for any roles except for critically-needed services, like medical care or public health education, such as through UN Volunteers.

If you are eying a company that says it is sending volunteers abroad right now to rescue turtles or build water wells or lead English classes, that company is unscrupulous and reckless and just wants your money.

And if I’m looking at candidates for a job and I see on a CV that someone went abroad with one of these companies during a global pandemic, I’m going to put that candidate aside, because no way would I consider someone so reckless for a workplace I’m in charge of.

Also see:

• How to volunteer abroad: a realistic, respectful approach.
• Transire benefaciendo: to travel along while doing good.
• Infuriating statements about volunteering.
• Nope, volunteering is not always inherently “good”.
• Paying thousands to volunteer abroad & ignoring same opportunities at home
• Want to work internationally? Get involved locally.
• What can you do in a gap year during a pandemic.
• Rethinking ethics of volunteering abroad medical missions.
• Is it really *impossible* to break into humanitarian work?
• Isn’t my good heart & desire enough to help abroad?
• Provocative campaigns against voluntourism.
• Volunteering to help your own mental health.
• In defense of skills over passion.
• Misconceptions re: VSO, UNV & Peace Corps.
• Promises & Pitfalls of Global Health Volunteering.
• Vanity Volunteering: all about the volunteer – one of the most popular blogs I’ve ever written.
• More Than Me scandal in Liberia: a lesson to all who “just want to help.”
• “But I wanted to help POOR people…”
• I’m a volunteer & you should just be GRATEFUL I’m here!

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