The Duality of Volunteer Travel

Two Paths, One Powerful Lesson

Written by: Taylor Edwardson

Have you ever volunteered abroad and had two completely different experiences?

If not, imagine this: one fills your heart with purpose and fulfillment, while the other leaves you with an uncomfortable sense of doubt. The story I’m about to share is deeply personal, yet it’s a common experience for many travelers who set out to make a positive impact—only to realize that the journey isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.

I. Laying the Foundation

Let me start at the beginning. Since childhood, I’ve felt a calling to help others. I knew I wanted to make a difference, but I didn’t know exactly how. Fast forward to college, I actively sought an ethical volunteer organization, particularly one that offered opportunities to travel to Africa. Then, thanks to the eerily accurate TikTok algorithm, I stumbled upon a GIVE Volunteers video. 😜

I dove into researching their programs, and within hours, I’d secured my spot for a GIVE trip to Tanzania. Their mission to support global communities, inspire growth, and achieve sustainability deeply resonated with me. What truly drew me in, though, was their unique methodology—the ABCD model, or Asset-Based Community Development. It felt like the answer to the calling I’d felt my whole life, and I was excited to embark on the volunteer experience that would allow me to fulfill it.

II. Executing the Passion

And let me tell you, the moment I stepped into Kairo village, I knew I was on the right path. Humanitarianism and responsible travel became my lifelong commitment, and I was eager to not only experience the world but make a genuine, tangible difference while doing so.

During my time there, I witnessed the profound impact of the ABCD approach and why I was so drawn to it. This method focuses on meeting communities where they are, empowering them to use their own resources and skills to create lasting, sustainable change. GIVE’s approach emphasizes supporting and building upon the community’s inherent strengths, rather than imposing outside solutions. It’s an empowering, people-centered methodology that fosters growth from within!

I had the privilege of witnessing and actively participating in this process in Kairo village. However, what I didn’t realize at the time was that this approach is the exception, not the rule. I soon realized there’s a duality in international volunteering that I hadn’t anticipated.

“My GIVE trip to Zanzibar was more than just a journey; it was a profound exploration of culture, community, and compassion. As I return home, I carry with me not only memories of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultures but also a renewed sense of purpose—to continue learning, sharing, and advocating for a more interconnected world.”

– Mia Wheeler, Tanzania Volunteer

III. A Contrasting Approach

Remember when I asked if you’ve had contrasting volunteer experiences? Here’s what I meant:

Having my first solo international volunteer experience with GIVE was a huge blessing. I saw firsthand the power of ethical, transformative change. But because of that, I dove headfirst into another volunteer opportunity, admittedly a bit naive. I hadn’t fully grasped what it would feel like to experience the stark contrast between something so deeply impactful and something that didn’t align with those same values.

Just a few months after my GIVE trip, I was packing my bags again, heading back to Tanzania to volunteer with a different humanitarian organization. It was here that I encountered a needs-based approach to volunteering. Initially, this strategy seemed well-intentioned, focusing on identifying the community’s needs, and prioritizing external resources to address them. However, I soon discovered the many challenges that lay ahead.

I quickly noticed a clear difference in how the local community was supported. Honestly, a lot of the responsibility fell heavily on me—an outsider with limited awareness of the community’s history, culture, or the best ways to empower its members. If I’m being honest, I was overwhelmed. I witnessed harsh realities that left me in tears each night, unsure of how to solve the community’s problems or alleviate their pain. I found myself surrendering to the needs-based model, feeling it was the only option available at the time. Despite my commitment, I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable knot in my gut telling me something was fundamentally wrong. I began to question everything; specifically, the approach and my role in it.

III. The Duality of Volunteer Travel

Through this volunteer experience, I learned an invaluable lesson: No matter how pure the intentions are, you cannot alter how people live—especially not by simply bringing in outside resources and returning every so often, with more. I learned that a needs-based approach leads communities to rely on the people helping them, even if they may not realize it. It creates a dynamic where volunteers and humanitarian workers are idealized, with community members coming to believe that what outsiders provide is superior to what they could achieve on their own. This reliance has a negative impact because it prevents the community from recognizing the skills, resources, and assets they already have. In truth, those very resources have the power to spark change, brick by brick—without outsiders swooping in to ‘fix’ anything.

On GIVE trips, we learn to expand our minds, open our hearts, grow our global citizenship, and empower the people we support rather than leave them dependent on us. True sustainability is self-sufficiency and continuing to empower communities to live their lives regardless of our presence. Community members can be self-reliant using the ABCD model because they don’t feel anyone is trying to change them or disrespect how they live. Instead of being told how things will be “fixed,” they are encouraged to share their goals and GIVE collaborates with community leaders to assess the resources available and create those changes from the inside out. This method helps ensure community members know their knowledge and capabilities are valued.

This is the duality of the two approaches: asset-based vs. needs-based—and why the foundational morals of the ABCD model align with what I feel to be true ethical travel.

IV. What Can We Take Away From This?

I began my solo travel journey with a passion for helping others, and despite the contrasting volunteer experiences, both shaped how I now approach this work. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and I was meant to experience both sides of volunteering to know how to serve ethically. And now, I can share that knowledge with you, inspiring you to make conscious, informed choices as you volunteer, worldwide!

If there’s one piece of advice I can give you to create real, sustainable change when you travel, it’s this: Trust your gut and stand firm in your values. When you do, everything else falls into place.

For me, that means standing behind the asset-based approach that GIVE champions—because it doesn’t just create connections; it builds a global community.