Claire Bennett - Learning Service: The essential guide to volunteering abroad

DEDICATION

We dedicate this book to our beloved co-author Zahara Heckscher (1964-2018) who died only days after we submitted the final manuscript for publication. She had been battling cancer for nearly a decade. Zahara was a social justice activist to the corecampaigning against racism as a student, fighting against apartheid in the eighties, and in recent years risking arrest by standing up to big pharma to keep cancer medications accessible. Zahara was a role model for the path we advocate for in this book; she lived by her values and was committed to lifelong learning.

Noam Chomsky: Philosopher, historian, social critic, author and activist

This is an extraordinary contribution to the conversation on what effective volunteer service looks like, and how a learning service approach enriches volunteers and communities in equal measure. This book brings together theory, practice, and the wisdom of experience to map the landscape of challenges and opportunities youll face before you leave, when you arrive, and after you return home. A manifesto for doing good well, this is an indispensable book for anyone volunteering overseas.

Elizabeth Becker: Author of Overbooked: The Exploding Business of Travel and Tourism

Learning Service is a must read for anyone considering volunteer tourism. Whether you are a would-be volunteer or an organization sending volunteer tourists abroad, this wise book gives clear warnings about the manifold and serious mistakes being made through insensitivity to outright corruption. The authors use their own years of trial and error, as well as a deep understanding of current research, to guide us to a humane and deeply-satisfying approach to helping ourselves learn through service.

Philip Goodwin: CEO of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)

Over the last few decades, international volunteering has grown in popularity, accessibility, and complexity. Learning Service explores the challenges for the sector, tackling the ethics and impact of international volunteering while simultaneously offering one simple message: if you want to help, you have to be willing to learn. It is packed with real-life stories that are in turn engaging and entertaining, as well as giving pause for thought. Learning Services core message seamlessly aligns with VSOs People First theory of change, developed through six decades of experience in this field. This is recommended reading for all those considering volunteering in a developing country.

Steve Gwenin: CEO of Global Vision International (GVI)

Learning Service is a great tool for anyone who wishes to help others, whether that be through international development, volunteering or simply helping friends or family. It has a simple message in its core, if you wish to really help, you must learning how to do it, and how not to do it! The book is accessible, and often humorous, whilst reflecting current global community learning and best practice in a complex field ethics and full of potentially unforeseen outcomes (both good and bad). It should be essential reading for all people looking to volunteer and I will be strongly recommending every volunteers journey starts with this book!

Rishi Bhandari: Volunteer Host and Educational Travel Guide

Growing up in Nepal I witnessed the upsurge of volunteer tourism, noticing the mismatch between what the volunteers thought they were doing and the actual impact of their actions. I had always wished that there was a way to call them out on this and help volunteers understand the complexity of the issues they were engaging in, and also transform what they were doing for the better. Reading this book I saw my wish had come true. I hope it lands into the hands of every single person who wants to do service to the world, as it will have a profound impact on the way they choose to do it.

Costas Christ: Editor-at-Large and Senior Advisor, National Geographic Travel

If you are among the growing number of todays travelers eager to give back in a positive way to the people and places you visit, then read this book now. The authors provide a profound understanding of what it takes to have a meaningful volunteer experience abroad with important insights that will also help guide you on a lifelong journey to make the world a better place.

Frances Moore Lapp: Author of 19 books including Diet for a Small Planet, and Co-Founder of Food First: Institute for Food and Development Policy

Volunteering overseas is life changing, and getting and giving the most from it requires an experienced partner. Learning Service is that partner, as the authors offer their combined lifetimes of accumulated knowledge. Gain insight and confidence for an adventure more rewarding than youd ever imagined.

Ayelet Waldman: Bestselling author of Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace

An illuminating approach to international volunteering, this book will help you change lives for the better, including your own. Seasoned travelers as well as first-time volunteers will find the stories presented here fascinating and thought-provoking, timely and awe-inspiring. More than just a guide to volunteering, this is a tribute to activism in all its forms.

Ben Keene: Founder of Tribewanted and Co-Lead of Escape the Citys Escape School

The idea of helping out people less well-off than you in an exotic land is an intoxicating force. Its never been easier to volunteer abroad. But only if matching good intention and wanderlust would simply guarantee sustainable development and a better, fairer world. Unfortunately its not that simple. Thank goodness for the guidance of Learning Service to help us navigate the potential and pitfalls of this brave new world.

Daniela Kon: Founder of Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA)

Everyone who has ever intended to make a change, or is in the midst of doing it should read this book, re-trace their steps, and go out re-fueled to do it better. Learning Service is both the journal and ammunition to participate in building a better world. Its the Art of War for responsible and impactful travel.

Kristin Lamoureux Visiting Professor of Hospitality and Tourism, Virginia Tech University

Learning Service fills a critical gap in the volunteering abroad literature. The authors pool their vast experience in service learning, international volunteering and tourism, together to create an essential tool for those seeking to do go while traveling. Educators and students embarking on an international volunteer experiences or study abroad need to read this book. Understanding how volunteering helps, but can also do terrible harm is the responsibility of each and every person seeking to volunteer. The authors lead the reader through the important process of preparing yourself, reviewing your options, understanding the skills you need to be successful and then the important process of pre, during and post trip preparation and processing. Too many well-intentioned volunteer experiences either have little impact or far worse, actually cause harm to the people and place the volunteer was seeking to help. Learning Service is a must-read for those seeking to help, not harm.

Rithy Thul: Founder of SmallWorld Cambodia and Frequent Volunteer Host

Volunteering is a good thing that we do for the world and for ourselves. Its especially for ourselves. One must learn how to serve, to volunteer, to help, to support. In Cambodia, we have seen a lot of wrongdoing from those who want to make profit out of volunteers money, while at the same time also taking money from the people who the volunteers intended to serve and help. Learning Service will help volunteers identify good organizations. Most importantly, this book will help people be better volunteers and good ambassadors for the future volunteers who come after them.