Venture with Impact participant, Sarah Woodard writes about her experience volunteering with the YMCA of Medellin, and working remotely for her organization Great Minds.
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Volunteer
Venturer Sara Beaumont describes her magical experience in Lisbon this past June: '“I didn’t see this experience coming. It’s the very first stamp on my passport. Looking back, I’m overwhelmed by the magic of the first days in Lisbon and the impact of the journey over the course of the month. If you’re considering a trip with VWI, then do it! It’s a perfect time.”
About a year ago, I signed on with Venture with Impact (VWI) because I found the concept to be intriguing: Take on people who can work remotely for their companies or, if they’re freelancers, for their clients. Then find an opportunity for them to do part-time volunteer work. That way, they can continue with their own work, also on a part-time basis, and keep on earning money while they’re overseas.
Venture With Impact has joined forces with Jojo’s Sanctuary to bring professional volunteers to support the Chiang Mai, Thailand nonprofit organization. Responsible travel writer, Lola Méndez of Miss Filatelista, spoke with Jojo’s Sanctuary co-founder and co-director Heather Askew to learn about the initiatives of the grassroots charity.
With a desire to grow, develop my career and travel, I applied for a professional development program with Venture with Impact in Chiang Mai, Thailand and made a step that retrospectively seems to be the brightest move I’ve recently done. I’ve had a chance to escape my well-known surroundings and become part of a great international community of travellers, digital nomads, location-independent professionals as well as Thai and Burmese inspirational leaders. I became a richer person bringing back home many emotions and learnings. These are the most remarkable ones.
We are happy to partner with Common Impact, organization that connects corporate volunteers to non-profits so that together they can solve complex community challenges. With nearly 20 years of experience in developing skills-based volunteer programs, Common Impact knows a thing or two about how to best use volunteerism for professional development and social good. Common Impact has shared with us two useful tools to unlock and maximize your skill-based volunteering experience:
Our perceptions don’t often live in reality. Sometimes they do. I had a lot of perceptions about Medellin before I traveled there, admittedly, some from watching Netflix shows. When I arrived in Medellin, Ann, from Venture with Impact, met me with a warm smile and showed me a typical Colombian hangout in my new neighborhood….
We are excited to announce a collaboration with Pivot Journeys, an organization that offers experiences for career growth and development. Both Venture with Impact and Pivot Journeys strongly believe that international travel can have a positive impact on your career, whether you are negotiating your role or trying to figure out what comes next. With that in mind, we are sharing an inspiring post by Pivot Journeys, "How Travel Fuels your Career". So pack your laptop to work and travel inspired by the world around you. Your career will thank you!
The term “volunteering” is often associated with a ‘hard work, no pay’ set up – this could not be further from the truth. While giving is at the core of volunteering, volunteers reap benefits as well. Skills-based volunteering, also know as pro bono, brings new experiences, from learning a new language to exploring new locales. More importantly, there is a whole range of skills that can be gained from this brand of volunteering, which can significantly benefit professional development.
For many, fulfillment stems from the monetary value of their career. Success is equated to the amount they’ve earned, saved and invested. Others find comfort by following their passion. When looking at the bigger picture, however, some find it essential to contribute to a cause larger then themselves.
