Volunteer and solidarity travel: giving time abroad, responsibly

What solidarity travel covers

The term includes teaching, construction, medical support, conservation, orphan and community work, disaster relief and administrative help. Stays run from a weekend to a year or more, and some placements are unpaid while others charge a fee.

It is different from a holiday with a few charity visits. A real placement means working to a schedule, under supervision, in a local context you did not choose.

Service in Muslim tradition

Helping others, giving charity and serving the needy are central to Muslim life, and many people feel drawn to practise this through travel. Muslim charities run projects in many countries, and some offer volunteering and fundraising opportunities alongside their donation work.

Whether a particular activity counts as a good deed is a question for personal reflection and for your own scholar. What can be said in general terms is that sincerity, competence and respect for those you serve matter more than the destination.

Types of organisation

Choices fall into broad families, and each has its own strengths.

• Intergovernmental programmes: United Nations Volunteers mobilises volunteers in 150 countries and is administered by UNDP. Placements usually need specific skills.
• National platforms: France Volontaires operates under the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and lists missions for people living in France.
• Commercial operators: Projects Abroad, founded in 1992, runs volunteer and internship programmes in 25 countries, including one for people over 50.
• Faith-based charities: Muslim Hands has worked for over 30 years in more than 50 countries, with volunteer and fundraising options.
• Local associations: small groups that work with a known village or school, often through personal contacts.

How to judge whether a project is responsible

Ask who the local partner is, how long the project has operated and what happens when volunteers leave. A good organisation can explain its aims, its finances and its safeguarding rules without hesitation.

Be careful with projects that charge high fees without saying what they cover, that put unskilled volunteers into roles such as teaching or medical care without supervision, or that rely on short visits to orphanages. Child protection should be a hard requirement. Ask for references from former volunteers and check them.

Prayer, dress and food on placement

Tell the organisation about your needs before applying. Prayer times are usually manageable if you ask for a short break and a quiet room; the same goes for Friday prayer where it applies. Hosts in Muslim-majority countries are likely to be accommodating, while elsewhere it helps to propose a clear arrangement early.

Dress codes depend on the country and the work. Modest, practical clothing is appropriate in most placements. For food, ask about the meals provided and how halal requirements can be met. If you cook for yourself, check where you can buy ingredients.

Women, families and older volunteers

Women travelling alone should ask about accommodation arrangements, transport at night and the gender balance of the team, and they may prefer a placement with a Muslim host family or an organisation of their own community. Some programmes accept families or couples together.

Older volunteers are welcome in many programmes. Projects Abroad, for example, lists a programme for people over 50. Retirees often bring valuable skills in teaching, administration or health and may find short, focused placements better than long ones.

Money, insurance and safety

Budget for flights, fees, insurance, vaccinations, visas and local costs. Ask what the fee includes, and whether any portion goes to the local partner. Read the cancellation terms and take health and travel insurance that covers your destination and the type of work.

Before leaving, read the official travel advice of your own government and the local laws, keep copies of documents and share your itinerary with family. Know the process for reporting a problem during the placement.

A step-by-step plan

Define your skills and the time you can give. Shortlist three organisations, ask the questions above, speak with a former volunteer and read the contract. Arrange visa, insurance and vaccinations early.

Agree your prayer and food arrangements in writing, prepare a short briefing on the local culture and set realistic goals. After the placement, share what you learned and consider whether to continue supporting the project.