How can you ensure that your volunteer initiatives are really making a difference? When an international crisis such as natural disasters, war, poverty and famine occurs, many people feel the need to give back globally. While volunteers’ intent is to make a difference, it is often hard to measure whether an impact is truly made.

On HearSay with Cathy Lewis, Dr. Judith Lasker, Lehigh University Sociology Professor and author of Hoping to Help: The Promises and Pitfalls of Global Health Volunteering, shares insight on some of the factors rarely thought about when pursuing global initiatives. Many volunteers are unaware if their financial contributions are truly aiding the communities they plan to serve, they lack education and experience, and may not be volunteering for the right reasons. Dr. Lasker offers alternative opportunities to help and suggests thorough research and the right questions to ask when preparing to volunteer internationally. 

 

Listen to the entire HearSay episode.

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