Volunteering for the next opportunity

Uncertainty about what to do after school is quite common.

Many, for whom the answer is a gap year, struggle to pinpoint exactly what to do during that time.

For Matilda Ibegbulem, the answer is simple: volunteering. Ibegbulem, originally from Germany, started volunteering after she finished high school through a programme called Weltwärts – Worldwards in English.

Weltwärts offers volunteering opportunities for German residents in countries all over the world, including in Africa, Asia, South America, Oceania and Eastern Europe. The programme offers the inverse as well with their South to North initiative, where residents from countries on these continents have the opportunity to volunteer in Germany.

It gives volunteers the chance to travel the world and experience new cultures. A wealth of opportunities opens up for people between the ages of 18 and 29 who are willing to embark on this adventure.

Weltwärts offers volunteer opportunities in many different fields, mostly in the social field or the environmental field. Ibegbulem chose to volunteer at Omaruru Children's Haven, where she helps with the education of the kids, some of whom were removed from their families for their own safety.



Rewarding experience

She isn't just acting as a tutor – she and other volunteers take the kids to school, help them with homework, and participate in creative activities such as colouring, crafts and writing.

"It has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me," Ibegbulem says. "I would recommend this programme to everyone; just make sure you are prepared."

Waltwärts supports the volunteers financially by covering the cost of accommodation and travel. Money for meals is provided, as is a monthly allowance that the volunteer can use without many restrictions.

Of course, it is not only Weltwärts that offers these types of opportunities. There are ample chances for a life-changing experience for those willing to volunteer for it.