Volunteering in Bolivia: Why You Should Not Pay to Volunteer

My brother-in-law recently sent out an article that lays out quite nicely why you should not pay to volunteer in South America.  The writer discusses a number of problems with pay-to-play volunteer programs, including the following:

Volunteering in South America for Free

Photo Credit: Twid

Anyone planning to volunteer in South America already knows that the word "volunteer" is thrown around quite carelessly on a number of websites.  Instead of "volunteers needed," the writers of these websites mean to say "people with money needed to give us their money." Money-hunting organizations looking for tourists who want to feel good about themselves abound, and unfortunately, altogether too many well-wishing idealists are taken in by their programs. Rest assured, it is not necessary to pay to volunteer in South America. Let me repeat that just to be sure. You do not need to pay to volunteer! It is absolutely possible to volunteer in South America for free.