Mar 15 2010

The Underground Guide to International Volunteering

Published by Kirsty

The Underground Guide to International VolunteeringIt’s finally done! I have been working for months on The Underground Guide to International Volunteering and I’m excited to finally announce its release. The 63-page ebook is aimed at introducing travellers to the wonders of volunteering abroad and to help them break away from the usual backpacker trail, get involved with local communities around the world and make a difference in people’s lives in a variety of ways.

When I first started travelling I thought international volunteering was only possible for people who either had specific skills that were in demand or for people willing to pay thousands of dollars to a company to find them a placement. Since hitting the road I have seen how easy it actually is to volunteer and there are plenty of places that would love an extra set of hands… you just need to find them.

I want to share with you what I know about international volunteering in the hopes that you gain the confidence and knowledge you need to search out your own amazing experiences that go beyond beaches and the backpacker trail.

The ebook includes:

  • Help deciding whether international volunteering is a good fit for you.
  • Advice on how to choose a volunteering experience that is right for you.
  • Information on different types of volunteering from conservation to development to disaster relief.
  • Practical information on visas, travel insurance, packing, health and hygiene, living conditions and communication.
  • Nine interviews with international volunteers sharing their experiences, giving advice and offering inspiration.
  • Tips for how to find free and cheap volunteering placements including website reviews that will help with your search.
  • A list of volunteering opportunities worldwide that are free or low-cost with organizations I trust.
  • Fee-based volunteering: Why I would never do it but why it is right for some people.
  • A list of fee-based volunteering companies along with information on whether they donate part of their fee to the actual project.
  • Free updates forever as I discover new free and cheap volunteering opportunities and make other updates.
  • Insight and first-hand stories and advice from an experienced international volunteer - that’s me!

That’s a lot of stuff crammed in there and, for only $14, The Underground Guide to International Volunteering is a bargain. I am confident that, after reading this ebook, you will be armed with the information and confidence you need to turn a typical backpacking trip into the experience of a lifetime through volunteering.

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Ask yourself these questions:

  • Are you sick of just passing though places feeling like a walking dollar sign to the locals?
  • Do you want to get really involved in local communities as you travel?
  • Are you sure you want to volunteer but unable to find placements that don’t cost hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars?
  • Do you want to break up your travels with some hard, rewarding work that helps people in need?
  • Do you want to build friendships with people from all walks of life from all over the world?
  • Do you want to travel more cheaply?
  • Do you want to learn new skills and do work you might never have had a chance to do at home?
  • Do you want to practice a new language with locals who are eager to help?
  • Do you want to go beyond beaches and the backpacker trail and really get to know the country you are visiting?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions then my ebook The Underground Guide to International Volunteering was made for you.

Pricing

As if you needed any more reasons to buy this ebook, I will be donating 50% of the $14 price to my favourite volunteering organization, Hands On Disaster Response. That’s $7 of every ebook sale that heads directly to them to help with disaster relief efforts all around the world. I know first-hand how great the work they do is and I want to give back to them since I have gotten so much out of my experiences working with them in Bangladesh, Haiti and Indonesia.

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Ebook Reviews

I would love to know what you think of the ebook so please post a comment below once you’ve read it. Enjoy!

62 Responses to “The Underground Guide to International Volunteering”

  1. # Davidon 15 Mar 2010 at 4:44 am

    Good job Kirsty. This is info that a lot of people have been waiting for.

    - David [not a walking ATM]

  2. # Erinon 15 Mar 2010 at 4:45 am

    Congratulations Kirsty on finishing the ebook! It sounds fantastic and I look forward to reading it. I’m sure many people will find this so useful.

  3. # Gary Arndton 15 Mar 2010 at 5:08 am

    Do you have an affiliate program?

  4. # Kirstyon 15 Mar 2010 at 5:21 am

    @gary Nope, no affiliate program. Well, I do have one affiliate but they’re Hands On, the folks I am donating 50% of the proceeds to. Once I reach my goal of raising $10,000 which may or may not take an eternity, I will probably introduce an affiliate program.

  5. # Taraon 15 Mar 2010 at 6:26 am

    YAYYYYYYYYYY!!! I’m really proud of you, Kirsticles.

  6. # dee thangon 15 Mar 2010 at 8:09 am

    Way to go girl, I’m so proud of you!

  7. # Mikeon 15 Mar 2010 at 6:06 pm

    I am looking forward to reading it. I love the title and the cover design. Did you do the artwork? Looks very cool.

  8. # Steveon 15 Mar 2010 at 7:43 pm

    Kirsty,

    I want to congratulate you on an ebook very well done. I haven’t read the whole book yet, but so far it’s worth the price just to get a better idea of what you’ve been doing all this time. This is a worthwhile cause and I thank you for sharing your experiences. I hope to do some volunteer work in the future. Now back to the book…

  9. # Fish Careon 16 Mar 2010 at 4:09 am

    I just bought & downloaded the book… Wow Tons of great content set out in a professional way, without doubt the best looking eBook I have ever purchased. Based on the first quarter of the book i expect to find tons of great info thanks!

  10. # Working Nomadon 16 Mar 2010 at 5:06 am

    Love the cover design, did you do that yourself? Well done.

  11. # Buy “The Underground Guide to International Volunteering” and Support HODR in the process « Philip Kiracofe · Adventure Capitaliston 16 Mar 2010 at 11:42 am

    […] Nerdy Nomad » The Underground Guide to International Volunteering. […]

  12. # Tobyon 16 Mar 2010 at 9:44 pm

    Nive work Kirsty, your link was sent over to me by an old uni acquantance, bizarre!!

  13. # Scribetrotteron 17 Mar 2010 at 9:50 am

    Hi Kirsty, just Tweeted this and posted on my fB page… now off to buy!

  14. # Daveon 17 Mar 2010 at 4:54 pm

    Congrats on the release Kirsty. I’ll be sure to buy a copy and have it reviewed on Go Backpacking!

  15. # Scribetrotteron 17 Mar 2010 at 10:42 pm

    I just bought and read your book - it’s an absolutely excellent resource for anyone thinking of volunteering, anywhere. I’ll be sure to review it on Women on the Road, and will link to it from my volunteering pages. Well done!

  16. # Ericon 21 Mar 2010 at 7:15 pm

    I have really been looking forward to this, and it looks really good. Great job.

  17. # Jacalynon 22 Mar 2010 at 10:52 am

    Inspiring and lovely! Just like you.

  18. # Guitars, Cows, and Pollution OH MY! (Live From India)on 25 Mar 2010 at 3:16 am

    […] Unrelated, but Kirsty over at NerdyNomad.com just released an awesome eBook called The Underground Guide To International Volunteering. I named it. ;) And yes, I bought a copy as well ($14). If you’re interested in International volunteering this has a lot of great info from someone who’s been doing it for years: http://www.nerdynomad.com/volunteering (not an affiliate link) – $7 from every sale goes to Hands On Disaster Response. Kirsty is currently in Haiti volunteering with HODR, helping clean up after the massive earthquakes. […]

  19. # 10 Travel Bloggers Who Inspired Uson 25 Mar 2010 at 8:02 am

    […] […]

  20. # Nomadic Chickon 02 Apr 2010 at 10:09 pm

    Hey Kirsty, congrats on the ebook. I just sent you an email about it! Let me know if you don’t get it. Cheers!

  21. # Jack Ferrebeeon 04 Apr 2010 at 3:13 pm

    Hi Kirsty,

    I just finished reading “The Underground Guide to International Volunteering.” Well done. It is an excellent guide for anyone thinking of volunteering abroad. I hope it succeeds in getting wide distribution. Hope to see you in Haiti, perhaps by the end of May if my recovery from fractured leg continues to improve as it has over the past several weeks.

  22. # The Ultimate Guide to Volunteering Abroad | JetSetCitizen.comon 07 Apr 2010 at 1:07 pm

    […] Decade long traveler, Kirsty Henderson of NerdyNomad.com has written an inexpensive guide that is bound to save you dozens of hours of online searching and screening of numerous volunteering opportunities around the world. The ebook, “The Underground Guide to International Volunteering” is only $14 and Kirsty is donating half of the proceeds to Hands On Disaster Response. […]

  23. # Guida al volontariato internazionale | italiansinfugaon 08 Apr 2010 at 3:00 am

    […] Kristy adesso ha scritto una ‘Guida al volontariato internazionale‘ (in inglese) con l’intenzione di aiutare tramite la sua esperienza chi sta pensando di seguire le sue orme. […]

  24. # PFCoach » The Underground Guide to International Volunteering (Review)on 08 Apr 2010 at 6:49 am

    […] The Underground Guide to International Volunteering will help you discover what sort of volunteer you are, what you might like to do, and where to find the volunteer opportunities that will make you sing. […]

  25. # Gregon 08 Apr 2010 at 5:39 pm

    Great timing on the e-book…there was even another 7.8 quake in Sumatra yesterday. Best of luck and congrats!

    Greg

  26. # Terenceon 08 Apr 2010 at 7:51 pm

    Great stuff about the e-book. Will be signing up for one real soon!

    Your website truly inspire people to not only travel, but to do good.

    -Terence (Malaysia)
    -www.ecoteer.com (a volunteering abroad website)

  27. # Nerdy Nomad » The Underground Guide to International Volunteering is Finally Here!on 09 Apr 2010 at 8:02 am

    […] HomeVolunteering Ebook99 ThingsAboutMap of My TravelsLinks […]

  28. # The Underground Guide to International Volunteering (Review) | A Girl’s Guide to Travel, Studying, Working, and Volunteering Abroadon 09 Apr 2010 at 3:22 pm

    […] Overall, if you’re at all interested in volunteering abroad, this ebook is an excellent resource. It condenses hours worth of research into one nifty little package of useful information.  You can download the book from the Nerdy Nomad website. […]

  29. # Interested in international volunteering? « Cradles to Crayons Blogon 12 Apr 2010 at 11:27 am

    […] On her blog, Kirsty describes the book’s features, which include practical advice on visas, travel insurance, and health; interviews with nine international volunteers; and a list of volunteer opportunities across the globe that Henderson considers trusthworthy, among other things. […]

  30. # E-Book Review: The Underground Guide to International Volunteering | Traveling Savageon 12 Apr 2010 at 4:54 pm

    […] When Kirsty Henderson of Nerdy Nomad contacted me about reviewing her new e-book, The Underground Guide to International Volunteering, I jumped at the opportunity. I found her site early in my blog formulation phase, and her candid posts and earning summaries were immensely helpful as I considered a similar path. […]

  31. # Answers to All Your Questions on Volunteering Abroad | In Search of Sanukon 14 Apr 2010 at 5:10 pm

    […] People always send me questions about volunteering abroad. In addition to telling them about what we’re doing in Bangkok, I stress two points: 1) Be Prepared by educating yourself about what you’re getting into and 2) Get Connected with people who have been to the places you’re going or are doing what you want to do. That’s why I’ve been so enthused to share The Underground Guide to International Volunteering. I’ve spent a while going through it and it touches all topics I get quizzed on so often. […]

  32. # The Underground Guide to International Volunteering | How To Volunteer Abroadon 14 Apr 2010 at 8:13 pm

    […] Kirsty Henderson a internation volunteer with Hands On Disaster Relief has put together an ebook to help travellers decide if volunteering is for them and how to go about finding programs that will give the volunteer the type of experience they are hoping for while making sure that real help is being given to the chosen cause. If you are thinking about volunteering this book will help you … […]

  33. # The Dameon 14 Apr 2010 at 11:06 pm

    I just bought mine, will read it tonight and do a review for my site :)

  34. # Kristofon 15 Apr 2010 at 8:23 am

    Hey Kirsty, I discovered your blog a little while ago and just love what you are doing! Will be buying your ebook right now and once I get a travel blog going myself (if ever, haha) I’ll be sure to put a review up and link to it. Good luck on your further travels and volunteering!

  35. # The Underground Guide to International Volunteering | True Travellers Society – Volunteer and Meaningful Travel Abroadon 21 Apr 2010 at 12:49 pm

    […] in Uncategorized « Inti Wara Yassi – Volunteer Bolivia You can leave a response, or trackback from your ownsite. […]

  36. # Some Travel Blogs to Check Out « Life Abroadon 30 Apr 2010 at 5:47 pm

    […] Nerdy Nomad, created by a Canadian named Kristy, is a successful and interesting blog. With experience developing web-sites since 2000, the young entrepreneur has figured out how to make some profit off of her site. She breaks down her earnings for readers to help other hopeful bloggers understand the various aspects of putting together a site. She recently wrote an e-book about the ins and outs of volunteering abroad. […]

  37. # You CAN Volunteer for free! | Volunteering Vagabondon 01 May 2010 at 6:43 pm

    […] Until I happened upon this awesome guide, I had no idea there were free volunteering opportunities.  Kirsty of Nerdy Nomad has written a brilliant, concise and detailed ebook that explains the differences between free and fee-based volunteering opportunities listing the various companies providing both and including interviews with people who have done both. […]

  38. # Erinon 02 May 2010 at 2:23 pm

    I’ve finally gotten around to reading the ebook and I love it! It’s really comprehensive, honest is a fantastic resource for anyone considering an international volunteering opportunity. I love all the interviews and case studies and am feeling really inspired to get out there and volunteer!

    A review will be coming on our website in the next few weeks. Good luck with it.

  39. # The Underground Guide to International Volunteering | @TrailofAntson 10 May 2010 at 12:36 am

    […] Kirsty Henderson is the author of The Underground Guide to International Volunteering, and editor of the Nerdy Nomads blog, which is sprinkled with secrets about how to make money while blogging. […]

  40. # Nerdy Nomad » April Earnings Reporton 20 May 2010 at 3:54 am

    […] HomeVolunteering Ebook99 ThingsAboutMap of My TravelsLinks […]

  41. # Get Your Hands Dirty and Your Soul Clean: Become a Voluntourist | EcoSalonon 24 May 2010 at 1:12 pm

    […] Take a look at Volunteer Global or The Nerdy Nomad, both great resources. […]

  42. # Nerdy Nomad » May Earnings Reporton 01 Jun 2010 at 9:48 am

    […] HomeVolunteering Ebook99 ThingsAboutMap of My TravelsLinks […]

  43. # Link Love and Questions - Self Improvementon 01 Jun 2010 at 10:00 pm

    […] The Underground Guide to International Volunteering – Kirsty […]

  44. # The Underground Guide to International Volunteering Reviewon 03 Jun 2010 at 8:02 am

    […] […]

  45. # Best Self Improvement Blogon 08 Jun 2010 at 2:15 pm

    […] The Underground Guide to International Volunteering – Kirsty […]

  46. # How to achieve the impossible | Fluent in 3 monthson 15 Jun 2010 at 2:28 am

    […] There are so many examples. Let’s take travel: Want to backpack the world for years and support yourself from a blog? Impossible, yet Nomadic Matt does it. Want to visit every country in the world? Chris Guillebeau is doing it. Work as a volunteer in several different countries? Kirsty is doing it. What about travelling long-term as a family? Also possible. Or travelling with an infant when you are in debt? Adam Baker has done it. All “impossible” and yet all actually very possible when people really try to find a way to make it work rather than focusing on all the excuses. […]

  47. # Budget Globetrotting » More than Travel: Real study, volunteer, work options abroadon 28 Jun 2010 at 7:20 pm

    […] I’m no expert on the subject, but fellow travel blogger Nerdy Nomad has created a well-received ebook on the subject titled “The Underground Guide to International Volunteering.” I haven’t been able to read it myself, but the blogosphere seems to like it so far and she’s a great resource. I’d surely shell out $14 if I was in the market to volunteer abroad. […]

  48. # Want to See The World & Help it too? Interview with International Volunteer, Kirsty Henderson | BusinessBackpacker.comon 29 Jun 2010 at 7:06 am

    […] Funny you should ask! I wrote an ebook called ‘The Underground Guide to International Volunteering’ that can be downloaded from my website (http://www.nerdynomad.com/volunteering). It’s a guide for people who want to volunteer but aren’t sure how to go about it. I talk about whether or not volunteering is for you, who would make a good volunteer, paying to volunteer, how to find free and cheap volunteering opportunities, give some practical advice and I also have a list of volunteering opportunities that have been tried and tested. […]

  49. # Go Jonny Goon 01 Jul 2010 at 12:48 am

    Great design for an ebook, really great.

  50. # Change Your Life...and Other Through International Volunteeringon 01 Jul 2010 at 6:03 am

    […] ***Today’s guest post comes to us from Kirsty Henderson of Nerdy Nomad and the author of The Underground Guide to International Volunteering. I am more than happy to feature this post as I was once a fellow international volunteer and it changed my life forever. I will have to share that story with you another day as today is a day to focus our attention on the great work of Kirsty. Enjoy….and pick up a copy of her eBook (NO AFFILIATE LINK because it’s for a noble cause). […]

  51. # Alex Woohon 02 Jul 2010 at 7:18 pm

    This book is what I am looking for. As a Chinese I have been thinking how to be an global citizen by learning from people like you.

  52. # Interview with an international volunteer: Nerdy Nomadon 05 Jul 2010 at 1:19 am

    […] K: I think people volunteer for all sorts of reasons and it’s not always just to help people. I think people who want to help purely for altruistic reasons are going to be the types who will volunteer at home as well as abroad. Those people are amazing but most of the rest of us have some sliver of selfish motivations. […]

  53. # Get Started with International Volunteeringon 06 Jul 2010 at 9:35 am

    […] That is where The Underground Guide to International Volunteering e-guide by Kristy Henderson comes into play, providing valuable resources to make volunteering a reality.  Kristy has been a traveling volunteer with various organizations for many years and she specializes in volunteering with organizations that don’t charge an arm and a leg for their services.  She has experienced a diverse range of volunteer programs, conducted acute research, and formulated this valuable resource. […]

  54. # Hotelson 23 Jul 2010 at 3:36 am

    Hi,

    ..Nice guide on international volunteering. Kool keep it up

    Thanks,
    Cygnus

  55. # Nerdy Nomad » July Earnings Reporton 01 Aug 2010 at 11:02 pm

    […] HomeVolunteering Ebook99 ThingsAboutMap of My TravelsLinks […]

  56. # Interview with International Volunteering Expert Kirsty Henderson | LifeAfterCubeson 05 Aug 2010 at 4:55 am

    […] I’ve been a fan of Kirsty’s Nerdy Nomad blog since back in my cubicle days. I was drawn in by her perpetual travel and completely transparent reports of how she earns her living online. As I followed her story, I learned that she not only travels but also volunteers, helping those in a time of need. She most recently volunteered with Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) in Haiti after the massive earthquake. She has become an expert on international volunteering and is now sharing her knowledge in a new ebook. She is even donating half of all money made from the ebook to HODR. I was excited to have the opportunity to interview her and in the following post, she answers a few of my questions about how she makes a living, about her experience volunteering in Haiti and her new ebook. […]

  57. # Normanon 06 Aug 2010 at 9:23 am

    Hi,

    Why am I not surprised that Kirsty wrote this? Have to buy it to see if I figure in it somewhere he he. Looks like a few weeks saving the old pension up to make the said purchase.

    Norman
    (HODR Alumni)

  58. # On Being a First-Time Volunteer | Travels of Adamon 13 Aug 2010 at 1:12 pm

    […] __ If you’re interested in volunteering and don’t know how to go about it, I highly recommend checking out Kirsty’s ebook The Underground Guide to International Volunteering. I got a free copy from her (disclosure!) and it actually helped me immensely in finding the right kind of first-time volunteer job. […]

  59. # The Underground Guide to International Volunteering Review — Budget Travel Noteson 22 Aug 2010 at 4:23 pm

    […] If you are considering volunteering and either don’t know where to start, or want to get a better feel for what it’s all about, then you should read a copy of The Underground Guide to International Volunteering by Kirsty Henderson from NerdyNomad.com.  I’ve had a copy of this book for quite some time now, so a review is far beyond the point of being overdue (apologies Kirsty!). […]

  60. # Jayon 23 Aug 2010 at 12:56 pm

    Just bought the book, had a quick browse and it looks fantastically full of fab info.
    Just one question, how do you rate Habitat for Humanity as an organisation? South America bound with them later in the year then hope to find something local with the help of your book :)
    Thanks and good luck

  61. # Volunteer work overseas | A review of two ebooks on International Volunteering | The Indie Travel Podcast | Travel magazine, travel info and free travel guideson 25 Aug 2010 at 10:41 am

    […] Today I want to share my thoughts on two excellent ebooks that I’ve stumbled upon recently: Your Totally Awesome Guide to International Volunteering and the Underground Guide to International Volunteering. […]

  62. # Volunteer eBook available from HODR Alumnion 02 Sep 2010 at 3:04 am

    […] Kirsty Henderson, a veteran of four international HODR projects and other volunteering projects worldwide, has written an ebook called ‘The Underground Guide to Volunteering’ (www.nerdynomad.com/volunteering). Her aim is to provide people who want to volunteer worldwide with the knowledge and confidence they need to make it happen. […]

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