General Safety whilst volunteering abroad

How to be safe abroad

While the countries we operate in are very safe, the normal precautions should be taken to ensure your personal safety. You should be extra vigilant as a tourist wherever you go as you may stand out as someone who is wealthy and therefore become a target. You should take steps to adjust to the local way of life to ensure that your actions do not offend the local people.

The following are a few tips that you can follow to reduce the risk of running into trouble while abroad:

• Try not to walk around late at night in unknown areas

• Do not carry lots of cash

• Do not wear flashy jewellery especially in busy areas such as the market

• Be wary about going out alone with people you have only recently met

• Pedestrians need to be extra careful. Check even if light is red as in some countries, motorbikes travel in both directions along the same side of the street.

• Always carry a copy of your passport. The police can check you at any time. If you don’t have it, they can either fine you or take you to jail depending on your location

• Carry backpacks, purses, etc. in front as much as possible

• Buses or crowded situations are good opportunities for thieves. Be especially careful on crowded buses.

• If you decide to travel on a motorbike taxi wear a helmet as there are thousands of accidents a year involving motorbikes abroad.

• If you decide to travel by cab, make sure to always take a registered cab.

• When arranging to meet people, suggest cafés/bars/ public places initially.

• Don’t hitch or accept lifts from people you don’t know.