“It is guaranteed that you will return changed to some extent by your experiences. Even if you were overseas for only a week, you may have witnessed a way of life and a level of poverty that you would never have seen before.”
For many returning volunteers the coming home process can be one of the most difficult aspects of their overseas placement. ‘Reverse culture shock’, strain on your physical and mental health and struggling to find employment can all compound the difficulties of the process. This section of the website provides practical advice for all volunteers and development workers to cope with the coming home process and to make the best of it. Comhlámh also provides a wide range of services for returned volunteers and development workers to assist in the Coming Home process.
This section provides tips and advice about ensuring your mental and physical fitness and sharing your experiences.
Are you looking to learn more about Development, possibly as a career or to learn how to engage from Ireland? This section takes you through all sorts of options including campaigning, development education, ethical living and much more.
As a volunteer or development worker that has worked overseas, it is important to protect your social welfare rights so that it remains possible for you to claim your entitlements when you return home.
Have you returned from development work/volunteering abroad? Feeling out on a limb? Come spend the weekend sharing experiences and stories with other returned development workers and volunteers.
The period after the return from an overseas assignment can be a fruitful time to engage in counselling. You don't have to have experience a 'crisis' to avail or benefit from counselling.
Comhlamh believes that personal debriefing can be highly beneficial on return from an overseas assignment. Find out more about this service here.
If you are considering a career in a development-related area, already looking for a job in the sector or considering options for furthering your career, you will find useful information here that may point you in the right direction.
The following section provides lots of practical information and essential advice for anyone returning from overseas. NEXT>