33. Return, Re-inclusion & Future Pathways

Explanation

The volunteering experience does not end when the volunteer returns home. Returning can itself be a major transition, especially after a long period abroad.

The volunteer may return to a familiar environment but experience it differently. Their routines, relationships, confidence, expectations and future plans may have changed. Friends or family may also expect them to return exactly as they were before departure. This can create what is often described as reverse culture shock or re-entry adjustment.

The supporting organisation has an important role at this stage because it is usually located in the volunteer’s home environment and can help translate the international experience into the next stage of their life.

A return conversation should give the volunteer space to talk about what was positive, what was difficult, what they miss and what feels different after coming home. The purpose is not only to evaluate the host project. It is to help the volunteer understand how the experience has changed them.

Learning transfer is particularly important. During the project, the volunteer may have developed competences in communication, teamwork, language learning, facilitation, intercultural cooperation, project management, independence or working with specific target groups. After return, the question becomes: How can this learning be used?

The volunteer can be supported to connect their experience with future education, employment, volunteering or community engagement. This may involve updating a CV, using Youthpass in applications, identifying further training, applying for another European programme, taking responsibility in a local organisation or developing a personal initiative.

The return process can also help the volunteer understand that learning does not need to produce an immediate career outcome. Increased confidence, wider social networks, greater independence or a clearer idea about what they do not want to do in the future can also be meaningful results.

For some volunteers, returning home can be difficult because the conditions they left have not changed. Young people with fewer opportunities may return to unemployment, unstable housing, family difficulties or limited opportunities. Supporting organisations should therefore avoid assuming that every volunteer returns into a stable environment. Where appropriate, they can connect the volunteer to education, employment, counselling, local youth work or other services.

The ADICE materials used in the earlier EVoly development treat return as part of the volunteering pathway, including preparation for return, valuing the experience and identifying future opportunities. This is useful for EVoly because it reinforces that return is not simply a final travel task.

For EVoly, this phase could include a Return & Next Steps Plan completed before departure and reviewed after the volunteer returns home. It could include learning achievements, future interests, organisations or programmes to explore, CV/Youthpass use and whether additional support is needed.

Role perspectives

Supporting / Sending Organisation: Leads re-inclusion support and helps the volunteer connect the experience with opportunities in their home environment.

Host Organisation: Provides final learning evidence, references where appropriate and information that helps the volunteer explain their contribution.

Coordinator: Ensures that return support has been discussed with the supporting organisation before the volunteer leaves.

Mentor: Can help the volunteer prepare emotionally for departure and identify learning that they want to carry forward.

Volunteer: Reflects on how they have changed and identifies realistic next steps in education, employment, volunteering, community activity or personal development.

Differences by ESC model

Long-term volunteering: Return can be a significant transition because the volunteer may have lived abroad for many months. Reverse culture shock, identity changes and future planning deserve structured attention.

Short-term volunteering: Re-entry is usually less intensive, but the volunteer should still be encouraged to recognise learning and identify possible next opportunities.

Volunteering teams / group volunteering: Return support may happen through group reflection and partner organisations. Participants can also maintain peer networks after returning home.

Questions & answers

What is reverse culture shock?

The difficulty some people experience when returning to a familiar environment after changing through an international experience.

Who is mainly responsible for return support?

The supporting organisation usually has the strongest role because it is connected to the volunteer’s home context.

What should the return conversation focus on?

Adjustment, learning, how the experience changed the volunteer, and what they would like to do next.

Can Youthpass help after the project?

Yes. It can help the volunteer recognise and communicate competences gained through the volunteering experience.

Documents for further reading

• ADICE notebook — return preparation, reflection and future opportunities.
• Red Salmantica / Plan B learning notebook — learning recognition and Youthpass.
• ePassport participant sheets — competences and follow-up.
• EVoly_ESC_Implementation_Phases_Draft_0_1.docx — return and next-step support.