People volunteer at different stages of their careers, from student days to post retirement. The reasons are varied, but common motivations include altruism and the desire to ‘give something back’. Many readers may wish to contribute to the welfare of people overseas with mental illness, alongside some who feel a deep desire to do what they can for those who have little access to mental health care. For people from a diaspora background, there may be a desire to help ‘back home’. For others, it is motivated by a need for refreshment and to gain new perspectives away from the usual daily professional ways of working. Some may feel the desire to contribute to colleagues’ development or make an impact on trainees and the next generation. Other volunteers may crave ethical travel, and some mention the increasing appeal of learning from colleagues in varied and low resource settings. Whatever the reason(s), careful reflection is indeed needed as outlined in Chapters 3 and 4 on ethical considerations.