With the recent news about volunteer workers being kidnapped and often even killed, it is understandable that people will be questioning if this type of work is safe. The answer is it really depends on where you go and how the trip is organised. There are some parts of the world that have a lot higher levels of crime, violence and racial attacks and if you do choose to volunteer in one of the these areas you should fully understand all the risks involved. You should have been briefed in quite some detail well in advance of travelling to volunteer, and this advice must be adhered to. If you can, it is always better to go with someone you know or a group if possible. This way you can each look out for each other and report any concerns you may have.
Overall the majority of volunteer workers are safe and return back home without having faced any really dangerous situations.