Volunteering around the world
Fri 12 Apr 2013
Volunteering whilst travelling is a great way to ‘make a difference’ but it’s not just about giving. Living and volunteering in a foreign country is a great way to get to know a different culture, meet new people, learn about yourself, get a sense of perspective and even gain new skills.
If you’re only on a short trip, take time to visit an orphanage, hospital, etc. Those with more time can contact local NGOs, tourist offices, embassies, etc to inquire about longer term possibilities.
There are several ways to combine travelling and voluntary work:
In Europe, young European citizens (legal inhabitants, you need at least a residence permit) can participate in the EVS program (“European Voluntary Service”), which allows you to work abroad for 3 months up to a year, funded by the European Union at some kind of charitable organization.
If you would like to combine travelling and working on an organic farm, the WWOOF-ing – Willing Workers on Organic Farms – might be something for you. You can be sowing seed, making compost, gardening, planting, cutting wood, weeding, making mud-bricks, harvesting, fencing, building, packing, milking and feeding livestock any of 80 countries.
Another organization with opportunities beyond the scope of just organics is HelpX.
If you want to experience new cultures and ways of life by doing volunteer work exchanges with hosts in different countries, check out Volunteerstays.
Workaway has a large database of options for those wishing to travel and volunteer in exchange for lodging and food. They have a worldwide selection of hosts from over 100 countries with a wide variety of opportunities including gardening, babysitting, art projects, language learning and animal care.
Various agencies of Western governments send volunteers abroad: the US Peace Corps, British VSO, Canadian CUSO and so on. These are among the best volunteer jobs. All expenses — immunizations, travel, lodging, etc. — are normally covered and there is support — training, medical insurance, emergency evacuation if needed — and some sort of small salary. When you come back, these organizations look good on a resume. On the other hand, these positions are harder to get and usually require a heavier commitment, typically two years.
As an alternative, or to complement the working holiday, many people have chosen to embark on a volunteering experience. These meaningful experiences allow individuals the chance to give back to the international community, whether this be teaching in underprivileged schools, working with animals in Africa, or helping with community development project. Typically there will be a fee to participate in these programs, and participants are not paid. Most famously, Prince Harry embarked on a volunteering Gap Year in 2004 when he went to South Africa.
There are many organisations offering gap year placements. A few of these are:
Frontier Conservation specialises in scientific and conservation projects in locations such as Tanzania, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Fiji and Madagascar.
Global Vision International is an award winning volunteer abroad organization running projects all over the world.
Gap Year Diver, specialists in gap year and career break scuba diving trips. Marine Conservation initiatives, learn to dive, become a Divemaster, teach in local schools, community work, Instructor training, language learning and much more.
The Great Projects. Beginning life as the multi award winning ‘The Great Orangutan Project‘, the Great Projects now offers a wide collection of projects, used to showcase working models of animal conservation tourism around the world and promotes the importance of setting standards in endangered animal welfare and conservation in the tourism sector.
Yomps, Gap year, career break and adventure specialist, from volunteering in Africa to learning to surf in Ecuador, Yomps has it all.
Shumba Experience Specialists in conservation and veterinary projects in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
Xtreme Gap The adventure travel and extreme sports gap year company
Global Vision International, Specialists in gap year expeditions such as marine expeditions in the Indian Ocean and exploration in Patagonia. GVI also has over 150 volunteering projects around the world.
Gap Medics, Specifically aimed at students looking to go to medical or nursing school – Work experience and volunteer opportunities in The Caribbean, India and Tanzania.
Africa & Asia Venture (AV) – a founding member of the Year Out Group, offering 5 week to 5 month group volunteer projects in the developing world with 24/7 support throughout.
RealGap UK RealGap DE, Specialists in gap years, career breaks & adventure travel holidays. RealGap are experts in providing unique & exciting volunteer projects, working holiday programmes & backpacking packages across the world.
VentureCo Worldwide, specialists in South America Gap Years. Combining language courses, volunteer projects and adventure travel.
The Leap, a family run British organisation that offers gap year placements in Africa, Asia, South America and Australia.
Gap Year Ghana, small organisation specializing in volunteer placements in Ghana, West Africa.
Raleigh Youth and education charity offering challenging enviromental, community and adventure programmes for 17-75 year olds in Borneo, Costa Rica & Nicaragua and India
Projects Abroad, Global organiser of overseas voluntary work placements. Projects Abroad runs placements like Teaching, Care, Conservation & Environment, Medicine & Healthcare, Sports, Culture & Community projects and Journalism.
EDGE of AFRICA, Small organization that offers volunteer and internship placements in Southern Africa. Conservation, community and sports volunteer placements available as well as family and tailor made positions.
VAE Kenya, a small UK organisation that organises challenging teaching placements in rural Kenyan schools.
Skills Venture, a new company that runs short sabbaticals for US and UK business professionals, spent providing mentoring and consultancy support to entrepreneurs in Kenya.
Cross-Cultural Solutions(CCS) is a non-profit organization that offers 1-12 week volunteer abroad programs in 12 countries, where you work side-by-side with local people, stay in a CCS Home-Base, and learn first-hand about local customs by participating in Cultural & Learning Activities.
Praktikawelten offers more than 300 volunteer projects in 17 countries as well as work and travel programs in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
There are also various organizations that recruit volunteers. These may not cover the major expenses such as airfares and travel insurance. Some charge a fee for placement. A few of these are:
Action Volunteer Alliance (AVA)offers affordable volunteer opportunities abroad.
AFECT offers volunteering opportunities to assist Burmese refugees in north Thailand
Akha Asia has volunteer placements with Tribes and Indiginous Peoples
Center for Children in Need (Thailand) offers short and long-term volunteering in a grassroot orphanage for abandoned Burmese children. (http://www.volunteeringthailand.blogspot.com)
Ikando Volunteer & Intern in Africa
Global Vision International (GVI) has worldwide volunteering opportunities
Volunteers and Interns for Balinese Education
Year Out Group, a British organization promoting gap year volunteering
Overseas Working Holidays, an Australian organization that offers guaranteed placements in regions such as Africa and India.
Thai-Experience specialized in placements in Thailand.
Travel to Teach with jobs in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Volunteer Abroad offers volunteer programs in Latin America, Asia, and Africa
Mundo Exchange non-profit organization for volunteering in Guatemala and Thailand.
Earthwatch lets volunteers work on scientific field research projects all over the world for 1 – 3 weeks.
Projects Abroad offers a diverse range of volunteer placements in 26 different developing countries – for students, gap years, grads and qualified professionals from 2 weeks and up.
The International Humanity Foundation works in Indonesia, Thailand and Kenya and is always looking for volunteers.
Intiwawa offers free volunteering in Peru. Opportunities mainly include social and educational projects as well as nutrition and water.
Mozvoluteers offers affordable volunteer projects and medical elective placements in South Africa and Mozambique.
Mijn Bestemming Peru Dutch organization focusing in volunteering free, internships, work and support to communities all over Peru.
| Story by: Adrian Cahill Profile Expert traveler, Adrian has been in over 70 countries, stayed in mud huts and was once caught smuggling Vegemite in his trousers. Now he is on the speaking circuit and writes about his adventures. |
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