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Volunteer Abroad
Volunteering abroad is a great way to travel and really interact with the host culture. This is an ideal option for people who couldn’t go abroad during their college career, or as an additional summer experience. It is often more affordable than study abroad since you’re not paying for academic credit. The life experience you’ll gain will be unforgettable!
There are numerous opportunities for someone to volunteer abroad in variety of settings. Most volunteer programs charge a participation fee, to answer the frequently asked question of “Why pay to volunteer?” see this article in the Verge Magazine.
We have a list of volunteer organizations below. Be sure to do your research on these organizations so you’ll be sure to choose the one that suits you best. There are all types of volunteer work, from working with wildlife and environmental conservation, to helping out in orphanages or teaching English. While doing your research first ask yourself what you are looking for:
- What type of Volunteering would you like to do?
- What skills can you offer?
- What language skills do you have that can be beneficial?
- Would you rather be in a village or a city?
- How long would you like to spend abroad?
- What is your budget?
Be sure to find out what kind of benefits the organization offers you as a volunteer:
- Do they provide transportation from the Airport/Train station?
- What kind of accommodation do they provide?
- Do they provide meals?
- What kind of on-site support do they offer?
Remember to also look into what kind of visa and insurance you’ll need when traveling to the host country.
Read testimonials on the organization’s website to get a feel for the project. If you can, contact someone who has participated directly, and talk to them about their experience.
Peace Corps
For those of you who are looking for a more serious commitment, check out the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps is a U.S. government agency established by John F. Kennedy to promote world peace and friendship. They are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year! The mission of the Peace Corps has three goals:
- Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Generally, volunteers serve a two-year term. This gives volunteers a chance to really get involved in the projects they are working on and see true changes. During your time as a Peace Corps volunteer, you will receive a stipend for your living expenses. The Peace Corps have also started offering short-term service trips for which they charge a participation fee, similar to other volunteer agencies.
WWOOF (www.wwoof.org)
WWOOF, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, was established in the United Kingdom in 1971. It is a worldwide network of farms or other establishments that promote sustainable ways of living. To become a “WWOOFer” you have to purchase a membership specific to the country you would like to volunteer in. Once you are a member, you receive a listing of all the WWOOF hosts and contact information. You choose any host that interests you and make arrangements for a work exchange. Usually, the WWOOFer will work for about four hours a day in exchange for room and board, and have the opportunity to learn about the organic lifestyle and specifics of their WWOOF host. Most memberships cost $30-50 USD.
WWOOFing is a great opportunity to keep your spending to a minimum while having an amazing, sometimes challenging and always rewarding experience. This organization is for travelers of all ages from around the world. In the matter of a few days you could go from gardening to residing a house to digging a grave for fallen livestock. Try to get some reliable information on your WWOOF host, if you are traveling on your own, it’s better to find a location run by a couple or family, or one that frequently has a few WWOOFers at a time.
Volunteer Programs
- Connect 123
- AIDE- Association of International Development & Exchange
- AIFS
- AmeriSpan Study Abroad
- BridgeVolunteers
- Cactus Volunteers Abroad
- Center for Cultural Interchange, Green Heart
- CISV International
- Cultural Embrace
- EarthWatch Institute
- Foundation for Sustainable Development
- Frontier
- Fundacion En Via
- GeoVisions
- Global Citizens Network (GCN)
- Global Crossroads
- Global Service Corps
- Global Vision International (GVI)
- Global Volunteer Network
- Global Volunteers
- Globalteer
- Habitat for Humanity
- Institute for Field Research Expeditions
- International Student Volunteers
- International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)
- i-to-i meaningful travel
- Madventurer
- Peace Corps
- Projects Abroad
- Travel to Teach
- United Planet
- Visions Service Adventures
- Volunteering Solutions
- Volunteers for International Partnership
- Volunteers for Peace
- WWOOF - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
