The Portal for work abroad, overseas travel, study abroad and international living
Travel Writing Contests
 
  What's New AbroadWhat's New Abroad What's New  

Volunteer Abroad

The Portal for Volunteer Work and Vacations Overseas

Programs for Volunteer Work and Vacations Abroad 
Expert Articles on Volunteer Work and Vacations Abroad  
Participant Reports from Volunteers Abroad  
Undergraduate and Graduate Volunteer Service Abroad Articles
Teen and Gap Year Volunteer Programs
Senior-Friendly Volunteer Vacations Abroad Programs
Websites for Volunteering Abroad
Resources and Publications on Volunteering Overseas

Volunteer Abroad
Volunteering Abroad with Children in Nepal. Photo by Fabrizio Fiorenzano

 Volunteer Work Abroad Programs and Vacations

Volunteering abroad is the best option for meaningful work and vacations in developing countries or for social causes anywhere. Many volunteer positions do "pay," at least room and board, and it may be possible to defer educational loans during a volunteer assignment. For summer work camps or volunteer vacations, apply March-May. For long-term volunteer options like the Peace Corps, apply six to nine months in advance.

Volunteer organizations are listed by country and region below, and include many first-hand participant reports edited to provide practical and inspirational perspectives on the volunteering experience.

 Volunteer Abroad by Region  Volunteer Abroad by Country
Worldwide Argentina Guatemala Philippines
Africa Australia Honduras Poland
Asia Belgium Iceland Portugal
Australasia Bolivia India Romania
Central America Brazil Israel Russia
Europe (Central & Eastern) Cambodia Italy South Africa
Europe (Western) Canada Kenya South Korea
Latin America Chile Lithuania Spain
South America China Japan Sri Lanka
  Columbia Madagascar Sweden
  Costa Rica Mexico Switzerland
  Denmark Mongolia Taiwan
  Dominican Republic Morocco Tanzania
  Ecuador Mozambique Thailand
  El Salvador Namibia Tibet
  Finland Nepal Turkey
  France New Zealand Uganda
  Germany Nicaragua United Kingdom
  Ghana Nigeria United States
  Greece Peru Vietnam
 Featured Volunteer Programs and Vacations Overseas
Volunteer Abroad for the Experience of a Lifetime in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, or Thailand with Cross-Cultural Solutions.
Volunteer in 50 Countries Worldwide with United Planet
Volunteer Work and Vacations Abroad in over 25 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Worldwide with Global Vision International
Volunteer Vacations Abroad in Brazil, Costa Rica, Nepal, Peru, Thailand, or Vietnam with Globe Aware
Volunteer Abroad in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, IndiaKenyaNamibiaPeruSouth AfricaZambia, or Zimbabwe with All Languages Abroad: 50 Countries 30 Languages 1 Adventure!
Volunteer Abroad in Argentina, Australia, Benin, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, India, New Zealand, Tanzania, and Thailand with CCI - Center for Cultural Interchange
Volunteer in Argentina, China, Costa Rica, India, New Zealand , Peru, or Spain with Geovisions
Wordwide Volunteer Work and Vacations Overseas with i-to-i
Worldwide Volunteer Work Abroad with Projects Abroad
Volunteer in Africa, Latin America or India with Volunteer Adventures
Teaching as a Volunteer in the Developing World with Worldteach
Volunteer Abroad Placements Available in Australia, South Africa, India, Costa Rica and Peru with Working Abroad
Volunteer in Bolivia with Volunteer Challenge
Volunteer Work with Homestays in Tanzania or Thailand with Global Service Corps
Volunteer in Ecuador, Tanzania, or Vietnam with Experiential Learning International
Volunteer in Latin America, including the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, or Paraguay with Amigos de las Americas
South Africa Cheetah Volunteer Program with Wildlife Students
Volunteer in Latin America and Asia with MyProWorld
Volunteer in Peru with Nexos Voluntarios
Volunteer in Kenya and Sri Lanka with Inspire Volunteering
Volunteer in Latin America with GIC
Volunteer Abroad with the Center for Cultural Interchange
Cheap-Affordable Volunteer Programs in Africa (Kenya) with Volunteer International Community Development Africa
Volunteer Abroad in India, Nepal, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Vietnam, Phillipines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia with Volunteering Solutions
Volunteer Abroad in Workcamps Worldwide with Service Civil International
Adventure, Language & International Volunteer Exchange in Ecuador and Nicaragua with Travel Alive
Volunteers Needed for a Summer School in Ghana with Light for Children

 Articles on Volunteer Work and Vacations Abroad

TransitionsAbroad.com is pleased to offer a vast assortment of articles which discuss the experience of volunteering abroad as a means of immersing yourself in another culture while helping to bring native people some positive change in their lives.

The following articles cover the vast subject of international volunteerism both in the theoretical and in a very practical sense.

Topical articles by experienced international volunteer professionals are collected in the Volunteer Work and Vacation Abroad Advisor section.

In addition, read first-hand Volunteer Work and Vacation Abroad Participant Reports by those who have chosen from the plethora of volunteer work and vacation programs available overseas.

 Volunteer Work and Vacation Abroad Advisor
The Changing Face of International Volunteering by Volker Poelzl
Volunteer Abroad the Right Way: An Interview with Zahara Heckscher
Choosing a Volunteer Abroad Placement Organization by Zahara Heckscher
How to Choose the "Right" Volunteer Program Abroad by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, Zahara Heckscher
Volunteer Vacations to Fit: How to Select the Best-Suited Organization by Doug Cutchins and Anne Geissinger
Arranging a Volunteer Experience Abroad by Katie Krueger
Ramping Up: IVPA Establishes Standards of Excellence for International Volunteering by Sherry Schwarz
From Volunteer Work To a Career: Becoming an International Aid Worker by Matthew Bolton
The Ins and Outs of Volunteering: An Interview with Dianne Brause
Work as a Volunteer Travel Adviser by Heidi Resetarits
Making the Most of Volunteer Service with the Peace Corps by Brianne Goodspeed
After the Peace Corps by Mishelle Shepard
Learn Language and Do Good: Combine Volunteering with Language Study Abroad by Zahara Heckscher
Learn a Language While Volunteering Abroad by Susan Griffith
Volunteering Abroad: A Global Movement by Christine Victorino
Volunteering Abroad: Selecting the Perfect Opportunity by Christine Victorino
The Cost of Volunteering by Daniel Weiss
Volunteer Abroad on Your Own by Michael Don
Investing Yourself as a Volunteer by Reverend Dr. Henry Bucher, Jr.
Why Pay to Volunteer Abroad? by Le Ann Joy Adam
Why Volunteer Abroad? by Peter Hodge
Volunteer Vacations Gain Popularity by Margaret Jaworski
Whirled Transformations: The History and Future of Inter-Cultural Caring by Ann McLaughlin
Baby Boomers and International Volunteer Service by Ann McLaughlin
Volunteer Vacations: Seniors Have a Different Agenda by Alison Gardner
Making the Most of a Volunteer Vacation by Doug Cutchins and Anne Geissinger
Volunteer as a Senior and Make Retirement Count with Global Service Corps
Volunteer Vacations Can Change Your Life by Dianne Brause.
Delaying the Real World: Volunteer Proposal Wins Fellowship Abroad by Colleen Kinder
Volunteer Service Programs. This Summer Vacation Make a Difference by Russell Carlock
Community Service Abroad: Volunteers Combine Alms and Elbow Grease by Molly Beer
Volunteer Placements: Coping With Potential Problems by Susan Griffith
Making a Difference: Volunteering and Education Abroad by Charles Gliozzo
International Volunteerism by Rebecca Jewell
Volunteer Abroad for an NGO as a Photographer by Jim Hall
Executive Volunteering Abroad by James G. Coon
Volunteer Work Abroad on Organic Farms by Caroline Nye
Work for Peace as a Volunteer Abroad by
Volunteer Abroad to Help with Transitions from Conflict to Peace by Kara C. McDonald
Volunteers Coming Back Home: Surviving the Transition and Staying Involved by Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, Zahara Heckscher
Volunteerism at Home: Keeping the Spirit of an Overseas Experience Alive by Sarah Green
Refugee Volunteer Work at Home by Steve Wilson
 Volunteer Work and Vacation Abroad Participant Reports

First-hand volunteer reports by those who have actually participated in both large and small programs overseas offer inside details which no listing information can fully provide. TransitionsAbroad.com is pleased to offer a rich and edited selection of volunteer abroad experiences from a variety of perspectives by region (including Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and Latin America).

  Volunteer Abroad Participant Reports from Europe
Volunteer Vacations Working on a Farm in Europe with Association Dynamo, Ferme Cravirola
Volunteer in Europe with Nature Conservation Programs
Volunteer in Europe at a Youth Hostel
A Summer Job Volunteering in London with the Winant and Clayton Volunteer Program
Explore the U.K. as an Insider with The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
National Trust Holidays: Work with U.K. Locals for a Worthwhile Cause
A Volunteer Vacation in Britain with National Trust Working Holidays
Volunteer Work in the U.K with the Edinburgh Cyrenians
Preserving the Five Lands of Cinque Terre, Italy, as a Volunteer with the Italian Environmental Impact Assessment Center (EIA)
Work as Volunteer in France and Learn to Restore a French Village with La Sabranenque
Volunteer in Ile D'Hoedic, France with CIEE
Volunteer Workcamps in France with Volunteers For Peace
Volunteering in Spain
Volunteer in Spain and Make the Desert Green with Sunseed Desert Trust
Volunteer Work with Somali Refugees in Denmark
Volunteer Vacations Can Be the Most Memorable
Volunteer Work in the Balkans with Balkan Sunflowers
Volunteer in Armenia Under Mr. Ararat
Agro and Ecotourism in Romania: Discover Village Life and Volunteer for its Preservation
Volunteer in Croatia: Ecocenter Protects Endangered Griffons
Volunteer in Russia: Everything You Need to Succeed
Volunteer in Russia on the Baikal Trail
 Volunteer Abroad Participant Reports from Africa
The Real Peace Corps
Volunteering in Angola, Africa
Volunteer at the Lion Park in South Africa with i-to-i
Volunteer Teaching English in Africa
Agribusiness Volunteers in Nigeria: Give and Gain in a Developing Country
Volunteer in Tanzania with Cross-Cultural Solutions
Volunteer with Global Service Corps in its International Health program in Tanzania
Volunteer in Tanzania with the Global Service Corps HIV/AIDS Program
A Volunteer Welcomed in Ghana
Volunteer Service in Ghana with AFS
Volunteering to Teach in Ghana with Global Volunteers
Volunteer Service in Ghana: A Photo Essay
 Volunteer Abroad Participant Reports from Asia
Volunteering in Lhasa, Tibet
Volunteer and Study Traditional Medicine in Ladakh, India
Peace in Pondicherry: Volunteer in a Planned Community in India
Harvest the Himalayas as a Volunteer with the Ladakh Farm Project
A Trip to Dhasa: Combine a Tibetan Spiritual Experience with a Volunteer Vacation in Northern India
Volunteer Work in Dharamsala with Cross-Cultural Solutions
Volunteer Work Teaching English in Dharamsala
Volunteer in Bhutan as a Family
Helping People as a Volunteer in Sri Lanka
Volunteer in Nepal Installing Solar Power with Himalayan Lights
Volunteer Work in Nepal in Nangi Village
Volunteering in Nepal in the Kathmandu Valley
Volunteer in Northern Thailand
Volunteer in Thailand with Starfish
Volunteer in China with Global Exchange
Volunteer Vacations in Japan with WWOOF
Volunteering in Mongolia: Help Restore an Ancient Buddhist Monastery
Building Homes in Cambodia as a Volunteer
New Hope for the Kids of Hanoi: Report From a Volunteer in Vietnam
A Medical Volunteer Journey to Southern Vietnam
An Exchange Experience in Vietnam with Global Volunteers
 Volunteer Abroad Participant Reports from Australia and New Zealand
Volunteer in Australia: The Great Outdoors Promises Great Opportunities
Mammal Monitoring: Join Conservation Volunteers in Australia’s Grampians National Park
Volunteering to Preserve Rainforests in Australia
Volunteer Organic Farming with WWOOF in Australia
Experiencing Australia as a Volunteer
Volunteer to Help Save Australian Wildlife with Earth Sanctuaries
Volunteering in New Zealand Teaching Art to Children
Volunteer in New Zealand with the Girl Scouts
Making a Difference on a Volunteer Vacation in Samoa with the Peace Corps
 Volunteer Abroad Participant Reports from Latin America
Volunteer in Latin America Independently
Volunteer Work and Educational Travel in Belize: An Overview 
Volunteer Work in Brazil: How to Embark on a Meaningful South American Adventure by Volker Poelzl 
Volunteer in Rio de Janeiro with Volunteer Adventures
Journalism in Bolivia: Working with the Locals via the i-to-i Volunteer Program
Working as a Journalist Abroad with i-to-i
Volunteer in Bolivia with Amizade
Volunteering in South American Eco-Lodges
A Moment in a Classroom as a Volunteer with Worldteach in Ecuador
Volunteer with Earthwatch in Ecuador: Work Closely with Locals on Research
Volunteer Teaching in Brazil with i-to-i
Volunteer and Vacation on a Ranch in Mexico
Volunteer in Mexico: Children’s Shelter of Hope, Puerto Vallarta
Volunteer as a Student in Mexico
Make a Difference as a Volunteer in Latin America with the Amigos de las Americas
Short-Term Volunteer Work in a Costa Rica with Cross-Cultural Solutions
Volunteering Abroad in Costa Rica
Train Nature Guides in Central America with WorldTeach and RARE, Change Lives
Volunteer Work at Spanish Language Schools in Guatemala
Volunteering in Guatemala: Adventure and Service as an English Teacher
Volunteer in Guatemala: Work for the Good of Others and the Environment
Volunteer Work Abroad in Guatemala
Volunteer and Learn a Language in Guatemala
Volunteer in Guatemala City with the Cross-Cultural Solutions
Volunteer in Guatemala with the God's Child Project
Cornerstone in Belize: Volunteer with a Community-Based Organization
Volunteer in Nicaragua with the Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer in Nicaragua at the Miraflor Nature Preserve
Building Homes in Paraguay as a Volunteer with the Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer Work in Lima, Peru with Cross-Cultural Solutions
Volunteering in Peru
Volunteer in Chile with Voluntarios de la Esperanza
Volunteer in Chile with WorldTeach: The Rewards Outweigh the Costs
Volunteering in Bolivia at a Wildlife Refuge  
Volunteer in the Dominican Republic with Visions
Volunteering in Venezuela
Volunteering Abroad in Latin America
 Volunteer Participant Reports from the Oceans
Volunteer Work At Sea: Tall Ships Accept Able Volunteers for Ocean Adventures
Chasing Dolphins with Earthwatch: A Volunteer Vacation Abroad
Volunteer Abroad with Global Crossroad
Volunteer Work Abroad with Global Vision International
Volunteer Work Abroad with Cross-Cultural Solutions
Volunteer Abroad with Worldteach
Volunteer Work Abroad with Cactus
Volunteer in 50 Countries with United Planet
Volunteer Abroad with Volunteer Adventures
Volunteer Abroad with i-to-i
Volunteer Work with Projects Abroad
Volunteer Abroad with Languages Abroad
Volunteer Abroad with CCI
Volunteer Abroad with ELI
Volunteer in Latin America with Amigos de las Americas
Volunteer in Africa (Kenya)
Tesolmax.com: Top Jobs Teaching English Abroad
What's New AbroadWhat's New Abroad What's New