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home | study, work, & travel | work abroad | options | types of volunteer abroad programs Types of Volunteer Abroad ProgramsThe following represent only a fraction of the existing possibilities; please refer to the guides listed in Web Sites for Volunteering Abroad for full information. How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas is the best place to start because it is the most up-to-date. Short Term (up to 6 months)These can give a taste of volunteering without a long commitment, while testing out one's ideals against reality. Most short-term volunteer possibilities are with small, non-profit, non-governmental organizations. WorkcampsA long-established and popular tradition in Europe, volunteer projects known as workcamps pay only room and board, but they provide opportunities which are otherwise not available. Literally hundreds are available, located in nearly all Western and Eastern European countries, as well as a few in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. You can work for social causes that are unlikely as a paid job. And workcamps are group experiences, often with nearly every participant coming from a different country. Despite their name, workcamps are usually fun and relatively easy-going, group-oriented international experiences. Each has around 15-20 volunteers from around the world and from the local community. The workcamp movement originated in Europe after World War I to increase cross-cultural understanding, and there it is still the most popular form of international educational exchange. Workcamps generally last 2-4 weeks in the summer, though a few last several months. They typically involve doing physical work for the environment, restoring historic buildings, putting together festivals, or caring for children or elderly people with special needs. They are located in every Eastern and Western European country, as well as several countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America (and the U.S.). Student status is not required. There is a registration fee for each workcamp and room and board are provided. Apply from late March through May to one of the following:
For dozens of other short-term volunteer options, consult the directories of volunteer programs available at U-M International Center. Read our student report: Volunteer Workcamps Special Volunteer Abroad OrganizationsThese present an astounding variety of options almost anywhere in the world, from working with refugees to assisting the elderly or those with mental or physical disabilities; from tagging sea turtles to maintaining paths in the Central American rain forest; from archaeological digs to scientific expeditions. Persons of all types and levels of skills are needed. Many of these organizations provide substantial on-site support, such as a resident director, in addition to the connections they provide with host-country communities. All charge fees to cover these services, and to cover the living expenses of the volunteer. Good starting places to research volunteer abroad programs are the book How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas , and the web site of the International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA). We give additional web sites that list volunteer abroad programs in our Work Abroad Web Sites. Examples include:
…and many more Service-learning and internshipsVolunteer and get academic credit. Many structured programs provide training or academic classes together with placement into service work or an internship position. Many of these provide academic credit. A few examples include the following:
Tuition fees for credit-granting programs are generally higher than fees for other service opportunities. These programs may be found in Work Abroad Web Sites, such as IIEPassport.org, GoAbroad.com, and Transitions Abroad. Government and International OrganizationsThe only short-term opportunities U.S. government agencies such as USAID, and with large public multinationals such as the United Nations are internships. These tend to be for graduate students, and are unpaid. Some volunteer abroad programs (above) can place volunteers with these organizations. Long TermFor those ready to make the commitment, assignments lasting a year or more have special rewards in many ways: one can adjust to the new culture sufficiently to begin to make a real personal contribution, and accordingly, more organizations are willing to share a larger portion of the volunteer's expenses. For those interested in a career in development work, this is usually the best first step. U.S. GovernmentPeace Corps. This organization is unique in terms of the support it gives its volunteers. These are among the best-paid entry-level jobs in the developing world. Benefits include all expenses and transportation, extensive training, a resettlement allowance of approximately $6,000 at the end of the two-year assignment, and in some cases partial cancellation of educational loans and tuition assistance for future study. Only U.S. citizens are eligible.
The Peace Corps (by its charter) goes only where it is invited and attempts to provide skills requested by the inviting country. Generalists are still hired as English teachers and other positions after meeting the Peace Corps' requirements. Others with skills in areas such as math and science, health and nutrition, skilled trades, business, education and special education, forestry, fisheries, and agriculture are especially welcome. Inquire at:
United NationsAlthough there is a United Nations Volunteer Program, this is for experienced professionals only, especially those in technical areas. U.S. citizens must apply through the Peace Corps; others can apply directly. Call 800.424.8580 x2243 for information. Non-Governmental OrganizationsThese organizations, of which there are hundreds, can be roughly categorized into those that hire only experienced professionals (especially in health and technological fields) and those that will consider volunteers without these skills. The former type includes large, well-known NGOs such as the following: Some of these also hire graduate school interns. Other NGOs will consider applicants without specific skills. Examples of these include the following:
Note: Some of these organizations charge a fee, while others provide room and board. Religious-Affiliated OrganizationsMany of these organizations are engaged in courageous and activist-oriented work for social change. They might be roughly grouped into those which see their mission as primarily working for social assistance and change, and those whose primary focus is proselytizing; of course, a few combine these activities. Organizations of the social-activist nature include the following:
Volunteers for these organizations should be active members of the particular faith or church. However, some religious organizations are willing to consider those open to (religious) values even though not a believer, such as the following:
Numerous organizations in Israel will accept both Jewish and non-Jewish volunteers. Next: “Resources for Volunteering Abroad” Last reviewed: 06/10 |
