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Volunteering Abroad
There are plenty of charities and organisations that host a wide range of volunteer trips for older adults from conservation work in Mexico to childcare provision in Ghana. Volunteering abroad is the perfect opportunity for a refreshing change of scenery whilst contributing to a good cause.
You can choose the amount of time you wish to be away for – from as little as one month, to whole years away. In the past, you may have struggled to arrange trips abroad due to work and childcare, but with retirement comes the gift of time and freedom, so why not make this a year to remember?
As you might expect, it’s not all a free ride. Unlike volunteering locally, you may need to pay for flights, some travel expenses and sometimes even limited costs towards food and accommodation. But for those who have the time and can afford it, your experience abroad could be adventurous, unforgettable and life-changing.
What sort of voluntary programmes are available abroad?
- Conservation: There are various opportunities to get involved in conservation, from managing an elephant sanctuary in Thailand to participating in a Poaching Awareness Course in South Africa.
- Arts and Education: This is an opportunity to work with local teachers abroad to offer support and teach English. This can be done almost anywhere in world, from Brazil to Cambodia. Some programmes offered target women’s education.
- Community: Work alongside different community groups in various centres and settings across the globe to help them flourish. Why not give Mexico a go?
- Sports Coaching: If you are into sports and fitness why not help disadvantaged players enhance their sporting skills – why not try Kenya or Fiji?
- Childcare: Help support children from disadvantaged backgrounds at school, at home and in children’s centres. This can done all around the world – browse the list of countries available at Volunteer HQ.
- Archeology: You’d be working side by side with professionals in the field to uncover and preserve parts of history in countries such as Peru.
- Building: Work in deprived regions, helping to build the infrastructure they so desperately need, from schools to hospitals in places such as Laos, Vietnam.
Volunteer your professional skills abroad
Many organisations that offer volunteering abroad such as Projects Abroad also ask for voluntary qualified professionals who can offer their knowledge or skills in disadvantaged countries.
These include professions such as:
- Doctor
- Nurse
- Vets
- Lawyers, advocates etc
- Physiotherapists
- Business professionals
- Dentists
If you’re thinking about offering your professional skills abroad,Projects Abroad offer Flexi Trips which are ideal because they don’t follow a set schedule and allow you to pick the start and end dates for your journey. This allows you greater freedom on your travels and lets you decide how many hours you wish to volunteer your skills.
Which organisations can I volunteer with?
Projects Abroad, GVI, Volunteer HQ
Which sort of countries can I travel to?
Nepal, Ecuador, Cambodia, Ghana, Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico, India, Kenya, Bali, Australia
The real question is, where do you want to go?
If you’re interested in volunteering abroad, then why not head over to the volunteering section of our site where you can browse opportunities near you?
Why volunteer later in life?
More and more people are finding satisfaction in Volunteering. Find out why you should become a volunteer and the benefits it can bring.
Find your purpose
Volunteer for a charity and you will be joining a mission to make the world a better place. Find a cause that inspires you and get started.