Volunteer Abroad

Volunteering abroad is an excellent way to build your skills, see the world, and contribute to positive, local initiatives.

Volunteer work abroad can:

• Teach new skills: Get hands-on experience in your area of interest. Improve your confidence, communication, and adaptability while boosting your CV with new skills and experiences. Even more on that below!
• Make a difference: Contribute to meaningful projects that address social, environmental, or economic challenges, led by local experts.
• Expose you to new cultures: Live in a different country, discover local customs, and expand your worldview.
• Build international friendships: Meet like-minded people from around the world and become part of a global community.

For younger people, volunteering abroad is a great way to stand out in competitive university or job applications. For adults, volunteer work abroad can facilitate a career change, build a sense of purpose, or tick a few more places off your bucket list.

How volunteering abroad can prepare you for the future

We regularly survey our participants and have found that:

• 96% feel more confident interacting with people from different cultures
• 94% reported that they have a better understanding of global challenges
• 93% think the skills and knowledge they developed will help them in future
• 91% are more confident in handling life’s challenges

Read more: The personal growth behind international volunteering

As an overseas volunteer, you’ll contribute towards local initiatives designed to aid the long term development of the community you work in. These initiatives are shaped and guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Our volunteer abroad programmes are also designed to contribute towards your development. You’ll learn new skills for your CV, immerse in a new culture, increase your confidence, and make new friends to last a lifetime. We’ll focus on your safety so you can focus on your work.

As champions of Responsible Volunteer Travel, all our overseas volunteer placements have 24-hour volunteer support and meet strict ethical standards. This has helped us to build exceptional levels of trust since 1992.

Absolutely. Many volunteer programmes, including our High School Programmes, are designed for individuals at any skill level and provide all the necessary training and orientation upon arrival. This makes them perfect for developing new personal and professional skills.

It can seem a little daunting, but volunteering abroad with us is actually really simple. All you need to do is:

1. Find the perfect volunteer programme for you, or speak with a Project Expert to talk through your options
2. Pay your deposit to secure your place, which is taken off the final cost of the project
3. Start getting ready for your adventure, with comprehensive support from our pre-departure team
4. Pay the final balance in a way that suits you at least three months before you travel
5. Enjoy your life-changing experience with 24-hour support from our staff in destination

Paying to volunteer abroad allows us to organise everything on your behalf, allowing you to enjoy an experience that is safe, rewarding, and impactful. You’ll get three meals a day, your accommodation, domestic transportation, and 24/7 support from our staff.

Our pricing varies between projects and will depend on how long you want to go for. If you are a teenager, the price will also include social activities and excursions.

The best bit? You can take advantage of our flexible payment plans. We understand that paying in one go isn’t always possible. That’s why we just ask for an initial deposit. Then, you can pay as much or as little as you like in a series of small instalments.

We’re completely flexible, but the full fee does need to be paid in full before you leave for your project.

Read what others have to say about their experiences with Projects Abroad and find out why we’re rated ’Excellent’ on Trustpilot.

Projects Abroad operate in more than 20 destinations around the world, each offering their own unique volunteering programmes.

Every country we work in offers different projects to choose from. For example, the Galapagos Islands and Fiji are great destinations for the conservation of unique species, while Cambodia and Tanzania are great for childcare and cultural immersion.

So think about what you want to do or where you want to go, then reach out to our Project Experts who can walk you through all your options in detail!

Many of our volunteer opportunities abroad operate year-round, but they are a great fit for anyone who wants to make the most of their summer holiday.

Our dedicated volunteer opportunities for teens, High School Programmes, run exclusively in the school holidays, with the summer being the most popular time to travel. These programmes have 24/7 supervision, a fully curated itinerary, and provide an unmatched opportunity to make lifelong friends.

Christmas Volunteering Abroad

With Projects Abroad, you can volunteer overseas over Christmas and New Year.

Our projects take place throughout the year, and several have dates over Christmas and New Year. Learn more about our Christmas volunteering opportunities.

Yes. We regularly run international volunteer trips for groups of five or more, including conservation projects. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.