Volunteer abroad

Volunteering abroad is for you if you want to make an important positive difference to the world. Regardless of your professional skills and experience, there's a project out there to suit you. As well as that warm feeling inside you'll get from helping, you'll also have something fantastic to stick on your CV, plus improved confidence, new skills, and a bucketful of memories.

What you might not know about volunteering abroad:

  • You can volunteer abroad from as little as 1 week to as much as 2 years
  • You usually have to pay for your volunteer project unless you go for a year or more (read more about paying to volunteer here)
  • Although most volunteer projects are in developing countries, you can volunteer in western countries too (like the US or right here in the UK)
  • You usually have to be 18 or over to volunteer abroad and there is no maximum age limit
  • Almost any professional skill can be used in volunteer work abroad, and many projects require no experience

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Oyster Worldwide offer a wide range of volunteer abroad projects. You can work with children or adults, refugees, and people affected by HIV. Projects exist in community development, animal conservation, health and social care, and teaching. Click here to find out more.

Your questions answered

What kind of voluntary work can I do abroad?

The volunteering opportunities abroad are as numerous as the types of job you can do here in the UK. Some of the most popular voluntary jobs are:

  • Teaching - often English as a second language, or coaching sports
  • Conservation work - tracking animals, assisting a vet, carrying out scientific research, etc
  • Community development - participating in a project run by locals to improve their community. This could include teaching, planting trees, training locals in useful skills, or construction.
  • Care - often of children (eg AIDS orphans)

For professionals, the range of volunteering opportunities is even wider. Many organisations recruit volunteers with specific professional skills. It isn't just doctors, nurses and engineers - professional volunteers come from all industries.

How do I sort out my volunteer work abroad?

It is possible to organise your own volunteer work, but almost all volunteers go with an established organisation. Why?

  • The organisation can help you find a project which is going to benefit both you and the local community, not just now, but in years to come too.
  • They can often organise things like your visas, insurance and even flights. Even if you organise them yourself, they can advise you on what you need.
  • A representative of the organisation is almost always available in your destination so can provide help and support.

How much does it cost?

That depends on who you go with. Some organisations don't charge anything, and others charge a fee for each project, from several hundred to several thousand pounds. While it might seem a lot, it often works out cheaper than your normal outgoings at home (because you're living in a country with a lower cost of living). Read more about paying to volunteer here

What will I get out of it?

Many volunteer projects include some formal training (and some of this training you can undertake yourself). Training might include:

  • A TEFL or TESOL course (to teach English as a Foreign or Second Language)
  • Learning the language and/or culture of your host country
  • Diving qualification (for marine research)

There may also be training specific to your placement. Projects often include optional extra activities, such as:

  • Cultural activities, including dance lessons or cookery school
  • Expeditions and trekking
  • Adventure or water sports

Now what?