Community development work

• What does community development work involve?
• Where can I do community development work?
• What will I get out of it?
• How much does it cost or pay?
• Further information

What does community development work involve?

Community development work is when you work alongside local people to improve their lives in some way. This might include education, construction (eg building a school or digging a well), conservation, medicine, or sustainable development projects. Projects are often run by local people and are very varied in terms of what they involve, how long they take and the numbers of people (both foreign and local) who work on them.

Community development projects take all sorts of career breakers. You might like to do something completely different from your day job - for example, doing a physical job if you're used to sitting at a desk. Or, you may choose to use your professional skills and experience in a completely different environment. Volunteer organisations take people from almost every industry so you should find something to suit you.

Where can I do community development work?

You can work on a community development project anywhere in the world. Here in the UK there are a number of long-term volunteering placements, or you could work on a project abroad. Most community development work opportunities abroad are in developing countries.

What will I get out of it?

One advantage community work has over other kinds of volunteering is that you really get to know a place and its people. You work alongside locals every day and, if your project is locally-run, will get an understanding of how things work in your host country. Many volunteers find that they get a real sense of achievement from seeing a finished project, or from sharing their skills. Community development work is very much a two-way process, with you learning as much as you teach.

What does it cost or pay?

Career breakers on community development projects are almost all volunteers. Depending on the organisation you go with, you may pay for your placement. This usually includes your food and board, sometimes an expedition, and a contribution to the project itself. You can get a VSO placement which will pay your expenses (plus sometimes an allowance) but you usually have to commit to a minimum period of time (often a year).

Further information

• Search our list of career break companies for community development volunteer work.
• Need to know something else? Email us.
• Back to top.