Overview

“When making a decision, it’s important at all times to consider the host community, remembering that your presence will have an impact not only on you but also on them.” There are many issues to consider when making the decision to go overseas as a volunteer.

Assess your motivations

For anyone thinking of volunteering overseas, it is very important to examine your motivations before making any final decisions. Being aware of your motivations will help you to develop realistic expectations for your involvement. Read more....

Consider Alternatives at Home

If you are not certain that going overseas is the right option for you, it’s good to consider the alternatives that are available through volunteering at home. Read more....

 

Ask Yourself

There are many questions to ask yourself that will help you get a clearer picture of the type of voluntary work that would best suit your skills and interests, as well as an idea of the conditions under which you would like to live and work while overseas.

 

Ask the Organisation

There are a large number of organisations that send volunteers overseas. This list of possible questions to ask any organisation will help you to choose the most suitable organisation for you.

 

Types of Organisations

There are a large number and variety of organisations that arrange volunteer placements. We have divided them into five sections to help you to find the best placement.

 

Types of Work

There are a large variety of tasks that volunteers can be asked to do, varying from highly skilled to work just needing commitment and enthusiasm. Before going away it is good to reflect on how you might be spending your days while overseas.

 

Why Pay?

Many sending organisations expect volunteers to pay for their experience overseas. Before handing money over there are a few issues to consider. Read more here...

 

Find an Opportunity

Search our database to get information on over 100 organisations that arrange volunteer placements overseas. Find out more about the organisations, from their mission statements, to the countries they work in, to in-depth information about their volunteer placements. If you are interested in a particular organisation, follow the link to its site to get the most recent and up-to-date information.

 

Painting Murals © Máximo Nivel

 
 

Volunteering Options - Promoting best practice in volunteering for global development