Volunteering during your year abroad can be a great way to combine practicing your language skills whilst contributing to fantastic teaching or conservation projects all over the world. There are so many different opportunities out there that, on first inspection, planning this kind of year abroad can seem like quite a daunting task, so we've put together some case studies and organisations to show you how easy it is to work for a good cause on your year abroad.
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Top Ten Things You Need to Know Before Volunteering Abroad
Written by Dunya Carter Monday, 10 December 2012If you would love to spend some time volunteering abroad in your university holidays but have no idea where to start, then don't worry: you're not the only one. It's always a good idea to get advice from someone who's been through it all before. Dunya has spent more than a year travelling and volunteering in Serbia and Thailand, and here she shares the top ten things she's glad she found out before she decided to volunteer abroad...Published in Volunteering Abroad -
Misión México - volunteering in Tapachula
Thursday, 29 March 2012In November 2000, Alan and Pamela Skuse left their home on the Sunshine Coast of Australia, to volunteer at an orphanage in Tapachula, southern Mexico, for 12 months. The orphanage closed down after six months however, leaving the Skuses with a life changing decision: to return to Australia, or take on the overwhelming challenge of caring for the seven children full time.
Leaving the children to return to the streets and lives of poverty and abuse was not an option so, despite the lack of resources and support, the couple decided to take on the huge responsibility of establishing their own refuge, ’Albergue, Misión México, Dando Amor, Vida y Esperanza’ (Mission Mexico Refuge, Giving Love, Life and Hope).Published in Volunteering AbroadTags -
Hilary volunteered with APARE, a European youth organisation based in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in the heart of the Mediterranean, in her summer holidays. Here she explains what's involved and the benefits of volunteering in the south of France on your year abroad.
Published in Volunteering AbroadTags -
Issie Hutchinson worked for the Epona Trust, an equine charity, on her year abroad. She spent her time in Normandy, France. Here's her account...
What: Volunteering for a horse charity
When: January to June 2011
Where: The Epona TrustPublished in Volunteering AbroadTags -
Culture Shock: Nepal
Written by Poppy Bending BeckettPoppy Bending Beckett warns about a few cultural differences you'll encounter if you're off to Nepal...
1. Transport and the driving code
Cows standing in the middle of incredibly busy streets are normal. In theory, cars drive on the right hand side of the road – however in practice, it’s essentially a free for all. Also, as a pedestrian in Nepal – you are essentially a target. Don’t expect a driver to stop if you get in their way – you’re lucky if they even slow down! In Nepal – cars don’t have reverse lights – but reverse music... Each vehicle has its own individual tune. The novelty takes a long time to wear off! Buses: just because there isn’t a bus stop – this doesn’t mean the bus won’t stop. Give the driver a wave, and you’ll soon be on board. Don’t be shocked to have a duck sitting next to you, or some other flying animal of sorts.Published in Volunteering Abroad
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Vicky Warrell is studying Russian at the University of Nottingham and is currently volunteering with her friend Lois, author of '10 things I wish I known before leaving for Russia', in a small community called Orion, which is about an hour outside Moscow. For the latest updates check out her blog, and in the meantime here's a day in her life as a volunteer in Russia...Published in Volunteering AbroadTags -
When? September 2011- December 2011
What? VESL
Where? Kerala, India
In my final year at university I couldn't decide exactly what I wanted to do, I spent my third year of university studying in Canada and really wanted to travel again! But I wanted to do something worthwhile while I was doing it. Through a travel fair at Edinburgh University I found out about a charity called VESL who offer teaching placements in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. They are a small NGO based in the UK that offers teaching experiences that last between four and twelve weeks, you do not have to have any formal qualification to volunteer with VESL, which was a bonus for me as I am a Geography graduate!Published in Volunteering AbroadTags -
Hannah Cameron, 21, studied Pharmacology at Leeds University and decided to set up Volunteer Experience Africa after doing volunteer work in Ghana and Kenya. She says, "it was a wonderful experience for me and I wanted to give other people the chance to sample the same. I first volunteered in Ghana when I was in sixth form, where I spent time in a local hospital gaining invaluable work experience (as I was applying to study medicine at university). While I was there I made friends with many of the locals and hospital staff and have returned on two subsequent occasions."
Published in Volunteering AbroadTags -
Rosie Gold is a third year French and Spanish student studying at Manchester University. She spent the first half of her year abroad in Paris where she worked in a bank, and then decided that volunteering in Buenos Aires would be a nice change, having had it recommended to her about twenty times by people who'd visited. Here she tells us about her experiences with the organisation Voluntario Global.Published in Volunteering Abroad -
Daniel Dawes volunteered in Mexico, around the Oaxacan coast and the Yucatán. He worked with H.E.L.P and gives us his account of how it went, what he helped out with and what he got out of it
When? Summer 2003
What? H.E.L.P (Humanitarian Educational Long term Project)
Where? Mexico (Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Zipolite, San Cristobal de las Casas, Palenque, Tulum, Mérida, Mexico City)Published in Volunteering Abroad
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