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.
-
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 -
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 -
Maybe you fancy giving back on your year abroad? If you're looking for some charitable work experience, with some useful tips from those who've been there before, where to start and how to make it all happen, this is the section you're after! Make sure you check out our Health section too, take a peek at visa requirements and sign up to ask questions in the forum yourself!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 -
1. There are loads of organisations and good causes to suit you and your beliefs.2. It's a great way to give back to society, if you've got some spare time and can afford to be unpaid.3. It gives you the possibility to really experience the culture and learn the language or dialect.4. You don't have to commit to a full year - it's quite flexible.5. You can get stuck into admin work, physical work or project work, whatever your skills.Published in Volunteering AbroadTags -
Alice lets us know about volunteering, fascinating facts about Antananarivo, what not to miss, what to take with you and what to leave behind, what to do in case of emergency, and how to keep in touch with home.
When? August 2007 – December 2007
What? The Dodwell Trust
Where? Antananarivo, Madagascar
Published in Volunteering Abroad
Our Partners
