In the volunteering world there are two types of organizations….local NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and Volunteer Service Organizations.
Local NGOs are usually small non-profits focused on specific causes such as orphanages or the building of community centers. They rarely have the funding to recruit and support international volunteers themselves, so they partner with Volunteer Service Organizations (for-profits) who recruit, manage, and support the volunteers, VSO’s charge the volunteers a fee to volunteer through their organization.
Why Can’t I volunteer on My Own?
Well….you can! Thousands of people volunteer each year independent of volunteer VSO’s. If you are comfortable with international travel, doing it independently could be the way to go for you! Just simply travel to a country that inspires and interests you and look around. However, you would be responsible for your own housing, food, travel insurance, and local transportation etc. Whilst volunteering independently of VSO’s can be perfect for some, most people do not have the confidence, time or knowledge to organize everything.
And that’s where VSO’s step in! You pay your fee, and they organize every aspect of your experience.
What am I paying for?
- Administration….VSO’s employ a full time staff who build partnerships and recruit, support, and manage the volunteers, and your fee covers these services and means the costs aren’t passed onto the local NGOs.
- Recruiting Costs….include advertising, brochures, and customer service.
- Support….help with travel vaccinations, travel insurance, fundraising etc
- Partnerships….through partnerships, volunteers are given access to the local community that an independent volunteer and solo traveler could not accomplish.
- Management….projects can last many years to complete, so there is a high turnover of volunteer’s so they manage the flow of people to and from projects.
- Training….you may need training in learning a new language or special skill.
- Travel Insurance….the fee is used to provide medical and travel insurance.
- Food and Accommodation….they always arrange food and boarding, often with locals who are given a stipend, and the families provide the necessities.
- Transport….local transport to and from the airport and other destinations.
- The Project….fees can help fund the supplies and any materials or resources needed for the project itself.
To pay or not to pay?
In some locations, such as SE Asia, it’s possible to just simply show up and offer your services. As mentioned, there are companies that charge you a lot of money to volunteer for the reasons we have discussed. And just because they charge a fee, doesn’t mean they are a scam. Just do your research to make sure they are credible and provide what they say!
So, would these places that you are sent to by VSO’s take you if you just walked up? Probably. If a place really needs volunteers, why would they turn you away? I’ll leave that up to you! Once again, you need to do your research and consider what type of personality and skills you already have in place as a traveler and a volunteer. It may be possible to save a lot of money by going it alone, but some people just need certainty in their lives, and if that means paying someone else to hold their hand through a process, then that makes sense for them. Is that you?…
You may prefer not to pay, and as also mentioned above there are people who are more experienced in international travel and living situations that would be comfortable going about it themselves! This is especially true if you are already a trained and experienced teacher and don’t need the hand holding a new teacher would.
Be aware, however, that people working in local non-profits may be overworked, and you may need to work a lot by yourself.
What to look out for in Organizations:
- Check out their customer service, just like you would before spending a large sum of money anywhere else!
- Try and network with others through forums and social media who have done and been where you are interested in going.
- Visit Ethical Volunteering , a site that offers advice & information for people who want to make sure that what they do is of value to themselves and the people they work with.
Resources for Independent Volunteering:
- Independent Volunteer provides a database of worldwide volunteer opportunities with no or low fees. Also supplies online educational resources for volunteers.
- Volunteer South America.net lists the free and low-cost volunteer opportunities in South & Central America. The site is designed for backpackers /independent travellers looking for a real volunteer experience abroad, without paying any middle -man or agency fees.
- Idealist is a data base of over 20,000 nonprofit and volunteer organizations in over 150 countries.
Here is a comprehensive list of other Voluntary programs….
- Savannah Cheetah Foundation - a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and understanding of wildlife and ecosystems indigenous to Africa, with a primary focus of reintroducing the endangered cheetah into the wild.
- Working Abroad – Ecological and Conservation Volunteer Opportunities Worldwide.
- Raleigh - a leading youth and education charity and since 1984 their expeditions have inspired over 30,000 people from all walks of life, nationalities and ages to be all they can be, helping them develop new skills, friendships and volunteer to make a genuine difference to communities in Borneo, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and India.
- Cosmic Volunteers – US-based non-profit that has volunteer programs in China, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Nepal, Guatemala, Peru, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
- Global Vision International (GVI) – one of the most well respected and volunteering organizations in world. Has been featured in various international newspapers and magazines, including The Times, The Independent, The Guardian, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Sydney Morning Herald. GVI sends over 2,000 participants away every year on volunteer programs, international training courses and ethical internships.
- World Teach – Do volunteer teaching in developing countries. This company was founded by some Harvard students in 1986, and has programs in several countries that are either for the summer or an entire year.
- Gap Force - Work in some of the world’s most remote dive locations in the Bahamas and Fiji, research in the Amazon in Ecuador, explore the forgotten lands of Nepal and Tibet, work placements in Australia, medical elective placements and more. No experience necessary!
- Council Exchanges Teach Abroad - Teach English abroad in Chile, China, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, Spain, or Thailand.
- Sunrise International - projects all over China….Panda Projects, Sea Turtles, Teaching English, Medical Internship and more!
- Global Volunteers – teams of volunteers who participate in short-term human and economic development projects worldwide from 1 – 24 weeks.
- Mani Tese - has been committed to fighting world hunger and the imbalances between North and South of the world, working together with the people of the poorest areas of the world.
- Ordex - Programmes in Ecuador.
- Mission Maldives - has a variety of volunteer projects and development programs to benefit local island communities.
- Peace Corps – Restricted to Americans, but a great way to learn about new cultures, languages and customs – not to mention making a meaningful contribution to your assigned location.
- Kaya - responsible travel work with communities on the ground in more than 20 countries to identify quality projects that are in need of volunteer assistance.
- ProWorld – places individuals and groups in service-based academic or experiential programs in Peru, Mexico, India, Thailand, and Belize.
- Sénévolu - dedicated to promoting community tourism by welcoming volunteers and travellers to discover the cultural differences a West African like Senegal has to offer, while being part of the community.
- Cross-Cultural Solutions – Gets individuals involved with solving global issues, including health care, education and community development. Programs in 12 countries with lengths-of-stay from 1-12 weeks.
- Global Volunteer Network - NZ-based program places people in community aid projects, from environmental work to cultural home stays, in 21 countries.
- VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) – UK based company and the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Placements are usually for two years, but can be as short as one month.
- London Academy of Media Film and TV - volunteer in Bali, Indonesia, with the London Academy of Media Film and TV.
- Volunteer Programs in Latin America – This organization has programs in several countries in Latin America, and while you’re volunteering you’ll also get to learn Spanish.
- Travellers WorldWide - Help children, animals and entire communities in less advantaged countries. Marine projects, coach sports, teach music and more. 250 voluntary projects abroad in 20 countries.
- Expanish - Argentina and South America programs.
- International Voluntary Service - promotes peace and intercultural understanding whilst supporting the sustainable development of British and global communities.
- Global Crossroad - volunteer and travel programs in 18 different countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America: Volunteer Abroad, TEFL Abroad, Tours and Travels, Internship Abroad, Mini-Venture, Group Seasonal Escapes and Paid Teaching opportunities.
- Volunteer Abroad – this site can help you find information about volunteer opportunities all over the world – and you can search not just by location but also by the kind of volunteer work you’re looking for.
- Project Trust – the original Gap Year provider. Aimed at 17-19 year old school leavers in full time education. Types of work include social services, teach English abroad, outdoor activity and community development schemes. There are volunteer projects in over 25 non-European countries.
- Shumba Experience – go volunteer Africa with conservation projects throughout Southern Africa, where you have the chance to work as a conservation volunteer on game reserves, veterinary projects and wildlife research projects. As volunteers you’ll be working directly with conservation professionals on location in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia.
- Think Pacific – A Fijian Island Expedition. Make a real and meaningful difference to remote communities on a gap year to Fiji by establishing kindergarten schools, teaching English, developing sports and PE and working with local people to build vital community facilities.
- Lattitude – gap year placements in 20 countries for young people from around the world. The original gap year charity specialising in volunteering for 17-25 year-olds. Volunteer opportunities from the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, India, South East Asia, Africa and South America to Canada.
- Quest – Africa and South America specialists. Journey into their heart and soul.
- Dynamy - Internship year and youth academy. They run two Hands-On Learning programs. Students participate in an array of real-world activities that increase self-awareness and self-reliance, and lead to a confident transition to higher education.
- City Year – unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. These diverse young leaders help children stay in school and on track, and transform schools and communities across the United States, as well as through international affiliates in Johannesburg, South Africa and London, England.
- CIEE – provides both outbound international education experiences for university students, faculty, and administrators, and study, work, and internship opportunities for people coming into the U.S.
ELEP is an experiential learning and education programs provider specialized in designing and delivering meaningful volunteer opportunities and professional internship programs in Ecuador, South America with highest level of service for individuals and groups from all over the world who are looking for personal and professional experiences abroad.
ELEP is an experiential learning and education programs provider specialized in designing and delivering meaningful volunteer opportunities and professional internship programs with highest level of service for individuals and groups from all over the world who are looking for experiences abroad.