Top Volunteer Abroad Experiences for Women

Volunteering abroad is a popular travel choice for women seeking adventure, cultural immersion, and meaningful impact. Whether traveling solo or with friends, the key is choosing programs that are supportive, safe, and empowering — exactly what many top volunteer organizations offer.

In fact, some providers report that about 70% of their volunteers are solo female travelers, reflecting the strong community of women embracing volunteer travel. Here are the top volunteer abroad experiences for women – programs, and destinations known for safety, support, and life-changing impact (in order of preference).

1. International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) – Affordable & Female-Friendly Programs

IVHQ is a top volunteer organization emphasizing safety, affordability, and support—perfect for women travelers. With vetted accommodations, 24/7 in-country support, and online training, IVHQ ensures confidence throughout your trip.

IVHQ offers women’s empowerment projects in destinations worldwide, helping local women gain education, vocational skills, and financial independence. For example, their Women’s Education project in Tanzania lets you work with a warm community on gender equality initiatives, and their programs in the Middle East have become favorites among female volunteers for the super supportive local team and like-minded volunteer community. 

IVHQ also highlights extremely safe destinations like Portugal, the world’s 4th most peaceful country, “the perfect destination for female travelers”, where volunteers never feel alone. With IVHQ’s low fees and flexible bookings, you can volunteer abroad without breaking the bank. 

Why wait? Check out IVHQ’s programs to find an empowering adventure – you can even submit a free application online and secure your spot up to 3 years in advance!

2. GoEco – Diverse Projects with 24/7 Support

GoEco offers diverse, impactful volunteer opportunities in over 40 countries. With 24-hour emergency hotlines and dedicated on-site coordinators, it’s a reliable choice for women seeking safety and support.

Whether you’re teaching English in Japan or helping a food rescue initiative in Lisbon, GoEco ensures an immersive experience backed by knowledgeable local teams. Women looking to uplift other women will love GoEco’s female-focused programs: for instance, the Women’s English Literacy project in Sri Lanka is a women-only placement where you’ll join other female volunteers to teach English and boost local women’s confidence. In Nepal, GoEco’s Empowering Women in Kathmandu program connects volunteers with women who never had formal schooling – you’ll teach vital skills like basic English, computers, and confidence-building to improve their independence and job prospects. 

If wildlife or environmental conservation is more your style, GoEco has you covered too: you can volunteer with sea turtles in Costa Rica, patrolling beaches for nesting turtles and releasing hatchlings, all while living in a safe coastal community. 

With GoEco, you’ll find projects ranging from short-term volunteer vacations to longer internships. Many programs currently even offer perks like a third week free for extended stays.

3. Maximo Nivel – Latin America Specialists with Top-notch Support

Founded in 2003, Maximo Nivel operates local institutes in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru, and has a dedicated support team available 7 days a week to assist volunteers. 

Women volunteers especially appreciate Maximo Nivel’s focus on cultural immersion and safety during orientation. You might find yourself teaching English to kids in Cusco, working at an animal shelter in Guatemala, or helping with eco-agriculture in the Costa Rican cloud forest. Volunteers of all ages – from college students to seniors – have succeeded with Maximo Nivel’s structured programs. Over 25,000 travelers have trusted them so far. 

One unique offering is their Spanish language classes and TEFL certification programs, which you can pair with volunteering for a truly enriching gap year or career break. 

4. Projects Abroad – Decades of Experience & Rigorous Safety

Projects Abroad, with 30+ years of experience, places thousands of volunteers annually. Safety is a priority, with vetted staff, secure locations, airport transfers, quality accommodation, and thorough orientations.

Projects Abroad runs special programs for high schoolers and has many options for women over 50 looking for a meaningful trip. 

Interested in women’s rights? You can join a Women’s Empowerment project in Tanzania to help local women build skills and confidence. Prefer teaching or community work? Projects Abroad has volunteer teaching placements in safe, vibrant locales such as the Philippines and Mongolia, where you can educate youth while exploring a new culture. There are also sports coaching projects; imagine empowering girls through sports in Argentina! 

Wildlife lovers can contribute to shark conservation in Fiji or work with giant tortoises in the Galapagos, knowing that all projects have staff guidance and safety nets. 

Browse Projects Abroad’s opportunities and get ready to volunteer with the peace of mind that comes from traveling with one of the most reputable organizations in the field.

5. African Impact – Award-Winning Projects Empowering Girls in Africa

African Impact’s flagship initiative is the “Girl Impact” women’s empowerment program in Zambia – an award-winning project that supports adolescent girls through education, health, and skills development. As a volunteer, you’ll run workshops on safety, income generation, and self-confidence, positively impacting young women.

African Impact also offers exciting wildlife and community programs for adventurous women. You could assist conservation research on a Big Cat & Elephant project in Kenya’s Maasai Mara or join teaching & community support in Zanzibar to help improve education for children. 

Other options include wildlife photography in South Africa and more! 

6. Involvement Volunteers International (IVI) – Global Impact with an Eye on Safety

Involvement Volunteers International (IVI) is an Australian non-profit charity with over 30 years of experience sending volunteers abroad. Women volunteers benefit from rigorous risk assessments, thorough pre-trip guidance, detailed health and safety information, and 24/7 emergency support. IVI’s diverse projects often focus on helping vulnerable communities.

For example, they offer humanitarian programs aiding women and children refugees – you could volunteer at a refugee support center in Greece or Turkey, helping with food distribution, education, and empowerment initiatives for Syrian women rebuilding their lives. In the South Pacific, IVI runs a Public Health & Nutrition project in Vanuatu, where volunteers assist local healthcare teams in delivering workshops on nutrition and basic health screenings in villages. Animal lovers might opt for IVI’s Animal Shelter program in Mexico, caring for rescued dogs and cats – a safe, structured placement perfect for solo travelers. 

7. Volunteering Solutions (VolSol) – Wide Selection & Safeguards for Every Volunteer

With placements across nearly every continent, VolSol maintains a comprehensive safeguarding policy to protect volunteers and communities. Their dedicated team guides you from travel preparations to in-country orientation and support. 

Some top destinations for 2025 include New Zealand and Australia – VolSol has popular conservation projects in these very safe countries where you might help plant native trees or rehabilitate wildlife in sanctuaries. If Europe appeals, how about volunteering while enjoying the rich culture of Spain or Ireland? 

Volunteering Solutions offers community development in Barcelona and even a unique charity shop volunteering program in Ireland, where you’ll live in a homestay and assist at a community-run shop. For those passionate about women’s issues, VolSol also runs women’s support and education projects in countries like India, Nepal, and Tanzania – helping at women’s shelters, teaching girls, or contributing to healthcare outreach. 

8. Global Vision International (GVI) – Structured Expeditions with a Safety Net

Rounding out our list is Global Vision International (GVI) – a top choice for women who want a highly structured, impactful volunteer expedition with an extra emphasis on safety. 

You could join a desert elephant conservation project in Namibia, living in the African bush and helping track elephant herds to reduce human-wildlife conflict. If marine conservation excites you, GVI offers programs like protecting coral reefs in the Perhentian Islands of Malaysia, where you’ll volunteer on boat-based surveys and even protect nesting sea turtles on a tropical island. They also have a turtle nest monitoring project in Nicaragua and a unique PADI Divemaster internship with marine research in Panama – great for adventurous women building career skills in conservation diving. 

Prefer working with people? GVI runs community programs such as education and English teaching in Vietnam. Across all these experiences, GVI’s “strong focus on safety” shines – volunteers get secure housing, strict safety protocols, and 24-hour emergency support. 

Empower Your Journey: Volunteer Abroad with Confidence

Ready to explore the world, make a difference, and empower yourself along the way? These top volunteer abroad experiences offer women of all ages safe, supportive, and life-changing opportunities across the globe. Whether you’re passionate about education, conservation, or women’s rights, there’s a program designed to match your interests and goals. 

With trusted organizations, you can travel with confidence and purpose. So why wait? Start your volunteer journey today and discover just how powerful meaningful travel can be.