Want to volunteer abroad, but not sure where to start?

We’ll walk you through it step-by-step. Scroll down to explore, or click one of the links to the right to jump to the section that interests you. Learn more about volunteering abroad by reading our guidebooks and searching for programs!

 

 

1.Learn about volunteering abroad

If you're new to volunteering abroad, we recommend going through a few of our top guidebooks to familiarize yourself with how to find the right program, and what to expect on your travels.

Top volunteering guidebooks

VolunteerForever

2023 – 2024 Best Volunteer Abroad Programs, Organizations, & Projects

By Sarah Vandenberg 24 May 2023
medical volunteer abroad

Medical Volunteer Abroad Programs for Doctors, Nurses, Pre Med Students

By Brittany Edwardes 23 Feb 2023
Teen and high school volunteer abroad programs - under 18 mission trips

Teen & High School Volunteer Abroad Programs | Under 18 Mission Trips

By Sarah Vandenberg 6 Dec 2022
volunteer abroad for cheap

Cheap Affordable Volunteer Abroad Programs & Low Cost Overseas Projects

By Steven Weddle 26 Feb 2023
VolunteerForever

200 Volunteer Abroad & Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants

By Sarah Vandenberg 9 Sep 2022

Guidebooks for each traveler type

amazon conservation and tree planting

Couples

How Volunteering Abroad as a Couple Can Improve Your Relationship

By Ken Budd 2 Oct 2019
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer Vacations for the Famil

Family & Group

Family & Group Volunteer Abroad Projects

By Sarah Vandenberg 1 Dec 2022
VolunteerForever

Female

Volunteer Trips for Female Solo Travelers

By Sarah Vandenberg 6 May 2022
VolunteerForever

Solo

Best Solo Vacations for Lone Travelers: Volunteer Vacations for Singles

By Robin Van Auken 20 Feb 2023
VolunteerForever

Gap Year

Gap Year Travel Abroad Programs, Projects, Internships, and Experiences

By Sarah Vandenberg 11 May 2019
Volunteer abroad programs for seniors and retirees - Global Volunteers

Senior Citizens

Volunteer Abroad Opportunities for Seniors and Retirees

By Sarah Vandenberg 27 Jan 2023
Teen and high school volunteer abroad programs - under 18 mission trips - Global Volunteers

Teen & high school

Teen & High School Volunteer Abroad Programs | Under 18 Mission Trips

By Sarah Vandenberg 6 Dec 2022
VolunteerForever

First Time

Volunteer Abroad Opportunities for First-Time Travelers

By Brittany Edwardes 29 Jun 2019

2. See where to go and what to do

Make a Real Impact Volunteering Abroad With Maximo Nivel!

Guidebooks by project type

Mental, Dental

Doctors

Medical, Dental, Nursing Mission Trips Abroad | Global Health Internship

By Brittany Edwardes 25 Sep 2016
VolunteerForever

Dentists

Dental Volunteer Abroad & Medical Mission Trips | Dentists & Students

By Nick Callos 9 Mar 2023
VolunteerForever

Nurses

Nursing Volunteer Abroad Projects for Students & Professional Nurses

By Sarah Vandenberg 10 Jan 2023
Volunteer Forever - Medical, Dental, Nursing Mission Trips Abroad

Pre-Med

Intern Abroad Programs | Overseas Pre Med & Healthcare Internships

By Brittany Edwardes 23 Aug 2014
VolunteerForever

Paramedic

Health Volunteer Abroad: Paramedic, Public Health, Midwife, Pharmacist

By Sarah Vandenberg 28 Nov 2018
VolunteerForever

HIV/AIDS Support

Health Volunteer Abroad: Paramedic, Public Health, Midwife, Pharmacist

By Sarah Vandenberg 28 Nov 2018
pmgy-long-term

Mental Health

Volunteer Abroad in Mental Health, Psychology and Special Needs

By Danielle Forshay 11 Mar 2023
Volunteer Forever - Midwifery Internships

Midwifery

Midwifery Internships and Volunteer Programs Abroad

By Nick Callos 25 Jun 2018
VolunteerForever

Vetinerary

Veterinary Volunteer Programs and Internships Abroad

By Robin Van Auken 9 Jan 2023
VolunteerForever

TEFL

Teach English Abroad: What’s the Difference Between TEFL, TESOL and CELTA?

By Sarah Vandenberg 13 Feb 2019
VolunteerForever

Teach Children

Volunteer Abroad to Teach Children: English, Sports Coaching & More

By Sarah Vandenberg 25 Jul 2016
VolunteerForever

Literacy

Promote Literacy Abroad: Volunteer Teaching Opportunities Overseas

By Nick Callos 21 Jan 2019
VolunteerForever

Girls' Empowerment

Volunteer Abroad for Women’s Empowerment & Girls’ Education

By Sarah Vandenberg 25 May 2023
VolunteerForever

English Teaching

Teach English Abroad Volunteer Programs for Education Abroad

By Brittany Edwardes 8 Apr 2015
VolunteerForever

Teach in Latin America

TEFL Certification and English Teaching Programs in Latin America

By Robin Van Auken 14 Nov 2018
Volunteer Forever - TEFL Certification

Teach in Asia

TEFL Certification and English Teaching Programs in Asia

By Rachel Roderick 15 Jul 2018
VolunteerForever

Wildlife Conservation

Wildlife, Marine Animal, Veterinary, & Conservation Volunteer Abroad

By Volunteer Forever 12 Mar 2023
VolunteerForever

Veterinary

Veterinary Volunteer Programs and Internships Abroad

By Robin Van Auken 9 Jan 2023
Teen and high school volunteer abroad programs - under 18 mission trips - Abroadly

Sea Turtles

Volunteer for Sea Turtles: Conservation in Costa Rica | Bali | Greece

By Steven Weddle 6 Apr 2017
VolunteerForever

Agriculture

Volunteer Farming and Agriculture Projects | Sustainable Farming Abroad

By Robin Van Auken 24 Mar 2018
VolunteerForever

Pre-Med

Intern Abroad Programs | Overseas Pre Med & Healthcare Internships

By Brittany Edwardes 23 Aug 2014
VolunteerForever

Law

Law & Legal Internships & Volunteer Programs Abroad

By Nick Callos 14 Jan 2023
VolunteerForever

Social Work

Human Rights & Social Work Internships Abroad: Women’s Support, Law & More

By Robin Van Auken 3 Jan 2023
VolunteerForever

Marketing

Marketing, Advertising, & Public Relations Internships & Volunteer Programs

By Nick Callos 7 Jul 2018
VolunteerForever

STEM

STEM Internships to Build Your Career: Science, Engineering Opportunities

By Robin Van Auken 19 Sep 2019
VolunteerForever

Development

Community Development Volunteer Abroad Projects and Programs

By Sarah Vandenberg 11 Jul 2016
VolunteerForever

Construction

Construction Volunteer Abroad Projects: Help Build Houses Overseas!

By Sarah Vandenberg 23 Aug 2018
VolunteerForever

Sustainability

Volunteer & Intern Abroad: Sustainable Construction & Renewable Energy

By Rachel Roderick 20 Sep 2018
Volunteer Forever - Alternative Spring Break Trips

Skills Building

Volunteer in Cambodia: Teaching, Medical, Computer Training and More

By Volunteer Forever 13 Jan 2018
VolunteerForever

Crash Course

Gap Year Travel Abroad Programs, Projects, Internships, and Experiences

By Sarah Vandenberg 11 May 2019
What's the difference between TEFL, TESOL, CELTA?

Planning

Key Factors to Consider for An Amazing Gap Year Abroad

By Volunteer Forever 9 Oct 2017
VolunteerForever

Australia

Spend Your Gap Year in Australia!

By Nick Callos 21 Jul 2017
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer and Intern in Spain

Europe

Spend Your Gap Year in Europe!

By Nick Callos 22 Jul 2017
Volunteer Forever - 30 Best Places to Volunteer Abroad

Peru

Spend Your Gap Year in Peru!

By Sarah Vandenberg 27 Aug 2017
VolunteerForever

South Africa

Spend Your Gap Year in South Africa!

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 1 Aug 2017
Volunteer Forever - 30 Best Places to Volunteer Abroad

Thailand

Spend Your Gap Year in Thailand!

By Nikki Martinez 15 Jul 2017
Volunteer Forever - Become Bilingual

Spanish

Spanish Immersion Programs: Learn Spanish Abroad, Earn College Credit

By Robin Van Auken 19 Feb 2018
Volunteer Forever - French Language Immersion

French

French Language Immersion | Learn French, Intern in Fashion & More

By Volunteer Forever 12 Mar 2018
Best internships abroad - i-to-i

Mandarin Chinese

Chinese Mandarin Immersion Programs: Learn Mandarin in China

By Lara V. 16 Mar 2018

Guidebooks by destination

long term volunteer abroad programs

Ghana

Volunteer & Intern in Ghana | Volunteer Abroad

By Nick Callos 2 Jan 2018
VolunteerForever

South Africa

Volunteer Abroad in South Africa | Overseas Volunteer Programs

By Melissa Haynes 16 Mar 2015
Volunteer Abroad for Women’s Empowerment & Girls’ Education

Tanzania

Volunteer in Tanzania: Wildlife, Teach English, Medical & More

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 13 Nov 2016
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer Abroad in Mental Health, Psychology and Special Needs

Kenya

Volunteer in Kenya: Teach English, Sports Coaching & Medical Care

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 13 Oct 2016
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer in Madagascar

Madagascar

Volunteer in Madagascar: Lemurs, Conservation, Wildlife and More

By Volunteer Forever 5 Feb 2018
Best internships abroad - Love Volunteers

Morocco

Volunteer & Teach in Morocco: English, Sports Coaching, Speech Therapy

By Volunteer Forever 22 May 2017
VolunteerForever

Bali

Volunteer in Bali: Turtle Conservation Programs, Teach English & More

By Steven Weddle 11 May 2017
Volunteer Forever - Teach English in China

China

Volunteer and Intern in China: English Teaching, Panda Conservation & More

By Nick Callos 22 Jan 2018
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer & Intern in Vietnam

Vietnam

Volunteer & Intern in Vietnam: Teach English, Medical Care, Childcare

By Volunteer Forever 29 Dec 2017
Volunteer abroad programs for seniors and retirees - Abroadly

Thailand

Volunteer in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand: Elephants, Economy & English

By Rebecca Lucas 25 Jul 2017
Volunteer Abroad for Women’s Empowerment & Girls’ Education - Volunteer Forever

Sri Lanka

Volunteer in Sri Lanka: Sea Turtles, Medical, Teach English & More

By Rebecca Lucas 25 Oct 2019
Volunteer Forever - 30 Best Places to Volunteer Abroad

Cambodia

Volunteer in Cambodia: Teaching, Medical, Computer Training and More

By Volunteer Forever 13 Jan 2018
VolunteerForever

Fiji

Volunteer in Fiji: Marine Conservation, Sea Turtles, Teach English

By Steven Weddle 11 May 2017
Wildlife, Marine Animal, Veterinary, & Conservation Volunteer Abroad

Australia

Volunteer in Australia: Animals, Conservation, Ranching and More

By Lara V. 16 Jan 2020
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer in New Zealand

New Zealand

Volunteer in New Zealand: Teaching, Environmental Conservation & Animals

By Lara V. 22 Jan 2019
Wildlife, Marine Animal, Veterinary, & Conservation Volunteer Abroad

Costa Rica

Volunteer in Costa Rica: Wildlife Conservation, TEFL, Medical Care

By Sarah Vandenberg 25 Aug 2016
VolunteerForever

Guatemala

Volunteer in Guatemala: Sea Turtles, English Teaching, Public Health

By Victoria Brown 18 Aug 2017
VolunteerForever

Caribbean

Volunteer in the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 26 Jun 2017
VolunteerForever

Mexico

Volunteer in Mexico: Conservation, Wildlife, Childcare, and Medicine

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 18 Aug 2017
The United States alone may send 20 million volunteer travelers on projects worldwide by the year 2020. The UK, the EU, Australia, and Canada also are seeing millions of its citizens travel for volunteer opportunities. Nearly all of these individual travelers are alone when they begin their journeys.

Belize

Volunteer in Belize: Work with Marine Wildlife, Research Coral Reefs

By Robin Van Auken 20 Feb 2018
VolunteerForever

Nicaragua

Volunteer in Nicaragua | Teach English, Animal Sanctuaries & More

By Sarah H. 2 Feb 2018
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer and Intern in Spain

Around Europe

Volunteer, Teach, Intern in Europe: Over 30 projects in 13 countries

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 7 Mar 2023
VolunteerForever

Spain

Volunteer and Intern in Spain: Teach English, Learn Spanish and More

By Nick Callos 7 Sep 2022
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer in Portugal

Portugal

Volunteer in Portugal | Teach English, Work with Children and More

By Robin Van Auken 12 Feb 2018
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer in Romania

Romania

Volunteer in Romania: Medical, Teaching, Animals & More

By Lara V. 13 Mar 2018
Volunteer Forever - 30 Best Places to Volunteer Abroad

Greece

Volunteer in Greece: Education, Refugee Camps, Sea Turtles and More

By Nick Callos 27 Jan 2018
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer and Intern in Italy

Italy

Volunteer and Intern in Italy | Teach English, Help Animals and More

By Volunteer Forever 7 Feb 2018
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer Travel Opportunities in the USA

USA

Volunteer Travel Opportunities in the USA

By Rachel Roderick 25 Jun 2018
VolunteerForever

Mexico

Volunteer in Mexico: Conservation, Wildlife, Childcare, and Medicine

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 18 Aug 2017
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer in Canada

Canada

Volunteer in Canada | Help Indigenous People, Work With Animals & More

By Lara V. 12 Feb 2018
VolunteerForever

Peru

Volunteer in Peru: Amazon Conservation, Spanish Immersion, Childcare

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 13 Sep 2016
VolunteerForever

Ecuador

Volunteer in Ecuador: Wildlife, Rainforest Conservation, Teaching

By Jordyn Hotchkiss 27 Sep 2016
Volunteer Forever - Volunteering Opportunities in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Argentina

Volunteer in Argentina: English Teaching, Wildlife Conservation and More

By Nick Callos 29 Jan 2018
volunteer with friends

Brazil

Volunteer in Brazil: Conservation, Teaching English, Sports Development and More

By Lara V. 2 Feb 2018
Volunteer Forever - Volunteer in Brazil

Amazon Rainforest

Volunteer Abroad in the Amazon Rainforest: Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador

By Rachel Roderick 30 Nov 2018
VolunteerForever

Colombia

Volunteer Opportunities in Colombia: Teach English, Medical, Conservation

By Lara V. 5 Feb 2018

Guidebooks by season & duration

DR Spring Break4

Spring Break

Alternative Spring Break Trips: Volunteer Abroad Trips for Students

By Volunteer Forever 12 Mar 2019
VolunteerForever

Summer Break

Summer Volunteer Work Abroad Programs & Opportunities

By Sarah Vandenberg 19 Feb 2019
VolunteerForever

Winter Break

Winter Break Volunteer Abroad Programs | Trips for Christmas Break

By Volunteer Forever 18 Aug 2019
pmgy-long-term

Long-Term Volunteering

Long Term Volunteer Work Abroad Programs & Voluntary Charity Jobs

By Brittany Edwardes 11 Mar 2023
VolunteerForever

Short-Term Volunteering

Short Term Volunteer Abroad Programs & Mission Trips (1 Week & 2 Weeks)

By Brittany Edwardes 8 Mar 2023

3.Find a program

Ready to narrow your options? Here's how to use Volunteer Forever to find an amazing program abroad!

Visit our Volunteer programs page, where you’ll find hundreds of organizations and projects all over the world.

 

Click on an organization name to learn more about who they are, what they do, and how you can get involved.

 

Want to know more about travel opportunities with that organization? Follow the link to their website to explore and start your application!

 

4.Plan your travels

Once you’ve decided on your dream project, it’s time to apply! Here are a few of our top recommended partners.

Maximo Nivel

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953

Maximo Nivel provides high quality volunteer, intern, study, and teach abroad programs in Latin America. Since 2003, they have offered volunteer programs to travelers in medical and healthcare, teaching, childcare, and much more. Programs are located in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru!

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

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1131

Established in 2007, IVHQ is the world's leading volunteer abroad organization offering projects in over 40 international destinations. Whether you are traveling for one week or even taking a gap year, or simply wishing to assist a community abroad, IVHQ has the program for you.

Projects Abroad

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349

Projects Abroad is one of the largest volunteer abroad organizations in the world, sending 10,000 travelers of all ages around the globe each year on a variety of volunteer projects. Programs range from childcare, to teaching, to sports, and beyond.

Love Volunteers

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67

Love Volunteers provides truly meaningful, life-changing volunteering abroad programs in more than 34 developing countries worldwide.

Plan My Gap Year

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2201

Founded in 2011, Plan My Gap Year offers affordable volunteer trips for childcare, English teaching, wildlife conservation, and more. As 93% of their 3,000 participants per year are either solo or female, PMGY is a great fit for those volunteering alone and want to meet other like-minded travelers.

GVI

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52

Degree- and career-related volunteer trips and internships worldwide.

GoEco

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23

GoEco is a leading ecotourism company with a varied selection of affordable volunteer projects abroad - a gateway to over 150 extraordinary community, wildlife and environmental initiatives all over the world.

A Broader View Volunteers Corp (ABV)

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263

Nonprofit organization offering volunteer travel placements in 25 countries, supporting local organizations in low-income communities.

Naturally Africa Volunteers

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13

Making a sustainable contribution to communities across Africa through education, medical and healthcare, sports and conservation projects.