International Volunteering Opportunities
Please note that the University of Essex
Vteam is not held responsible for arrangements that individuals or groups make
with any organisation contacted through the information sources detailed on
this page. Volunteers are strongly advised to satisfy themselves that any
project has sound management, policies to protect volunteers and those involved
with the project and that they fully understand any financial implications
related to any project before enrolling on it.
A unique search and match database with
over 1450 organisations and 1.1 million placements throughout the UK and in 214
countries worldwide. The Worldwide Volunteering database is now a publicly
available service that is free of charge. The external web address is www.wwv.org.uk
Volunteering England is the national
volunteer development organisation for England. They work across the voluntary,
public and private sectors to raise the profile of volunteering. Their website
provides a comprehensive Volunteering
Overseas Section which is an ideal stating place if you are considering
overseas volunteering. It contains links to various organisation's as well as
books you might want to read.
http://www.volunteering.org.uk/iwantto/volunteeringoverseas/index.htm
The European Volunteer Centre does not
place volunteers but it does provide a great number of links to country
specific volunteer centres. These are listed on their Volunteering
Opportunities page. http://www.cev.be/volunteeropportunities_en.htm
EVS offers young people the opportunity to
volunteer in another country, normally for a period of six to twelve months. A
wide variety of placements can be found in the social, cultural, environmental,
and sports sector. There is a database to search
the available opportunities through EVS.
http://ec.europa.eu/youth/program/sos/hei/hei_en.cfm
Organisations
offering short term overseas opportunities: (less than 3 months)
- Aviva provide placements working
with children or conservation for a period of between 4 – 6 weeks in South Africa, costs vary.
Web: www.aviva-sa.com Email: info@aviva-sa.com
- Biosphere Expeditions offer placements on
conservation projects across the world and won the 2006 ‘Best Volunteering Organisation’ award from First
Choice Responsible Tourism.
Placements are between 2 – 4 weeks and costs vary.
Web: www.biosphere-expeditions.org Email: info@biosphere-expeditions.org
- BTCV provide voluntary placements
in conservation across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Placement lengths and costs
vary.
Web: www.btcv.org Email:
information@btcv.org.uk
- Changing Worlds offer placements in North and South America, Asia and Africa on conservation projects.
Placements are usually 8 weeks long, and costs vary. Changing Worlds were
a founding member of the Year Out Group and are ATOL protected
Web: www.changingworlds.co.uk
Email: welcome@changingworlds.co.uk
- Concern enable willing volunteers the
opportunity to undertake global challenges in a variety of locations
including the Himalayas, China, Peru and Europe. Challenges last 2 – 4 weeks,
and costs vary.
Web: www.concern.net Email: londoninfo@concern.net
- Raleigh offer placements conservation
and animal welfare across Asia and Africa. Placements last between 5 – 10 weeks and costs vary
depending on location.
Web: www.raleigh.org.uk Email: info@raleigh.org.uk
- Volunteer Africa provide placements for
volunteers keen on construction/improving local infrastructure in Tanzania and East Africa. Placement lengths vary
between 4, 7 or 10 weeks and costs depend on placement length.
Web: www.volunteerafrica.org Email: (see contacts page)
Organisations offering both short & long term overseas
opportunities: (1 - 3 months or 6+ months)
- African Conservation Experience offers placements ranging in
length from 1 – 3 months. Placement opportunities are in South Africa and costs depend on which
project volunteers are interested in.
Web: www.conservationafrica.net Email: (see contacts
page)
- Greenforce provide placements in
conservation for a minimum of 3 months. Greenforce is supported by a
number of reputable companies, including National Geographic, STA Travel
and more. Plus it was a founding member of the Year Out Group.
Web: www.greenforce.org Email: info@greenforce.org
- International Voluntary Services offer placements of a variety
of lengths and costs, usually 2 – 3 weeks (Europe) or 3 – 12 months (various).
Web: www.ivs-gb.org.uk Email: ivssouth@ivs-gb.org.uk
- UNA Exchange provides many different
opportunities in more than 50 countries worldwide. There are short term
projects (1 – 4 weeks), medium term placements (1 – 4 months) and long
term placements (up to 12 months).
Web: www.unaexchange.org Email: unaexchange@btinternet.com
- Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) is an international
development charity that works with volunteers who share their
professional skills and expertise on placements in 34 of the world's
poorest countries.
Web: www.vso.org.uk Email: infoservices@vso.org.uk
Organisations offering
long term opportunities: (6 – 12 months)
- Africa & Asia Venture is a specialist gap year
organisation and a founding member of the Year Out Group. They offer a
wide variety of opportunities including; teaching, coaching sport,
conservation work and construction projects in Africa and Asia. Typical placement length is 5
– 6 months and costs vary depending on location.
Web: www.aventure.co.uk Email: av@aventure.co.uk
- Africa Trust offer placements working with
disadvantaged children in the UK, Ghana, Morocco and the Cameroon. Placement lengths vary
between 3 – 6 months, some last longer and costs vary depending on time
and location.
Web: www.africatrust.org.uk Email: (see contacts page)
- BUNAC provide voluntary placements ranging between 6 – 12
months in North America, Australasia and South Africa. Placements enable volunteers
the opportunity to help in conservation, teaching and general working
holidays. Costs vary depending on location.
Web: www.bunac.org/uk Email: enquiries@bunac.org.uk
- I – to – I offer ‘Run i-Ventures’ which are voluntary projects
that last from 1- 6 weeks in over 19 countries around the world. Projects
are open to everyone aged 17 to 70 and projects range between teaching
English, conservation, media, health, building and care work projects.
Web: www.i-to-i.com Email: info@i-to-i.com
The following information may be
relevant for volunteers seeking International opportunities and the Vteam would
advise volunteers to research any organisations offering international opportunities,
before handing over any money or leaving the country!
Websites:
www.fco.gov.uk/travel
www.gapyearreview.co.uk/
www.responsibletravel.com
www.tourismconcern.org.uk
www.volunteering.org.uk/IWantToVolunteer
Books:
•The Ethical Travel Guide, (Polly Patullo)
•The Back Door Guide to short-term job adventures: Internships, Seasonal Jobs, Volunteering, (Michael Landes)
•Volunteer Tourism: Experiences that make a difference, (Stephen Wearing)
Advice about going abroad
- World
Service Enquiry. World Service Enquiry provide information and careers
advice to people who want to volunteer or work in the development sector
or overseas in the developing world. http://www.wse.org.uk/
- gogapyear.com. This website has been
setup by the Government to provide advice on traveling abroad for any
period but it particularly concentrates on gap years.
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
(FCO) - Know Before You Go. Is the Official Government website
offering travel advice for UK citizens. http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel
- The Year Out Group. This site is a
good place to start to find out about long term volunteering. They are
promoting a code of practice for their members that aims to lift the quality
of opportunities. http://www.yearoutgroup.org/
Volunteering abroad: advice for students thinking about international volunteering
Much thought should be given whether or not volunteering abroad is appropriate for any individual We ask all who come into our office enquiring about volunteering abroad to consider the following questions:
ORGANISATION• Is it a partnership, private company, public company, registered charity, sole trader or other? Where is it registered?
• Does the organisation have an Annual Report?
• How many employees does it hire?
• How many volunteers does it recruit each year?
• How long has the organisation been operating?
• What are the organisation's policies on Equal Opportunities?
SELECTION• What is the age range of the participants the organisation engages?
• Selection criteria: what type of person are they looking for and what it the interview procedure?
PROJECTS• How were they identified?
• Are they “manufactured” projects? Is there a real need for the project?
• Will the programme continue after the volunteer has left?
SUPPORT• Is there a country representative? Who is that person? Will they be readily on hand if problems arise and to give general advice to volunteers?
• Who is responsible for making the travel arrangements for the volunteers? What about Travel visas and work permits?
• What happens if…there is an emergency, medical or otherwise? Who will take care of insurance policies for the volunteer? (Both travel and health insurance.)
TRAINING• How are volunteers prepared for the project? Is there a training package? When and where will training occur?
“WHAT EXACTLY WILL I BE DOING?”• What are my role and tasks?
• Will I be alone; whom will I be placed with?
• What is expected of me? What will be my responsibilities?
• Do I have to sign anything? Is there a written agreement between the organisation and me?
• What can I expect in terms of accommodation and food? (Be realistic!)
FINANCE• Where does the money that the volunteer pays the organisation go to? What percentage goes to the project itself and what percentage is used for paying the organisation's administrative costs and UK workers?
• Does the organisation offer any advice regarding how to raise funds, where to get grants from etc.?
• What happens if, after having signed up for the project, you fail to raise enough money to cover all the costs to go on it? Does the organisation have a sum of money set by, in case individuals have such difficulties?
• If you have to pay a deposit? Is it refundable?
• When and how do you pay? What happens if you want to drop out of the project at any stage?
• What is the recommended budget for extras?
KEY ADVICE• Ask the organisation to put you in touch with former volunteers. It is advisable to talk to them privately in order to gain a clear and unbiased picture of the project.
• If you have any doubts about a key member of staff and/or organisation in general, walk away. Pay heed to your gut feelings.
• Try to be sceptical about idealistic jargon (Ecology, FairTrade, Development)
• Try to be realistic about what you, as an individual, in a limited period of time, can do as a volunteer in any given project.
FINALLY• Be honest about why you want to volunteer internationally and not locally!
Explore local options as well, e.g. tutoring refugees, working with women's groups, people with HIV or AIDS.
• Volunteering is not travelling. Be clear about the difference. Don't try to mix them up. Travelling and exploring different countries and cultures is to be recommended. However, be honest about it and just do that.
Volunteering is a vertical experience, travelling is a horizontal experience!