Volunteering Programs for Travellers

There are numerous international network services for workers, students and travellers on volunteer projects in over 150 countries world wide. Anywhere, anytime, any purpose and for any person! The variety is astounding, whether you want to Teach english as a foriegn language, Assist scientists in tropical forests, Track Black Bears in Canada, Excavate archaeological sites in France, or Camp on deserted islands tagging Turtles.

Why Volunteer? It is a great way to open new doors and explore different avenues. You can learn new skills, languages and give back to the world and it’s people less fortunate than yourself. Meet new, exciting people with diverse views on life and make friendships across the globe, who knows maybe you can invite them back to your home town. In today’s job market, volunteering has also become an increasingly valuable stepping stone to a future career.

Choose to spend an interesting vacation, a unique gap year, find thesis or research opportunities or contribute to a worthwhile initiative by volunteering. Take Action today for Nature and Society, conserving our environment for the future through volunteering. Check out some of these fantastic programs!

Leatherback Turtle Monitoring in Grenada, Caribbean Islands with BTCV Conservation Holidays

Description: ‘Ocean spirits’ research objective is to increase the knowledge of Grenada’s nesting population of Leatherback sea turtles and understand the populations threats.

Location: Grenada is a small volcanic island, surrounded by golden beaches and filled with a lush rainforest interior.

Duration/Period: Offered through the months of March to July, for 6 weeks.

Qualifications/Skills: Strenous work is to be expected so you must be physically fit and prepared to work in all weather conditions. I would say they let you off in cyclones though!

Volunteers Work: Being a research assistant requires you to play an important role in three core areas – education, research, and conservation and community development. The data you collect will provide essential information on the size, number and reproductive success of the nesting turtles, helping to formulate conservation strategies for the future.

Accommodation: Dormitory style self-catering houses, within a small welcoming community on the island itself.

Cost: 1,450.00 pounds.

Notes: It’s not all work though you will have free time to go hiking and mountain biking to take in the true extent of Grenada’s natural splendour. Swim, snorkel and marvel at the underwater colours.

Website: BTCV Online, BTCV offer many other programs specialising in conservation.

Sustainable Travel in the Himalayas in Nepal, Asia with Adventure Alternative

Description: This Adventure Alternative Gap Year Project is offered in the mystical surroundings of the Himalayas, which is drawn mostly from the friendships built over the years with the Sherpas of the Khumbu region.

Location: In a small Himalayan mountain village, Khumbu region, Nepal.

Duration/Period: Several weeks, plus 18 days trekking.

Qualifications/Skills: Aspects of the work are woodwork, dry stonewalling, roofing and cement work giving you the basics of fundamental building skills. There are qualified builders on site to assist you along the way. You will need to be physically fit for this type of work and trekking.

Volunteers work: You will begin with a number of tasks including rebuilding a monastery and building a school for the surrounding communities and working closely with the locals. Once these are completed the next project is a micro hydro electricity scheme in a neighbouring town.

Accommodation: Contact the company for accommodation information.

Cost: Contact the company for costs.

Notes: After several weeks you are then taken on a 18 day trek to the highest mountain in the world, conducting small missions along the way such as cleaning the littered paths.

Website: AA Online, Adventure Alternative mainly specialise in trekking, expeditions and safaris in places such as Russia, Nepal, Everest, Aconcagua and Bespoke.

Garonga Project with African Conservation Experience in Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Description: This project opens up the opportunity for you to change your life and make a huge difference to some of the world’s most endangered species and environments. For those of you seeking more than just the “big five” this is an in-depth experience for nature lovers.

Location: Garonga bushland haven, below the Drakensberg Mountains and west of the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Duration/Period: Open all year round with a duration of 4 to 12 weeks.

Qualifications/Skills: No skills are essential, just fit and willing to learn.

Volunteers Work: The idea behind the program is to provide a varied, stimulating and practical experience for participating students focusing on what is unique to the area. Practical work includes: Tracking of animals, identification and ranking systems, food utilization and habitat effects, mapping areas.

Accommodation: Camping.

Cost: Cost is around 2600 pounds, which includes international flight and domestic flights/transfers to project and full accommodation.

Notes: The camp lays between Ebony trees on the banks of a water course with eye bogling panoramas across the plains.

Website: CA Online, Conservation Africa arrange work on Game and Nature Reserves throughout South Africa.

Save the Earth network in Ghana, Africa

Description: Save the Earth Network is dedicated to promoting sustainable development, agro-forestry, environmental conservation, international solidarity and cultural immersion through voluntary work and cultural/eco-tourism in Ghana. Helping to reduce poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, drug abuse, unemployment and environmental degradation!

Location: Accra and in villages located in the country surrounding.

Duration/Period: Open all year round, volunteers can participate in the program from a period of one week to four months.

Qualifications/Skills: Teaching skills are prefered, but not required.

Volunteers Work: Throughout the program you will have a number of tasks including teaching english, mathematics or religion to primary and junior secondary schools. Assisting in giving free basic education to street children, also youth communities and schools about the risks of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. You will also join the reforestation team tree nursing or planting, harvesting fruit trees and general farming jobs.

Accommodation: Host families provide a bed and food.

Cost: Around US 250.00 dollars, depending on duration.

Notes: You will have free time to engage in looking around the city, town or villages.

Website: For more info look up, World Surface Volunteer Programs

Earth Fix with Golden Boomerang Landcare in Touron Springs, NSW, Australia

Description: The project considers landcare as care and survival for everyone, therefore focusing on community care, teaching and land repair.

Location: This program takes place in the central tablelands Australian scrubland, 200km northwest of Sydney.

Duration/Period: Open year round, there are no set periods.

Qualifications/Skills: You are not required to have any skills, just fit, interested and willing to learn.

Volunteers Work: Your main aims are rejuvenating 125 acres of Australian farmland and sub-tropical plant species.

Accommodation: Bunk house situation with shared cooking facilities, sometimes sleeping outdoors in swags.

Cost: No cost. Food and expenses are shared, not more than AUS $15 (approx.US$8) per day.

Notes: An initial membership fee is required. All volunteers become members and are covered by insurance.

Website:EF Online

The Marine Mammal Center in San Francisco

Description: The Marine Mammal Center is a leading rescue, rehabilitation and release facility for marine mammals. It treats almost 600 animals a year.

Location: Northern California, San Francisco.

Duration/Period: Flexible. Volunteers are accepted year round but are needed most during high season (March to August). Volunteers can remain as long as they like.

Qualifications/Skills: Ability to work as part of a team and with wild animals.

Volunteers Work: Volunteers prepare food, feed animals, restrain animals for tube feeds and physical exams, clean pens, wash dishes, do laundry, administer medication, weigh animals and chart all observations. The shifts run from 6—12 hours depending on the season. Training is provided. Volunteer crews work on a 24-hour shift, 365 days a year.

Accommodation: No accommodation provided.

Cost: Volunteers must provide accommodation, food and transportation.

Notes: All new volunteers are required to attend an orientation before volunteering at The Center.

Website: MMC Online

Orkney Seal Rescue Center, South Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland UK

Description: The goal of this project is the care of 50 seal pups every year that have been either seperated from their mothers before they are able to survive, injured by discarded fishing nets or injured by gun shot.

Location: Northern Islands of Scotland.

Duration/Period: Open year round, except April and May and a minimum stay of 4 weeks. Long term applicants are welcomed.

Qualifications/Skills: No previous experience is required, only a strong motivation for helping animals.

Volunteers Work: Volunteers are expected to help with the cleaning, food preparation, and feeding of seals at the centre. They can also be involved in the rescue and release of seals. Volunteers are expected to participate in cooking (vegetarian) and house cleaning activities.

Accommodation: Shared house living, with 2 attic bedrooms, bathroom and toilet.

Cost: Pounds 15—20/week (approx.EUR 22—30) for the cost of food.

Notes: The work at Orkney Seal Rescue is very rewarding, expect it to be wet and cold at times with long hours.

Website: For more information and contact details, Green Volunteer

Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository, Kodiak, Alaska

Description: Every summer the Alutiiq Museum hosts an excavation at an archaeological site near the town of Kodiak. Museum archaeologists choose a deposit that will help to answer a significant question in Alutiiq prehistory while focusing on sites that are threatened by erosion, vandalism, or modern development.

Location: Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska.

Duration/Period: Open July to August from 1 day to 6 weeks.

Qualifications/Skills: No experience necessary.

Volunteers Work: Excavation, carrying and washing sediment, mapping, and site cleaning. In the laboratory, participants assist with washing, sorting, and labeling artefacts, drying and organising samples, entering information into a computer database and cleaning field gear.

Accommodation: No accommodation or food is provided.

Cost: There are no costs except tuition for those interested in obtaining an academic credit.

Notes: Bring rubber boots, raingear, gloves, kneeling pads, and bug nets. Digging equipment is provided by the museum. Academic credit available through the University of Alaska’s Kodiak College.

Website:AM Online

Helike Archaeological Excavations in Diakopton Achaia, Greece

Description: Helike was the principal city in the region of Achaea. Numerous cores and trial trenches have been dug locating remains of the Roman town and traces of earlier occupations.

Location: Helike is near the village of Nikolaiika, southwest shore of the Gulf of Corinth.

Duration/Period: Open from July to August from 2 to 4 weeks.

Qualifications/Skills: No experience is necessary and a prior reading on the region and the history of ancient Greece.

Volunteers Work: Excavation, survey, processing, recording and geoarchaeology.

Accommodation: Hotel Poseidon Beach, two people per room, in the village of Nikolaiika. Meals will be provided here or the nearby taverna.

Cost: Euro 460 per week plus Euro 50 aplication fee. Includes room, meals and some project expenses.

Notes: Academic credit available through Rutgers University-Newark. Additional tuition fees apply.

Website:GP Online

Ma’ax Na Archaeology Project in Brunswick, Belize

Description: Ma’ax Na (meaning ‘Monkey House’) occupies a prominent position in the larger three rivers archaeological regions. The project investigates this large Mayan site through ascertaining the confirguration and limits of the ceremonial core and the number, location and relationship of surrounding residential groups.

Location: Rio Bravo Field station in the center of the Bolsa Verde conservation area.

Duration/Period: Open between May to June from 3 to 4 weeks.

Qualifications/Skills: Previous study is useful, but not necessary.

Volunteers Work: Excavation, site mapping, interpretation of Mayan architecture, reconnaissance survey methods, processing techniques for stone tools, artefact curation and analysis of ceramics, bone and shell also some lectures.

Accommodation: Dorm rooms at the field station, kitchen, dining areas, showers and toilets.

Cost: USD 1,595. Includes room, board, travel in Belize and equipment.

Notes: Bring a field notebook, trowel, tape measure, sting-line level, root clippers, a small backpack, and canteen.

Website: Neai Online

Further TEFL courses and volunteer programs