Volunteer Breaks from i-to-i

Doing voluntary work abroad was once the reserve of students on gap years, but thanks to flexible job markets and a host of ‘volunteer travel’ organisations, today it is open to everyone. i-to-i projects, for example, enjoy the benefit of volunteers of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds - from execs on career breaks to couples in their retirement.

There’s no age limit (well, 18-80) and unlike other programmes, you don’t need any formal qualifications to take part, just a commitment to work hard on the projects.

The placements are really flexible, too. If you’re short on time, you only need to commit for as long as you’ve got – and you only pay for as long as you stay. You can volunteer for just a week on your annual holiday or as long as six months on a full gap year or sabbatical.

There are 450 to choose from in all so, before you sign up, its worth taking some time to think where you’d most like to make a difference.

Here are some ideas of where you could spend your next break contributing to good causes:

Typical Gap Ventures

Galapagos Islands Conservation: 4-12 weeks, starting from £995

Two new invader plants enter the Galapagos Islands every day and the ecosystem that once inspired Darwin is under threat. As a volunteer, you can join ecological projects in highland or coastal areas and help with scientific research into biodiversity and the reconstruction of native habitats. This is also part of a rotating conservation project that gives you the opportunity to work in a number of different habitats on the Ecuadorian mainland.

Radio Experience in Ghana: Min. 12 weeks, £1995

Ghana is another highly accessible destination famed for its hospitality, and a great starting point for any trip to Africa. People with an interest in broadcasting are invited to hone their skills in a demanding, professional environment on leading radio stations in the capital, Accra. Depending on experience, and initiative, the work is very hands-on: researching, producing and editing shows for live and recorded broadcasts. Advertising/marketing placements are also available.

Typical Career Break Ventures

Human Rights Campaigning in Peru: 9-12 Weeks, starting from £1795

A large N.G.O. based in Lima, the capital of Peru, works to promote human rights in under-privileged areas of the country through advocacy, outreach and media campaigns. They need volunteers with a background in communications to help with lobbying and research and the translation and dissemination of articles on social issues.

Burmese Refugee Community Work in Thailand, 4-12 weeks starting from £1095

An NGO in northern Thailand called the Peace Way Foundation advocates for marginalised Burmese communities, many of whom have fled their homes in Myanmar for the safety of neighbouring Thailand. Volunteers over the age of 21 are invited through i-to-i to help by teaching English, IT and vocational skills at the centre and to contribute to the NGOs periodical newsletter.

Typical Escape Placements

Herbal Medicine Production in Brazil, 1-3 weeks starting from £495

The north eastern coast of Brazil is said to have a perfect climate, the rainforests in the area brim with life and their biodiversity has provided local communities with medicinal remedies for centuries. A world-leading herbal medicine centre, in Olinda, has helped preserve an area of the forest to harvest plants for traditional remedies and need volunteers to help cultivate and produce the medicines.

South Africa Animal Conservation, 2-3 weeks starting from £645

Forget safaris. This is how to experience African wildlife. Not travelling round in jeeps armed with a camera, but in animal rescue centres armed with a feeding bottle! You could work on a nature reserve, constructing trails and capturing/releasing animals, or in monkey/penguin/lion/baboon research centres, working alongside local staff to achieve local conservation goals, and preserve South Africa’s natural heritage for years to come.

Case Studies

Volunteer: Jessie Sharif

Project: Community Work in El Salvador, May-June 2003

Link to project info

Project Summary: Jessie joined a programme for young people from San Salvador who live and work in the streets on the margin of society. These young people are at risk from drugs, gang violence, delinquency and prostitution. The centre is staffed by full time government employees who deal with the youths’ psychosocial and cultural needs. i-to-i volunteers support these employees and take on extra duties to free up their time for counselling.

The programme runs across two centres. One for children from the market area, the other focusing on children from communities who scavenge the city waste sites for items to resell at bus terminals. Each centre has around 150 – 200 young boys and girls. Volunteers teach English and basic computer skills (like Word and Excel), play games with the children and, if musically inclined, teach them to play musical instruments. 5 to 6-hour working days, Monday to Friday.

Volunteer: Phillip Elcombe

Project: Ghana Radio, September - December 2002

Link to project info

Project Summary: Phillip joined a privately owned and funded radio station in Accra, Ghana, considered one of the foremost in the industry. It offers a variety of programs including news, talk shows, music and interviews with celebrities and politicians.

Working in a friendly but very busy office environment, volunteers are expected to take a lot of initiative on their placement - bringing new ideas, styles of reporting and giving a fresh perspective on local issues. Depending on the volunteer’s experience, they will be compiling news reports, helping with program production, creating proposals and researching topics for new features.

Resources at the project are also limited so volunteers are encouraged to bring any audio equipment they have, including CD players, mini-disc players and tape recorders.

Volunteer: Kash Burchett

Projects: Conservation and TEFL (Teaching English)

Countries: Australia and China, Spring 2003

Testimonial: I knew I wanted to travel on my gap year but when my parents suggested voluntary work, to be honest, I only signed up for it to get them off my case. But it turned out to be the best decision I made all year. I joined two placements in the end; seven weeks conservation in Australia and three months teaching English in China. Both incredible, and very different, experiences. In Australia, I was with several large teams of volunteers from all over the world, working on reforestation and irrigation projects, while in China I was more independent; the only native English speaker in the school. This was a challenge as my classes were enormous. Everyone wanted to learn so I eventually set up an ‘English Corner’ in the playground to give everyone a chance to practise their English. My best memories are of those kids.

Volunteer: Siân Perry

Projects: Teaching English in a Language Institute

Countries: Bolivia, Winter 2002 - 2003

Testimonial: Having graduated from Nottingham University, and faced with the daunting prospect of finding a job in the real world, I decided to pursue a long-time ambition: to teach English abroad. My project at a language school in La Paz was exactly what I wanted to do, which left me plenty of time to go out and “experience” Bolivia, from learning how to eat salteñas to recovering from “soroche” (mild altitude sickness) and discovering all that the country had to offer – the towering Andes mountains, the barren altiplano, the jungle, deserts and volcanoes – not to mention the incredible mix of indigenous and Spanish culture and volatile economic and political background. The teaching gave me much-needed confidence to succeed, and the whole experience left me humbled by such an amazingly diverse country and its people.

Here’s what you get for your money: Detailed information on the project and country, fundraising advice and support, visa instructions and forms, vaccination and inoculation recommendations, CD-ROM with advice on health & safety & culture shock, contact details to pass along to those at home, pick-up from the airport on the designated arrival date, welcome orientation, regularly-inspected accommodation, meals provided or self-catering accommodation (in most cases), a well-researched placement, a volunteer’s newsletter during your placement, comprehensive insurance, access to an emergency support team 24/7, assistance of the global i-to-i staff and guidance and advice from experienced i-to-i travellers. Note that flights are not included in the placement fees.

i-to-i also offer online and weekend TEFL Courses, you can train to Teach English as a Foreign Language. Travel to new destinations, live in alluring locations and earn money as you do it with an i-to-i TEFL certificate.

For more information on the 450 volunteer projects available in 23 countries

Further Volunteer Programs