So you have decided you’ve had enough of the resorts, fastfood joints and western stores on each of your holidays and this time you’re looking at how you can get the fair dinkum experience! You’ve heard about volunteer holidays, but you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, where you can go and what type of work you can do. Let us provide you with the good oil on how a volunteer holiday is possible and all the options available to you.
Who can take a volunteer holiday?
Have a skill and want to give it away? Then welcome aboard! Taking a volunteer holiday is made for singles, university students, families, seniors, high school students and over 40s and over 50s. Whether you’re on schoolies, uni break, taking a break from work or planning the family holiday it’s possible to take a volunteer holiday abroad. IVHQ’s programs have been specifically developed to support a wide range of volunteers and depending on the destination you select, your expert program manager will be able to provide recommendations on what work is best suited to you.
What type of volunteer work can you take part in?
Whatever your type of hard yakka is, IVHQ offer projects for all types of skill sets including:
- Childcare
- Teaching
- Medical and Health
- Wildlife and Animal Care
- Environment and Conservation
- Construction and Renovation
- Arts and Music
- Sports
- NGO Support
- Community Development
- Elderly Care
- Special Needs Care
So whether you have a specialised skill, or want to keep things broad and at a community level. Each project type by destination has its own unique appeal and you’re free to select the one that interests you most.
Where can you take a volunteer holiday?
Even though you’re a volunteer from down under, don’t think you’re limited to that part of the world. You can take a volunteer holiday in Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, South America, the Caribbean and Pacific. Whether you’re driven by a destination or the type of volunteer work you want to take part in, you can still trek around Machu Picchu, soak in the views of the Taj Mahal or stare out at the wildlife on the Kenyan plains. To fuel your imagination, here are our top project picks from each continent for volunteer holidays.
| IVHQ Project | Description | 1 Week Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teach School Children in Ghana | Help children learn English and offer a stimulating learning experience through Music, Math, Sport and Arts. | US$270 | Accra region |
| Surf Outreach in South Africa | Get out amongst the waves and help children learn to surf. Whether you’re a wax head or just learning, you can provide meaningful fun and enjoyment for underprivileged children who wouldn’t otherwise receive these opportunities. | US$250 | Cape Town |
| Women’s Education in Kenya | Work within community centres to support women affected by HIV/AIDS in providing counseling, guidance and sometimes childcare. | US$270 | Nairobi |
| IVHQ Project | Description | 1 Week Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Conservation in Bali | Assist local efforts to educate the community about protecting the local environment. Teach in local schools, as well as getting out in the community to show first hand how to clean up and recycle. | US$295 | Ubud |
| Construction and Renovation in Nepal | Provide hands on efforts to local communities rebuilding from the 2015 earthquakes. On projects such as, schools, community centres and education facilities. | US$250 | Kathmandu |
| Wild Elephant Conservation in Sri Lanka | Working with the local wildlife conservation society. Volunteer efforts are based around observation of the wild elephants. Tasks include, assessing human-elephant conflicts, mapping biodiversity and developing sustainable rural initiatives | US$285 | Kandy |
| IVHQ Project | Description | 1 Week Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Care in Mexico | Give animals the love and care they deserve on the Animal Care program in Mexico. Work to bathe, train and provide maintenance to their living facilities. | US$270 | Merida |
| Eco-Agriculture Conservation in Guatemala | Based in a coffee farm in the Guatemalan highlands. Work provides support for the communities economic development through coffee picking, weeding, planting shade trees and even roasting and packaging. | US$320 | Antigua |
| Teaching English in Costa Rica | With the tourism industry growing in Costa Rica, the demand for English speakers for job opportunities is only increasing. Working in local schools and community centres work includes tutoring, small workshops and assisting local teachers. | US345 | San Jose |
| IVHQ Project | Description | 1 Week Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community in Ecuador Santa - Elena | Provide education and conservation efforts via beach clean ups, community upcycling, gardening and community workshops in an effort to restore and preserve the local habitat. | US$315 | Santa Elena |
| Medical in Peru - Cusco | Assist local nurses and doctors to provide specialised healthcare in local communities. Depending on your level of study and qualifications you can take vitals, administer vaccinations, clean wounds and general patient care. | US$360 | Cusco |
| Feeding the Homeless in Colombia - Bogota | Work together with the community, to provide meals for those that are homeless from all walks of life. Work to prepare and serve meals throughout the week. | US$270 | Bogota |
| IVHQ Project | Description | 1 Week Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Rescue in Portugal | Eliminate food waste and hunger through redistribution of food among families, elderly and homeless in need. Work includes collecting food, assisting with packaging and clean up. | US$375 | Lisbon |
| Childcare in Romania | Provide support for children who have often migrated from other countries and need vital education and nurturing. Tasks include cleaning, educating, and general interaction with the children. | US$335 | Eastern Transylvania |
| IVHQ Project | Description | 1 Week Cost | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching and Sports Education in Fiji | Work within local schools to assist teachers and lead classes independently. Work consists of government-issued curriculum, creative lessons are encouraged and in the afternoons the children enjoy games that are unstructured, however you’re welcome to come with a set plan. | US$340 | Suva |
Often securing cheap flights can be the biggest challenge and we have some handy tips in our how to volunteer abroad for cheap guide.
Want to learn more about where you can take a volunteer trip? Explore IVHQ’s full range of volunteer travel destinations.
