Many relief, development, and community-based organizations hire volunteers to assist with ongoing projects and efforts. Often, volunteer jobs are similar to internships but may be less formalized in terms of responsibility and the scope of participation. Volunteers do not get paid since organizational funds are usually limited and used to directly support programming. In many social service organizations, volunteering is the only way for students to gain field experience.
You can approach an organization directly to find out about volunteer opportunities or, in some cases, go through a third-party program that may or may not require a placement fee. When investigating opportunites through third-parties, it is important to consider the financial ramifications and the level and quality of services provided.
Volunteer Opportunities
Please be advised that while OCS tries to list as many opportunities as possible, we have not necessarily verified the credentials or accuracy of all opportunities which may be listed here. For information on possible funding sources for these and other overseas public service projects, see the
funding section of this web site.
The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is involved in community service projects committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the Quaker belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. The AFSC has programs that focus on issues related to economic justice, peace-building and demilitarization, social justice, and youth, in the United States, and in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Their specific volunteer programs include the Summer workcamps in China and Africa, and the Mexico Summer Project.
American Jewish World Service offers summer volunteer programs for Jewish young adults in Honduras, Ghana and the Ukraine. Participants live in rural villages and work with local community members on sustainable development projects.
Amigos de las Americas offers summer service programs (4-8 weeks) in several Latin America countries working on community public health and development projects. There is a tuition fee for the program, but fundraising and scholarship assistance is available.
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) is the U.K.'s largest practical conservation charity, creating opportunities for volunteers to take practical action to protect their local environment. BTCV runs international conservation working holidays throughout the year.
Camphill Village Trust runs eight communities in the U.K. where adults with mental handicaps can achieve richer, more meaningful lives. Volunteers live and work in the community for 6-12 months in exchange for room and board.
Child Family Health International provides service-learning programs in international health for medical, pre-medical, and nursing students. Programs are currently in Ecuador, India, Mexico, and South Africa. Volunteers must be 21 or over.
CIEE offers International Volunteer Projects which enable you to work on short-term, team-oriented projects overseas. They offer hundreds of projects in over 30 countries. Volunteers receive free room and board.
CollegeCorps places students in international development positions worldwide. Areas include human rights and women's issues; healthcare; economic development; and environmental conservation. CollegeCorps also provides training and funding for volunteers.
Global Service Corps provides cultural immersion service-learning programs in Thailand and Tanzania. Programs are from two weeks to six months and offered in health, environment and/or education year-round.
Global Volunteers runs year-round volunteer programs in 20 countries. Volunteers can work for 1-3 weeks on projects in child care, tutoring, teaching English, conservation, health care, construction and repair.
Habitat For Humanity International (HFHI) is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide. The Global Village program is a series of short-term home-building trips designed to provide an educational and spiritual experience within a cross-cultural environment. By living and working with the host community, participants have a chance to personally witness and contribute to HFHI's effort to eliminate substandard housing throughout the world. Trip cost depends on the country and HFHI affiliate visited. Applications are accepted year-round.
The International Partnership for Service Learning offers programs in 14 countries. IPSL programs unite academic study and volunteer service; participants study at a local university and serve 15-20 hours per week in a school, orphanage, health clinic or other agency addressing human needs. Programs are offered for the semester, year, summer or January intercession. The cost varies by program and country.
Learning Enterprises, a non-profit organization, sends English speakers to Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Mexico, Mauritius, and China to teach English for the summer. Volunteers teach in small villages (typically 1,000 to 3,000 people), and they live with a host family who provides free food and lodging.
Operation Crossroads Africa runs programs that are designed to promote understanding of Africa and the African Diaspora. Operation Crossroads Africa has sent over 11,000 people in the last 45 summers to 35 African countries, 12 Caribbean countries and Brazil in pursuit of its goals. Participants live and work in a village community, presenting a wonderful opportunity for cultural immersion with exposure to local people, customs, language, music, history, and food.
Peace Corps offers 2-year assignments in community and economic development, education, public health, agricultural assistance and more in a variety of locations worldwide.
ProWorld Service Corps offers 2-26 week cultural, service, and academic experiences in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Peruvian Amazon, and the Caribbean coast of Belize. Participants can choose between Semester, Group and NGO Internship programs.
Right to Play is an international athlete-driven humanitarian organization using sport and play to strengthen communities and encourage the healthy physical, social and emotional development of children in the world's most disadvantaged areas. Volunteer-driven programs teach critical life skills and values, promote vital health education and empower individuals and communities. Challenging volunteer opportunities exist for Project Coordinators and Communications Coordinators with Right To Play projects in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
SPW International (Students Partnership Worldwide) seeks volunteers to work on sustainable health and environmental education programs in rural Africa and Asia. After 4 weeks of comprehensive training, local and international volunteers are attached to rural places in small teams, and work with community members over 4-9 months. Issues that SPW volunteers tackle include sanitation, deforestation, organic farming, HIV/AIDS and child rights. Full pre-departure and in-country support is provided.
United Nations Volunteers seeks qualified, experienced and motivated people to work in developing countries as volunteer specialists and field workers. Applicants should have five years of work experience and a good working knowledge of Arabic, English, French Portugese, Russian or Spanish.
United Planet (UP) Quests are 1-12 week learning or volunteer experiences conducted in small international groups or on an individual basis. Learning Quests teach a range of exciting cross-cultural and practical skills, while immersing you in a foreign culture. Volunteer Quests enable you to take part in important local community initiatives. Currently, there are Quests available to Tibet, Chile, Ghana, Bulgaria and Honduras.
Visions in Action is an international nonprofit organization committed to achieving social and economic justice in the developing world through the participation of communities of self-reliant, grassroots volunteers. Visions in Action volunteers work in various fields and positions. Programs 6 or 12 months, and are currently run in Mexico, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa.
Vitalise (formerly Winged Fellowship Trust) provides quality holidays for people with physical disabilities while at the same time offering respite for their care givers. Volunteers provide these opportunities at five specially adapted holiday centers around England. Volunteers may work for as little as a week or two; room, board, and travel within the UK are provided.
Volunteers in Asia, a Stanford University based program, promotes full-circle exchange by providing volunteer and service-learning opportunities in Asia, and educational programs for Asian students in the United States. Every year, VIA sends between 30-40 English teachers to Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and China for 1 or 2 years. Teachers must be college graduates with a BA. Mandatory training requires that you be in Stanford March-May prior to your departure.
Volunteers for Peace (VFP) provides worldwide workcamp program opportunities in over 90 countries. Most programs are US$200 for a 2-3 week program.
Winant-Clayton Volunteers provides American volunteers of all ages an opportunity to travel to London for seven weeks in the summer to do community service. Volunteers are placed in settlement homes, rehabilitation programs, educational programs, and drop-in centers, mostly in London’s East End. Applicants must be US citizens. Housing is provided with families, in flats, or in dorm rooms. Volunteers may receive a small stipend for food or public transportation, but must pay for airfare and independent travel.
WorldTeach is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based at the Center for International Development at Harvard University. WorldTeach offers a variety of teaching programs around the world. Year-long opportunities are available in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Marshall Islands, China, and Namibia; summer programs are available in China, Namibia, Poland, Ecuador, or Costa Rica. No prior teaching or foreign language experience is required; WorldTeach provides extensive teaching and language training in-country. A BA degree is required for the year-long positions.
