Guatemala’s population has grown rapidly over the past few decades, and migration from the country’s rural towns to larger cities has put a nationwide strain on its resources. Poverty has become more rampant, and many Guatemalans are left in poor living conditions without having their basic needs being met. The poverty rates have also created an educational crisis, leaving Guatemala with one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Participants on this trip will be able to make a difference by helping to combat the low literacy rates through teaching English or by working with local children at a nearby library. There are also projects to improve the living conditions of the poorest citizens, by pouring cement floors in homes, working with women’s groups and setting up personal or community gardens. When not at work, volunteers will be able to explore the Guatemalan culture through Mayan flute lessons, tortilla making, attending a Mayan Fire Ceremony and by exploring the surrounding natural parks. For the more adventurous, optional day adventures are available and can include activities like horseback riding and ziplining! This eight day trip starts at $1,437 per person.
Fight Poverty in India’s ‘Pink City’
India’s “Pink City” of Jaipur is named for its bright building facades dating back to the early 1700s. The city has since become Rajasthan state’s cultural and economic hub. Unfortunately, Jaipur also hosts a large number of impoverished residents whose basic needs remain largely unmet. On this trip, volunteers will help rescued child laborers and disadvantaged children by providing support at schools and day care centers. Participants will also work to improve educational facilities by refurbishing the existing structures. All projects are focused on increasing the quality of life for Jaipur’s disadvantaged communities. During spare time, volunteers can explore Jaipur’s bazaar, take an elephant ride at the nearby Amer Fort, visit a traditional carpet factory or eat with a local family. Volunteers can look forward to enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of India while bettering the quality of life for those in need. This one-week trip costs $1,557.
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Improve Community Needs in the Heart of Ghana
Head to Ghana and lend a hand in Ho, a region still heavily dependent on international aid. Volunteers will spend a week getting to know locals along with providing community support and helping with educational needs. Community support projects range from building wells to helping ease the severity of the area’s dry seasons. Education projects include building and improving schools, spreading awareness of health education and teaching English. When not at work, enrollees can experience facets of the Ghanaian lifestyle through African dancing and drumming lessons, visits to local markets, soccer games and sessions on kente weaving. There is a planned excursion to West Africa’s largest waterfall as well as to nearby monkey sanctuaries. This is a one-week trip that costs $1,467.
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Volunteer in New Orleans
New Orleans, a city in southeastern Louisiana predominantly known for its lively music and distinctive cuisine, has also been ceaselessly grappling with the short- and long-term effects of the two deadly hurricanes, which ravaged the city in 2005 and 2021 respectively. Homelessness and poverty have proved incessant plagues on the city, and many hurricane survivors and other vulnerable populations continue to receive inadequate shelter, food, clothing and support. To combat this, volunteers will work with local organizations and assist with a number of different initiatives, depending on where the need is greatest. From working in warehouses to homeless shelters and food banks, volunteers’ tasks include serving meals, sorting donated food, clothing, or household goods, packing boxes and helping organizations to clean and renovate their spaces.
This minimum 1-week and maximum 12-week experience starts at $610 per person for one week and $4,395 per person for 12 weeks. Accommodation, airport pickup, in-country program orientation, and 24/7 in-country support are all included.
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Empower Kids Through Play in Malawi
Experiencing all aspects of education and development is crucial in a well-balanced childhood. Unfortunately, many children around the world are lucky just to be taught the basic elements of schooling and are deprived of knowledge or experience in arts and sports. This program offers volunteers the chance to work with kids in Malawi, in sports, dance, music, art and creative writing. Also, it's an opportunity to experience Malawian culture, tour a village and spend one night of the trip on safari with wild elephants, monkeys, impala and on boat, crocodiles, hippos, and exotic birds. This 11 day trip costs $1,399 per person.
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Volunteer to Help Rebuild Cambodia
Cambodia has a long, violent history of war and genocide, but since the mid-90’s, peace has come to the country and is a safe place to visit. The years of war, however, left a lasting impact on the Cambodian people, leaving most of them in extreme poverty and with a countryside strewn with unexploded landmines. As a volunteer time will be spent in Siem Reap, near the famous Angkor Wat temples, helping with a variety of projects—from teaching English at the Buddhism Association School to distributing wheelchairs to the Cambodians who are left injured by the leftover mines. Upon arrival on this trip, volunteers will receive a set itinerary that will include different projects to participate in, depending on the need for volunteers at the time. During downtime, volunteers can explore the Angkor Wat temples and the floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake, or simply wander the streets of Siem Reap.
Preserve Agricultural Communities in Turkey
Many families that live in rural areas of Turkey that they have been farming for decades are being forced to move into the cities for new opportunities to make a living. These families live well under the poverty line and moving to cities to make more money often tears them apart. By staying in these communities in the rural outskirts of Istanbul and working the land on the farms, volunteers can help keep farms sustainable and keep families together. Providing free labor can help farmers increase production and make more money. Working in the fields will give volunteers valuable knowledge about raising organic livestock and growing organic crops. Those volunteers who have previous agricultural experience can also share methods and techniques with the community’s local project managers and people.
Volunteers will live amongst local villagers and experience the culture of these remote towns. One week on this trip will cost $599. Stay up to three weeks working to keep families together and their rich culture alive.
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Teach Refugees Art and Music in Jordan
Amman is not only the capital of Jordan, but is also a cultural and historical mecca of the Middle East. Yet, the city is located in a region where refugees, many of whom are children, flee to escape conflicts in neighboring countries. For those interested in teaching art and music, volunteers have the opportunity to aid in facilitating workshops for refugees, helping them make positive impacts within their own lives and communities. Volunteers will teach students art and music while focusing on themes such as diversity, gender equity and sustainability. A typical day may begin with breakfast at a local homestay followed by volunteering at a workshop, with time at the end of the day to explore the rich culture and sites of Amman.
This volunteer experience is offered by International Volunteer HQ, and costs $645 per person for one week of volunteering. International Volunteer HQ provides volunteer travel opportunities around the world by partnering with local community organizations focused on long-term positive impacts.
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Empower an Ecuadorian Community Through Volunteering
The Ecuadorian capital of Quito is known for being one of the best preserved historic cities in Latin America, with architecture influenced by European and Indigenous designs scattered among its hilly streets. Yet just beyond this vibrant Andean city lies the Valle de los Chillos , a region where extreme wealth inequality is worsened by limited access to education, health care and infrastructure. This cycle of poverty is pervasive throughout the region, but it is one that can be broken. Volunteers can work with adults and children to teach English, run educational workshops on nutrition, and work with local women to discuss empowerment while doing handicrafts. A regional community center allows residents to socialize, engage in workshops and use computers to access learning material. Whichever opportunity volunteers choose, every project is based on a commitment to improve the health, education and livelihood of this Ecuadorian community.
Volunteering opportunities are run by Manna Project International, which offers volunteers the option to enroll in short-term programs for one to two weeks, or a summer internship for five to 10 weeks. Short-term programs cost $750 per week, while summer internships cost $2,100 for a five-week position and $3,900 for a 10-week position. For those looking to be part of a long-term project, volunteers can also become a program director and work in Ecuador for more than a year. Manna Project International is a Florida-based nonprofit organization that operates programs in Ecuador and Nicaragua. Since its inception, the group has been able to help more than 3,000 community members each year.
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Fight Against Food Insecurity in Lisbon, Portugal
Food insecurity is a growing problem throughout the world, disproportionately affecting low-income individuals. In the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon, known for its grand colonial architecture and Mediterranean climate, one can volunteer to deliver meals to the city’s food insecure population. About 19% of Portugal’s population is food insecure, a figure that has increased since the early 2000s. Volunteers work with a local community organization to help eliminate food waste from Lisbon’s restaurants and supermarkets by packing meals for vulnerable populations throughout the city. Usually working during the dinner hours from 6:30 to 10 p.m., volunteers will pack and serve meals for up to 300 people per day, helping to feed families, the elderly and those experiencing homelessness.
This trip is organized by International Volunteer HQ and costs $455 for a one-week stay. International Volunteer HQ focuses on providing volunteer travel opportunities around the world by partnering with local community organizations focused on long-term positive impacts.
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Teach Soccer to Children in Ghana
Ghana, located along the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, used to be known as the “Gold Coast” for its mineral riches. The capital of Accra is known for its vibrant beaches and markets, incredible food and its wonderful music scene. However, Ghana is still home to many disadvantaged populations and volunteering can be one way to have an impactful experience. One possible trip includes coaching soccer to help develop sports skills for teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds. As long as you are passionate about soccer and love working with young adults, this volunteer trip is right for you.
This volunteer opportunity is located in Accra with working days from Tuesday to Saturday to incorporate weekend games. Off days can be used to explore the city, get to know other volunteers and spend time with your host family. Most work will be done in the afternoons when students can visit the soccer club after school; however, there will be meetings earlier in the day to discuss coaching strategies. The trip is a great opportunity to help students improve their health and fitness, develop motor skills, and learn life skills such as teamwork and discipline. This one-week minimum volunteering experience is run by Projects Abroad, a travel company that aims to create sustainable and impactful trips overseas. One week of volunteering costs $2,270 and volunteering is possible for as little as one week to as long as a year. Start dates are very flexible and the trip itself requires a short application.
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Do Long-Term Volunteering and Hiking in Tanzania
Tanzania is one of Africa’s most renowned destinations. Home to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain, and Serengeti National Park, home of the wildebeest and zebra migration along with local wildlife such as giraffes, rhinos and lions, Tanzania is a country with exotic animals and a rich culture. On this trip, travelers have the opportunity to volunteer in the Kilombero and Mvomero districts of Tanzania. Kilombero, located in the Morogoro region, is made up of vast flood plains, while Mvomero is situated near farms and rivers.
The trip is a three-phase volunteering program lasting up to 10 weeks. However, there are also shorter options for four, five or seven weeks. The first two phases of the trip include living with a host family. The first phase of the trip is the “community” phase, in which volunteers work on water, sanitation and hygiene projects in rural areas. The second phase is the “environmental” phase, where the primary goal is to increase awareness about protecting natural resources. This includes replanting trees in deforested areas, going to schools to talk about climate change and protecting national parks. The third and final phase is a trekking expedition that serves to build leadership and teamwork skills. This phase is a backpacking expedition through the Morogoro region or Tanzania’s southern highlands. The Morogoro region is found in eastern Tanzania and is known for its game reserves and mountain scenery. The southern highlands, on the other hand, are home to vast plateaus and volcanic mountains. The ten-week trip is run by Raleigh International, a young adult-oriented (ages 17 to 24) volunteering company that seeks to promote leadership and civic duty. The trip itself costs $5,500.
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Join One Day School Visits with Room to Read in Southeast Asia and Africa
Room to Read is a global organization that seeks to increase educational opportunities for low-income students in the developing world. Room to Read has impacted students all over the world, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa. Specifically, Room to Read has either partner schools or a literacy program in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zambia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Grenada, Indonesia, Rwanda, Jordan and Myanmar. By working with individual communities and the local government, Room to Read hopes to develop literacy skills among primary schoolchildren while additionally supporting girls as they complete secondary school. Room to Read has field trip opportunities to visit their worldwide literacy programs. The trip consists of a visit to the school to learn more about the program and meetings with students to participate in learning activities and discussions. The trip lasts for one day and requires a $25 donation to Room to Read. These trips are ideal for those that are already visiting countries with Room to Read schools and programs.
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Volunteer with Grassroots Organizations in Ghana
Ghana is a West African country with an economy primarily based on gold, oil and cocoa. It was one of the first African countries to break free from colonial rule and it still holds the ruins of colonial slave trading ports. The “Glory of Ghana” trip gives volunteers a chance to explore the country while also helping to improve conditions through education and rural development programs. The mission is to assist locals by positively affecting the quality of the area’s education, health care and environment. Specific programs depend on the needs of the community at the time, but could include building schools, instructing students and bringing clean water to communities near the city of Ho. Other activities include exploring the famous Kente weaving village, visiting Ghana’s tallest mountain and witnessing the largest waterfall in West Africa. The trip’s length is eight days and it costs $1,467.
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Help Break the Cycle of Poverty in Romania
After the collapse of an oppressive government, Romania worked to reclaim its rich heritage and to develop its economy. Despite efforts to improve the country, there are still many people living in poverty, a high illiteracy rate and open discrimination against the Roma (or “Gypsies”) population. Volunteers of this trip will partner with local organizations to work on one of a number of projects, from building a “Social and Educational Centers,” which will eventually become a home for nearly a dozen families, to implementing “green” initiatives. Volunteers on this trip will be located just outside Brasov, a medieval-esque town with cobblestone streets, old castles and farm villages. During free time, explore Brasov’s historic town center, its cultural sites and even the infamous Bran Castle, also referred to as Dracula’s Castle, located just outside town. This eight day trip is $1,390.
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Help Educate the Village of Hoi An in Vietnam
Vietnam has a longstanding history of being a major port for silk, porcelain and spices, bringing traders from as far away as Europe to trade wares and goods with the people. When the river filled up, however, it stopped the trade route and left the town of Hoi An amidst a beautiful mix of French, Japanese and Chinese, but also in economic troubles. While Vietnam’s government is working on reforming the economic situation, the clash of new reform and old revolution is leaving many of the rural people behind. Volunteers on this trip will head into the rural communities around Hao An with a goal of improving educational facilities, teaching methods and providing supplies and lessons for students. They will also teach basic English to students, provide materials to teachers, help them to learn how to be better educators, evaluate schools to provide feedback on how to better conditions and most importantly, work with the Portable Libraries Project. This project, called “Books to Live,” is a simple library that can be packed up and moved when needed. Specific projects will change depending on how many volunteers are available or needed. During down time, volunteers can explore Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, take a trip to the beach, sit in a language lesson to learn some Vietnamese or play games with the children. This trip costs $1000 to $2500.
Build a School in China for Children in Need
In China, many of those living in impoverished, rural villages want to move to the city for financial opportunity. In order to do this, citizens need official permission which is difficult to get and without it, families lose their rights to basic social services. Thus, more than 150 million "migrant" people are marginalized in cities, children are prevented from going to public school and people are without health care, often living in makeshift housing. On this trip, volunteers will work in a non-profit middle school for migrant children. The school itself was created on an old factory plant, and the infrastructure needs a lot of work. Volunteers can help by painting classrooms, building furniture, improving bathroom facilities as well as teaching English pronunciation and other essential skills. Additionally, volunteers will have the chance to sightsee including the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square and much more. This trip costs $1,380 per week, for first week, and $750 per each add’l week, up to 3 weeks max.