Is it even possible to volunteer abroad for free?

Hi, I really want to volunteer abroad during my gap year for around 3-6 months and I know it sounds stupid, but I was wondering if there would be any way to volunteer abroad without paying the travel costs?

I think it'll be a great experience but my family genuinely can't afford the kind of sums it takes to go abroad...

Maybe a religious organisation? Or am I dreaming thinking that there is any way to volunteer in another continent without paying anything...

Reply 1

Chr0n

I am also interested in this.
Though I do understand that I would pay travel fees, I do not understand why I should pay several hundreds of euros to the organization so that I am allowed to help them...

Reply 2

Origami Bullets

Unless you have specialist skills (like, say, being a doctor) then you'll struggle to find places that will fund your travel costs. However, if you have a look at helpx.net, WWOOF and workaway.info then you will find lots of volunteering opportunities (often in an agricultural / domestic context) when you can volunteer in return for bed and board. The good thing about this sort of volunteering is that you can do several in a row, interspersed with travelling, and get to understand the local culture a lot better, whilst living extremely cheaply.

Reply 3

Sir Fox

Yes, if you apply for special programs or scholarship. I was sent to Ghana for a year by the German Red Cross and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development paid for it. Admission is competitive though ...

Not sure whether there are similar programs in the UK :confused:

Reply 4

Origami Bullets

Just remembered about this http://www.dfid.gov.uk/ics - it's a means tested, government funded, organised overseas volunteering scheme.

PS when you say that your family can't afford the sums it takes to go abroad, you do realise that most people get a job to fund their travels?

Reply 5

Newbie123

Original post by Origami Bullets

... Well it's too late now(?)

I didn't foresee that I was going to take a gap year, and I'm already doing a bunch of stuff in the summer (productive stuff...).

Reply 6

superwolf

Doesn't sound like it's suitable for you, but for other people looking to do volunteering abroad on their gap year I went with Project Trust: you are expected to pay several thousand pounds, but the whole sum is supposed to be raised by fundraising over the course of about six months to a year beforehand, i.e. you and your family would not be paying for it yourselves. Project Trust does full-year placements in countries all over the world (I taught English in a school in Chile), and is definitely one of the more reputable gap-year organisations.

Reply 7

StevenKnott

One of my friends was in the same position, however, they got round it by instead of volunteering abroad, they got a job abroad (e.g America Summer Camp) and with the money they got, they were able to afford travel costs and accommodation etc.
I know it's not realistically the same as volunteering, but they said it was just as good, if not better as they had a little bit of spare cash to do cool things while they were out there!
There are many projects and organisations that can help you do this if you look them up online etc

Reply 8

acedlol

I can get to Vietnam, and stay there for £500 for 6 weeks.

(Excluding flights :biggrin:

)

Just have to find the right places. Ultimately going around for free is impossible. Even if you are a Doctor, I'd imagine you would have to pay for food etc... However you can do it cheaply if you do some digging.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 9

tashazzz

It's taken me a year and a half to get the money for myself and my boyfriend to volunteer abroad for two weeks. I had to manage A LOT of fundraisers (traffic light discos, comedy hypnotists, beach parties, waxathons etc), asked for funding from my school and did a bag packing day. It's very unlikely that you will get to go for free so I think you should consider organising something similar to what I've mentioned. The bag packing day in my local sainsburies helped us to raise close to £500, you may have to wait a few months but it's a very quick and easy way of making money and it could pay for all or most of your flight.

Reply 10

dulciemae

Original post by Newbie123

Following on from what OrigamiBullets said about http://www.dfid.gov.uk/ics, I'm looking at this too and OP, this is as close to a 'free' volunteering scheme as you're going to get. They cover your Visa, flights, accommodation, food and medical costs for 3 MONTHS and even give you a bit of spending money too. They do say that 'You don't have to pay to volunteer for ICS but we do ask you to fundraise at least £800,' and that they'll help you with raising that, which I think is 'the catch' but at the same time, brilliant too as although it's a challenge, you'll understand more about what you're going out there for. It's win-win really. Here's just about all you need to know http://ics-uk.org.uk/about/.

I completely understand about not having the money though. I already have a part-time job, but raising a few thousand pounds to do something so short notice is near impossible, especially if your own income is one of the most likely means of support - that's why this ICS scheme is so brilliant!

I'm going to apply asap, have a look at the links and see, but it looks pretty good to me. :smile:

Reply 11

zohaib01

I have applied to the Ics scheme had my assessment day last thursday is a 3 month programme ina country doing what the people thewre need, you work on varied projects whilst living in a host home so an oppertunity of a lifetime hope i get it!!