Editor’s note: This article is part of our Meaningful Travel Forecast series and official travel report for 2019. “I want to volunteer abroad, but there just isn’t work for me to do,” said no one, EVER! If you are like the hundreds of volunteers working abroad that we’ve run into, a more accurate statement is, “I care about saving the sea turtles, and educating young girls, and creating access to clean drinking water….how do I decide which volunteer project abroad to choose?!” Am I right?
Read the GoAbroad Official Report on the 10 Best Types of Volunteer Work Abroad in 2019
2019 is on the horizon. What better time to start seriously thinking about that volunteer trip you’ve always dreamed about. The sooner you narrow down your focus, the sooner you can start planning your meaningful travel (and not get caught with last minute and expensive flight tickets).
To help you along, we’ve prepared the most popular and needed areas of volunteer work abroad in the year ahead. Read on to learn the projects in greatest need of support from international volunteers in 2019!
The best types of volunteer projects abroad in 2019
1. Children
Who doesn’t love kicking around a soccer ball in a new place with a group of kids to break the ice? If you can come up with children’s activities in your sleep, chances are you’d fit right in volunteering abroad with kids. Schools, summer camps, sports, music, art, dance—you name it, kids love it. But more, they love learning from and engaging with a person from a different world than their own. (Warning: you are guaranteed to learn a lot more from them no matter how many years younger they are.)
It is not hard to find volunteering projects abroad involved with kids, but please be mindful that children are a vulnerable group which should not be exploited. If you are simply trying to get in a feel-good-for-some-hours-of-service trip, pick a different service area. (I know none of YOU meaningful travelers fall into this category, but my ethical travelers conscience forces me to include this memo). If you have experience with children (yes, even babysitting counts!), you can definitely find a program that will give you the opportunity to teach, play, or share your passions and skills to enhance their lives.
- GoAbroad’s program pick: Volunteering Solutions
- Traveler’s program pick: Fundación Aldeas De Paz - Peace Villages Foundation
2. Disaster Relief
Unfortunately, there is always a large need for disaster relief. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes—the world needs many hands and hearts on the ground helping communities affected. The great thing about disaster relief volunteer projects abroad is that a little help can go a long way. No one is going to expect you to pack up and head to a site for the entire rebuilding process. Disaster relief efforts are continuous efforts.
Disaster relief volunteer Chris Foley shares: "“Storms in the world become more volatile and hurricanes continue to devastate island nations more and more—volunteers need to step up and help."
This is where community truly works together—you can pick up work others have tirelessly been working on, put your heart and soul into long hours and strenuous labour for one or two weeks, and then pass on the torch to the next group of committed citizens. Every moment of disaster relief efforts make an impact. If you are able to maintain a long-term commitment, then you can make an even greater impact as a project or volunteer manager.
- Traveler’s program pick: Global Builders - Haiti: Build Alongside Locals
3. Animal Welfare
Volunteer abroad projects in animal welfare take you a step further than walking dogs at the local shelter. As the planet changes (mostly due to us), our furry and scaly friends don’t have the voices needed to advocate for their own health and safety. Animal lovers have a great opportunity to learn, raise awareness, and educate others through abroad volunteering. You can work in rescue centers for illegal animal trading/poaching, sanctuaries for endangered species, or wildlife rehabilitation to reduce habitat destruction. Research projects also use volunteers for hands-on work right in animals’ natural settings, an experience we won’t get in our home communities (unless you live in the outback of course).
- GoAbroad’s program pick: GoEco
- Traveler’s program pick: African Impact
4. Refugees
The combined number of refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people is topping 65 million in the world in 2019. This is a high-need area for volunteer abroad projects as countries are in-over-their-heads trying to meet the growing needs for individuals and families. Because of this, there are endless ways you can help. Teachers, counselors, fundraisers, and first-aid workers can all support refugee camps and settlements. Anyone with trainable soft or hard skills can help a displaced person build the skills needed to re-start a career. If you are not ready to work on-the-ground, you can support management and administration for the non-profit and charity organizations. No matter what volunteer work abroad you select in refugee relief, you can be sure you will be making a huge difference in the lives of others.
- GoAbroad’s program pick: Cross Cultural Solutions
- Traveler’s program pick: Involve
Knowing the context of the crisis provides you with a better understanding of how to be most effective volunteer in a traditionally conservative population. Review the migration map, familiarize yourself with the plight of the majority of refugees, and know what they're escaping and the goals of their journey.—Brooke Lake, Former Volunteer with Refugees
5. Women's Empowerment
#Imwithher #metoo #women-around-the-world-need-women-empowerment-volunteers! Talk about rewarding work—in countries were women and girls face obstacles to education, safe menstruation and birth control practices, or the ability to walk down the street without risk of violence or sexual assault, you can make a difference in the life of one or many through a volunteer project abroad in women’s empowerment. This type of work comes in many forms: skills training, health outreach, micro-lending, prenatal support, and much,much more. Along the way you can build relationships with men and women alike fighting for justice around the world. If you are ready to be a warrior in gender rights, there are volunteering projects abroad waiting for you.
- Traveler’s program pick: Kaya Responsible Travel
6. Social Work
Those of you who know social work know there are a plethora of communities and subgroups you can volunteer with right in your hometown let alone across the world. No matter what society you travel to, there will be marginalized and disadvantaged groups of people. Advocacy efforts, awareness campaigns, fundraising, education, physical and mental healthcare support are all areas individuals with big hearts and a lot of passion can find volunteer work abroad. Typically NGOs and nonprofits working to support disadvantaged groups lack the resources and funds needed to carry out important projects. As a volunteer, you become the manpower they need to make a bigger impact in the community.
- GoAbroad’s program pick: Volunteering Solutions
- Traveler’s program pick: Khaya Volunteer Abroad
7. Renewable Energy
Renewable energy projects abroad are picking up a lot of sustainable steam! Whether your care about water conservation or bringing electricity to rural areas, projects are ready to take on motivated and driven volunteers to make it happen. Heading abroad for volunteering in renewable energy is guaranteed to be get-your-hands-dirty work. You may work at one project site, or you may get to travel to different areas and communities as you construct, install, or educate. If you are interested in engineering, the environment, and community service, you will gain valuable skills, make an impact on our planet, and improve people’s lives. What more can you ask for?!
- GoAbroad’s program pick: Kaya Responsible Travel
- Traveler’s program pick: NGO Abroad
You must respect the culture of the country you’re in. Yes, you grew up with certain mindsets, beliefs, values, and laws, but you need to put those aside to learn about the culture you’re in & to fully appreciate your time spent there.—Jenna Schumann, USAC
8. Teaching English
Teaching English can be your ticket to an awesome cultural immersion abroad, especially as a volunteer. If you are just starting out or trying to see if education abroad is right for you, volunteering as an English teacher is a great choice. While schools and centers abroad often hire TEFL teachers, there are many placements that need volunteers to serve populations who cannot afford English lessons any other way. What an impact you can make! In this type of setting, you will often have a free homestay with locals or other perks that make finances a bit easier—and also makes the experience more fun as you get involved in the local community and pick up a new language yourself!
- GoAbroad’s program pick: Maximo Nivel
- Traveler’s program pick: Love Volunteers
9. Nursing
The World Health Organization has found that at least half of the world’s population lacks basic health care services. If you are a trained or in-training nurse, your skills can be put to good use in volunteer work abroad. No matter what community you travel to, you will work in a different healthcare environment than your own country. Different prominent medical conditions, different practices, different access to resources and medications—you will see the challenges different healthcare systems face and how they work to solve it. Your prior experience will be a new perspective to add to their equation, and you will bring a new perspective back home with you, too.
- GoAbroad’s program pick: A Broader View Volunteers
- Traveler’s program pick: Adelante Abroad
10. Conservation
Troy Peden thinks environmental studies will be HOT HOT HOT this year—with more and more students are going on short programs to visit glaciers, areas impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters, etc. We cannot deny that our earth is changing, and for our plant and animal life, it’s changing mostly for the worse. Choosing to spend your time abroad volunteering in conservation in 2019 is a worthy cause to benefit many generations to come. As more animals move onto the endangered species list and forests are being torn down for monetary gain, our world needs more people to take action. You can volunteer for two weeks planting trees or devote months to tracking wild animals, either way you will have a lasting green imprint on the world. You will probably walk away with an even bigger desire to make a difference and inspire others to do the same (through volunteer abroad projects!).
- Traveler’s program pick: Kaya Responsible Travel
Sustainable volunteering is about having the right expectations and being conscious that you’re not going to change the world, but you might provide a useful resource of time and money that helps to build capacity in a community over time.—Ben Brown, IVHQ
Next steps to find programs for abroad volunteering
Here are handful of resources to get you started on your very own heart-led journey. 2019 could be YOUR year to travel and volunteer—and we can help make it happen! Get free program recommendations that match your travel goals, or use MyGoAbroad to bookmark and compare program options with confidence.
Still hungry for more? Bookmark these bad boys:
Volunteering Inspiration
- How to Volunteer in Another Country
- 7 Ways to Volunteer Abroad
- 5 Questions to Ask Before You Volunteer Anywhere
Program Selection Advice
- How to Choose a Volunteer Abroad Program
- 12 Best Volunteer Programs Abroad This Year
- Short & Sweet Summer Volunteer Programs Abroad
Paying for Your Volunteer Program
- Is Paying to Volunteer Whack?
- How to Fund Your Volunteer Adventure
- 11 Inexpensive Volunteer Programs Abroad
- Browse Volunteer Abroad Scholarships
[Get Matched with 5 Volunteering Programs Abroad for FREE]
Participate in volunteer projects abroad this year!
Join thousands of other big-hearted travelers in best places to volunteer abroad this year.
These 10 meaningful projects will keep international volunteers busy—and effective—well into 2019 and beyond. Finding the cause that excites YOU and drives you to action is the most important consideration to make before you travel as a volunteer this year.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we aren’t going to be able to solve our world crises in two years let alone two weeks. But the beauty about joining a volunteering project abroad is that you can become part of the solution in more ways than one. Your hands-on hours on the job progress the work that furthers the charities mission and reach. Returning home with gained awareness allows you to continue making an impact through small changes in your day-to-day living (like composting or tutoring neighborhood kids!) Sharing your meaningful travel abroad experience with others inspires action and volunteering locally and abroad.
When you chose to volunteer abroad, you join a community of people around the globe motivated to make the world a better place. And who knows - it may even lead to a new career path or international job!
View MORE of the 2019 Meaningful Travel Forecast Here
Look for the Perfect Volunteer Abroad Program Now
Start Your Search
