GoAbroad

Volunteer Abroad Programs

If you want to be a volunteer overseas, we can guess that altruism is at the heart of your goals! There’s no denying that we’ve collectively entered an era where the feeling of wanting to do good for humankind and the Earth is nearly palpable. However, it’s become increasingly important to properly vet volunteer abroad programs prior to choosing an experience, due to issues of unsustainable practices, exploitation, and a myriad of other safety concerns. That’s where we come in! Whether you’re looking for long term volunteer experiences or just want to spend your summer off making a difference, we can help you find the right volunteer project for you, thanks to our thousands of reviews, decades of experience and our compilation of some of the highest quality programs available.
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Top Volunteer Abroad Providers

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Featured Provider of the Month

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Featured Volunteer Opportunities

This Month’s Recommended Volunteer Abroad Programs

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]
9.541895 reviews

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] logo
Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—fro...

MAXIMO NIVEL
9.52643 reviews

MAXIMO NIVEL

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Top-Rated Volunteer Abroad Programs in Latin America

Maximo Nivel is a locally based organization in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Volunteer abroad—get involved, make an impact, and learn to serve by working on local projects:- Working with Kids- Teaching English- Conservation- Construction- Animal Ca...

International Medical Aid (IMA)
9.95296 reviews

International Medical Aid (IMA)

International Medical Aid (IMA) logo
Global Perspectives in Nutrition Placement/Dietetic with IMA

International Medical Aid (IMA) is a not-for-profit organization that provides travel abroad internships for nutrition and dietetics students. Undergrad and graduate-level students, as well as licensed practitioners, are invited to go to countries in E...

Global Work & Travel
9.610 reviews

Global Work & Travel

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Jungle & Coast: Wildlife & Sea Turtles in Costa Rica

Discover Costa Rica’s stunning landscapes while making a real difference in wildlife conservation. Split your time between caring for rescued animals – sloths, forest animals, and more – and protecting endangered sea turtles as they journey to the ocea...

Volunteer World
8.5531 reviews

Volunteer World

Volunteer World logo
Best Volunteer Programs in South Africa

Volunteer in South Africa and experience all the different colors of the "Rainbow Nation"! Visit vibrant and multicultural cities and work with underprivileged children in the townships of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Do you want to use your language sk...

WeWhale
9.836 reviews

WeWhale

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Marine Conservation Volunteer Program in Lanzarote, Spain

Are you interested in learning about whales and dolphins and observing them in their natural habitat while contributing to our conservation efforts?Join our unique conservation program in Lanzarote, where you can actively contribute to our mission of m...

Vocational Impact
9.9418 reviews

Vocational Impact

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Psychology and Mental Health Programme in Ghana

Are you a Psychology, Mental Health, or Social Work student looking for hands-on experience that will enhance your studies and career prospects?This unique opportunity is ideal for university students, graduates, and master's students seeking field exp...

LET´S GO VOLUNTEER
103 reviews

LET´S GO VOLUNTEER

LET´S GO VOLUNTEER logo
Let's Go Volunteer - Children's Program in Colombia

We need your help! Join Let’s Go Volunteer in the beautiful community of Ibagué, Colombia. We are a small organization, with almost everyone on our staff a volunteer. We count on these passionate individuals to continue supporting the less fortunate, a...

Global Citizen Adventure Corps
9.8841 reviews

Global Citizen Adventure Corps

Global Citizen Adventure Corps logo
Service Learning in Costa Rica

Costa Ricans greet and encourage each other with Pura Vida – a phrase that means much more than its literal translation of Pure Life. As a volunteer with GCAC, you feel the emotions of those words as you work with our partner nonprofits. You could coll...

How to Volunteer Abroad

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s the deal—you probably can’t volunteer abroad for free. Although this immediately sounds counterintuitive, there’s actually a great reason for it, and that reason is: resources. Accommodating you during your time abroad, coordinating projects for you to work on, and buying materials for the programs you'll contribute to all takes resources! By paying for your volunteer program, you'll help contribute to the the continued efforts of the projects and organization!

Organizations that are working in areas of great need are typically strapped for funds. It’s expensive for organizations to help you find a placement, secure housing, provide support, and coordinate logistics on the ground. If a program were free, that would mean all of that money required to host volunteers would be funneled out of the local economy and away from the issues you’re there to help solve.

On that note, however, you should be wary of volunteer organizations that are primarily businesses. Before choosing a program, you’ll want to do your due diligence and ensure you’re not indirectly perpetuating harmful voluntourism practices. This can start with reading reviews about the program, and you can also look out for our GoAbroad Verified green check mark to be your signal of a vetted program.

You may know why it costs money to volunteer abroad, but that doesn’t mean you can necessarily afford it. We hear you! Believe it or not, there are scholarships for volunteering abroad. You can also try to secure funding for your trip through a Facebook Fundraiser, or crowdfunding platforms like FundMyTravel.

The requirements to volunteer will depend on the program or organization you’re interested in volunteering through. In general though, you’ll need to fill out an application or interest form online, have an interview with a coordinator, and have a valid passport. Additionally, you’ll need to apply and pay for your visa, and purchase your flights. Your program will provide pre-departure support to assist you with the logistics and final requirements before departure too.

There are many benefits of volunteering abroad! Of course, there are the usual benefits that are involved with traveling abroad, like broadened horizons and a better understanding of the world at large. However, the primary benefit of volunteering abroad isn’t for you, but for your host community. When volunteering abroad is done right and sustainably, the work you do during your placement will have a lasting impact on your host destination.

With so many volunteer opportunities around the world, how do you choose the best one for you? First, you’ll want to narrow down your goals and plan accordingly. Which issues abroad are the most important to you? How much time can you commit to volunteering abroad? (Hint: The longer the better!)

However, the best volunteer abroad programs also come down to their impact. The best organizations are run sustainably—which means they aren’t perpetuating local issues in order to make money. That would in fact be the antithesis of meaningful travel. Do research on your top program choices to make sure they’re adhering to ethical policies, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about their practices. Then you’ll know you haven’t only chosen the best volunteer program for you, but one of the best volunteer programs for the world. Here's a step by step process to help you choose the best volunteer program for you!

Latest Program Reviews

So cool.

July 12, 2025by: Alyson Jackson - United StatesProgram: Conservation Projects—Volunteer in Costa Rica!
9

I was able to see so many sea turtles and an arribada happened while I was there. At first I had some trouble adjusting but got moved to the station where accommodations were very nice. Moving to the station hade my experience so much better.

Latest Interviews

Tanisha Gupta

Tanisha Gupta

Volunteer Quest India

Alumni

I've always wanted to travel and accomplish something worthwhile, and volunteering seemed like the ideal way to achieve it. Working with rescued birds...

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Nafis Khan

Nafis Khan

Volunteer Quest India

Alumni

I had been thinking about going on a long vacation for a while now, something more important than a normal holiday. Since my work as a software develo...

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