GoAbroad

Volunteer Abroad for 7-12 Months

You know you have always wanted to do something good for the world... but what? If you have a passion for helping others and a passion for travel, then here’s your answer: volunteer abroad! There are many programs that allow you to volunteer abroad for 7-12 months. These programs are perfect for those who want to abandon their regular routine to seriously commit to volunteering. Committing to 7-12 months volunteer programs abroad is about more than just traveling; it allows you to forge deeper connections with the community you are helping, and can be a truly transformative experience.
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Maximo Nivel volunteers

Featured Provider of the Month

526 7-12 Month Volunteer Abroad Programs

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]

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5

IVHQ Volunteer Programs in Guatemala

Explore the heart of Central America while giving back through International Volunteer HQ’s trusted Guatemala volunteer program. Based in the colorful city of Antigua and its surrounding rural and coastal areas, this program offers a meaningful way to connect with local communities and contribute to impactful initiatives. With 12 volunteer projects available year-round including Teaching, Medical Assistance, Childcare, and Construction, we cater to a wide range of interests and skill sets. Whether you’re on a gap year, a career break, or looking for a purpose-driven trip, this is an opportunity to make a difference while immersing yourself in Guatemala’s rich culture and landscapes. Your fully hosted experience includes everything you need to feel supported: airport pick-up, an in-depth orientation, accommodation in a homestay or shared volunteer house, two daily meals, and 24/7 local support. You’ll also receive pre-departure guidance from a dedicated IVHQ Program Manager, plus access to training tools that help you feel prepared before you go.

See All 5 Programs

MAXIMO NIVEL

9.52

512

Top Rated Program Volunteer Abroad in Costa Rica 2026
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 Care - Eco-Agriculture - Medical and Healthcare To qualify: - Volunteers must be 18+ years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian. - We require background checks from our volunteers. - Come with a great attitude and a willingness to pitch in. Since 2003, Maximo Nivel has been a leader in educational travel and study abroad. Our work-study-travel programs host more than 4,000 people per year. We are a professional, ethical, and hard-working organization that is completely dedicated to providing a great experience to every participant, student, traveler, and client! Every day, we strive to set ourselves apart and provide the best volunteer, education, and cultural experiences in Latin America, along with top-notch client service and great home-based facilities. Live it!

See All 16 Programs

Adelante Abroad

9.5

6

Internships in Oaxaca, Mexico - Adelante Abroad

Explore Internships and Volunteer Programs in Mexico with Adelante Abroad Mexico is a country renowned for its ancient ruins, vibrant culture, and stunning beaches. With Adelante Abroad, you’ll gain practical experience in your chosen field while fully immersing yourself in Mexican life and culture. Our internship programs in Oaxaca focus on giving back to the community while developing your professional skills. Choose placements in sectors such as Arts, Social Work, Psychology, English Teaching, Culinary, Education, and more. Programs run from 2 to 6 months, and new placements begin the first week of every month, making our volunteer opportunities in Oaxaca flexible and accessible year-round. Housing options vary by location. Interns can live with local families or other international participants, both of which provide excellent opportunities to improve their Spanish skills while experiencing life like a local. Adelante Abroad tailors each placement to your experience, skills, and program availability. Contact us to confirm your internship or volunteer program in Mexico and explore additional opportunities designed to boost your resume and cultural understanding.

See All 2 Programs

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

9.77

77

Top Animal Welfare Volunteer Programs & Internships Abroad

GoEco offers more than 60 wildlife and animal conservation volunteer opportunities and internships worldwide! Our programs focus on the welfare and conservation of various species, both wildlife and domestic animals. We offer volunteer opportunities and internships at wildlife rescue centers, wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife reserves and animal shelters. All of our programs are vetted and are in line with our ethical values - only ethical and supervised interactions are allowed. A few examples of our offers include working with rescued sloths in Costa Rica, rehabilitating vervet monkeys in Malawi, observing and collecting data on Africa's Big Five species and doing survey dives with whale sharks in Mozambique, just to name a few.

See All 18 Programs

The Intern Group

9.43

69

Top Rated Program Volunteer Abroad in England 2026
Internships & Volunteer Programs in London

Step into London, one of the world’s leading business, finance, and cultural capitals, with an international internship designed to accelerate your career. This program blends hands-on professional experience, global networking, and cultural immersion, equipping students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals with the skills and connections to thrive in today’s competitive job market. Internships are available across sectors including business, marketing, finance, PR, technology, entrepreneurship, and NGOs, with placements tailored to your career goals. Through partnerships with 3,000+ leading companies, start-ups, and NGOs, you’ll gain meaningful experience that strengthens your résumé and prepares you for future opportunities. Alongside your internship, you’ll benefit from mentorship, professional development workshops, and networking events. Please note: If you solely hold a UK passport and have lived only in England & Wales for the past five years, you must join a program outside the UK. Whether you’re exploring your path, taking a gap year, or advancing your career, our London program offers an unmatched blend of growth and global experience.

Instituto Hemingway

10

6

English Teaching Volunteer Program in Spain

Want to help others improve their English while you improve your Spanish? Join our exciting volunteer program in Spain! Most Spanish students start learning English at about ten years old, so your role mainly involves teaching conversational English. You'll receive assistance and guidance from the local teachers, especially with lesson preparation and content. Whilst there are typically five to fifteen students in a class, you usually have some say in the age group you teach but should maintain a flexible outlook. The students will learn so much from native speakers, including improved English language skills, which help to advance their lives and job opportunities. On the other hand, you'll find that teaching English is an extremely important and rewarding role. Together with other volunteers, you'll provide a valid and effective means of learning through: • Designing games to teach English, especially for younger children • Networking with local residents and local project staff Whilst not mandatory, completing a TEFL course prior to joining this project would prove to be highly beneficial.

International Medical Aid (IMA)

9.96

167

Global Health & Pre-Medicine Internships Abroad | IMA

IMA offers an opportunity to enhance your medical and healthcare knowledge with International Medical Aid's Pre-Med and Health Fellowships. Crafted for pre-med undergraduates, medical students, and high school students, these fellowships offer a unique chance to engage deeply with global health care in East Africa, South America, and the Caribbean. Shadow doctors in underserved communities, and immerse yourself in diverse healthcare systems through our extensive network of public and private hospitals. IMA, a nonprofit organization, is deeply invested in the communities we serve, focusing on sustainable health solutions and ethical care practices. You'll be involved in community medical clinics, public health education, and first responder training, addressing the root causes of disease and illness alongside local community leaders. Beyond clinical experience, explore the beauty of your host country through cultural excursions and adventure programs during your free time. Join IMA's fellowships developed at Johns Hopkins University and step into a role that transcends traditional healthcare learning, blending clinical excellence with meaningful community service.

See All 4 Programs

LET´S GO VOLUNTEER

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3

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, as we can't afford to hire and pay many staff members. Despite few resources, we are already making a positive difference and we strive to continue doing so. Our Children's Program was created to provide educational, nutritional, and emotional support and leadership skills to young children from marginalized neighborhoods in Ibagué, Colombia. Most—if not all—come from homes with only one woman as a provider and do not have the time or resources to care for them adequately. Thus, we address this pressing issue by helping care for more than 80 local children at our two centers, impacting their lives significantly. Our Children's Program aims to find support from kind-hearted people worldwide who want to join this noble cause. Volunteers primarily listen to, care for, play with, and give love to underprivileged kids.

Mente Argentina

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5

Mente Argentina: Latin American NGO Management Position

Volunteer or intern with an NGO that strives to end poverty and gain insight into all aspects of management and structure. Be a part of an organization that supports undeserved neighborhoods with emergency housing and other basic services. Mente Argentina creates placements based on expertise and passions. Get a behind-the-scenes understanding of what it takes to run a successful multi-national NGO that provides impoverished communities with vital support services. Potential assignments include administrative assistance, event coordination, online and media marketing, volunteer organization and training, and fundraising and development. Participants will see their Spanish skills improve through day-to-day communication and interaction. If volunteers and interns are interested in gaining additional language experience as well as learning vocabulary that will be of use during their placement, Mente Argentina offers a short-term Spanish course at the start of the program.

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Jakera: Learn Spanish, Volunteer and Adventure

0

0

Cuba & Costa Rica – 8 Weeks Travel Adventure

This program offers a full 8-week "All In" experience combining adventure and cultural exchange in Costa Rica and Cuba. Spend one month in each country embracing the lifestyle, enjoying the best activities, and making a positive impact by supporting local communities. Start in Costa Rica with Spanish classes, surfing, and yoga in the beach town of Santa Teresa, as well as an overland cloud forest exploration in Monteverde. Then, travel to Cuba to continue improving your language skills, enjoy some salsa dancing, participate in volunteer projects, and travel around the country to learn all about its history and culture. This is an ideal program for those seeking a blend of education, cultural immersion, and unique activities in two of Latin America's most vibrant countries. Plus, you get the chance to stay in a “jungle surf camp,” nestled in a paradise setting surrounded by wildlife. Imagine spotting a howler monkey hanging on a tree branch!

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Love Volunteers

9.58

201

Volunteer Abroad & Make a REAL Difference - From US$175!

Find out why more and more people are choosing to become a Love Volunteer! Love Volunteers is the most affordable way to volunteer and help local communities in developing countries! Why are we cheaper than other organisations? Firstly, we are just a handful of passionate people working hard to help volunteers and local communities around the world. We don't have huge overheads - no company cars, no downtown office - we're just volunteers who knew we could do a better job. Secondly, we work with local organisations wherever we can to keep administration costs to a minimum and also to feed as much money and skills into the local communities where we operate. All of Love Volunteers partner organisations have been fully vetted to ensure that, not only does a genuine need for assistance exist, but that the environments that we place our volunteers are safe and of high quality. Choose from one or more of our 200+ amazing community-based programs in 37 developing countries around the world. Every program has been personally visited by one of our dedicated staff members and is regularly audited to ensure it meets our high standards in terms of safety, sustainability, and local impact.

IPBio- Biodiversity Research Institute

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49

Eco-Volunteering Research | IPBio

The Eco-Volunteer Program encompasses a range of activities conducted in a group. The majority of these tasks are field activities, making this an ideal program for volunteers who like to stay outside and who enjoy physical activities such as the following. Tree Inventory: Study the biodiversity in different areas of the reserve to assess forest well-being and understand the distribution of fruit tree species for releasing rescued native birds. Garden Days: Help out in gardening, construction, or maintenance of the reserve's grounds. This is hard but rewarding work! Mushroom Inventory: We search for new species of mushrooms to identify, photograph, and collect their spore prints, which are like a mushroom's fingerprint. In addition, we conduct searches at night to find bioluminescent mushrooms lighting up the floor in an Avatar-like fashion. Mammal Monitoring via Camera Traps: We have cameras filming 24/7 in the forest, but all the data needs sorting. Volunteers are tasked with watching the footage, organizing the photos of mammals, and identifying the species. Fish Inventory: Understand the biodiversity of species in our rivers.

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Fundación Aldeas De Paz - Peace Villages Foundation

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Medicine and Healthcare Program

Acquire hands-on experience while working alongside fellow interns (or volunteers) and medical staff at a hospital or neighborhood health clinic in the Dominican Republic. Aldeas De Paz offers the Medicine and Healthcare program, which provides you insight into the daily operation and routines of local healthcare facilities. For a minimum of two weeks, you will experience the apparent contrast between the realities of health care in a developing country and Western medical practice. As clinics and hospitals in the country strive to become modernized, they face numerous challenges. You will witness medical conditions that have remained untreated, which in turn have developed to an advanced pathological stage. This project broadens your perspective by giving you real responsibilities. You will gain experience in different departments: maternity (only female volunteers), pediatric, emergency, diabetes, HIV prevention, and nursing. You could be assigned with hospital administration and management as well, wherein your tasks could include assisting with statistics and accountancy.

See All 9 Programs

Go Palestine - The Palestinian Center

9.97

36

Top Rated Program Volunteer Abroad in Palestine 2026
Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees 2026/2027

The Volunteer with Palestinian Refugees program is a valuable and immersive opportunity for those who wish to work alongside and learn from Palestinian refugees living in different conditions. By engaging with the community, participants will gain unique insights into the daily lives of refugees and the challenges they face due to the ongoing occupation. Throughout the program, participants may organize and participate in various social, educational, and community activities designed to empower refugees and provide opportunities to learn new skills, connect with others, and express their creativity. Additionally, the program aims to promote education as a powerful tool for advocacy and change, encouraging refugees to fight for their rights and futures. The program focuses on engaging youth, children, and women living in refugee camps in Hebron. Despite the difficult conditions in these camps, participants will discover that the refugees are resilient and determined to improve their lives through education and community engagement.

Volunteer World

8.69

16

Volunteer World: Best Volunteer Abroad Programs Worldwide

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

See All 38 Programs

Connect-123 Internship Programs

9.83

149

Global Internship & Volunteer Programs with Connect-123!

Looking for an international internship that will set you apart—and give you the skills, experience, and confidence to thrive in your career? Connect-123 designs fully customized programs that match your background and goals, offering hands-on experience in some of the world’s most exciting cities: Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, and Sydney. Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or experienced professional, our programs span dozens of fields including business, finance, medicine, public health, journalism, marketing, human rights, law, sustainability, education, and more. You’ll gain meaningful, career-related experience while also exploring life in a new culture. We take care of the details so you can focus on making the most of your time abroad. From the moment you apply, our team helps guide you through the process, secure your placement, and prepare you for your new adventure. With flexible start dates and customizable program lengths, your life-changing internship begins on your schedule.

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Terra Sylvestris

9.4

15

Kalamos and Kastos Sustainable Development Program

Are you interested in collaborating with a local community, focusing on the development of a permaculture initiative as well as protection of biodiversity in an off-the-beaten location known for its global importance? In that case, sign up for a Sustainable Development Program - a field volunteer program that aims to help educate and inspire people from around the world about sustainability and nature conservation. It is based in the Kalamos Island biological field station, and you will work according to a pre-agreed plan. Throughout the program, you will immerse in one of the few grassroots biodiversity conservation projects in Greece, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. You will gain hands-on experience in monitoring wildlife and plant populations as well as in the field of permaculture and sustainability in a Mediterranean but also international context.You will also get to see how it is like to be part of an organization working towards achieving a variety of sustainability goals and be part of a multicultural environment and at the same time be a member of the local community of our islands.

Road2Argentina

9.25

12

Volunteering and Spanish Immersion with Road2Argentina

Volunteering through Road2Argentina allows you to be more than a tourist, enabling you to interact with locals and practice your Spanish while giving back to the community. We offer placements in local organizations in Buenos Aires, where you will handle hands-on assignments that truly help those who need it most. Apart from volunteering activities, you can take intensive Spanish classes further to enhance your immersion in Argentine culture and language. Please become part of our unique community of local and international volunteers, interns, and other students. * Volunteer placements in Buenos Aires that require basic Spanish: - Community soup kitchen - Recreational activities for kids - Childcare - Teaching English to children or adults - Organizing fundraising events - Environmental sustainability * Volunteer placements in Buenos Aires that require intermediate Spanish: - Continuing education for children and adults - Community center communication - HIV-affected children - PR and marketing for an NGO

AIFS Abroad

9.11

37

AIFS Abroad in San José, Costa Rica: Semester

Spend a semester or academic year in the lively capital of San José with AIFS Abroad! You’ll earn up to 20 credits per semester from Universidad Veritas through various courses and internship opportunities. Courses are taught in English and Spanish. No previous Spanish language study is required for most programs. Universidad Veritas offers an internship program and volunteer opportunities that’ll help you make the most of your semester abroad. Their Spanish Language and Internship Program welcomes students with an advanced level of Spanish and a minimum of 2 years of college-level Spanish. It combines a 4-week Spanish language course with a 12-week internship placement within local companies or NGOs based on your major. You’ll also enjoy cultural and social activities, including: • Costa Rican cooking classes • Visits to local museums and historical sites • A 3-day trip to Arenal Volcano, hot springs, and Monteverde Cloud Forest • A 3-day trip to the beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park • Day trip to Poás Volcano, Doka Coffee Estate, and Sarchi artisans Optional excursions include a 2-day trip hiking and rafting in Sarapiquí.

See All 5 Programs

American India Foundation

9.67

6

Banyan Impact Fellowship for Service in India

The Banyan Impact Fellowship (formerly AIF William J. Clinton Fellowship) is a fully funded 10-months program in India. By facilitating exchange and collaboration between young professionals from India and the U.S., the program aims to shape the next generation of leaders committed to positive and sustainable change and creating a lasting US-India relationship. Fellows serve with civil society organizations in various thematic areas including environment protection, climate justice, public health, education, livelihoods, arts, culture, and more. Fellows receive a stipend, health insurance, language training, mentoring, professional development, international networking and career opportunities. Fellows benefit from in person conferences, and they engage in workshops, reflection exercises, and skill building activities. Apply by February 20, 2024.

A Guide to Volunteering Abroad for 7-12 Months

Why volunteer for 7-12 months?

Any time spent volunteering is a worthwhile experience, but the advantage of long term volunteering is that you get to connect on a deeper level with the communities you are helping. Rather than swooping in for a short project, you will become a part of the community’s everyday life. Not only does this allow you to form close relationships, it also allows you to have a local travel experience as you adjust to a brand new daily life. 

If you love the idea of waking up like a local on the other side of the world, and getting up to help your new community, then taking the chance to volunteer abroad for 7-12 months is perfect for you. By the end of your experience, you will build strong relationships (with the community and with your fellow volunteers), discover a new perspective (or even a new purpose!), and maybe even open your eyes to new possible career paths.

Latest Program Reviews

Beautiful and Eye Opening

March 15, 2026by: ashley Montecinos - United States

Program: Volunteer - TEFL - Spanish - Internships

9

Margot was great! We really loved her! She was very sweet! She explained our days and pickups really well. And she also explained Costa Rica's culture. Only feedback would be better communication about our itinerary through email, since we all got it very late. And maybe if the itinerary was a bit more detailed. Like telling us if we're able to swim or not. Since for one of the waterfalls we couldn't swim. And also if hotels could've been mentioned. Or the cost of things around since the hotels we are in are touristy

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