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Volunteer Programs in Tacloban City, Philippines

The Philippines is a culturally rich and economically challenged country of thousands of islands and hundreds of ethnic groups. The island of Leyte is located among the Visayan Islands in the central Philippines. Famous for the mythical, rebellious, and unconquerable reputation of the Waray people, the location of General McArthur’s “I shall return” landing and most recently the infamous ground zero for the worst storm in known human history (Super Typhoon Yolanda), volunteering in Tacloban will provide volunteers with an incomparable experience.
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27 Volunteer Programs in Tacloban City, Philippines

Volunteer for the Visayans

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Volunteer and Intern in the Philippines

Find out why it's more fun and meaningful to volunteer with us! Volunteer for the Visayans (VFV) provides a wide range of program choices for people wanting to Volunteer Abroad in the Philippines through our local community partners and our very own community centers. VFV endeavors to improve the quality of life of the community by providing responsive, efficient, and high-quality community service through our programs and projects that promote self-efficiency, well-being, and prosperity of individuals, families, and communities throughout the Visayas Region. VFV has initiated programs to address issues in social welfare, education, public health, and community development in rural areas surrounding Tacloban City. The design of our programs allows prospective participants of varied skills and professions to get involved with various projects. We require that all volunteers are flexible, self-motivated, open-minded, sensitive to other cultures, and desire to challenge themselves in an unfamiliar environment!

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Kaya Responsible Travel

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Childcare Volunteering in the Philippines

Work on a sustainable community initiative that brings joy and makes a difference to children in our communities. Join Kaya on its Childcare Volunteering project in the Philippines, which aims to help disadvantaged children aged 3 to 6 years old develop their cognitive, physical, and social skills by conducting creative and supportive playtime sessions. The project's location is in the Eastern Visayas region, in Tacloban City—one of the cities severely hit by typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Children in the Philippines have limited access to free early education centers and nurseries, thus deprived of the care and support they need before entering school. Volunteers in this project provide essential assistance to the childcare center staff. You will help the children with reading and writing skills, lead educational games, and create activities such as painting, drawing, and more! To join this project, you must be competent in English. Previous experience working with children is preferred but not required. Patient, resourceful, and energetic are essential qualities for making the most of this placement.

Roots Interns

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Special Education Internship in the Philippines

Forge meaningful partnerships with teachers to develop and present compelling educational content, sparking remarkable changes in the lives of children facing developmental challenges. Provide them with support and guidance to foster an inclusive learning environment where every child can thrive. Embarking on a special education internship offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the dynamic and rewarding field of special needs education. As an intern, you'll play a pivotal role in supporting children with diverse developmental challenges, ranging from Down syndrome to autism spectrum disorders, as well as visual and hearing impairments. Collaborating closely with teachers and specialists, you’ll provide invaluable assistance to students, aiding in their education journey and fostering an inclusive learning environment. From designing individualized educational plans to implementing effective teaching strategies, you’ll contribute to the holistic development of each child, empowering them to reach their full potential. This will provide a rich learning experience for students with backgrounds in special education, psychology, social work, or related fields.

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Volunteering Journeys

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Medical Electives and Internships Abroad

Sign-up for our medical volunteering programs abroad if you are a medical or healthcare student who is aspiring for a medical career but needs real-time training and mentoring. You don’t necessarily have to have a medical degree, as requirements are different for each program. There are even pre-med volunteer abroad programs specifically for school leavers who are considering studying medicine in the future. We also offer customised placements for those seeking medical electives or medical internships abroad. Most of our medical electives abroad placement require that you spend 5-7 hours at our partner hospital or clinic as an observer of the daily routines of medical staff. You will be assigned a doctor or a department who will mentor you and may call upon you to assist with basic tasks such as taking vitals and treating minor wounds under the supervision of the local doctors. Our medical electives are offered in developing countries such as Philippines, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Peru and Costa Rica.

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Involvement Volunteers International

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Volunteer in the Philippines with IVI - Affordable Programs

The Philippines is a stunning archipelago of over 7,000 islands, known for its secluded beaches, pristine coves, vibrant marine life, world-class diving, surfing, hiking, and breathtaking turquoise waterfalls. Island hopping is a top attraction, with each island offering its own unique charm. Despite this natural beauty, the Philippines faces significant economic challenges and remains one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia—where volunteering can make a meaningful impact. Volunteer with IVI for authentic, affordable, and life-changing experiences in the Philippines. With over 35 years of experience as a registered charity and non-profit organization, we are deeply committed to supporting communities in need. Our projects serve underprivileged communities across the Philippines. Opportunities include nutrition and medical outreach, education, animal shelter assistance, construction, programs supporting street children, and more. Your contribution can help transform lives and create lasting change.

Volunteer World

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Best Volunteer Programs in the Philippines

Volunteer in the Philippines and explore some almost undiscovered parts of this world! Prepare to find deserted islands with white sandy beaches and unique diving spots. Help to keep this environment intact and join a marine conservation project. Perfect for the passionate scuba divers out there! You want to lend a helping hand to the poorer communities in the Philippines? Engage in a teaching project to spread your knowledge and English skills. For those of you qualified in childcare: use your experience to work at an orphanage and care for the more disadvantaged children.

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A Guide to Volunteering Abroad in Tacloban City

The History of Tacloban

While Tacloban is the capital city of Leyte and a more modern Visayan city, it faces the same social and environmental challenges that the rest of the Philippines face. Tacloban is a place where villagers come to visit a modern shopping mall or see a movie, it is a city where they can eat at one of the many delicious local restaurants like Ocho or international fast food establishments. Outside of these restaurants are street children, because public welfare programs are still limited and sometimes inefficient because social welfare offices are often influenced by politics.

Many villagers migrate to Tacloban in search of work only to find themselves squatters in already overcrowded and unhealthy neighborhoods. Educational challenges abound in Tacloban, as many children do not attend school for lack of uniforms and books or because they are needed to work alongside their parents to obtain enough income to sustain themselves daily. The recent and limited acceptance of birth control nationally has not found its way to many local villages or provinces, where women, on average, have over five children and typically live in single room native huts. Not to mention the fact that domestic violence, poor nutrition, and preventable illness also plague Tacloban City’s more than 200,000 residents.

The increasing strength of storms ravaging through the region have left Tacloban even more vulnerable, as a city that sits near sea level facing the ocean head on. Mudslides due to heavy rains or typhoons, compounded by tree clearing, have led to entire schools or villages being buried. Most notably, in November of 2013 Tacloban took the full force of the Super Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) with 300 km an hour winds and a 30 foot ocean storm surge. While much of the city shows signs of improvement, since the storm killed more than ten thousand people in the region, there are still signs of its devastation all around. Tent cities have popped up, along with substandard row houses developed by the local government with limited funding. There is still much to be done as part of the recovery of Tacloban City, including the emotional recovery of its’ residents who continue to grieve their losses as they try to put their lives back together.

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Latest Program Reviews

In Philippines (Tacloban)

August 28, 2025by: Daniela A - SpainProgram: Volunteer in the Philippines with IVI - Affordable Programs
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At the clinic, I was taught different nursing techniques UNDER SUPERVISION (placing IV lines, vaccinating, suturing, taking vital signs...). This was truly useful when going to rural areas where access to hospitals does not exist. We mostly cared for newborns, children, and pregnant women. We also treated and gave talks on hypertension and diabetes, focusing on both treatment and PREVENTION. During this volunteer experience, I realized how important and crucial prevention is to avoid hospitals from collapsing. In terms of my training as a medical student, I learned and practiced as a family doctor UNDER SUPERVISION, dealing with respiratory problems (pneumonia, asthma...), lower-risk illnesses (fever, digestive issues...), medical check-ups, and minor injuries (animal bites, burns...). The Philippines was a constant journey of contradictions. It showed me that there is beauty in simplicity, resilience in poverty, and freedom in music. I feel that I leave a part of myself in that place, but at the same time, I have carried its essence with me in every moment lived, kept in the form of memories of a medical student. The food and the acommodation was perfect. The family I stayed with, the Villafuerte family and my local team, were my guides; they made me feel that the Philippines was a home even while being far from my own. I will always remember. Everything was perfect

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