Volunteer Abroad in the Philippines

Being an island nation, it’s often best to think about where to volunteer abroad in the Philippines in terms of which island to volunteer on. Here are some of the best islands for volunteers in the Philippines: 

Luzon is the northernmost main island of the Philippines, with the largest size and biggest population. On Luzon you can find Manila, the country’s capital city and economic hub. Manila has culture galore, from the historic Intramuros area built by the Spanish colonial government in the 16th century, to the chic restaurants and clubs of Bonifacio Global City. 

Cebu island is home to Cebu City, the oldest city in the Philippines, and the country’s first capital. While volunteering in the Philippines on Cebu, volunteers can explore the Spanish colonial architecture and artifacts of the city. Plus, Cebu is only a quick island hop away from the Chocolate Hills, a range of enchanting conical hills on Bohol island. 

On Leyte island, you can find Tacloban City, one of the fastest-growing cities in the Philippines and the largest city in the Eastern Visayas region. From caring for children to protecting the environment, this city offers a plethora of programs for interested volunteers.

There are plenty of volunteer projects in the Philippines where you can make a positive difference. Since the country struggles with inequality in economic distribution, frequently faces typhoons and tsunamis, and lacks infrastructure in many places, there is high demand for volunteers in the Philippines. 

Teaching English. While English is one of the Philippines’ official languages, and many Filipinos speak fluent English, some parts of the country still lack English teachers. There are volunteer programs in the Philippines placing English-speaking foreigners in communities that need greater access to English education. 

Community Development. As the Philippines’ population and economy grow, the country needs assistance developing its communities through projects like building houses and schools, coaching children’s sports, and working in medical facilities and women’s shelters. There are also options likely to pop up after the country’s tragically frequent natural disasters. If none of these are your cup o’ dalandan (mandarin juice), there are many other ways to help community development while volunteering abroad in the Philippines. 

Conservation. As a mega-biodiverse country, there are conservation missions you can join to protect the Philippines’ mind-blowing array of life. Conservation volunteer opportunities in the Philippines include coral research and renewable energy.

Compared to the United States and other developed countries, the cost of living in the Philippines can seem like a better bargain than the $150 50-inch flat screen TV on Black Friday. A simple meal out can cost less than $2, and a beer or soda less than $1. Domestic travel can be quite affordable too, with many promotions on flights. If you have more time than money, you can also look into ferries between the islands. To help fund volunteering in the Philippines, you can also create a FundMyTravel account or look into GoAbroad’s scholarship options.

While there are infinite reasons to volunteer in the Philippines (as there are for anywhere!), one that shouldn’t be overlooked is the warmth and friendliness of the Filipino people. Filipinos are extremely welcoming and particularly enjoy getting to know people from other countries. They are open and curious, so volunteers shouldn’t be intimidated if they get asked lots of questions! The icing on the cake is that so many Filipinos speak good-to-fluent English, so you don’t have to worry too much about that pesky language barrier while making Filipino friends, as you would have to in many of the Philippines’ Southeast Asian neighbors. 

When taking part in volunteer programs in the Philippines, you‘re not just helping those in need, but also having a tremendous opportunity to learn about the way of life in another part of the world, and maybe also about yourself and your passions. When volunteers return home from abroad they often realize that they’ve taken even more from the country in terms of wisdom and experience than they’ve even given in their volunteer work. Plus, when you’re volunteering abroad in the Philippines, you’ll be having more fun doing it!