Question 1

intro

Accepted Answer

Due to the escalating conflict in Ukraine, we advise that you reach out directly to the programs listed below to learn more about active program dates. If you’re looking for ways to help Ukrainian refugees, we appreciate you! Please refer to this article for more resources.

How to help Ukrainian refugees
It should be noted that program options are limited for volunteering directly with Ukrainian refugees. (Please see the State Department’s travel advisory.)

It’s possible that the best way to support Ukrainian refugees right now is through direct donations.

Nova Ukraine. Nova Ukraine helps fund frontliners who are assisting both Ukrainian refugees and those forced to stay behind.
UKRAINE CRISIS | International Committee of the Red Cross. ICRC is working on providing access to clean water in Ukraine.
Animal Save Movement. This organization works to provide funds to shelters in Ukraine that are actively feeding and treating pets left behind and other stray animals caught in the conflict.
Doctors Without Borders - Ukraine. Doctors Without Borders are assisting those in Ukraine who need access to medications and healthcare.
All-Ukrainian Foundation. Direct assistance to children and orphanages in Ukraine.
Voices of Children. Voices of Children work to provide aid to children directly affected by war.
Razom. Razom has strategized an emergency response to the conflict in Ukraine and is distributing critical medical supplies, like tourniquets and satellite phones, in both Ukraine and Poland.
GoAbroad Foundation. GAF has started a Facebook fundraiser to directly provide food, water, and clothes for Ukrainian refugees.

We have many, many more organizations listed here. We will continue to update the program options below as we come across new opportunities.

Question 2

Locations

Accepted Answer

Want to make a real impact in the world? Combine travel with making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable by volunteering abroad with refugee relief projects. Every day, thousands of people around the world flee their homes due to natural disasters, war, or threats of persecution. Neighboring countries struggle to accommodate these displaced populations, resulting in a high demand for international humanitarian volunteers. There are more than 65-million refugees worldwide, with asylum-seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia accounting for more than half of this global crisis.

The refugee crisis is truly a global issue; therefore the opportunity to volunteer with refugees exists nearly everywhere in the world. However, areas of conflict, or areas that have recently experienced a natural disaster, will have the most active need for volunteer assistance. 
Lebanon. Lebanon hosts 183 refugees for every 1,000 inhabitants, which is the highest ratio in the world. Many of these displaced people are fleeing conflict in neighboring Syria. Additionally, 400,000 Palestinians live in refugee camps in Southern Lebanon. The majority of refugees in Lebanon are living well below the Lebanese extreme poverty line and have difficulty meeting basic needs. Volunteering for refugee relief serves these vulnerable populations by teaching English and professional subjects such as graphic design and entrepreneurship.
Greece. Approximately 50,000 refugees are currently hosted in Greece after fleeing violence in the Middle East and Central and South Asia. Many refugees are being housed in rudimentary camps and lack basic amenities. Refugee relief volunteering opportunities exist helping with food and clothing distribution, organizing children&rsquo;s programs, and assisting with medical and spiritual needs. As many of the refugees have survived tremendous violence and a harrowing journey in search of safety, volunteers with skills in social work, psychology, and art therapy are highly sought. 
Spain. Like many countries in Europe, Spain is struggling to accommodate the flood of refugees at its shores. Volunteer positions may involve developing career guidance programs, education, distributing supplies to food banks, performing tech support, and working with at-risk youth.
New Zealand. Every year, up to 1000 refugees start the difficult task of creating their new lives in New Zealand. Volunteer opportunities exist to teach refugee children and help raise their standards of education. Volunteers are needed to teach all subjects, including sports, music, art, and English.

Question 3

What Else You Need to Know

Accepted Answer

The decision to participate in refugee relief volunteer programs abroad should not be taken lightly. Beyond the opportunity to make a real difference in the world, you&rsquo;ll also gain practical work experience in your field. There&rsquo;s such a great need for refugee relief volunteers that you&rsquo;re certain to find the type of project that will suit your skills and professional interests, in addition to the clear humanitarian benefits.
Popular projects. Refugee relief volunteer projects abroad vary considerably in the type of skills needed. As over half of the world&rsquo;s refugees are children, there is a tremendous need for teachers to volunteer abroad in refugee camps. Other projects may involve teaching computer skills to both children and adults. Volunteers will be involved with running workshops, organizing online campaigns, and helping children and adults learn English and other local languages. If you&rsquo;re a Business major, many organizations would like your help developing their entrepreneurship and microfinance programs.
Professional benefits. Having a volunteer project with refugee relief on your resume will undoubtedly be impressive to future employers. Medical students with experience in medicine or dentistry can gain experience working alongside professionals in medical and health education projects. Counseling, social work, psychology, or sociology students will be able to use their skills in the crucial role of assisting children and adults cope with traumas and loss. Also, there may be opportunities to gain experience with the business side of refugee organizations, such as fundraising, office support, and program management. 
Humanitarian. This hands-on experience with victims of conflict is an altruistic journey unlike any other. You will get a chance to interact with refugee families, help them process how their lives have quickly changed, and help them move forward into the future, however uncertain it may be.

Question 4

GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop

Accepted Answer

There are obvious benefits surrounding refugee volunteer work abroad, including practical skills to put on your resume. Volunteering shows employers that you&rsquo;re willing to devote energy to projects you are passionate about and will set your resume apart. The needs of refugees are diverse, so your volunteer experience in a refugee camp may be tailored towards your career interests, particularly if it involves social work, healthcare, foreign languages, and education. 
However, the most rewarding aspects of volunteering in refugee relief are the experiences you can&rsquo;t define on your resume. Refugees are people with heartbreaking experiences, so a high level of emotional maturity is essential. Sensitivity is required, especially when working with children who have been forced to flee from their homes. When you finish volunteering abroad with refugee relief, you&rsquo;ll have seen more of the world&mdash;and not just the tourism-office approved version, either. You&rsquo;ll be a witness to both this global crisis and the strength of people&rsquo;s wish to survive and flourish no matter the odds. 
Volunteering with refugee relief organizations will challenge you, but it will also expand your comfort zone and increase your global awareness. Grow as a world citizen, a volunteer, and an ally for human dignity!