Though the majority of Russia is considered rural, about 75 percent of Russia’s population lives in its two largest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Consequently, volunteer programs in Russia tend to be city based, but that is not to say there aren’t programs in rural areas worth considering too.

Moscow. The capital and largest city, with almost 17 million people in the entire metropolitan area, has plenty of need for volunteers across multiple sectors. For example, volunteers can choose to work with children, the elderly or disabled, help the homeless, or work with at-risk youth. There are plenty of placements for teachers and healthcare professionals too, with a large number of schools in need of English teachers and a broad healthcare network.

St. Petersburg. The second largest city lies in West Russia, just off the coast of the Baltic Sea. Like Moscow, there is high demand for volunteers in healthcare and education. Hospitals, clinics, schools, and community programs all offer the largest number of volunteer opportunities in St. Petersburg. Due to its location, St. Petersburg is more Westernized than the rest of Russia. St. Petersburg is also considered the cultural capital of Russia.

Rural Areas. Most of Russia’s landmass is rural. Once you get outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, you start to see the vast and wild nature of Russia. Rural village environments can be harsh, so volunteers looking to help in these regions should prepare for the challenges that the climate and lifestyle present. English teachers are needed in many of these isolated areas, but there are also opportunities for those looking to get involved in trail building, restoration, and wildlife volunteer projects.