Volunteer abroad for free | Find your opportunity - EU-Vietnam Business Network (EVBN)

It’s a commendable idea, wanting to go out into the world with your skills in an attempt to aid communities that need it most. Here we ask can you volunteer abroad for free!

Unfortunately, there are two things that stop a person from volunteering overseas:

Lack of time
Lack of money

The good news (and often lesser known truth) is that volunteering doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, you can volunteer abroad for free!

Now, when we say free, we don’t mean without spending a dime. One way or another, there are going to be costs you incur as part of your volunteer service.

However, it doesn’t have to cost your thousands of dollars as long as you know where to find the right resources.

Mục Lục

Why does it cost to volunteer abroad in the first place?

It seems counterintuitive to pay to volunteer, so what’s the deal? Most volunteer programs charge participants a (large) administrative fee.

In addition to this, program fees typically cover accommodation, some or all meals, training, and volunteer supplies (i.e. tools for building houses, craft supplies for community workshops, etc.). This money also often helps pay for staff, like volunteer coordinators and program managers, salaries.

Even if you find an organization to volunteer for that doesn’t charge an arm and a leg in program fees, there are costs associated with volunteering.

Costs to consider

Passport – To volunteer overseas, you’ll need a passport. This expense will vary by country of origin. For example, an adult American obtaining a passport for the first time will pay approximately $110.

Travel insurance – This will depend on what country you are volunteering in and the duration of your stay. Shop around before settling on a policy that is affordable and effectively covers your needs.

Vaccinations – Sometimes a visa determination is dependent on proof that you’ve had specific vaccinations. In other instances, it may be recommended by your doctor. Either way, getting properly vaccinated can be an expense you haven’t factored in when preparing for your volunteer jaunt.

Airfare – You can only make flights cheaper to a certain extent. For example, traveling with less luggage and longer layovers or more stopovers will help lessen your overall airfare expenditure.

Accommodation – If you’ve chosen a program that puts the responsibility of housing on you, be sure to add this into your budget. Consider the number of weeks you’ll be in your volunteer destination.

Meals – All three of your daily meals may or may not be included in a volunteer program’s fees. In fact, many only cover breakfast and dinner. Factor in the meals you will need to provide for yourself, research local costs of living and grocery expenses.

Visa – If you are going abroad, the country you are volunteering in may require you to obtain a specific visa. This cost will vary based on your passport and your volunteer destination.

Spending money – Include a little spending money for essential items you might need to restock yourself with and for souvenirs you might want to purchase as mementos to this life-changing time in your life.

Where can I find volunteer abroad for free opportunities?

Knowing where to look is a key in discovering the most affordable (or free) experiences available.

HelpStay

HelpStay and it’s sister site Free Volunteering is a subscription-based website filled with opportunities such as housesitting, pet sitting, language exchanges (helping families teach their children your native tongue), and hospitality and agricultural help (think picking grapes during harvest time at vineyards or manning the check-in desk at a busy hostel).

The annual fee for subscribers is Euro €42.99, but the directory of global volunteer ops is well-worth the money.

WWOOF

WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Like its name suggests, the WWOOF website is steeped with volunteer opportunities for those interested in agricultural work.

WWOOF requires you to pay an annual membership fee of roughly $30 for an individual or $50 for a shared account.

Here’s the kicker: you have to pay for each WWOOFing country, since they don’t yet have a global membership option. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll have access to hundreds of organic farms ready to host an eager volunteer. Think cheese making, fruit picking, and nut harvesting in exchange for room and board.

VSO

VSO offers 18-35 year-olds volunteer placements with over 500 partner organizations in Africa and Asia. Different to other volunteer organizations, finding a VSO placement is similar to applying for a job.

You’ll have to find a volunteer vacancy that interests you, apply online, send in your CV/resume, and undergo an interview process. VSO is one of the more ethical and affordable volunteer programs available, as 30% of its staff and partners are recruited in-country.

VSO also covers a majority of volunteer expenses and gives volunteers a living allowance while in-field, paid in the local currency.

How to keep costs low

Find no-fee programs

There are a number of volunteer programs that require no money upfront. These programs are known as “no-fee programs”. These programs are highly competitive and extremely selective with applicants. It’s also worth noting that many of these programs require a longer volunteer time commitment and intense medical screenings. For instance, Peace Corps volunteers dedicate a minimum of two years of volunteer service and have a long list of medical exams that have to be completed.

Volunteer for longer

Sites like Plan My Gap Year give discounted rates to those who volunteer for longer periods of time. In fact, many programs do. Agape is a volunteer organization in Africa that only charges $64 for every additional week volunteering after 9 weeks. Maximo Nivel is an organization with projects in Central America. The base fee for volunteers is already low, but the cost goes down when you add-on weeks. Not only will your money go farther, the positive impact you’ll be leaving on communities in need will too.

Volunteer abroad for free on an exchange basis

There are a wealth of volunteer opportunities out there for people who are willing to volunteer their time and skills in exchange for accommodation and meals. This significantly cuts your expenditure, however, a majority of exchange experiences are in the agriculture or hospitality sectors.

Get your airfare covered

Fly for Good has negotiated contracts with airlines to help make flights affordable for volunteers heading overseas on qualifying humanitarian missions. If they can’t cover your airfare, they might be able to get you a free luggage upgrade, heavily discounted flights, or free seat upgrades. It’s a great way to cut one of the more pricey aspects of volunteering abroad.

Apply to scholarships and grants

We’re gonna let you in on a little secret– there are scholarships and grants that exist to make volunteering affordable if you know where to find them! You read that right; there’s free money just waiting to be claimed by someone right volunteer applicant. The catch? Criteria to qualify for these kinds of financial backing is very specific and the scholarships and grants and are available are typically quite rare. There’s no harm in applying though, as the worst they can say is “no”.

Some examples include:

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program awards $500 stipends to volunteers who are currently enrolled in or have recently graduated from university.
Abroadly not only lists affordable volunteer projects to apply to, they award two $500 scholarships annually.
Samuel Huntington Public Service Award grants $15,000 to two graduating college seniors from the U.S. who are dedicated to pursuing public service.
Interested in sustainable agriculture, healthcare, or education? You might qualify for the All People Be Happy scholarship worth upwards of $2,500 if you have been accepted to a six-week or longer volunteer program.

Research your travel insurance

Most overseas volunteer organizations require volunteers to show proof of travel insurance. This is to help alleviate any liability the organization faces if a volunteer gets hurt on site, loses their luggage, or any number of other unfortunate scenarios occur. Some organizations offer their own insurance policies for volunteers to purchase, but they are often more costly than acquiring insurance from a third party provider. By researching insurance providers, you can save yourself upwards of hundreds of dollars. Do your due diligence and your wallet will thank you.

Choose budget options

It might seem obvious, but one of the easiest ways to cut your costs is to take a close look at your volunteer program fee, what it covers, and what options are available. For instance, if you volunteer with Global Vision International (GVI), you can select a dorm or a private room for your in-field accommodation. Some also include an option to pay for meals to be provided, but you can often buy your own food and find meals cheaper outside of the project. Consider this when making your volunteer commitment.

Run a successful fundraising campaign to volunteer abroad for free

Fundraising is hard work, we won’t deny that, but it works! Coming up with a creative way to raise funds that support your volunteer work will help alleviate any costs you might incur while you are donating your time and skills abroad. Some great fundraising ideas are: