Edward Abbey once said
'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul' but there is no longer any reason to look at the world's problems and feel helpless.
If you like the idea of travelling with a purpose then the amazing range of volunteering holidays now available means that we’re confident that you’ll find a volunteering trip to suit you. I’m also confident that it will be one of the most worthwhile, enjoyable and memorable experiences you will have.
We’ve highlighted the main volunteering holiday types below, each including some of our favourite trips.
Finally, we’ll provide some advice on checking out your volunteering company to ensure both you and the host country get the most out of your visit and prevent any unpleasant surprises.
Wildlife and conservation
Perhaps our largest range of volunteering trips, there are many ways to get involved in habitat, environment and species conservation around the globe. From
Habitat conservation and
Footpath repair to
Wildlife conservation , from
Rainforest to
Marine conservation , there are lots of different options when it comes to getting some hands-on experience in field conservation, including specie specific sections such as
Turtle conservation ,
Elephant and
Wolf conservation. Here are some favourites:
Gap Year & career break
Taking a
gap year is no longer the preserve of teenagers or pre- and post-university students travelling the world on a shoestring. As more of us are deciding to take a gap year or career break, the array of gap year and career break options is expanding too. So if you’re thinking of taking a career break and want to give something back then search this page for
career break ideas, holidays and expeditions. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do you'll find a choice of worldwide responsible career breaks from leading specialist organisations - although we should warn you that with this choice you may never want to go back to work again!
Families
There’s no reason now why you can’t go volunteering just because you have a family. A
Family volunteering holiday is a chance for everyone in the family to contribute and make a difference to communities around the world. A family volunteering holiday provides a wonderful educational experience for the children, an inspirational holiday for the family, and is a great challenge and accomplishment to share.
Volunteering as part of a trip
Perhaps you like the idea of volunteering, but don’t want to commit your trip solely to volunteering? Now there is no reason to miss out on the other highlights your destination might have to offer, making it possible to volunteer and have a great holiday at the same time. Volunteer work can enrich and enhance your holiday, and can be combined with any adventure holiday for a relaxing and rewarding break.
Volunteer adventure travel is a great way to give something back, without having to commit to a lengthy stay to create a truly rewarding break. It’s an adventure holiday and volunteer holiday all in one, run by leading responsible operators. If you are interested in volunteering but are unable to take long periods off work then there is a relatively new type of trip –
a taste of volunteering – that might be of interest for you. These are even shorter trips which combine volunteering with an opportunity to see the main sights in destinations. Read more about taste of volunteering holidays
here
Communities & people
Working with local people in their communities is a great way to help improve their lives as well as giving you an opportunity to get to the heart and soul of their
Culture . There are various ways in which you can contribute through volunteering.
Community projects provide an opportunity to get stuck in and really make a difference. Spend some time volunteering in local community projects, share the experience and immerse yourself in their culture. We have a wide range of community volunteering holidays which will give you a rewarding and potentially life changing experience. If you're interested in
Volunteering with children then we've also got a great choice of projects & holidays from orphanages to working with street kids. All of these trips involve volunteering with children from disadvantaged backgrounds and are extremely rewarding. We also have a wide choice of
Healthcare volunteering projects from all over the world to suit those looking to make a contribution in healthcare, and finally the option of
Teaching .
Adventure & expedition
For those looking for a real challenge and adventure outside their comfort zone, there is the option of going on a volunteering expedition. You will be learning new skills, living in challenging conditions and contributing as a volunteer whilst getting to live and work with a group of like-minded people.
Choosing the right volunteering company
It’s important that you choose your volunteering organisation carefully when deciding to embark on a volunteering trip. In order to make the most of your experience, not only for yourself but also for the project which you are assisting, it’s always good to know what to expect, what you will be doing, how the local people benefit and where the money from your fee goes.
First and foremost, it’s vital that the project is based on real local development or conservation needs, and that local people are consulted about what is required and how it is implemented. You certainly will enjoy your trip more if the benefits to conservation and local people are obvious. There have been examples of volunteering programmes that are determined by what appeals to the volunteering organisation or tourists rather than real local needs. Our advice would be to ask to see detailed reports on the effectiveness of the projects before you travel, and to ask how local people are involved in the decision making processes. All holidays on responsibletravel.com have a ‘Making a difference’ paragraph at the bottom of each page detailing how that particular holiday minimises negative effects of tourism and maximises local benefits, and you can always ask the operator for any additional information.
Interested? Why not have a look at our
Volunteering holidays and
Gap year sections and browse the various options! If you need any help, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with
Amelia@responsibletravel.com who can help you plan your volunteering trip or phone +44 (0)1273 600030
