Volunteer Opportunities Abroad

There are many things that inspire people to go traveling. You could be sick of your job and need a well-deserved break; you could be unemployed and wanting to get away from the tired subject of recession; you could be fresh out of full time education and needing a deviation from reality. Whatever your reason is for getting away, don’t forget there’s more to be explored out there than just well-beaten backpacker paths of boozing and snoozing in the sun.

Volunteering and teaching English abroad are some great productive ways of spending your year out. Not only will it aid charities and organizations that are in need, it will provide you with some real life experiences and skills. And with statistics seeing a drop in traditional backpacking correlating with the rise in volunteers, it seems that many have cottoned onto the fact that seeing the world whilst doing charity work is feasible.

It might be scary taking a massive step away from the life that you know and are comfortable with, but why not set yourself a challenge that will truly test what you’re made of? Why not travel with a goal, an aim, a focus to help those in need while also seeing the world?

There are so many options of experiences available these days. So many activities or projects that can be participated in all around the world – the possibilities are endless! One country that provides a vast amount of experiences is Thailand. This country is incredibly beautiful with varying landscapes that open up possibilities of all sorts of charity work. Not to mention amazing food, deep history, friendly locals (it’s nicknamed ‘the land of smiles’) and it’s incredibly easy to travel in due to its backpacker-friendly nature. The country is easy to traverse so where ever you end up doing your work, you can get out and about with minimal fuss and see more of the country.

The type of volunteer work available is diverse and exciting. Who wants to spend their day petting elephants and feeding lions? Who can say they helped rehabilitate a bear last week? It’s not your usual office job; it’s an incredible life opportunity.

Organisations, such as Volunteer Thailand (www.volunteerthailand.org) offer a diverse range of volunteer projects that focuses on going beyond the routine holiday and traveling with a difference. You can help them build homes for single mothers in crisis, work with children afflicted with HIV, help in orphanages, tend to elephant camps or lend a hand at private hospitals. There are short and long term placements available throughout Thailand with projects that are organized and ongoing. Their Thai staff are experts in their field and are devoted in helping you help others; a sure fire way of making your experience a positive one!

Travellers WorldWide (www.travellersworldwide.com) offers a huge amount of experiences that stretch over a range of different projects and conservations. There are placements that will put you with orphaned elephants, orangutans, lions, rhinos and cheetahs in exotic locations such as Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Kenya and many more. Marine conservation placements in Australia, Mauritius and South Africa will get you working with Great White sharks, dolphins and seals. There are many animals in need for rehabilitation around the world, and in turn you’ll learn about feeding, observation, education, rescues and release alongside local workers. These experiences would be hands-on and interactive as many places would also need English speaking guides for tourists coming to view the work and animals. Travellers Worldwide also run language courses where you can learn to speak the native language of countries like Argentina, Ecuador, China and Ecuador. They focus on getting a project that suits you, and provide opportunities for a wide range of ages. Who’s to dictate how old you need to be for a year out? They cater for gap year kids, young adults and even retired adventurers.

If you want to be absolutely overwhelmed with all the placements that are available around the world, then check out Worldwide Volunteering (wwv.org.uk) as their database is crammed with 1,600 organisations and 1.6 million placements in 214 countries.

Working with charities and volunteer programs abroad will give you so much more than just karma brownie points. It’ll allow you to understand different cultures and really get to grips with them. You’ll be straying from the beaten backpacker path and have the opportunity to settle in an area and relate in-depth to the community around you. An alternative side to the country will be revealed allowing you to see further than the neon lit, beer swigging, bucket chugging lad banter that populates some tourist areas. Get a greater understanding of the lives of the locals and immerse yourself in a world without your western creature comforts. It’ll make you appreciate what you have and the fact that you are capable (and in the position) to help others and improve the well-being of the country. Without volunteers and gap year workers, many of the conservations and schools would suffer a decline in support so why not do your bit and help out on your year off?