Volunteering overseas allows you to make a positive impact within local communities by saving animals and conserving the environment. Not only is it beneficial to the planet, but it is also a gateway to immerse yourself in another culture.
Volunteering abroad is also a great opportunity to help others and travel the world. Sounds like a win-win to us here at ALLMYNE! We support anything that promotes sustainability and forging community relationships with new cultures.
But, you might be asking yourself, “Where do I begin?” Luckily for you, we have gathered all the information you need to get started.
The How
Tip 1: The best first step is to find an opportunity that aligns with your interests. Whether that’s teaching your native language in another country, working with marine life, and/or assisting a community with building new homes, you are more likely to put your whole heart into a cause you support.
Tip 2: Next, you will want to know how long you plan to be abroad for. At the minimum, a program lasts at least 1-2 weeks. However, there are some that can extend into months of volunteer work.
Tip 3: Following this, you will want to start saving up for the trip. Now, while there are some volunteer options that are free of charge, a lot of them come with a cost because these fees support the organization you’re working with.
These costs can range anywhere from $500 USD to $4,000 USD depending on where you’re going, how long you’ll be there, and the flight cost. The expenses will also cover things like housing and meals. You can apply for scholarships or grants to assist you with the payment, too.
Tip 4: Then, you will want to make sure you have a visa, an updated passport, and some travel insurance. After your vaccinations and booking your flight, you will be on your way to connecting with a new community.
Tip 5: Some companies, like International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), help you sort out everything without the headache of all the intricate details. They’re supported by Go Overseas, a company that finds reliable and trustworthy programs abroad to help you avoid volunteering overseas scams.
Volunteering Overseas with the UN
Maybe you’re ready to take the step and try volunteering overseas.
The United Nations has opportunities to volunteer abroad, too. Here are the requirements they have in order to register in their Unified Volunteering Platform:
- Age requirement: the minimum age requirement is 18 years old, but there are some select projects with particular age ranges. The UN Youth Volunteers and University Volunteers must be 18 to 26, UN Volunteer specialists must be at least 27, and the experts must be over 35 years old.
- Some assignments require professional and academic experience. This includes language proficiency if you’re going somewhere that doesn’t speak English.
- Ability: You must have the ability to work in a multicultural environment and be a team player. You must also be committed to the values outlined by the United Nations and the UN Charter.
- Preparation: You have to be prepared to enter into living conditions you aren’t used to.
International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)
IVHQ has hundreds of volunteering overseas destinations to choose from.
From the Americas and the Caribbean through Europe and Africa all the way to Asia and the Pacific, there’s no way you won’t find a project that works for you.
Speaking of projects, maybe where you go isn’t what matters most. Maybe it’s what you’ll be doing. IVHQ has prepared for that, too.
Their impact contributes to the 15 Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations:
- No poverty
- Zero hunger
- Good health and well-being
- Quality education
- Gender equality
- Clean water and sanitation
- Decent work and economic growth
- Reduced inequalities
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Climate action
- Life below water
- Life on land
Their projects are broken down into four categories:
- Increase access to education: provide childcare for disadvantaged children, provide education and boost career prospects, and/or boost creativity and wellbeing through arts and music
- Conserve the environment & protect animals: protect endangered marine life or wildlife, regenerate forests to preserve ecosystems, and/or work on community-driven climate action projects
- Improve health & wellbeing: provide medical or dental care to those who can’t access it, improve the lives of disabled people, promote active lifestyles through sports, and/or provide companionship to the elderly
- Support community development: improve community infrastructure, help break the poverty cycle, make a difference during Christmas, chaperone at teen summer camps, boost opportunities for marginalized women, support an NGO, and/or support refugees
Finally, over 70% of IVHQ volunteers do so on their own, but that trip type isn’t the only one IVHQ offers.
They have all types of trips suited for different people, like older adults, families, and those of us on a tight budget.
Volun-traveling
When you volunteer, cultural immersion and helping the world go hand-in-hand. ALLMYNE is all about helping others in a sustainable way, while enjoying the world around us.
So, maybe you never considered volunteering overseas before, but there’s definitely a world out there waiting for your help.
Get the Most from Your International Volunteering Overseas Trip with ALLMYNE
Download the ALLMYNE app from the APPLE STORE or GOOGLE PLAY to seamlessly plan, capture, and share your travel journey with a global community of fellow explorers.
Upgrade to our PRO subscriber level for even more perks, including audio recording in your journal, AI-powered location suggestions tailored to your interests, unlimited trip locations, and unlimited storage for all your travel memories.
Download the ALLMYNE app now – the ultimate travel companion to enhance every step of your journey!
