• You’ll want to stay longer: I’ve worked with many, many volunteers over the years and the majority of those that I supervised were committed to no more than three months when they started. And as soon as the first two months had come and gone, they were scrambling around, trying to think of ways to stay for longer. For some that meant just another three months, and for others more than a year (one volunteer I know spent 5 years in Chile after going for an intended two months, but he’s something of an anomaly). Volunteering can be so rewarding and fun that it’s hard to walk away from it after just a short time. Planning for a longer stay up front helps you to manage your expectations, as well as your finances.
• If you work with kids, longer is always better: I’ll admit upfront that this one is kind of controversial, and a little bit guilt-trippy. But studies do show that when working with kids as a mentor or caretaker, the longer the relationship lasts the more benefits the child will receive in the long run. Since so many volunteer placements involve working with street kids and orphans, it’s an important thing to keep in mind.
• It is more cost-effective: As I recently posted in the Adelante Abroad post, the cost for a volunteer abroad program actually decreases (if you calculate cost per month) the longer you stay. That’s because most of the costs of a volunteer program are upfront fixed costs: language training, orientation, airport pick-up, administration.  Each subsequent month you should see a drop in your costs not only from the perspective of the program fee, but from your personal spending. Think about it: after a few months you’ll know where the best deals are on things you buy everyday, and you’ll be less likely to overspend (a common problem for new volunteers). In no time you’ll be an expert on living the frugal lifestyle abroad!
• You will be a more effective volunteer: They say (and I have no idea who "they" actually is) that it takes a professional at least one year to actually know how to do their job. We’re talking accountants and nurses and businessmen and sales people. When you start something brand new, there is a going to be a learning curve. As an international volunteer, this is compounded by the fact that you are also learning language and customs – and probably a brand new transportation system! It is so fun and exciting to learn all of these things (and a lot of the time, the fun is in making the mistake!)
• Your host organization wants you to stay: If there is one piece of feedback that I have heard from volunteer host organizations again and again, it is that consistency and continuity is essential to the success of any program. Many organizations address this by having volunteers come in with a class system – as one volunteer leaves, another comes in an takes his/her place so that there is no gap in the work. This is a great system, and works quite well to accommodate volunteers who can only work in the short term. But an even better way to offer host organizations a consistent work force is to have volunteers come in for longer periods of time. Just like a longer period being more cost-effective, it’s also more impactful. If you stay for a year or more, you are more likely to truly embed yourself in the culture of your host country and organization, you’ll be given more independence and autonomy, and you will more likely come up with some ideas about how to improve upon the work that you’re doing. And you’ll probably be fluent in a second language by then! A year’s worth of volunteer can be truly invaluable to a host organization. 

I’d really like to draw the distinction here between volunteering and "voluntourism." There is obviously an incredible amount of value in project-based volunteering in developing (and even developed) countries, and I think that it’s a fantastic movement around the world that has developed to combine travel, adventure travel and service work. There are so many organizations that I review here on the blog that I desperately want take trips with – so much great, exciting stuff is happening. And much of it is designed to be incredibly short-term – like completing a construction project or rescuing a certain number of sea turtles!!

Finally, it should go without saying that I am passionate about volunteering across the board, and I encourage everyone to take the plunge and go abroad for service work at some point in their lives. Its great fun, fulfilling and meaningful – not to mention fodder for some excellent stories when you get back! If you are as passionate about it as I am, it’s worth considering a long-term volunteer placement! You really never know what might be feasible for you until you start doing the research. Check out some resources for free and low cost volunteer programs to get you started, as well as some fee-based placement programs that have long-term projects. If a month or two is more your speed, that’s great, too! No matter how long you volunteer, I can guarantee it will be an unforgettable experience.

ISV was established in 2002, but has somehow stayed off of my volunteer organization radar until now, which I think is mostly due to the fact that they don’t have projects in locations with which I’m most familiar. Well all that is about to change as I dive a little deeper into the world of ISV!

First of all, they are a nonprofit, and that’s awesome. They operate not only to make money (although every company is actually trying to make money in some way), but to serve the common good, a put forth some kind of public benefit. However, there are a lot of nonprofit volunteer placement organizations, so that’s not the only reason that ISV stood out to me. What I really liked was how easy it was to find out about their status, and they were completely transparent about how they operate with community agencies on the Our Story page.

But if you aren’t a nonprofit geek like I am, that’s probably not the first thing that you are looking out for in the work of volunteering abroad. So let’s talk about what they do:

• There are four categories of volunteer project: Wildlife conservation, Environmental Management, Children’s Programs and Community Development. They are covering all of the bases as far as popular volunteer opportunities, except for public health.
• Volunteer projects take place in Australia, Eastern Europe, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Ecuador and South Africa. Six continents. Not bad.
• Adventure travel trips! And there are a lot of them! This is where ISV really sets itself apart from the other volunteer placement organizations.

So what does a typical volunteer trip look like?

You can choose a trip by either destination or project area. Wildlife conservation projects will vary based on the wildlife in the area – sea turtles by the coast, monkeys in the jungle, and most of the community development volunteer projects regardless of location have some sort of hard labor/construction aspect. But the website is clear that not prior experience is necessary. For most programs, the volunteer project lasts for two weeks.

That’s followed by two weeks of adventure travel, featuring kayaking, horseback riding, zip lines, exploring local towns and nightlife – all of the excursions that really define the volunteer vacation experience. Each trip also has a number of optional excursions that take you a bit farther away: the South Africa trip offers excursions to Cape Town and into wild Africa on safari tours, Thailand offers and excursion to ancient Cambodia, and a New Zealand project will send you on a quick trip to Fiji!

And with all of this comes another bit of good news: many of these trips actually qualify students for academic credit (usually for an independent study!). They have some pretty comprehensive information about how to qualify for academic credit for volunteering abroad on the ISV website, but are clear that you must get the appropriate approval from your college or university first.

Reading through the website kind of makes me want to quit my day job and hop on a plane. But hopefully you’re thinking to yourself "how much does all of this cost?" Well, it costs quite a bit. ISV is one of the more expensive volunteer organizations that I am familiar with, but with an excellent reason – they are travel & volunteering. They are voluntourism, and they will take you all over the place and allow you to really get the most out of your trip abroad.

Just be prepared to pay for it.

As an example, this is the cost for a four-week Costa Rica adventure:

• ~$4,000 program fee (room & board for 2 weeks, housing and half meals for the other two weeks, orientation, transportation, local adventure excursions like horseback riding, kayaking, etc.)
• ~$1,500 for optional trip to Machu Picchu
• ~$1,700 for optional trip to the Galapagos Islands
• ~$455 for optional Spanish lessons

That’s already $7,700 before airfare, passports, health insurance and other incidentals. I can’t argue with the fact that the trip sounds amazing, but this reads so much more like a vacation than a volunteer experience. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but just be aware of it if you choose to explore possibilities.

That said: I’m pretty impressed by the vast array of projects that you can choose for the two-week volunteer portion of the volunteer vacation. Saving sea turtle eggs, rehabilitating elephants and gibbons, observing humpback whales and working at wildlife refuges are all projects that are offered. Community development volunteers help with mangrove planting, building and repairing children’s schools and environmental clean-up are offered in you’re into working in the community. And virtually all locations offer the opportunity to work with kids – in orphanages, schools, and parks alike. In order to offer these, ISV teams up with locally established NGOs so that they can be sure that the work is necessary and supported by the community.

So ISV’s flashy, colorful website drew me in, but it’s seamless integration of volunteering and adventure kept me interested. This appears to be one of the more comprehensive programs of its kind, so if you’re interested in a "voluntour" you might want to check them out!

The Working Holiday Club is a UK and Australia-based work placement agency for people looking to work abroad in the US, Canada, UK or Australia. The organization arranges work permits, job interviews, and places a large number of its workers in resort and hospitality jobs.

Instead of the usual who, what, where, when format of the organization spotlight posts, this week I’m just going to tell you what I like (and what I think you’ll like, too) about The Working Holiday Club:

• Over 30′s! It is extremely rare for a work or volunteer abroad organization to actively market to the over 30 set – the fact is that most people who look for temporary work abroad are in their early to mid twenties, with many people over 65 beginning to jump on the trend as well. I love that TWHC acknowledges that there are many people who might decide that they want to get winter job in Canada at age 32, but can’t get a visa as easily as their younger counterparts. WHC does the leg work, helping the over 30s secure a one-year open visa and hosting jobs at Vancouver and Whistler. These winter ski resort job opportunities seem like a lot of fun, but you should be ready to pay close to $6,000 for tuition for a year’s worth of support and visa assistance.
• Live-in Pub Jobs! Maybe this is just a personal thing, but I can’t think of anything that sounds cooler than working and living in a pub in the English countryside – and that’s an option (for Australians and New Zealanders) through WHC. They find you a job, help you with your visa, and get you there from London. Of course, you still have to pay the placement fee (about $600), but think of all of the tips you’ll make as a foreigner!
• Focus on visas. So maybe I’m a little obsessed with the whole visa thing. But in my experience, visa problems are where things go from fun adventure to scary challenge. So I’m totally digging TWHC’s focus on the types of visas, and very clear explanations of what kind of visas allow you to do what kinds of jobs (and the aforementioned assistance in obtaining a visa for the 30+ crowd). There are loads of organizations that will help you get a visa and find work, but TWHC truly lays it all out there so that you can consider all of your options.

And to maintain some of my journalistic integrity, I will also talk about a few of the things I don’t like. This is also the part where I disclose that I have no personal knowledge/relationship with TWHC, and my information comes from their website, and some Internet investigating.

• Refund policy. I saw something a little troubling on the FAQ page for USA jobs. Specifically, it implies that if you are offered a job that you do not want to accept, you forfeit your program fee. Considering that the positions themselves are pretty straightforward, and the interviews are conducted in-person in Australia, I feel like most people will be able to find a position that suits them. Also, I understand that the bulk of any program fee is likely used for the human resources that go into the placement process. But I think it would be better if this information was a bit more prominent on the site.
• Many program names. I don’t mean to imply that variety is a bad thing. It’s the spice of life (I know I’ve used that line before). However, I will admit that the TWHC website confused me. This could just be me, and every other person on the planet could marvel at how easy it is to navigate. But what I love best about really good work abroad websites is the ability to see what all of your choices are at a glance. You can browse TWHC’s website by country, but once you are there, the programs are organized by program name – which just aren’t the most descriptive. One a positive note, I love that they have employer profiles on the program pages!

So my overall impression is pretty good. I did some Internet lurking to find out what the people are saying, and as will any work abroad experience, the reviews are mixed. This is to be expected, and you shouldn’t doubt the suitability of any placement organization based on one or two negative reviews. One reviewer mentioned that they thought it was a red flag that there was no physical address listed on the website (just phone numbers) but I disagree – phone numbers are a pretty good sign (as long as someone answers them!). So if you’re thinking about working in a UK pub, US or Canadian resort, or just about anywhere in Australia, check out The Working Holiday Club website for more information.

CHEAP FLIGHTS: It wasn’t too long ago that we talked about the best way to find a cheap flight for your work or volunteer abroad experience. We’ve also covered the topic a bit more in depth. Think that you know everything there is to know about buying discount airfare? Think again. The extremely helpful people over at Lifehacker have compiled the Ultimate Travel Hacking Guide, which walks you through some alternative methods of making sure that you get the absolute best deal on your next overseas flight. Be sure to check out their related posts as well for more info about flying on the cheap.

FUNDRAISING: This is an incredibly old (especially in Internet-years) link from Go Overseas, but they give some great advice for how to fundraise to volunteer overseas. If you’re looking for more on the subject, make sure you check out another page full of info about funding your volunteer abroad experience.

WORKING ABROAD IN THE MIDDLE EAST: Do you think the folks over at CNBC read the JobMonkey blog? Because they recently reported about the increasing popularity of the Middle East (namely the UAE) as a destination for people looking to escape the rough US job market. They even called the Middle East the “newest hotspot” for jobs. I recall reading something very similar about turning a study abroad trip to the Middle East into a job last summer….(in fairness, it may have been the New York Times that made the point first!)

WORKING ABROAD IN CHINA: But let’s not count out Asia as an area growing in popularity for (specifically, young) people looking abroad for career advancement opportunities. As USA Today reports, China is attracting all kinds of English-speakers for jobs in sales and business development. But before you pack your bags, be aware that when a country starts to be labeled “popular” you can pretty much assume that jobs will also be “competitive”.

WORKING AT HOME, LIVING ABROAD: This story from the US News & World Report about a guy who tele-commuted to his job in the US from Venice is pretty amazing. And there are some great tips about how to try and get a deal like that for yourself!

GREEN JOBS ABROAD: Looking for natural energy jobs abroad? With the popularity of both green jobs and jobs abroad on the rise, you probably are. Make sure that you check out Greenjobs.com, which is currently featuring a bunch of international jobs on their website.

These are just a few of the happenings around the Internet right now! If you have some great scoop on work abroad or volunteer abroad news, make sure to leave them in the comments!

Awesome Work & Travel is a sever-year-old placement organization offering work placements for young South Africans looking to boost their resumes with international experience, specifically in the hospitality field. They offer assistance with placements for paid work, volunteer jobs and internships in English-speaking countries.

Projects and Destinations

Awesome Work & Travel focuses on three regions for work, internships and volunteer projects: United States, Britain and Canada.  The Internship USA program is a fairly structured internship program which focuses on skills-building in the food and beverage industry, namely at the swanky Ritz-Carlton hotel in New York City. Interns work full time at the hotel and in the hotel restaurant, doing everything from sales to waiting tables to working in the kitchen. The Work USA  program is much more flexible, with Awesome Work and Travel providing visa and work placement assistance in virtually any type of job available. You can either find a position yourself, or work with one of the organizations partner organizations, which comprise large hospitality organizations like hotels, resorts and casinos. Work placements are both seasonal and long-term, but full-year placements are only available to students who are enrolled in university.

The Work Canada program is perfect for all ski and snowboard fanatics out there – through the program, participants are placed in any number of jobs at Whistler Blackcomb, a premier big mountain ski resort. From hospitality to ski instruction to childcare, South African workers are fully immersed in the Whistler culture, living, working and playing on the mountain. Since this work is seasonal, applications are only accepted in the first half of the year.

Finally, the Intern Britain program places South Africans in positions through their partner Umi Hotels, which has locations in both London and Brighton. Internships usually last about 6 months, and are offered in partnership with Work Abroad Magazine favorite BUNAC, so interns get support from both Awesome Work & Travel and BUNAC while abroad.  

Application Process

Awesome Work and Travel has a very streamlined and straightforward application process. You can choose either the online application or print out a hard copy. You only need to supply your basic information, work history and start dates. Each application is specific to the program, and if you are interested in more than one program, be sure to check with Awesome Work and Travel staff to find out if you can be considered for multiple programs without having to create a new application each time.

If you are working with the internship programs, there is probably a bit more to do once you are accepted by Awesome and more into the placement process. Potential employers are more likely to want to know a bit more about you, and might even want to arrange a phone or Skype interview before a placement is offered. This step isn’t listed on the website, and each placement will be different. But you should always be prepared to fill out some extra forms or answer a few extra emails to make sure all information is in the right hands!

Fees & Services

Fees for participating in Awesome Work and Travel programs are on par with many similar organizations – you will receive assistance with your visa, housing and placement for a fee of a few thousand dollars (or South African Rand). Internship fees are reasonable for the US program at less than $2000 for a full-year placement. However, living and working in New York City is incredibly expensive, so you should keep that in mind when considering the US program. The Canada program at Whistler is similarly reasonable – R7850 ($1,080) for a full-year placement. The Intern Britain program cost is about £500 ($780).

These fees do not include flights, visa fees or housing. However, Awesome Work and Travel does provide an outline of what these costs might be so that workers and interns have an idea of how much money they will need to spend to get started. Of course, the work programs will pay a wage, some of which will be used to pay for housing and food, but some may cover the cost of program placement in the long term.

At this point I’ll note that costs are listed on the individual program pages – so you have to do a bunch of clicking to find out how much a program will cost. This is important to keep in mind as you are navigating the site; I typically find it more helpful to have everything having to do with fees listed on one page (but that’s just my personal preference!).

A review of the website confirms that the main focus of the growing organization is hospitality – at least for the time being. The Upcoming Programs section indicates that Awesome Work and Travel is looking to expand its program offerings to attract more diverse workers with teaching positions, as well as diversify geographically to China and New Zealand. If hospitality isn’t really your thing, don’t write-off Awesome Work and Travel. Keep checking the website as the relatively-young organization grows, and offers more programs to appeal to a variety of travelers.

• Amigos de las Americas devotes an entire website section to parent questions, going so far as to have video testimonials to Amigos parents. The information is specific to Amigos programs, but seeing another parent talk about their experience will undoubtedly be helpful to any parent who is working through their child’s decision to volunteer.
• Many universities offer a "family guide" for students studying abroad – one of my favorites is issued by Purdue University. As a volunteer, you’ll need to pick and choose the information that best pertains to your situation, but it’s a great start!
• Cosmic Volunteers also offers a parent section, which is a little more general than the one offered by Amigos. It features some interesting advice for parents who are welcoming their children home from abroad that can help offer perspective about how the experience affects both the volunteer and the family.

The best advice that I can give is to include your family in your decision to volunteer abroad as early as possible. People generally react to news better if they feel like they are part of the process, particularly if they feel like you considered their feelings. I cannot tell you how important family support is to an international volunteer – a supportive voice from home can help with culture shock, homesickness and other issues that volunteers typically face. Most parents and families will want to be supportive of such a life-changing decision, but will also need reassurance that you will be safe and happy in your volunteer placement. If you have a series of thorough, transparent talks with them before you leave, you’ll make sure that everyone’s needs are met. And if you can find a former volunteer to talk to you parents about their experience, that’s even better!

It stands to reason that Nicaragua has quite a bit to offer the volunteer traveler. Due to the development of coastal land for hotels and results, much of the natural environment is being compromised, putting wildlife at jeopardy. And apart from the tourism, most of the country is still living in poverty (Nicaragua one of Central America’s poorest communities), and lack access to education, health care, and many other essential services.

What types of volunteer opportunities are there in Nicaragua?

• Health Care

The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic is one of the best known volunteer destinations in Nicaragua, and is always in need of medical volunteers to help carry out its mission of serving Nicaragua’s poorest communities with access to health care. The clinic is located in Limon, which is located close to Lago de Nicaragua south of Managua. People with experience in the health professions (doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants) are in especially great demand.

• Sustainable Development

Cooperative and sustainable living is also very popular in Nicaragua, and volunteers are need to assist with everyday tasks in maintenance and upkeep of the cooperatives. Farmer’s cooperatives are generally made up of a number of local farmers (campesinos), who come together to try to make their farms more sustainable. Anyone with previous farm knowledge will be valuable in a volunteer capacity in a cooperative in Nicaragua, but there are jobs for any one who isn’t afraid to get his/her hands dirty. You can find out more about sustainable volunteer placements with organizations like uVolunteer (U.K. based) and the Foundation for Sustainable Development (US based). FSD also has a number of environmental conservation volunteer jobs in Nicaragua available on some of the nature conservancies along the coastline.

• Youth Development

Countries with a large portion of citizens living in poverty often experience a high number of children living without parents. This makes orphanage volunteering a both necessary and worthwhile activity for volunteers looking for work in countries like Nicaragua. Many orphanage volunteers will simply provide extra support to the children during the day, or for after school activities. Tasks include preparing meals, cleaning up, doing laundry – some manual labor that can go a long way toward making the orphanage a home for the children who live there. AmeriSpan Study Abroad can assist with some placements for volunteers who are currently studying, and are interested in some of the social work aspects of orphanage volunteering in Nicaragua. There are also a number teaching assistant positions available with La Esperanza, which places volunteers in primary schools around Granada.

Do I need to know Spanish?

We’ve discussed language issues a bit both on this blog and over at the JobMonkey Overseas Volunteer Jobs section, and the hard truth is that volunteers generally have an easier time acclimating to their surroundings and beginning the work if they have some familiarity with the language. That said, many of the larger NGOs have grown accustomed to English-speakers, and certainly won’t deny someone the chance to volunteer purely on the basis of his/her language skill level.

But I cannot emphasize enough how much a little goes a long way – even if you just spend a few hours with a language podcast in your ears, or talking to someone in Spanish – even watching some Univision – you will greatly increase your ability to communicate once you are in your home country. And even being comfortable saying hola instead of hello to both the children you are working with and the staff of your community organization will help everyone become more comfortable in you first few days on the job.

When is the best time to volunteer in Nicaragua?

Nicaragua has a tropical climate, which means that while it is warm year-round, they experience a rainy season during the North American winter. There is also the possibility of hurricane’s and tropical storms in the late summer and early fall, so it can be safer not to plan to travel during those times. Early summer you will find a larger population of tourists, and possible higher rates for airfare and accommodations.

So if you haven’t considered Nicaragua before, now is the time! It’s safe, inexpensive, and offers a volunteer job for pretty much everyone!

The Marshall Islands (WorldTeach): Located in eastern Micronesia, The Marshall Islands are a tiny grouping of 5 islands and 29 coral atolls. Independent since 1979, and with a seat in the United Nations, The Marshall Islands recently instituted a requirement that all elementary school children learn English from grade 1, prompting the government to enlist the help of WorldTeach. WorldTeach sends volunteers to the islands to teach in public schools in both the urban centers and outer islands.

Why The Marshall Islands? While the capital city of Majuro is relatively urban and developed, the atolls or “outer islands” are remarkably untouched by modern society, and WorldTeach volunteers have the opportunity to truly teach in a region without phones and Internet and other everyday distractions. Without stores, money or other creature comforts, the Marshall Islands are a truly alternative option for volunteering abroad.

Seychelles (Island Conservation Society): Sporting the smallest population of any African state, the island nation Seychelles – and its 85,000 inhabitants – sits between Madagascar and Zanzibar. The French-speaking nation boasts miles of beaches, popular with local tourists looking for an island resort getaway. Unfortunately with tourists came some unwelcome predators, and volunteer projects on the island help conservation efforts. The Island Conservation Society hosts volunteers to monitor the sea turtle population, and work with local resorts to promote conservation efforts around the local coral reefs.

Why Seychelles? It doesn’t get more off the beaten path than a place that you can only get to by chartered plane or boat.

Bulgaria (One Heart): I would never have given Bulgaria much thought if I hadn’t met a group of returned peace corps volunteers who really fell in love with the country. Here in the States it’s not exactly a country that comes up often in everyday conversation, but isn’t that all the more reason to consider volunteering there? At the very least, at the end of your trip you can impress your friends and family with your knowledge of Bulgarian! Information about volunteering in Bulgaria is somewhat scarce, but Volunteers for Peace and CAIDP both offer placements there. But if you are interested in something more local, there are many orphanages in need of volunteers. One Heart Bulgaria operates a network of orphanages and accepts “interns” (volunteers) year round to live and work with the children living in the orphanage.

Why Bulgaria? In addition to the allure of the beaches of the Black Sea Coast, there are lush forests and mountains dotting the country. Resorts have been popping up to entice tourists to the country for the past ten years, but most of the visitors come from the neighboring Romania, Serbia and Turkey. For volunteer travelers on a budget, it’s hard to beat the inexpensive food, drink and lodging – even as prices begin to rise since they joined the EU.

Georgia (Footprints Recruiting): Georgia is about as east as you can get in Eastern Europe. And there is an incredibly high demand for English teachers (specifically with TEFL certification) as the Caucasus nation looks to the West for as it grows. With influences from Russia, Turkey, East Asia and even Africa, Georgia is a country at a crossroads of old and new, beaches and mountains, east and west. Teachers work in elementary schools, teaching children English and prepare them to enter the global workforce.

Why Georgia?

Georgia is one of those very rare places that has emerged from a tumultuous history with a truly eclectic – and strong – culture. Between the Black Sea beaches, historic churches – not to mention the local food and wine – Georgia is a culture of hospitality above all else. However, the recent conflicts with Russia are not to be ignored, and your safety is paramount. Before considering a teach abroad job in Georgia, check out the current travel advisories for the country for the most up-to-date information. While the country has settled significantly in the past few years, at the time of this posting there is still some risk traveling near the Russia/Georgia border.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with volunteering in a popular location – most of them became popular for very good reason! But there are definitely some very worthy causes that may get a little less attention because they are located on remote islands, or in countries that have been historically misunderstood. So while you are considering your volunteer abroad job, consider both the obvious and less than obvious options, and find out what works best for you.

A division of Center for Cultural Interchange, Greenhart travel has been around since 1985. The focus of the trips is definitely more travel and cultural exchange than work, but offers some interesting (and probably pretty fulfilling!) opportunities to give a little back while you hike around Peru, Cambodia, Argentina and Thailand (among others!).

Volunteer projects generally fall into one of the following categories: Environmental/Wildlife Conservation, Women’s Empowerment, Community Development, Childcare/Mentorship Medical/Public Health. This means that this organization probably has something that interests you, and you can feel free to use the links to find about more about the specific project-offerings in each category.

I do love an organization that has variety. But what I was really drawn to about Greenheart Travel is the opportunities for medical and public health work, which is not only necessary but not always easy to come by if you are not a doctor or a nurse, or another medically-trained professional. In Peru, you can actually spend some time south of Lima, working with doctors to assist with patient care for local people. And in Cumbaya, Ecuador, you can work with medical professionals to launch public campaigns about health hazards, and let people know about access to health services in the area.

If you are interested in Greenheart Travel but not as taken with the medical projects, you might consider women’s empowerment work at some of the remote sites available for travel. Those with any interest in social work or community development will find that these placements – generally within community centers in poor areas – give you the opportunity to really dig into some of the programs that provide area women with capacity-building skills that can help them to manage money, and even start businesses.

The cost of the program is about on par with similar organizations like Cross Cultural Solutions, and they offer similar benefits in exchange for plunking down your cash to volunteer. A four-week trip might cost you as much as $2,000, for which you’ll get airport pick-up and drop-off, meals and accommodations with a host family.  But most of all, you’ll get training! One of the reasons many organizations do not accept medical volunteers is because they lack training, so this is one circumstance where I fully support paying a little extra so that you can be more secure in the knowledge that you aren’t walking in to a situation that is above your skill level. From what I’ve gathered on the website, the medical placements through Greenheart Travel are familiar with volunteers, and they have systems in place for integrating them into the day-to-day work and giving them useful tasks.

You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer with Greenheart Travel, and projects are available year round. The application is available online, and they will require a deposit to hold your place. Most projects require at least a two-week commitment (some are longer), with an option to extend if you are really enjoying yourself!

Through CCI, you can also find some longer term opportunities to teach abroad, participate in a language program, or complete a semester abroad. So if you are interested in opportunities that last more than just a few weeks, be sure to check out all of the sections of the CCI website for more information. And if you have any first-hand information about CCI, please feel free to leave some information about your experience in the comments!

Who is the Sierra Club?

The Sierra Club is one of the largest and most visible grassroots environmental organizations, comprising more than 1.4 million people worldwide. They believe in protecting wild lands, combating global warming, and creating a clean, safe world in which to live. To do these things, they engage members all over the country to support them both monetarily and as volunteers with environmental clean-up. They also support research for alternative energy sources, and advocate for greener business practices.

What are Sierra Club "service outings"?

In the spirit of engaging many people in their mission, the Sierra Club organizes "outings" year-round, across the globe. These outings can be for one to several days, and generally involve some serious work – from "helping with research projects at whale calving grounds in Maui to assisting with archaeological site restoration in New Mexico." Service outings or "volunteer vacations" are generally conducted in partnership with local government agencies like the parks service, so you can be sure that the work that you are doing is well funded and necessary for the environmental success of the region.  For more information about specific volunteer vacations, please visit the Sierra Club website.

When can I volunteer with the Sierra Club?

The Sierra Club runs program year-round. Trips begin every few days for most of the summer, and only trail off a bit once the colder winter months hit. Trips are generally about 6 days long, and include some time for travel in addition to the service project you will be working on.

How much does it cost?

The cost of a volunteer vacation with the Sierra Club will vary as much as the cost of any other vacation. A large part of the cost will be an airline ticket to your destination, which is not included in the program costs that you’ll pay directly to the Sierra Club. Program costs include room and board, meals, and supervision during the vacation.

A great part of the beauty of considering a volunteer "abroad" vacation right here in the U.S. in the substantial decrease in the cost of the project. You can still feel like an explorer as you clean up the shore of Northern California at the breathtaking Point Reyes (which comes complete with sunbathing seals!) or in the massive grounds of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. You can even explore stunning natural habitats in the rainforests of Puerto Rico (and maybe even practice your Spanish!) as you help the U.S. Forest Service clear trails and protect the land. You’ll feel far away from home, while benefitting from never having to cross U.S. borders. The costs for trips like these vary from $500 – $1500.

How do I apply?

Once you’ve had the chance to scroll through the brochures for the Sierra Club’s many service adventures, you can start filling out your application by signing up through the website. There are also extensive instructions about how to secure your spot by leaving a deposit, and handling payment for the trip to the Sierra Club.

If you are definitely looking to go abroad, and are not enticed by the new frontiers of the United States, I’d encourage you to keep checking the Sierra Club website for information about trips abroad. They are great at updating their website with the most current information, and new trips are being planned all the time.

You can also get to know the Sierra Club a bit before you commit to a week long trip through the organization’s local chapters. They routinely plan day outings (including both leisure trips and service outings) all over the country, and they are a great way to find out more about how the Sierra Club operates, and you can probably get feedback from other volunteers who have been on volunteer vacations about their experiences. Find out how to get in touch with your local Sierra Club chapter by visiting the Chapters page on the Sierra Club website.