Organizations for Volunteering Abroad

Question

I'm looking to volunteer abroad. I live in Canada and would like to do something meaningful with my minimal vacation time. Can you recommend some reputable groups to volunteer abroad with?

Answer 1

As the other poster has said, you do need to be prepared to pay. "Minimal vacation time" is not enough time to have real impact, so unless you are fluent in three languages and have a skill that's desperately needed (like how to set up a micro-financing program for rural women), expect to pay.

http://www.volunteerinternational.org/

This is a good place to find reputable pay-to-volunteer programs

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volu...

Advice for people who want to volunteer abroad.

Answer 2

Try GOOGLING for INTERNTIONAL VOLUNTEER GROUPS.  You will turn up SIX HUNDRED FORTY FOUR THOUSAND hits (644,000).

You DO know they won't take you for FREE right?  No international group will take volunteers and give them a 2 week free vacation... You will have to pay anywhere from $500 to $1000 to the group just to go with them... THEN you have to pay for your own airfare... your passport... ground transportation, taxes, tips and transfers.  By the time you are ready to board the plane you will already have about $3000 invested in your 2 week volunteer trip.

If you are wondering why it's so expensive, the truth is, they really don't WANT you there... I filled in as an Administrator for a 3rd world Clinic and School when the previous Administrator got sick... returned to the U.S. and died and they needed someone to fill in until they could find someone.

I was stuck with previous commitments made by the group, so I had to take a couple of groups from the U.S. and find things for them to do... their lack of experience, inability to use any language but AmeriKan and disregard for the country and culture was a nightmare for me... but each one of those volunteers had paid $500 and we needed the money... so I made it through it.

It's going to be a vacation for you and you can feel good when you go home to the U.S. and tell your friends and neighbors about how wonderful the people were and how you did so much good... and the people you actually VISIT will have to spend the next couple of MONTHS trying to undue everything you did that wasn't wanted or needed.