Volunteering in Germany - can anyone advise me please?

Question

I live in the UK and I would like to do some volunteering work or an exchange with someone in Germany (eg, I go over there, and they come over here). Can anyone recommend any agencies that don't charge the earth? I am learning German but it's very basic and I would like the opportunity to improve it. Many thanks.

Answer 1

How old are you? Because there are some hospitality networks out there that allow you to stay for free as long as you provide a space for travellers in return. www.couchsurfing.org is one.

The downside is that this is not that safe (there are creeps out there) and everybody is advised to use caution. It can be an option, but it is not something an inexperienced traveller should try. (Similar goes for the other methods mentioned below - only really recommended for 18+.)

As for volunteering, you can check out WWOOF.

Also:as a EU citizen you can just come over to Germany without any paperwork at all. You could therefore try to find a paying job (even if it is just scrubbing toilets) and try to live on that plus your savings.

You should also check out short-term rentals in shared flats. www.wg-gesucht.de is the site to look at. WG is short for Wohngemeinschaft, shared flat and Zwischenmiete is short-term rental. Many students rent out their rooms during the summer holidays or when they go abroad for a semester.

Go to www.skyscanner.net and check out to which cities in Germany there are cheap flights from your part of the UK, then look at the site for short term rentals.