Where can I find a program to volunteer abroad that I don't have to pay to volunteer? Preferably Africa?

Question

I've been interested in volunteering abroad for quite some time. I'm 20 years old, taking a break from college, and seriously looking into volunteering. Because I haven't finished school, I don't qualify for the Peace Corps, and every program I find on the internet costs thousands of dollars. I'm looking for a program that I can volunteer with with no expense from me. I'm a poor college student on my own with no money, so there is no way I can afford to spend $5,000 dollars to volunteer, much as I would love to. Can anyone help me?

Answer 1

There is plenty of places besides Africa that need help and Eastern Europe comes to mind. Africa is getting all this attention but the same stuff goes on and worse in Eastern Europe in countries , plus the brutal winters. And Africa's main problem is they can't stop having children even when they know their is food shortages. I know rape is prevalent and this is horrible, but in Eastern Europe it is almost totally the Govt's fault. Either way you should go someplace safe so you are not hurt trying to help people. Plus their are plenty of peopl who need help here in the states. Tyere are sick children who need a warm loving young woman to be a big sister and story teller, and people dying and in serious need all over our own country. I am gald you wnat to help becasue that is so good, but there is more than just Africa. There is so many rebel factions and murder and rape that I think you should just stay the h**l out of there. We give aid ,and than all our aid is just robbed and people are murdered and it is h**l over there. Just like the worst ghettos here ,but ten times worse.

Answer 2

I know the Peace Corps has a good program. Others that have volunteers, are mostly Church backed, i would check with what ever church you feel close to. The US State Department has the AID (Agency for International Development) Program that uses mostly paid employees, but also use volunteers!

Answer 3

You do not need to finish college to qualify for the Peace Corps.  If you are not qualified, then it is for other reasons. Of course a college education would grant you more opportunities. To be a more competitive candidate you should first and foremost have volunteer experience in your background.  Speaking a foreign language is beneficial and developing a skill set is imperative.  The cost of sending volunteers to serve abroad is extremely high, and you must have something to offer the organization and the host country.

As far as the negative comments about Africa that another person posted in response to your question - just take it for what it is worth and move on.  Do your own research, and make an informed decision based on facts not based on the rants of someone who probably has not even been to Africa in a service capacity if at all.

Best of luck and if this is truly your dream, you will do the work required to make it come true.

Answer 4

Someone has to pay to transport you to the country, to transport you in the country, to feed you, to house you, to make sure you are safe, to supervise you, to handle all of the country's administrative paperwork so you can come to the country and pay all the associated fees, and to train you. Who is going to pay for that? Were you to go "for free", you would actually be taking money from the program and those they serve; they could take all that money and employ local people, who desperately need the money. And that's why unskilled volunteers such as yourself are charged to go abroad. It's just not cost-effective, nor appropriate, otherwise.

If you want to become qualified for the PeaceCorps or other programs that don't charge volunteers, you need to start working on your skills. You need to finish a degree of some kind, learn to speak another language, and volunteer locally to gain skills that are needed abroad (HIV/AIDS education, for instance). Lots of advice on how to gain the skills needed for volunteering abroad in programs that don't charge here:

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