How can a freshman college student volunteer abroad for free?

Question

... maybe for a week or two in developing regions. I wouldn't mind paying for the cost, but I certainly
don't want to break the bank either. I've seen a few organizations charge upwards of $3000 for a three-week stay.

So if you know of any well-endowed organizations that typically cover a good portion of the costs, please recommend them to me - preferably one that services Canadians. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi Noah,



Finding work of any sort abroad can be real tricky. Even volunteer opportunities are tricky -- not because there aren't lots and lots of positions available but because the field has come to be dominated by what are called third-party providers and/or voluntary service organizations. These providers are not, for the most part, "using volunteering as a way of making money" as has been suggested elsewhere (though clearly they are in business and providing services) but rather are functioning to connect potential volunteers (often with limited skill sets and language abilities) with communities and organizations that can use them and some additional funding. They can be great options -- especially for those without clearly defined (and in demand) skill sets, limited experience abroad and/or foreign language background, etc -- but the fees involved can often seem prohibitive.



Before conducting a real effective search you will need to get more specific about what sort of work you'd be open to and, perhaps more important, what skills you possess that you could offer. Also... what languages do you know and how well? Where are you most interested in going?



With all those caveats in mind, some of the resources below might be of some use:



As a Canadian there is also the International Youth Internship Program open to you (though you need to be a post-secondary graduate & between 19 and 30 years old):



http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/IYIP



A whole host of low to no cost (generic) volunteer options can be searched at any and all of the following pages & sites:



http://www.volunteersouthamerica.net/

http://www.vaops.com/

http://www.independentvolunteer.org/

http://www.vfp.org/

http://omprakash.org/

http://www.the7interchange.com/



For general information, Transitions Abroad also offers extensive articles and resources on the ins and outs (benefits and expense too) of volunteering abroad. Heavy on the provider-side of things:



http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/volunteer/index.shtml



A firm called Coyote Communications (answered here too though a bit more categorically than is true) also offers some good informational resources well worth exploring. I'll cite 'em again:



http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/fundingabroad.html

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html



Good luck -- get focused -- and I hope some of the above helps.



Best,

Mark.



--



Go Global! @ UW-Madison

Mark L Lilleleht, Program Coordinator



go.global.wisc.edu

twitter.com/Go_Global

www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4071801



[e-mail]

Ph 608.265.6070

Answer 2

Hi Noah,

Due to the fact that you are not a doctor, technician, engineer, or have any other valuable/tangible skills at your age, you would have to pay in order to volunteer abroad. You should not go for organizations that are super cheap because they will not have good pre-departure or in-country support once you arrive. You should go for reasonably priced projects.



You can check out Leave UR Mark which charges closer to $1,500 for a 4 week stay.

Website: http://www.leaveurmark.com

Blog: http://www.leaveurmarkindia.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LeaveURMark



Good luck and hope you find what you're looking for!

Answer 3

You have no skills that are desperately needed for a week or two in a developing country - so the answer is, there is no where you can volunteer abroad for free.



Funding Your Volunteering Trip Abroad

(includes information on where to find credible programs)

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/fundingabroad.html



Volunteer Abroad

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volunteer/international.html

What you need to know, and the skills you need to have, to volunteer abroad and actually help others (not just have a feel-good experience for yourself)



transire benefaciendo

"to travel along while doing good."

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/travel/go_and_do_good.html