The Volunteering Services Unit and UCLU cannot recommend any particular international volunteering opportunities, as we are unable to verify the quality of the placements offered nor the soundness of the management.
However, we can provide some basic advice and links to websites you may find useful.
Firstly, if you are thinking about an overseas project, you should get involved in some local volunteering. Ruth Unstead-Joss, Programme Officer at Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) told us: “Evidence that you've volunteered locally is one of the key factors we look for if you want to volunteer abroad with VSO. Relevant local volunteering experience is a valuable way for candidates to demonstrate that they have the skills, experience, enthusiasm and commitment to perform effectively overseas.”
It’s also a good idea to get in touch with UCL Union’s student-run Volunteering Society, as some of their members have an interest in international volunteering and it’s a good way to share information and ideas. Find out more here.
You should also acquaint yourself with some of the debates about gap year volunteering. This website is one place to start; while this is also worth looking at.
UCL Careers Service now have a website for international volunteering and work opportunities.
UCL also has a Travel Grant scheme. Small grants are available to individuals who wish to undertake challenging independent travel. Competition for the grants is strong, and there is only one applications round a year, but it is an option worth exploring, particularly if such an opportunity would otherwise be out of reach. Click here for more information and details of how to apply.
You may also wish to look at the following websites, although we stress that we do not endorse any of them:
www.vso.org.uk/youth
www.britishcouncil.org
www.wwoof.org
www.littledream.org
www.thegreatgeneration.org
www.responde.org.ar/revival
www.kep.org.uk
www.developmentinaction.org
www.tenteleni.org.uk
www.yearoutgroup.org/
www.do-it.org.uk/wanttovolunteer/volunteeringoverseas
www.idealist.org
www.projecttrust.org.uk
www.worldvolunteerweb.org
www.experiencedevelopment.org
www.vesl.org
www.wse.org.uk
www.intervol.org.uk
www.crossculturalsolutions.org
www.nabuur.com
www.havillacc.com
www.bunac.org/volunteer/
www.questoverseas.com
www.creative-corners.com
www.icye.org.uk
www.isvonline.org/gb
www.teachamantofish.org.uk
www.globalbrigades.org
www.conserveafrica.org.uk/
www.concordiavolunteers.org.uk
www.akosia.org
www.crees-manu.org
www.skipkids.org.uk/projects/skip-ucl-ghana
www.ivsgb.org/info/
www.africainspired.net/
www.leoproject.org
www.ikoporan.org
www.gvi.co.uk
www.lidefo.org/development-workers-interns/
www.surinproject.org/
www.spw.org
www.bigbrothermouse.com
www.otracosa.nl/
www.volunteachperu.org
www.i-volunteerabroad.co.uk
www.eastafricanplaygrounds.org
www.crees-volunteer.org
www.ace-africa.org
www.youthsinternationalvolunteers.org
www.giveahearttoafrica.org
www.bunac.org.uk/volunteer/sportscoaching/
www.madagascar.co.uk/
www.primetrust.org
www.oneheartsource.org/volunteer
www.udayancare.org
www.lattitude.org.uk
www.futuresensefoundation.org
www.sinovolunteer.com
www.teachamantofish.org.uk/volunteering-overseas
www.tushitafoundationindia.org
www.projects-abroad.co.uk
www.planmygapyear.co.uk
www.gooverseas.com
www.livelyminds.org/5_involved/47/volunteer
For Government safety info and background on countries:
www.gogapyear.com
For more info on ethical tourism, visit:
Organisations that offer bursaries or funding:
- Raleigh International: http://www.raleighinternational.org/about-raleigh/bursary-scheme
- Rotary International: http://www.rotary.org/EN/STUDENTSANDYOUTH/Pages/ridefault.aspx
- Omprakash: http://omprakash.org/volunteergrants
- International Citizen Service: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/ics
- Winston Churchill Memorial Trust: http://www.wcmt.org.uk
Before you commit to anything:
Make sure that you know exactly what you are looking for as 'volunteering' means many things in this sector. It can range from in-depth work linked to sustainability and development all the way to adventure travel with a stop to paint a school along the way (which may occur without ever having asked the local people if they wanted it!!)
Ask the charity or company you're going with what your money pays for before making a choice - does it pay for insurance, visas, training, support in the host country, medicines, etc. And where does the 'rest' go? Are they making a profit, or simply passing all their relevant costs onto you? It's not always a case of 'you get what you pay for'.
Almost all organisations will charge a fee. If the organisation had the resources to cover your costs, the money could be better used hiring an inexpensive local worker who already knows the language and culture.
Please note that the VSU is unable to help individuals fundraise for fees associated with international volunteering.
Ask questions of the organisation like - how well do you know the host project? Who runs it, how long have they been operating, how many people do they work with, what's the name of the guy who works at the front desk, etc. Building partnerships is the first step to good overseas volunteering and if they can't answer that then they don't know enough.
If you are raising money for your international volunteering, ask yourself - would this money be better spent by the community itself? International volunteering organisations will typically ask you for several thousand pounds - money which a development NGO could put to good use with one of their community partners.
Books
- How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas, Joseph Collins, Stefano DeZerega, Zahara Heckscher
- The Global Citizen, Elizabeth Kruempelmann
- The International Directory of Voluntary Work, Victoria Pybus
- Volunteer Vacations, Bill McMillon, Doug Cutchins, and Anne Geissinger
- World Volunteers, Fabio Ausenda and Erin McCloskey