Volunteer Abroad for Free?

November 15, 2006 1:41 PM

Travel/VolunteerFilter: Can anyone suggest Volunteer/Travel Abroad organizations that do not require a lot of money for travel expenses, ie. are as close to free ($0) as possible?

Is it unrealistic to want to participate in a program that travels somewhere to do a specified helpful task, and not have to pay for it (or at least not much?). I am a 23/NYC male (no college degree, in the SLOW process) and interested in simply traveling and doing something new, but without the double negative of losing pay from days not worked (currently $/hr contract so no vacation yet) AND having to pay to go there.

Any people out there with good, economical experiences of doing such a thing? I hope this is not a redudant thread about abroad programs, but specifically I'm looking for Free $0 opportunities, or the cheapest/best bang for the buck, so obviously I'll value any first hand experiences you guys have had. (In high school I paid $600 for a 7 week trip across Asia that covered ALL travel/food/lodging, so obviously that wasn't free but it was great, especially at that age too, with about 20 other kids. I can only hope to have something as good as that again, with a similar fun/diverse group.)

posted by redhotchips to travel & transportation (7 comments total)

I don't know if many official organisations do this because they wouldn't be able to support themselves, unless it's a scholarship/bursary type of thing.

What I do know is that if you decided where you want to go and researched the charity programs active in that area, you might be able to organise something yourself. This January I'm off to Cambodia for a month to help out in an orphanage there. There's no official program, just a friend who knows a guy who knows a guy who has something to do with it, so I got in touch and asked if I could stop by and stay there for a while. I imagine most places will appreciate an extra volunteer. The money you pay for most programs just pays for the legwork you may as well do yourself.
posted by twirlypen at 3:15 PM on November 15, 2006

I agree with twirlypen - I would contact an organization (a US based one might be good) that is based in the area you wish to go, and tell them you want to intern for free.

Most would welcome the help, and can probably give you substantial guidance in terms of housing, living, etcetera. The cost of most programs pays for local salaries and associated overheard. If you dont need any sort of language training or immediate homestay, this would probably be ideal.

On the other hand, if you dont know the local language, you may find it a lot more difficult - in that case - yes, a program is ideal.
posted by jare2003 at 3:42 PM on November 15, 2006

You can get room and board in Thailand though Volunthai for $150/1 month or $250/2 months.
ACDI/VOCA looks like it pays for all related expenses for their volunteer programs, but it's usually short durations.
Volunteers for Peace has programs for $250-$500.
Volunteer Latin America has some pretty cheap programs.
You can volunteer and get room/board at Casa Gautemala for a flat fee of $180 no matter how long you stay.

If you're not set on volunteering, you might want to consider actually working abroad instead. I spent a year as an au pair in France, which was a great experience. All I had to pay for was airfare, but if you hook up with the right family, they'll pay for that too. Teaching English is another popular option. You might also want to look at Bunac CCUSA for work permits and such, or if you're intersted in something like organic farming, there's WWOOF or Help Exchange.
posted by logic vs love at 5:35 PM on November 15, 2006 [4 favorites]

Ooh, and maybe look through here.
posted by logic vs love at 5:38 PM on November 15, 2006

If you're Jewish, you might want to check out Birthright Israel. It's not entirely volunteering (although it can have a volunteering component) but hey, it's free.
posted by phoenixy at 6:45 PM on November 15, 2006

Thanks a lot LogicLove, I will look into those sites, the descriptions are spot on and I like the price ranges.

And phoenixy, sorry I'm not Jewish, I'm Chinese lol.

And thank you everyone else for ideas to contact locations of interest specifically, I had not considered that.

Thanks---
posted by redhotchips at 10:22 PM on November 15, 2006

It was mentioned earlier, but Help Exchange would be perfect for you. It's a listing of hosts who "invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation (board and lodging)." It's not just farming -- sought-after skills include "gardening, farming, agriculture, permaculture, fruit picking, trade skills like building, carpentry or landscaping, sail boat crewing, working with animals, ability to care for and ride horses". I haven't used it myself, but I plan to in the future.
posted by acridrabbit at 10:37 AM on November 17, 2006