Volunteering abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

What is volunteer work abroad?

• Volunteer work abroad means that you work abroad for a certain period of time at a foreign project or organization to help, learn or transfer knowledge.
• You usually do not receive any compensation for your work in the form of salary, expense allowance or room and board.
• Projects that have little or no income themselves will generally ask volunteers for compensation for the guidance or for the room and board provided.
• In the case of an intermediary organization, this compensation can also be made via the intermediary organization.

Why should you volunteer abroad?

• To help others with your efforts and skills.
• To support projects or goals that you consider important in your life.
• To gain experience in your own field of work, or in the sector where you may want to work later.
• To see yourself at work in a different environment.
• To be able to work in another area and see if you like it.
• To use as a stepping stone to a local job with salary.
• Because you don't think it's necessary for a project to incur extra costs for your presence while they really need every dime.
• Because you have already raised money for the project or organization where you will be working

What do you need if you want to do volunteer work abroad?

• Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you gain during your stay abroad.
• Ability to communicate: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
• Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need a certain form of independence, and this will increase your self-confidence.
• Being environmentally aware: an important element for your stay abroad.
• Collaboration: it is, anywhere in the world, important that you learn and collaborate when you work with others.
• To be organizationally aware: to be aware how the organisational structure is and what the consequences of your decisions or actions are.
• To be empathic: to be able to understand (the feelings) of others.

Where is the best place to volunteer abroad?

• If you are looking for social volunteer work: Curaçao, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Nepal, South Africa
• If you are looking for corporate volunteer work: Australia, Curaçao, Spain, United States of America
• If you are looking for volunteer work caring for or protecting animals: Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ecuador, Indonesia, South Africa
• If you are younger than 18 years old: Spanish language course with volunteer work in Spain - or volunteer work for young people in Malawi, Uganda or South Africa
• If you are looking for volunteer work and are traveling for the first time as a 'woman alone': Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, Ghana
• If you want to gain experience 'as a woman alone', go to: Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, Nicaragua. China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Kenya, Malawi

To what extent are you insured for the risks of volunteering abroad?

• There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when volunteering abroad, or at least you should carefully check your insured situation.
  • Local organizations usually offer no, or very limited, insurance.
  • There is a risk of accidents, for example, because you are doing work with which you have little experience.
  • During your volunteer work abroad where you receive financial compensation (or, for example, food and housing), your health insurance coverage will potentially lapse. You will then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
• Read more about insuring volunteer work abroad (EN).
• Read more about vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland verzekeren (NL).