Volunteering is a great way to see the world while conveying good deeds, and here’s how to get started.
Traveling is fun, but if you have to travel for long periods of time, you have to find ways to make ends meet. One of the ways people can do this (especially young travelers) is by volunteering. There are many volunteer opportunities in the world where one can enjoy a cultural exchange in an exotic country without having to worry about daily expenses. Volunteering is one of the ways to optimize your budget.
For people who have never traveled before, this may seem difficult. But it’s actually very easy and a lot of people travel for years all over the world, they only do minimal work and come back with more money than they left behind. Volunteering is not only a great way to enjoy cultural exchanges and save money, but also to slow down your journey. Here are some ideas on volunteering and travel.
WWOOF
WWOOF is about the global opportunities on organic farms. It is an online site that connects visitors (WWOOFers) with organic farmers around the world. In this program, the traveler works on the farm in exchange for free room and board (and perhaps a small stipend). The WWOOFer enjoys a cultural exchange and learns about the ecology and sustainability of organic farming.
- Offers: Free room and board (minimum)
- Job: Various jobs on organic farms
It’s a great opportunity to see a side of the world that few travelers and tourists get to see. It’s a great chance to see a side of a country that is not just its tourist face. Additionally, WWOOFers frequently enjoy the great company of other WWOOFers around the world and make close friends. WWOOFing is particularly popular in New Zealand and Australia.
Related: 10 Ways To Travel Across America On A Budget
Work far away
Workaway is another online platform but much more general than WWOOF. They also organize homestays and cultural exchanges with travelers from all over the world. Volunteers or “Workawayers” agree to work a certain number of (often little) hours per day with their hosts in exchange for accommodation and food.
- Offers: Free room and board (minimum)
- Job: Full range of imaginable jobs (very often related to the farm or the hotel industry)
- Premium: Cultural exchange, language learning
We can see all the information of the host, he provides information about himself, the accommodation he offers, the work he needs, etc. As volunteers build their own offering, they list any specific skills they may have. They contact hosts about available positions.
It’s a fabulous way for travelers to immerse themselves in the country and culture they are visiting. It is often also a great way to improve your foreign language skills.
Joint volunteering includes animal care, gardening, farming, and cooking. The full range of jobs is complete.
Teaching english
Another way to travel is to volunteer to teach English. See here for 10 countries where to teach English. Volunteer teaching can be a formal volunteer position where one applies to a school and the school even pays for flights. Or you can just show up in a country and see who wants an English teacher (native English teachers are almost always in high demand around the world). An example is Teach and Learn With Georgia (Republic of Georgia). Teach and Learn With Georgia provides the following:
- Flights: They pay for flights to and from the country of Georgia
- Processing: Pay him a small stipend of around $ 200 per month
- Plank: One is hosted by a local Georgian family with a room and food provided (in Georgia it will be a lot and a lot of food)
Other Ways to Volunteer While Traveling
Working in a kibbutz
A kibbutz is a type of communal farm in Israel. They are also looking for volunteers to work on their farms and there are many volunteer positions available for those who wish to spend an extended period in Israel. One of the main search sites for these jobs is Kibbutz Volunteers.
- Kibbutz: A communal farm in Israel
Related: Epic Countries Around The World That Are Totally Economical
Work in a hostel
Most backpackers on a budget and looking for a warm and friendly atmosphere will stay in hostels around the world. Youth hostels are more than just cheap accommodation. Often, even if a traveler has the budget to stay in nice hotels, they will still choose to stay in a hostel because of the cozy atmosphere with other travelers. In a hostel, most travelers are friends and buddies by default.
- Hostels: Many hostel staff are volunteers
- Offers: Housing, often food, and occasionally a small allowance
Hostels are often also great places to volunteer. Often, as you travel around, you will notice that many of the staff staying at the hostel are volunteers. To work in a hostel, you just have to ask them – it’s that easy.
These are just a few ideas for volunteering to cover expenses around the world – the full list is endless.
Next: 25 Painless Ways To Budget For Full Time Travel
You can learn about Hawaii’s indigenous history at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu
About the Author
Aaron vaporizer
(341 published articles)
Aaron is a first-hand traveler who has visited over 70 countries around the world. He is passionate about travel and opens the world to other intrepid explorers.
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