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The 10 [Best Cheap] International Volunteer Opportunities Providers 2023

The 10 Best Cheap International Volunteer Opportunities Providers 2023

Are you planning to volunteer abroad, but unsure which provider to select? Now, you no longer have to waste time searching the internet and filling out dozens of contact forms. Simply fill out ONE form, we’ll send it off to multiple providers and they’ll contact YOU! You’ll be able to compare rates and find the lowest cost program for the most affordable trip abroad.


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Are you thinking about giving back to the world and volunteering in some way? Are you wondering what the best and cheapest opportunities abroad to volunteer are? Are you looking for the highest rated and safest international volunteer opportunities?

If you are intent on travelling with a purpose and making a difference, finding international volunteer opportunities is the way to go. In this ever-changing world, there is no shortage of amazing international volunteering programs, whether its volunteering abroad in Costa Rica or Nepal, doing a medical internship in Africa or teaching English abroad in Cambodia Thailand; if you are ready to make a difference, then we are here to help.

But why does choosing the right program have to be so difficult and expensive? While volunteering abroad is a once-in-a-life time opportunity to really make a valuable difference, with so many options available, it can be so difficult choosing the right program. The minute you Google international volunteering opportunities providers, thousands of results pop up, all claiming to be as good as each other. Some, however, aren’t what they claim to be and others are pure scams, overcharging up to several thousand dollars – so how do you know which one to select? Choosing the wrong company to plan your experience could have irreversible effects on your time volunteering.

That’s why we’re here to help. At TravellersQuest, we don’t want see choosing the wrong international volunteering opportunity and potentially threatening your entire experience. We want you to find a safe and reputable international volunteering program that will leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied, and will money left in your pocket too. That’s right, we did the hard work for you. We spent thousands of hours researching, and found the best and cheapest international volunteering providers for you.

In this article, we’ll present to you an unbiased selection of the 10 best and cheap volunteering overseas providers and the programs they offer.

Keep reading to discover the best travel packages with 10 of the most highly rated volunteering programs.

Providers Projects & starting Price Reviews
International Volunteer HQ Volunteer in Costa Rica : ($299 + $625)
Volunteer in Ghana ($299+$390)
Go Overseas-9.5/10 – ‎1,427 reviews
Go Abroad-9.53/10-1074 Reviews
Love Volunteers Volunteer in South Africa : ($299+$449)
Volunteer in Nepal ($299+ Childcare $259)
Go overseas:-9.1/10 – ‎134 reviews
Go Abroad:-9.7/10 – ‎282 reviews
MaximoNivel Guatemala 2 weeks-$915
Go Overseas: 97% – ‎1077 reviews
Go Abroad: 9.6-1,039 Reviews
Plan My Gap Year Volunteer in Ghana : ($190+ starts $317)
Volunteer in Cambodia ($190+starts $304)
Go Overseas;96%- 314 reviews
Review Center:4.8/5- 297 reviews
RCDP International Volunteers Volunteer in Kenya : ($279+$250)
Volunteer in Costa Rica ($279+starts $445)
Abroad Review:9.2 / 10 +221 Reviews
Go overseas:Rating: 94% – ‎32 reviews
IFRE International Volunteers Volunteer in India : ($299+ $300)
Volunteer in South Africa ($299+$450)
Abroad Reviews-9.1 / 10 after 327 Reviews
Go Overseas:8.9/10 – ‎67 reviews
Global Crossroad Volunteers Volunteer in Mexico: ($299+ starts $391)
Volunteer in Tanzania ($299+ starts $300)
Go overseas:9.2/10 – ‎60 reviews
Abroad Reviews:8.8 / 10 -334 Reviews
African Impact Volunteer in Tanzania : (Starts $1284)
Volunteer in South Africa (Starts $1229)
Go Overseas- 9.4/10 – ‎164 reviews
Volunteer Forever- 3.4 – ‎19 reviews
GoEco Volunteer in Madagascar: (starts $1050)
Volunteer in Guatemala ($1,650)
Go Overseas- 9.4/10 – ‎64 reviews
Go Abroad-9.76-517 reviews
Global Vision International Volunteer in Mexico: ($918)
Volunteer in Greece (Starts $1212)
Go Overseas- 9.5/10 – ‎333 reviews
Volunteer Forever- 4.3/5- ‎50 reviews

Table Updated: Dec 11, 2019

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

About the Organization

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) is a volunteering provider in New Zealand that is one of the best volunteer abroad companies of the world that has over 12 years of experience and expert services that have helped over 112,000 volunteers make a genuine difference in the world. The volunteering provider is openly committed to crafting some of the world’s best volunteer international programs that contribute long-term impact to communities around the world that need the support.

Best International Volunteer Opportunities with IVHQ

We think that IVHQ’s programs in Costa RicaThailand and Indonesia re the most interesting. The international volunteering provider offers a wide range of programs in fields like teaching, construction agriculture and more. Take a look at what they have to offer in:

Costa Rica

Costa Rica houses a range of turtle species, including the endangered Leatherback, Green, Olive Ridley, and Hawksbill. In this Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation volunteer project, your role would encompass protecting these remarkable species and you’ll be based on either the Nicoya Peninsula or the Caribbean Coast.

Depending on the time of year, you’ll work a variety of day and night shifts, helping with beach patrols, building hatcheries to protect eggs from predators, beach cleaning, and more.

Thailand

These international volunteer opportunities are well suited to those who have a passion for education and enjoy working with young children. You’ll work in day-care centers in the local villages around Chiang Rai, helping with children between the ages of 2 and 6.

You’ll help to run educational and learning activities, maintain the classroom and assist during mealtimes. Each day you will also assist with general duties required around the center and planning for upcoming lessons.

Bali

Set in the Indonesian island of Bali, you can be sure to make a valuable contribution by teaching Balinese students who are eager to practice their English skills which will allow them opportunities for higher education and career prospects in the country’s popular tourism industry.

Teach up to three hours a day in after-school classes using your choice of teaching method, whether it’s through art, sport, or music that can inspire and encourage the elementary students. Be sure to have a Teach English as a Foreign Language certificate (TEFL), which IVHQ can help facilitate.

The Fees

Taking into account the highly prolific nature of IVHQ, they are an incredibly affordable organization for volunteer opportunities internationally. They charge an industry-standard registration fee of $299 USD followed by low project fees, for example, $250USD for Nepal or $270USD for Ghana.

The Reviews

Having good reviews is an absolute must to find a place on this list, and IVHQ fulfills this requirement with flying colors. They have a 9.5 on Go Overseas9.6 on Trust Pilot9.53 on Go Abroad, and finally a 4.8/5 on Volunteer Forever. There are also a huge number of reviews, with more than 3500 people leaving their experience.

Why We Chose International Volunteer HQ

The sheer amount of positive reviews found online for IVHQ’s international volunteer programs is enough to earn them a place on this list. Couple that with very reasonable prices and some fantastic looking programs and you have a winner.

Love Volunteers

About the Organization

Love Volunteers was initially a brother and sister team from New Zealand that started in 2009, offering some of the international volunteer opportunities in the world. Shocked by the huge fees charged for volunteering abroad, they knew there must be a better way. The company’s utmost focus is making sure that their volunteer programs are all fully transparent when it comes to the fees paid and where they go.

Best International Volunteer Opportunities with Love Volunteers

While you can’t really go wrong with any of the great international volunteer destinations offered by Love Volunteers, we think the countries of South Africa, Turkey, and Honduras are worth your special attention. In these countries, you can take part in projects ranging from environmental conservation to childcare and development. Take a look at what they have to offer in

South Africa

This amazing project was developed to simply save the lives of the magnificent wildlife conservation volunteer program in South Africa. The Wildlife Protection program is based on a spectacular Game Reserve just outside Port Elizabeth. Like many Africa conservation programs, funds are low so volunteers are essential to the success of the project.

Your duties would vary on a day-to-day basis, dependent on factors such as the weather. The work is mostly outdoors and will sometimes be in unpleasant conditions, so you’ll need to be willing to lend a hand with all sorts of tasks.

Turkey

If you have a passion for creative arts and a love for travel to far-flung and exotic locations, look no further than this exciting program in the ancient city of Istanbul. Here you will get the chance to spend your time supporting disadvantaged children from ages 7 to 13 years old while simultaneously exploring all that this fascinating and diverse city has to offer.

This program’s aim is to encourage local children’s creativity, something these impoverished children have little chance to explore given the conditions in which they live. 

Honduras

This wonderful teaching English international volunteer project was created with the goal of helping to advance the English speaking abilities of the residents of El Porvenir. The program provides completely free English ​lessons for kinder​, ​elementary, teenage, and adult students.

The ​elementary-age ​children​, grades 1-6,​ attend these free classes​ at three locations in the community, knowing full well that English is a language that will stand them in good stead for the future. ​​As a volunteer, you’ll be able to work can work with all age groups, including adults, and should plan to work 4.5 days each week. You must be 18 years and over.

The Fees

Being affordable is an important priority for Love Volunteers, and after paying a standard $299USD registration fee, prices for individual international volunteer trips can be as low as $250USD, though certain destinations can be more expensive.

The Reviews

Over 450 past volunteers have registered their experience with Go OverseasGo Abroad, and Volunteer Forever, where Love Volunteers enjoys 9.1, 9.7, and 4.6/5 scores.

Why We Chose Love Volunteers

The thing we love most about Love Volunteers is how they’ve made their fees and process incredibly transparent, all with low prices and great reviews across multiple websites for their international volunteer opportunities to boot.

Maximo Nivel

About the Organization

MaximoNivel is the leading organization for study abroad and educational travel in South America. The company is internationally accredited with 4 local institutes in 3 of the world’s most beautiful countries — Costa Rica,Guatemala, and Peru. Students can choose from a variety of programs such as volunteer abroad, international internships, TEFL Certification, Spanish immersion study, and much more. The company organizes everything for you, from in-country projects and academic courses to accommodations, tours, and transportation.

MaximoNivel – Best Volunteer Abroad Projects

While you can’t really go wrong with any of the great international volunteer destinations offered by Love Volunteers, we think the countries of Peru, Guatemala, and Costa Rica are worth your special attention.

Peru

Here’s your chance to volunteer to teach English in Peru. MaximoNivel’s teaching English projects serve underprivileged schools and communities—people who want to learn English, but who do not have the financial means to do so.

International volunteers work in a variety of settings including public schools, community centers, after-school programs, shelters for street children, and other educational programs for the poor.

Guatemala

Here’s your chance to volunteer in Guatemala. When families face severe economic disadvantages, children are often the first victims. Neglect, abuse, and abandonment are pervasive issues as people struggle with the lack of resources and inability to care for their children.

As a volunteer, you’ll either be teaching English to less fortunate kids, medically volunteering in hospitals and clinics, working in the eco-agriculture field, or working in exotic animal rescue care.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is still a developing country with a low national income and a number of socio-economic issues. This means Costa Rica offers a wide variety of ways to get involved in volunteer abroad projects, contribute to sustainable programs, and provide help to vulnerable populations.

There is a lot to do in a country like Costa Rica and international volunteers are needed. As an international volunteer, you’ll either be teaching English to less fortunate kids, medically volunteering in hospitals and clinics, working in the eco-agriculture field, or working in exotic animal rescue care.

The Fees

Being affordable is an important priority for MaximoNivel, and after paying a standard $299USD registration fee, prices for individual international volunteer trips can be as low as $250USD, though certain destinations can be more expensive.

The Reviews

Over 2000 past volunteers have registered their experience with Go Overseas and

Go Abroad, where MaximoNivel enjoys 97% – ‎1077 reviews and 9.6-1,039 Reviews.

Why we Choose MaximoNivel

MaximoNivel is particularly powerful for students who want to learn more abroad, a valuable skill that could lead to a number of other powerful repercussions, and help better the world.

Plan My Gap Year (PMGY)

About the Organization

Plan My Gap Year is based around a philosophy of offering international volunteer work for a reasonable price and also places an emphasis on socially connecting their volunteers. To do this, they put you in touch as soon as you’ve confirmed your booking, ensuring that you form incredible friendships.

Best Opportunities with PMGY

Once again, we want to highlight Plan My Gap Year’s international volunteer programs in Nepal, Ghana, and Ecuador. Of particular note are their initiatives involving teaching English to Buddhist monks in Nepal, and their international medical volunteer opportunities countries like Ecuador.

Nepal

Volunteering in Nepal with Plan My Gap encompasses safe and affordable programs a wide range of volunteer projects in Nepal, in fields such as childcareEnglish teaching, and English Teaching to Monks.

As a volunteer in Nepal, you can either contribute your time and affection in making a difference to the lives of neglected children in this visually stunning travel destination; or live in a Buddhist monastery teaching monks English and learning about their way of life; or make a positive impact during your time in this gorgeous country. Teaching enables young people to have a much better future through education, and much more.

Ghana

Volunteering in Ghana with Plan My Gap encompasses safe and affordable programs a wide range of international volunteer opportunities in childcare and children with disabilities, medical volunteering, teaching English as a foreign language, mental health initiatives, and much more.

As a volunteer in Ghana, you can your bit to help care for Ghanaian children with special needs. Assist local staff by getting involved in essential education and rehabilitation sessions; help young children develop the skills that will help improve their future job prospects. Teach a variety of subjects such as English, Maths, and Art; gain experience and insight into the health care system. Learn from local staff and get involved in supporting them, and much more.

Ecuador

Plan My Gap encompasses safe international volunteer experiences in Ecuador, in fields such as childcare, teaching English, language immersion programs, and medical volunteering opportunities.

As a volunteer in Ecuador, you can be a helping hand to a beautiful child, teaching them how to clean their clothes, speak English or even sing songs; or spend your days with a generation of inspired students teaching the English while learning about the local indigenous culture; or as a medical student, witness a healthcare system unlike your own, and learn a lot, and much more.

The Fees

As you’d expect with an organization focused on affordable prices, fees with PMGY are low. Their registration fee is just $190USD, which paired with program fees as low as $300USD-$400USD for 2 weeks makes for eminently affordable international volunteer trips.

The Reviews

Like everyone on this list, Plan My Gap Year has excellent reviews across the board. With more than 600 former volunteers sharing their experience with the organization, they score 96% on Go Overseas and 4.8/5 on Review Center, both fantastic scores. This is one of the best international volunteer opportunities providers.

Why We Chose Plan My Gap Year

The most important thing Plan My Gap Year has going for it is the incredible fees. Combined with great reviews and special attention paid to ensuring great social relationships among their volunteers makes for a great option when looking for opportunities to become an international volunteer.

RCDP International Volunteers

rcdp volunteer abroad

About the Organization

“Would you like to change the world without it costing the earth?” This is the question volunteering program provider RCDP International Volunteers asks us. RDCP is one of the world’s best international volunteer abroad programs provider that was founded in 1998. Since its inception, RCDP has placed over 18,000 happy volunteers in a variety of services, programs, internship opportunities, and summer abroad programs.

The company pledges to offer unparalleled in-country support from experienced staff, which ensures that volunteering experiences are safe, life-changing, worthwhile, and fun. The volunteering provider offers programs in 20 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, in fields such as orphanage work, childcare, teaching, medical services, or women’s empowerment initiatives.

Best International Volunteer Opportunities with RCDP

RCDP features strong Volunteer opportunities internationally across the continents of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. To highlight this, we think it’s worth looking extra hard at their volunteer programs in Nepal, Costa Rica, Peru, and Kenya. With RCDP you can travel to these beautiful countries and lend your hand in HIV prevention, environmental conservation, and more. Take a look at what they have to offer:

Costa Rica

If you are passionate about saving the sea turtle and you have always wanted to go to Costa Rica, then this international volunteer trip is for you! There is a need to study the habitats of sea turtles in order to understand how they live and what they are exposed to, as to keep them healthy and safe in a natural environment.

This sea turtle conservation project located in the Osa Peninsula, close to Corcovado National Park, aims to do just that, and with your help, the project can keep the turtles living long and thriving lives and be self-sustainable.

You’ll help nurse sick sea turtles back to health and study the habits and lifestyles of the sea turtles to form conclusions about what can be done to help make them as comfortable as possible in their natural environment. Other activities include beach cleanings, which can help these turtles remain safe and healthy as the beach is constantly being filled with debris, wood, and garbage brought by nearby rivers.

Peru

If you want to travel with purpose and see beyond the usual attractions a volunteering Peru project can provide exactly that. Share your time, caring personality, and passionate belief in female equality by volunteering in a teenage center for young moms and support young women who experienced sexual assault and rape due to a lifestyle and circumstances blighted by poverty and scarce education. During this international volunteer opportunity for adults, your work will make a valuable difference to the lives of marginalized young women who need all the help they can get to create a brighter future.

Kenya

This is a unique opportunity to gain medical experience in an absorbing country with a distinct and dynamic culture, where you’ll be working with local doctors to treat Kenyans. International medical volunteers are needed because although Kenya has seen a remarkable increase in the standard of health services, this result has yet to reach many places. People in rural areas still succumb to treatable diseases.

Moreover, there is a stigma amongst local qualified doctors and nurses against rural areas and treating patients from disadvantaged backgrounds. For RCDP’s health projects in Kenya, you’ll be able to go where the poor and the sick are and help them have a healthier life. You will need to have some sort of healthcare certification, such as being a medical student, EMT, or paramedic.

The Fees

RCDP is very affordable, starting with a $279USD registration fee for their international volunteer programs. Project fees range from as low as $200USD, for example in Nepal, to $445 in Costa Rica.

The Reviews

As always, we checked the reviews for RCDP at the major volunteer review sites like Go Overseas and Abroad Reviews, where they have scores of 94% and 9.2. More than 300 volunteers have left reviews, and while this isn’t the highest on this list, it’s not bad.

Why We Chose RCDP

We chose RCDP for this list of the best international volunteer organizations due to their very low prices, great reviews, and the incredible length of experience, especially in countries like Nepal. This is one of the best international volunteer opportunities providers.

IFRE International Volunteers

ifre volunteer projects

About the Organization

With a focus on offering the most affordable volunteer programs across multiple areas such as working orphanages, healthcare, teaching, wildlife, and more without sacrificing the high level of quality, safety, and service that other organizations might, IFRE is an American organization that was founded in 2006. It has built up a stellar reputation for being one of the leading volunteer abroad organizations of the world, with programs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The non-profit based in Dallas, Texas offers some of the best international volunteer opportunities and internship programs in the world and has served over 22,000 happy volunteers with programs that allow people to discover their greater purpose in life and to create impact through their helping of humanitarian organizations, communities abroad and wildlife areas that desperately seek help.

Countries of note when looking at international volunteer opportunities for adults with IFRE are in our opinion are Argentina, Cambodia, and Costa Rica. This gives you an option on three separate continents, presenting a wide variety of things to see and do, as well as projects.

Argentina

If you are a healthcare professional or looking to advance your medical career, medically volunteering in Argentina – a country with a large poor population that has limited money and access to medical services – would be a sound choice. The number of lives you could help save and better knows no end.

IFRE’s international medical volunteering opportunities in Argentina will allow you the chance to shadow local doctors and nurses as they treat patients who are in need of medical care, and you’ll gain valuable experience in the process. You will also participate in educating local Argentineans on a variety of health-related topics that will help them improve their daily life.

Cambodia

If traveling to Cambodia to visit wonders such as Angkor Wat and gorgeous islands alongside doing meaningful work and giving back to the Cambodian populace is something that piques your interest, then look no further. With a huge number of orphanages and abandoned children rife in Cambodia, giving your time to help improve Cambodia’s people of the future is so important.

In this program, you can provide love, care, and attention to orphans who are otherwise overlooked and neglected by society and inspire these children to break the cycle of poverty and improve their lives and the lives of future generations.

Costa Rica

Lovers of wildlife and those wanting to travel to the beautiful country of Costa Rica – this program is for you! The central American country is home to an abundance of wildlife, such as macaws, toucans, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and more, that are all in peril due to human encroachment into their natural habitat.

If you choose this program, you’ll get the chance to volunteer in a wildlife sanctuary in Costa Rica that rescues and rehabilitates animals that have been injured, orphaned, or are victims of the pet trade. 

The Fees

IFRE is one of the most affordable entries on this list of international volunteer organizations. With project fees as low as $300USD for 2 weeks of volunteering after a standard $299USD registration fee, IFRE is a great choice for volunteers on a budget.

The Reviews

Once again, reviews are top-notch. Coming in at 9.1 on Abroad reviews and 8.9 on Go Overseas, feedback is overwhelmingly positive from the about 400 past participants leaving their thoughts and experiences on these sites.

Why We Chose IFRE International Volunteers

When you put together IFRE’s commitment to providing their international volunteers with in-depth support with great reviews and affordable prices, you get an excellent choice for volunteering internationally and a worthy selection for this list. This is one of the best international volunteer opportunities providers.

Global Crossroad International Volunteers

globalcross road volunteer projects

About the Organization

Global Crossroad is one of the best international volunteer opportunities organizations in the world that was founded in 2003, with programs that have been trusted by thousands of volunteers for over a decade.

The volunteering company prides itself in running the most highly rated and affordable volunteering abroad programs, as well as internship abroad opportunities, summer programs, mini-adventures, hands-on medical volunteer programs, family volunteering projects, and more. The volunteering opportunities are available in 18 countries across Asia, Latin American, and Africa.

Best Opportunities with GCR

We recommend GCR’s international volunteer opportunities for adults in Ghana, Ecuador, and Nepal. All these countries present you with excellent opportunities for volunteering abroad as well as experiences you will remember for a lifetime. Working with elephants in Sri Lanka or with women’s empowerment in Tanzania are among their most exciting programs. This is one of the best international volunteering providers. Check out the following countries:

Ghana

Known as the “Gold Coast” because of its abundance of gold minerals, Ghana is a country located in the rich Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. While teeming with culture and beauty, at the same time the country is affected by severe poverty, with many Ghanaians lacking enough opportunity for a better future.

Children leaving home in search of better prospects sadly end up on the streets under harsh conditions. There are many orphanages on the ground in Ghana trying to alleviate the problem; however such humanitarian institutions lack resources and manpower. As a volunteer in Ghana, you’ll be making a positive impact on the lives of orphans.

Ecuador

With the growing plight of orphans in Ecuador, the time is now to try and help. If you are passionate about helping transform the lives of children, and you would love to visit the beautiful tropical country of Ecuador, then this international volunteer trip is for you.

You will be working at an orphanage that provides refuge to abandoned Ecuadorian children, providing much needed care to these poor kids; you’ll also be teaching them basic English, spend quality time playing with them, help with their homework, and make sure they go to school.

Nepal

As more than 150,000 Tibetans live in exile, with 20% of them in Nepal, they now live in monasteries where they are free to practice their religion and rebuild their cultural heritage. Many of these monks realize the necessity of speaking English and as there are no English teachers in the monasteries.

By joining the volunteer teaching English to Monks program in Nepal, you will get to learn, participate and practice Buddhism in the monastery. Your support and passion will improve English and allow the Monks to communicate outside their borders. You will be happy and fulfilled knowing that you will help transform lives for monks as they broaden their perspectives outside the monastery.

The Fees

Global Crossroad is definitely on the affordable side of things, even on this list. Their registration fee is the now-familiar $299USD but their projects in the above countries can run you as little as $300USD-$488USD for 2 weeks of international volunteering.

The Reviews

You won’t be surprised that Global Crossroad also has excellent reviews. Enjoying a 9.2 on Go Overseas an 8.8 on Abroad Reviews from a respectable 400 former participants happy to share their largely positive experiences with the organization.

Why We Chose Global Crossroad International Volunteers

The best part of Global Crossroad International Volunteers is their grassroots approach to volunteering, as well as their incredibly reasonable prices, exciting programs, and great reviews online. With all this in mind, we had to give them a spot on this list of the best international volunteer organizations.

African Impact

About the Organization

African Impact is a company that was founded in 2004 in South Africa and is considered to be one of the best international volunteer opportunities providers in the world. The volunteering abroad provider prides itself in creating life-changing journeys; the team there are pioneers in the volunteer travel industry and renowned experts in responsible volunteering, curated service learning, and internships in Africa. The projects organized by African Impact developed hand-in-hand with local African communities.

Best Opportunities with African Impact

While for most international volunteer organizations on this list we like to pick a spectrum of programs across different continents, it should come as no surprise that African Impact is the clear exception to this rule. It’s this precise focus on African issues that help make African Impact so great, and we especially recommend their programs in South AfricaMalawi, and Tanzania.

South Africa

If you have always wanted to go to Africa and make a fundamental difference in the lives of communities and children, then this program is for you. In South Africa, you will not only be surrounded by magnificent wildlife and a life-changing experience in rural Zululand, but you will be able to help educate and support orphaned and in need children and families in underprivileged remote villages.

You will get the chance to work directly with the Chiefs of the village and the families living in poverty. Here is a chance to support young children and contribute to bigger and brighter futures for them!

Malawi

This international volunteering trip would entail living at the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi, rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for wild animals to help conserve Malawi’s ravaged natural habitats.

This opportunity would allow you to make an active difference with issues such as habitat destruction, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, the pet trade, and the international wildlife trade.

Tanzania

The plight of women in Africa is widely understood as the reality is they live in a male-dominated society. Girls are a powerful force for change in Africa, but their potential is all too readily constrained.

This cutting-edge Tanzania women’s empowerment volunteer program aims to empower, educate and enrich adolescent girls aged between 11 and 18. As a volunteer, you’ll be able to learn first-hand about the challenges facing girls in Tanzania and work as part of a team to ensure their future potential is reached.

The Fees

While international volunteer work fees with African Impact run a bit higher than others on this list, they make up for that with no registration fees, great transparency, and unparalleled expertise and connections throughout Africa. International volunteer programs in the countries featured above will cost you between $1229USD and $1740USD.

The Reviews

African Impact has an incredible number of reviews, with 2500+ people leaving amazing feedback resulting in a 9.2 score on Go Abroad and 9.4 on Go Overseas. This is one of the best international volunteer opportunities providers.

Why We Chose African Impact

We were impressed with African Impact’s dedication and focus on Africa, choosing to rather be the best of the best at international volunteering in one part of the world instead of branching out. We also liked that they had excellent reviews and good prices considering the expertise they bring to the table.

GoEco

About the Organization

As you can tell from its name, GoEco’s core cause is the protection of the environment, but this noble cause can take many other forms, and GoEco offers a varied range of programs that are always sustainable and responsible. Founded in 2006 by two Israeli international volunteers who went on a volunteer adventure to Southeast Asia, they have since helped thousands of travelers do the same.

Best International Volunteer Opportunities with GoEco

We were very much impressed with GoEco’s selection of international volunteer opportunities for adults in GuatemalaSri Lanka, and Madagascar, and especially so with the programs involving wildlife research in Madagascar and dog care in Sri Lanka.

The Fees

GoEco is a bit more expensive than usual but has no registration fees. Programs featured above will run you anywhere between $990USD and $1650USD for one week of volunteering.

The Reviews

Committing themselves to sustainability and the environment has greatly benefited GoEco in terms of reviews. More than 550 pieces of feedback can be found on Go Abroad and Go Overseas, where they rank in at 9.76 and 9.4.

Why We Chose GoEco

GoEco earned itself a spot on this list of the best international volunteer organizations through their commitment to the environment, stellar reviews, and lack of any kind of registration fee.

Global Vision International

About the Organization

Global Vision International is a US company that was founded in 1998 that runs the best international volunteer opportunities in 21 locations and 13 countries around the world. Each of the programs is managed by Global Vision International’s staff who are all closely aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and partners on the ground in host countries.

With the aim of turning volunteers into global citizens who can help make the world a better place, the worldwide team of Global Vision International has a united passion for making a real difference. The volunteering opportunities provider runs high-quality sustainable development and experiential educational programs that have earned recognition from numerous credible organizations such as Panthera, Save The Children, and many others.

Best International Volunteer Opportunities with GVI

We really like the look of GVI’s international volunteer experiences in FijiNepal, and India. Whether you want to surround yourself with mountains, beaches, dense jungle, or cities, there’s a project with GVI you’ll probably be interested in such as marine conservation in Mexico. Or take a look at these following programs:

Fiji

Set in Dawasamu, in this volunteering program, you will be taking part in a range of activities, from the installation of waste management and rainwater harvesting systems and assessing and enhancing sustainable agriculture by building veggie gardens to interacting with villagers, all while making lifelong friends from a range of cultural and geographical backgrounds. 

There may also be the opportunity to work on more specific Fiji water management initiatives such as fresh-water management, water security, and water, and sanitation hygiene.

Nepal

In this international volunteering opportunity, you’ll be able to contribute directly to the health and wellbeing of the communities in Pokhara and surrounding areas, working directly with individuals in local Nepali communities to not only promote healthy lifestyles but also gain valuable experience in healthcare services.

You will work with local staff and students to facilitate workshops concerning a range of health-related topics such as teaching the principles of UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program, basic first aid skills, road safety, puberty and menstruation, and vocabulary related to other broad health topics.

India

In this Women’s empowerment initiative, you’ll join GVI’s international team of permanent staff members, long-term interns, and short-term women’s empowerment volunteers, to learn about and support ongoing gender equality programs in India.

The types of organizations you might volunteer with include schools, women’s groups, and other community-based organizations, and you’ll be doing things such as running a range of workshops with local women and participate in other types of vocational skill classes to help women stand a better chance of future employment.

The Fees

There’s no registration fee with Global Vision International, and while their international volunteer opportunities fees are higher than many others on this list, they’re not considerably so given that you’re saving a few hundred dollars on registering. Mexico for example has programs with GVI for as little as $918USD, while places like Greece will cost you a bit more.

The Reviews

GVI ranks among the top organizations on this list when it comes to reviews. The number of former volunteers heaping praise on them online is significant, with more than 3000 checking in across Go Overseas and Go Abroad, where they have a 9.5 and 9.55 score respectively.

Why We Chose Global Vision International

It’s not hard to see why we’d choose Global Vision International for this list. Considering their universal praise from experts, researchers, and journalists, coupled with a stunning number of positive reviews online, we’d be crazy not to give them a spot here for the international volunteer work they help arrange.

Other Honourable Mentions are:

While the above 10 organizations are the ones we think are the best for international volunteering programs, there are others that we also want to shine a brief spotlight on. The five companies listed below are still great volunteering organizations, and we absolutely recommend that you give them a thorough look as well if you want to be particularly thorough.

Projects Abroad

Company’s location – UK
Year of establishment: 1992 Awards and Certification-Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Accredited with ASDAN, Founding member of the Year Out Group, British Standard BS 8848, Member of the World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation,
Reviews: 620 reviews on Go Overseas‎, ‎349 reviews on Volunteer Forever, 273 Reviews on Go Abroad

Frontier

Company’s location- UK
Year of establishment: 1989
Reviews: 61 reviews on Go Overseas‎, 674 Reviews on Abroad Reviews, 1014 reviews on Go Abroad

Global Volunteers

Company’s location- UK
Year of establishment: 1984
Awards, Certification: Program Partners:  U.N. and UNICEF, granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations in 1999,
Reviews: 154 reviews on Go Overseas‎, ‎17 Reviews on Go Abroad

Connect-123

Company’s location – South Africa
Year of establishment: 2002
Reviews: 128 reviews on Go Overseas‎, ‎125 Reviews, on Go Abroad,

Ubelong

Company’s location- USA
Year of establishment: 2009
Reviews: 154 reviews on Go Overseas:

Volunteers For Peace

Company’s location- USA
Year of establishment: 1982
Awards, Certification: member organization of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) at UNESCO and work in partnership with Service Civil International (SCI) and the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations to exchange thousands of volunteers each year
Reviews: 91 reviews on Go Overseas‎, ‎ 33 reviews on ‎Go Abroad

Eli Abroad

Company’s location-USA
Year of establishment: 2001
Awards, Certification: Program Partners:  U.N. and UNICEF, granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations in 1999,
Reviews: 31 reviews on Go Overseas, 65 reviews on ‎Go Abroad

Save Volunteering

Company’s location-South Africa
Year of establishment: 2006
Awards, Certification: Program Partners:  U.N. and UNICEF, granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations in 1999,
Reviews: 91 reviews on Go Overseas, 59 reviews on Volunteer world

Conclusion

And that’s it, our list of the 10 best cheap international volunteer opportunities. Now that you’ve gotten all these ideas to start with, you’re ready to start delving into the offerings of the individual organizations and make up your mind on what volunteer trip, program, destination, and provider seems like the right fit for you. There’s plenty to choose from, so even with this list in hand, you have your work cut out for you!

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