The 10 [Best Cheap] Volunteer Overseas Programs Providers 2023

International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ)

About the Organization

After a life-changing journey volunteering overseas, Daniel Radcliffe founded International Volunteer HQ in New Zealand in 2007. IVHQ goes to great lengths to ensure that their volunteer programs are both socially and environmentally responsible as well as sustainable. Their support for their volunteers is excellent, something that many former volunteers brag about in reviews. The company is one of the best volunteer overseas providers in the world.

IVHQ’s Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

While IVHQ manages overseas volunteering in a wide variety of countries and locations, for this article we’ve decided to highlight their efforts in Costa Rica, Thailand, and Guatemala. In these countries, you can take part in a wide variety of projects from turtle conservation to sports teaching or helping make agriculture more sustainable. See some of the details of the projects on offer by the best volunteer overseas provider below.

Childcare volunteer program in Thailand

Thailand is a beautiful country with many fascinating and wonderful places to explore, yet a large portion of the country still earns less than US$150 monthly. Many have their eyes set on making a living from the Thai tourism industry, which requires a working knowledge of English and other skills.

This is a youth overseas volunteering program 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.

This is the best volunteer abroad program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces. This is one of the best cheap volunteer programs available.

Sea Turtle Conservation Costa Rica

Costa Rica houses a range of turtle species, including the endangered Leatherback, Green, Olive Ridley, and Hawksbill. The plight of these darling creatures is their future safety and survival. Volunteers are desperately needed to help care for them.

In this Sea Turtle Conservation overseas volunteer opportunity, 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.

This is a powerful volunteer overseas opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the save the lives of many animals and make their future better.

Animal Care Volunteer Program Guatemala

In a country where animals are not often treated as they would be in more developed countries, injured, abandoned, sick, or neglected animals are the norm.

This is an animal overseas volunteering opportunity where there are a number of placements that have a high demand for assistance; everything from volunteering at a dog and cat shelter and a veterinary clinic to and an exotic animal refuge caring for crocodiles, snakes, lizards, and turtles.

This is a powerful volunteer opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the save the lives of many animals and make their future better.

The Fees

IVHQ is a very affordable organization to volunteer overseas with. Considering how prolific they are and the huge amount of reviews, their registration fee of $299USD followed by volunteer abroad cheap fees starting as low as $250USD is a great deal.

The Reviews

Like all the companies you’ll read about on this list of the best overseas volunteer opportunities, IVHQ gets great reviews with a score of 9.5 on Go Overseas, 9.53 on Go Abroad, 9.6 on Trust Pilot, and 4.8/5 on Volunteer Forever. What really sets them apart though is the incredible number of reviewers, with more than 3500 former volunteers checking in to leave their feedback.

Why We Chose International Volunteer HQ

The biggest reason we chose International Volunteer HQ for this list is the incredible amount of reviews they have received, with the vast majority of them being overwhelmingly positive. They also offer great support for volunteers (a theme in many of the reviews) as well as eminently affordable prices for such a prestigious overseas volunteer organization. This is one of the best cheap volunteer overseas providers in the world.

Love Volunteers

About the Organization

Founded in New Zealand in 2009 by brother and sister Julian and Kelly, Love Volunteers aims to offer great overseas volunteer opportunities with a focus on transparency and reasonable prices, so that volunteers can rest easy knowing exactly what their money is going towards.

Love Volunteers’ Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

After researching the various overseas volunteering destinations offered by Love Volunteers, we were most taken with four countries, namely South Africa, Brazil, and Honduras. In these countries, they offer anything from internships, both in medicine and physiotherapy, to environmental conservation and earthquake reconstruction efforts. See some of the amazing projects below.

Volunteer in wildlife program in South Africa

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

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.

This is an amazing opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help save and improve the lives of many animals and make their future better.

Childcare and Child Development Program in Brazil

If you have always wanted to visit Brazil, make a difference, and equally are interested in exploring the realities of living under the poverty line in the favelas of Brazil, this may be the best volunteer abroad experience for you.

This best volunteer abroad program’s aim is to help those who are actively seeking to help themselves escape their life of poverty in the Rocinha and Pavãozinho favelas in Rio de Janeiro. As a volunteer, you’ll have the chance to work directly with children and their families to tangibly help them achieve their goals.

This is a powerful volunteer overseas opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Volunteer in English Teaching in Honduras

This wonderful teaching English abroad 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.

This is a powerful volunteering overseas opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help improve the future employment prospects and stability of many living in the El Porvenir community.

The Fees

Love Volunteers is affordable, charging $299USD upfront as a registration fee, followed by volunteer abroad cheap fees as low as $250USD for programs in Nepal for example. Some of their more unusual volunteer overseas destinations such as Jamaica are pricier though, where two weeks of volunteering will run you $1439USD.

The Reviews

While Love Volunteers doesn’t have the same quantity of reviews that IVHQ has, their feedback is nonetheless overwhelmingly positive. With over 450 past volunteers sharing their experience, they enjoy a 9.1 score on Go Overseas, 9.7 on Go Abroad, and 4.6/5 on Volunteer Forever.

Why We Chose Love Volunteers

We chose Love Volunteers for this list of best overseas volunteer trip providers primarily for their commitment to transparent and low fees, as well as their great reviews and interesting and unusual volunteering destinations.

MaximoNivel

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. It offers some of the best volunteering overseas programs in the world. 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 Programs

Volunteer Teaching English in 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.

Volunteer overseas 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.

This is a powerful opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Volunteer in 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.

With poverty, illness, and illiteracy ongoing problems. International volunteers work in various sectors of community service to help make a real difference in these people’s lives.

This is a powerful volunteer overseas experience that will not only give you much knowledge and feelings of accomplishment but will also help brighten the futures of many children and adults and help improve their current situation.

Volunteer in Costa Rica

Volunteer in 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 international volunteer 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. In this opportunity, 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.

This is an amazing overseas volunteering work opportunity that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will allow you to make valuable contributions to the country of Costa Rica.

The Fees

MaximoNivel is a very affordable organization to volunteer overseas with. You can start volunteering for around US$600 per week. For more information on pricing, click here.

The Reviews

The feedback from volunteers who used MaximoNivel is overwhelmingly positive. With over 2,000 past volunteers sharing their experience, the company enjoy a 97% recommendation score on Go Overseas, 9.6 on Go Abroad. This is one of the best volunteer overseas providers in the world.

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 was founded by a group of experienced volunteers who sat down together in the UK in 2011 and decided that they wanted to offer the best volunteer abroad programs to others for reasonable prices and a focus on the social aspect of volunteering. Since their humble beginnings in the UK, they have now established offices across the world in their volunteer destinations as well as one in the US.

PMGY’s Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

We think Plan My Gap Year is at its best when volunteering overseas in Ecuador, Nepal, and Ghana. Projects include teaching English, caring for disabled children, language immersion, and more.

Teaching English in Nepal

English is not the local language of the Nepalese, though it is a language that is important to their tourism industry, as the country is one of the most popular destinations in the world. As a result, lots of children, people, and even monks who escaped from Tibet require someone to teach them English.

As a teaching English volunteer, you will be either teaching English to young people or teaching English to monks in monasteries. You will live in a Buddhist monastery teaching monks English and learning about their way of life, or you Make a positive impact during your time in this gorgeous country.

Teaching English to the people of Nepal enables them to have a much better future through education and opportunities for advancement in the world. This is a very fulfilling and impactful volunteer overseas trip.

Volunteering with children in Ghana

Volunteering in Ghana with Plan My Gap encompasses safe and affordable programs a wide range of volunteer projects in childcare and children with disabilities. Their plight is that they have little access to upward social mobility, education, and solid family relationships.

Your role would be to do your bit to help care for Ghanaian children with special needs in a world where disabilities still aren’t widely understood, cared for, or accepted. You 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.

This is a powerful volunteer overseas program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Volunteering with children in Ecuador

Childcare volunteering program overseas with Plan My Gap encompasses safe and affordable programs a wide range of volunteer projects to do with childcare. Their plight is that they have little access to stable families, upward social mobility, education, and solid loving relationships.

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.

This is a powerful volunteer experience abroad that will not only give you much knowledge and feelings of accomplishment but will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

The Fees

Fees with Plan My Gap Year are very low, starting with their volunteer abroad cheap fees $190USD registration fee, and of the programs featured above, Cambodia is the cheapest at $304USD for 2 weeks, and Ecuador coming in at the other end at $419USD.

The Reviews

Good reviews are a must to get on this list of the best overseas volunteer programs and Plan My Gap Year is no exception. They have a 96% score on Go Overseas and 4.8/5 on Review Center with more than 600 reviews between the two sites.

Why We Chose Plan My Gap Year

We selected Plan My Gap Year for this list due to their incredibly affordable fees, including low registration fees, as well as their great reviews and a heavy focus on the social part of volunteering, putting you in contact with those you will volunteer with well before your departure, allowing you to get to know them even better.

RCDP International Volunteers

About the Organization

Founded in Boulder, Colorado in 1998, RCDP International Volunteers distinguishes itself by being the very first organization in the whole world to offer volunteer overseas programs in Nepal. Since then they expanded rapidly, first to India, Sri Lanka, and then destinations across Asia, Latin America, and Africa in 2008. The company is one of the best volunteer overseas providers in the world.

RCDP’s Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

We like RCDP’s overseas volunteering programs in Kenya, Costa Rica, Nepal, and Uganda. This gives you a varied selection of destinations, with wildly different cultures, climates, wildlife, and scenery. Projects include sea turtle conservation, working with indigenous tribes, and a very unique photojournalism internship in the mountains of Nepal. See a breakdown of some of the cool projects run by RDCP.

Volunteer in Kenya in Medical Program

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.

This is the best volunteer abroad program 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. 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.

This is a powerful health volunteering overseas program that will not only give you much medical knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many.

Volunteer in Costa Rica Sea Turtle

If you are passionate about saving the sea turtle and you have always wanted to go to Costa Rica, then this volunteer program 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.

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.

This is a powerful wildlife volunteer overseas program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also save the lives of many sea turtles in Costa Rica.

Volunteer in India Medical

If you are a healthcare professional or in medical school, this is a unique chance to get hands-on experience in one of the most densely populated countries of the world, with many who still live below the poverty line and have little access to proper healthcare. Through this medically focused program, you’ll be able to gain medical experience in a fascinating country with a diverse and lively cultures and work with local doctors to treat Indians. As a volunteer in a health care project, you will assist local doctors and medical staff with the treatment of patients.

As a medical volunteer overseas, you will not be involved in independently treating the patients but you will shadow local medical practitioners. You can also involve yourself in other hospital activities such as record keeping, blood pressure checking, and temperature measuring. 

This is a powerful health volunteer program that will not only give you much medical knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many.

The Fees

RCDP is an incredibly affordable way to volunteer overseas. All you need is a $279USD registration fee, followed by programs as cheap as $200USD in Uganda and Nepal, or $250USD and $445USD in Kenya and Costa Rica respectively.

The Reviews

RCDP receives great reviews and feedback from former volunteers. On Abroad Reviews they have a 9.2/10 score, as well as a 94% rating on Go Overseas. There’s a good number of reviewers as well, with more than 300 former volunteers chiming in. This is one of the best overseas volunteering work opportunity providers in the world.

Why We Chose RCDP International Volunteers

We chose RCDP for their extensive experience providing opportunities for overseas volunteer work, especially in countries like Nepal, where they have been running programs for over two decades. Their large number of different projects in for example Costa Rica also played a part, as well as of course their great reviews from past volunteers.

IFRE International Volunteers

About the Organization

With a focus on offering the most affordable volunteer overseas 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 volunteer 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.

IFRE’s Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

Among IFRE’s best volunteer abroad programs are teaching English to kids living in slums in India, social welfare initiatives or wildlife conservation in South Africa, or teaching computer skills or athletics to kids in Brazil. In all three countries, Ecuador, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka, and others, there are plenty more great approaches to overseas volunteering, so we recommend checking them all out. See the following volunteer overseas programs for more details.

Volunteer at an Orphanage in Ecuador

Ecuador is a third-world nation with many orphans that require help. If you are someone who is passionate about helping children, and also visiting the beautiful country of Ecuador, then this volunteer abroad program is just for you.

IFRE’s Ecuador orphanage volunteer program allows you to assist by providing love, compassion, basic care and also help with teaching and entertaining the children. IFRE has a team of local orphanages that will allow you to give back to future generations by providing a safe haven and a happy childhood to these poor abandoned children of Ecuador. 

This is a powerful volunteering overseas program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Volunteer Teaching English in Tanzania

In the stunning country of Tanzania, the reality of life for many is that, due to inadequate manpower and resources in rural and disadvantaged areas. a quality English education is nothing but a dream for many.

To ensure young Tanzanians have opportunities in the job market in the future, teaching English volunteers in Tanzania are desperately needed to bridge this gap in resources and provide disadvantaged children English-speaking skills that will stand them in good stead. Through IFRE’s Teach English Tanzania volunteer project, you will get the chance to teach English and impact the lives of kids of all ages.

This is an impactful volunteer overseas work that will not only give you much knowledge, experience and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many of the youth of Tanzania and future generations. 

Elephant Sanctuary Volunteer Sri Lanka

Elephant-lovers would be sad to know that the elephants of Sri Lanka suffer daily through human encroachment on their habitats and cruel exploitation. Hundreds more are further traumatized as industry and deforestation steals away their homes.

Elephant-lovers will be delighted to know that they can make a difference in this overseas elephant conservation volunteering program. By joining local elephant centers that IFRE has partnered with, that have cared for more than 80 elephants since its inception, you’ll be able to help save these elephants too, providing important care and nurturing to these traumatized animals.

This is an amazing program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many elephants, some of the most beautiful and kind gentle giants of the Earth. 

The Fees

Fees with IFRE for volunteers overseas are very low. The registration fee comes in at $299USD and the projects we featured above will cost you anywhere between $300USD for India and $595USD for Brazil, which is incredibly reasonable for these destinations.

The Reviews

Once again, IFRE receives great reviews across the board They enjoy a 9.1/10 score on Abroad Reviews, and 8.9/10 on Go Overseas, with roughly 400 former volunteers speaking up and telling their overwhelmingly positive stories.

Why We Chose IFRE International Volunteers

IFRE was selected for this list of best overseas volunteer trips providers for their incredibly reasonable prices for many destinations that are often quite expensive, as well as their great reviews and commitment to a very personal level of support for individual volunteers choosing them for their volunteering work overseas.

Global Crossroad International Volunteers (GCR)

About the Organization

Like IFRE, Global Crossroad International Volunteers was also founded in the city of Dallas, Texas. Starting in 2003, GCR has accrued tons of experience facilitating adventures to volunteering projects overseas and internship programs, and the company believes in a grassroots approach to changing the life of struggling people in developing countries, which we think is the perfect way to go about things.

GCR’s Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

While all of GCR’s projects and destinations look very interesting, we think their strengths are best displayed in the countries of Ghana, Costa Rica, and Nepal. While some of these destinations are often an expensive choice for the best volunteer abroad programs, that’s not so with GCR. Interesting programs include a dental project in Argentina, teaching Buddhist monks in Nepal, helping with sea turtle conservation in Mexico, and much more.

Volunteer in Ghana Orphanage

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.

This is a powerful volunteer overseas program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children and help leave lasting smiles on their faces.

Costa Rica Sea Turtle Volunteer

Have you always dreamed of saving endangered species, perhaps in one of the most pristine locations of the world? Well, the sea turtles of Costa Rica need your help. After years of research, scientists are slowly building up pictures of the treatment sea turtles face; these turtles would usually return home to where they were hatched out, but due to eroding beaches, pollution, and other physical challenges upon arrival, they are prevented from doing so. Human poachers also pose a threat.

The best volunteer abroad program needs devoted volunteers to help them gather data and protect nesting sites when the turtles are able to return. This will be a wonderful hands-on learning experience and you’ll feel highly satisfied knowing that your contribution to the volunteer with turtle conservation program overseas makes a huge difference in the present and future lives of these special marine animals.

This is a powerful volunteer overseas program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help save the lives and futures of many sea turtles. 

Volunteer Nepal Monastery

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 overseas volunteers teaching English to Monks in Nepal project, 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.

This is a powerful volunteering overseas program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many monks in Nepal.  

The Fees

Global Crossroad is incredibly affordable, as after paying a $299USD registration fee, you can find programs in the countries listed above for as little as $300USD. Even destinations that are usually very expensive to do volunteer work overseas in like Argentina are on offer for as little as $488USD.

The Reviews

Global Crossroad combines its other benefits with very positive reviews on Go Overseas they have a 9.2/10 and an 8.8/10 on Abroad Reviews.  Former volunteers, all eager to share their praise for this volunteer overseas organization.

Why We Chose Global Crossroad International Volunteers

We chose GCR for this list of the best volunteer opportunities overseas due to their incredibly affordable rates, a high number of projects, great reviews, and commitment to grassroots projects in developing countries, making their efforts much more sustainable and viable long-term.

African Impact

About the Organization

Founded in South Africa 2004 after a life-changing trip doing volunteer work overseas in Africa, the founders of African Impact wanted to introduce travelers to Africa that they knew. Since then, they have expanded to offer volunteer and internship trips across 11 African countries, and they offer a significant level of transparency throughout the process.

African Impact’s Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

Out of the 11 destinations to choose from when going with African Impact to volunteer overseas, we think their most impressive programs are located in Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi. While in South Africa and Tanzania you can take part in a varied range of projects such as human rights and wildlife conservation, in Malawi you can help protect endangered monkeys. See more details of the volunteer overseas projects below.

Wildlife and Monkey Sanctuary, Malawi

 This best volunteer abroad program 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.

This project 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 is a powerful volunteering overseas work that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help save the futures of many monkeys in Malawi.  

Vulnerable Child and Community Support, 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 most 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!

This is a powerful program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children in South Africa.   

Girl Empowerment, Tanzania

The plight for 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 overseas 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.

This is an impactful volunteer overseas program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many women in South Africa.   

The Fees

There are no registration fees with African Impact, and the company is very transparent about where all the money is going. While their project fees are somewhat higher than others on this list, you get what you pay for in terms of support and expertise. The overseas volunteer programs in South Africa and Tanzania run from $1229USD to $1284USD while their Malawi project costs a bit more at $1740USD.

The Reviews

African Impact not only has a great score on most review websites like 9.4 on Go Overseas and 9.2 on Go Abroad, they also have a stunning quantity of feedback that few on this list can match, with more than 2500 reviews across the two sites.

Why We Chose African Impact

We think African Impact belongs on this list of the best volunteering overseas program as they are a local African company, giving them deeper expertise and experience than others, as well as their excellent selection of projects, transparent fees, and a multitude of excellent reviews.

GoEco

About the Organization

GoEco was founded in 2006 after two Israeli overseas volunteers had a life-changing journey working across Southeast Asia. They are now committed to providing the best volunteer abroad programs for those who want to follow in their footsteps in an ethical, responsible, and sustainable way. The company is one of the best volunteer overseas providers in the world.

GoEco’s Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

When looking through GoEco’s catalog, we were most impressed with their offerings in India, Guatemala, and Zimbabwe.  Here you can take part in projects such as community work, medical internships , and more. See the details of some of the projects here:

India – Family-Friendly Teaching and Community Work in Goa

Have the chance to help the people of Goa learn English while simultaneously touring around one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. On top of being able to enjoy a number of sightseeing expeditions and cultural activities, you’ll be lending a hand in teaching English overseas volunteer programs in India.

You’ll volunteer in meaningful teaching projects with migrant children, staying in private accommodations especially for families, and furthermore enjoy lessons in the Hindi language, as well as cooking lessons too.

This is an impactful program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many children in Goa.   

Guatemala – Antigua Medical program

This is a wonderful volunteer abroad program for those thinking about doing a medical internship – why not become a medical intern in Antigua? Not only will you be able to experience all the amazing things the beautiful country of Guatemala has to offer, including the colonial region and highlands.

You’ll also gain hands-on experience in medical care, enhance your CV with clinical skills, work one-on-one with a medical professional and even have daily language Spanish lessons.

This is an impactful volunteering overseas program that will not only give you much medical knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many people in need of medical help in Antigua.   

Zimbabwe – African Wildlife Orphanage

This is a superb chance to volunteer at one of the largest and most successful wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers in Africa. While experiencing the beautiful country of Zimbabwe, you’ll also be able to make a progressive impact through volunteering in this project which encompasses working with and learning about a range of animals, including monkeys and lions.

As a volunteer, you will provide care for injured animals that cannot be released into the wild, assist with releases whenever possible and work alongside animal professionals at this world-renowned center and a range of other ethical wildlife interactions and volunteer tasks.

This is an impactful volunteer overseas work that will not only give you much wildlife knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the futures of many wild and endangered animals in Zimbabwe.

The Fees

While the fees at GoEco are somewhat higher than usual, they also have no registration fees. Of the countries featured above, volunteer abroad cheap fee in Sri Lanka is $990USD and for Guatemala is $1650USD.

The Reviews

GoEco’s commitment to responsible and sustainable volunteering overseas has earned them dividends with their clients. More than 550 reviewers have left their feedback on Go Overseas and Go Abroad, where they have 9.4 and 9.76 scores respectively.

Why We Chose Go Eco

We chose GoEco for this list of the best volunteer overseas programs due to their focus on sustainability, responsibility, and the environment, which paired with their lack of a registration fee and great reviews across several sites makes them a great option. The is one of the best volunteer overseas providers in the world.

Global Vision International (GVI)

About the Organization

Global Vision International is a US company that was founded in 1998 that runs the best volunteering programs 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 overseas volunteering opportunities provider runs high-quality programs that have earned it recognition from numerous credible organizations such as Panthera, Save The Children, and many others.

GVI’s Best Volunteer Overseas Programs

We were most impressed with GVI’s overseas volunteer programs in the countries of Thailand, Nepal and Fiji. Greece and Fiji especially are unusual destinations for volunteer work, which makes them an excellent choice. Across these countries you can take part in all sorts of projects like turtle conservation, working with disadvantaged kids and more.

Rainwater harvesting and water security in Fiji

Where water isn’t so clear for all in Fiji, the need for an advanced water system grows. 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 overseas volunteering opportunity to work on more specific Fiji water management initiatives such as fresh-water management, water security, and water and sanitation hygiene.

This is an impactful program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help brighten the living conditions of many in Fiji.

Volunteer Public Health Nepal

In this best volunteer abroad program, 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.

This is an impactful volunteer overseas program that will not only give you much medical knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help improve the health and well-being of many living in Nepal. 

Volunteer with elephants in Thailand

If you want to do wildlife and conservation volunteering whilst simultaneously making a trip to Thailand, this best volunteer abroad program is for you. You’ll have the chance to volunteer in the mountain forests of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand and spend time in the fields with elephants relieved from working in the harmful tourism industry.

Leaving a life of trauma and punishment behind, these elephants now get to spend time leading more natural lives. You’ll get the chance to help take care of them and also learn about elephant history, behavior, training, biology, social interactions, and more.

This is an impactful overseas volunteering program that will not only give you much knowledge, experience, and feelings of accomplishment, but it will also help improve the health and well-being of many elephants in Thailand.

The Fees

Global Vision International doesn’t charge a registration fee for your volunteer work overseas, but their project prices are higher than usual to reflect this, but not so much that they become unaffordable. On the low end of the featured countries above is Mexico at $918USD and Nepal at $890USD, with Greece on the high end at $1212USD.

The Reviews

Global Vision International certainly gets a lot of acclaims. This holds true for former volunteers leaving reviews as well as formal institutions, with the organization enjoying a 9.5 on Go Overseas and 9.55 on Go Abroad, with a humongous 3000+ reviewers checking in.

Why We Chose Global Vision International

Picking GVI for this list of the best volunteer opportunities overseas was a no-brainer with their extensive amount of positive reviews online as well as their critical acclaim from various organizations, universities, and publications. Couple that with moderate prices and no registration fee and you have a winner.

Other Honorable Mentions Are

Aside from the 10 companies and their programs listed above for volunteer overseas, there are a few more that you should definitely check out if none of the above strike your fancy. These are:

Projects Abroad

Company’s location – UK
Year of establishment: 1992Awards 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

So, there you have it, the 10 best cheap volunteer opportunities overseas. Armed with all this info and data, you can now make an informed decision and find the volunteer overseas program that is right for you. This ensures that you have the most memorable, rewarding, and impactful experience as you dedicate your love, passion, and valuable time to helping those in need.

Besides these 10 best cheap volunteer overseas program providers, we have also articles on the 10 best cheap international volunteer providers, 10 best cheap volunteer travel providers, 10 best cheap volunteers in Asia providers, and 10 best cheap volunteers in Africa providers.