Volunteer opportunities abound throughout the world. These destinations offer some of the world’s most amazing attractions and give volunteers a chance to make a difference in the world.
Peru
Peru’s most famous attraction, Machu Picchu, draws many visitors to the South American nation. From the Andean mountains to the Amazon basin, the natural beauty of Peru gives visitors much more to explore than the famous Incan citadel. English teaching, childcare, animal care, construction and renovation, and jungle conservation are examples of projects in the Andean community of Cusco and its surrounding valleys through International Volunteer HQ – Cusco. Healthcare volunteers who have formal training and experience in a medical setting are needed as well.
Volunteers can live and work from a restored riverboat with Operation Wallacea. Research expeditions travel by riverboat to the forest of the Amazon basin. Volunteers receive training to properly collect data for the environmental organization.
Vietnam
Cruising Halong Bay, exploring the hundreds of caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, sampling Vietnam’s famed cuisine, and experiencing the energy of its bustling cities are a few reasons to visit Vietnam. Weekend trips to Halong Bay, the Cu Chi Tunnels, and the Mekong Delta are incentives to join Volunteer Solutions’ projects in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. In addition to special needs care, English teaching, and childcare, pre-med and medical students can shadow healthcare providers.
Hoi An, a UNESCO world heritage site, is famous for its stunning architecture, history as a bustling port, an abundance of tailors, and its historic Old Town. Helping its residents improve their standard of living through construction projects and English teaching is the task of people volunteering in Vietnam with Global Aware.
South Africa
Few countries can match the astounding diversity of South Africa. Watching penguins at Boulders Beach, hiking Table Mountain, or going on safari in Kruger National Park, Africa’s largest game reserve are some of the attractions that draw people to South Africa. The Wild Cats Project of SAVE Volunteering allows volunteers to work with lions, cheetahs, and other wildlife that were rescued from sickness, abandonment, or unethical treatment. The same organization also runs the Cape Town Project, which aims to alleviate poverty in the settlements. Volunteers may perform roof repairs, distribute goods to those in need, work on construction projects, or support subsistence farming projects.
Volunteering abroad is a great way to see more of the world, while also giving back to others. Next time you’re considering volunteering abroad, look into one of these options and see if your skills match their needs.