In too many cases projects are set up to cater for the demand of foreign travellers and the growing volontourism industry. We supply volunteers to existing projects, which have approached us for support. It’s important to us that the projects we work with have grown organically because that way those who know best what the local community requires set the development agenda.

We believe it’s important to support worthwhile projects with a supply of people rather than money, which can have a destabilising effect on their development. By supplying projects with enthusiastic volunteers like you, it allows them to plan for the future without worrying that their good work will have to be cut short. When you volunteer with us you become a part of a wider movement towards sustainable development and ensure that projects can continue their worthwhile work in the long-term.

Eligibility

Our travellers need to be over 18 for most of our projects abroad, but there is no upper age limit. We have had volunteers aged 70+ so there really is no limit to what you can achieve on one of our voluntary travel programs overseas!

Alternative Travel Options

We understand that some of our travellers may want to bring family members and under 16s volunteers along when doing one of our international travel projects, which is why we offer family-friendly projects and travel options specifically for 16 to 19 year olds.We offer special group travel programs for travellers who want to make a difference as a couple, with friends, colleagues or anyone else!

Criminal Record check

To ensure the safety and credibility of our projects, from time-to-time it's necessary for us to complete a criminal records check, particularly for volunteer programs working with children.

Skilled Volunteer Programs

While many of our overseas volunteer programs don't require specific skills, we do offer projects that require particular skills, such as teaching English placements, which are readily available with a TEFL certification, as well as international internships, which could see volunteers develop careers in health work experience in La Esperanza, Honduras, among many other work experience abroad opportunities.

Pre-arranged

You can try searching for a volunteer opportunity on the internet, but you won’t find much that doesn't involve a volunteer travel provider such as i-to-i. Think about it: the places that need volunteers are likely to be poor and underdeveloped - they probably won't even have access to the internet. I’m sure if they had internet access they’d post a volunteer position, but that hardly seems feasible.

It’s virtually impossible to pre-arrange a volunteer opportunity abroad by yourself. Many people don’t want to take the risk of going overseas on their own, with no guarantees of work. An organisation has been there in person and worked out all the finer details for you. They've checked that it's safe, made sure that it's worthwhile and taken the time to make your arrangements for you.

Support

Most organisations offer you support both before and during your trip. Even though you probably won’t have any problems on your trip, it’s reassuring to know that someone is there if you need them. This is particularly comforting for younger volunteers’ parents.

Something as little as meeting you at the airport can really mean a lot. Those first few hours in a foreign country can be really disorienting, and having someone there that can speak the language, knows where they’re going and can help you with your bags is will take a huge weight off your mind.

Time saving

If you decide to just go to Ghana and see what comes up, you could - and probably will - spend a considerable amount of time wandering around looking for volunteer positions. This is not very effective and you could waste a lot of time and money this way. By travelling with a volunteer organisation you avoid all the confused and aimless wandering, and can get straight to work.

Information

If you volunteer with an organisation, they’ll provide you with information about the country you’ll be going to and the project you’ll be working on, as well as general pre-departure information. Some organisations, like i-to-i, provide an in-country orientation. This is a good way to learn about an area and get answers to any questions you might have.

Guaranteed Placement

If you decide to jump on a plane and look in you could find yourself spending hundreds of pounds without actually doing what you can to do - volunteering. Going with a volunteer organisation guarantees you a volunteer position when you arrive, so you won't go home disappointed.

Experts in providing overseas volunteering projects

As an international volunteer organisation with over 12 years experience in sending volunteers abroad to work on vital overseas community and environmental development projects, we are experienced volunteer travel project providers.

Long-term impact

The trouble is that many 'short-term' volunteers can't see the bigger picture or the difference their contribution is making. When you volunteer with i-to-i, you are part of a much greater picture and can rest assured that your work will be continued by future i-to-i volunteers as we make sure all our volunteer projects are sustainable and worthwhile.

Your help is appreciated and really does help!

When you volunteer with i-to-i your contribution will make an immediate and lasting difference which will be thoroughly appreciated by overseas communities.

If a project is badly run, volunteers’ hard work can be for nothing. Your fee helps us to source worthwhile projects so you can be sure you’re making a difference. Accommodation is included in our placements and often, so is food, and by staying locally your fee remains in the community you’re there to help.

We also provide you with thorough information about how to prepare for your trip as well as information on volunteering in your chosen country. What’s more, if you are volunteering as a teacher or on a community development project, we will include our 40 hour TEFL qualification!

Don’t think we forget about you once you’re out there! You’ll be met at the airport and introduced to the local area by one of our in-country co-ordinators so there’s no chance of getting lost! As well as providing you with all the support you need, the self-funding nature of i-to-i means we can continue to support more and more worthwhile projects in the long-term.

Benefits for the volunteer:

Life skills

Whether you're looking to build on your educational portfolio through a voluntary project or want to climb the career ladder with voluntary work experience abroad, you'll gain skills for life through a volunteer travel experience. Educational institutions and employers look favourably on individuals who demonstrate the commitment and dedication by volunteering abroad rather than a meaningless backpacking adventure overseas. It speaks volumes about your character if you are prepared to be selfless and make a difference during your travel venture. By volunteering abroad you can achieve the best of both worlds, by having an amazing travel adventure while really giving something back at the same time.

Cultural immersion

Previous travellers often tell us what an incredible insight they've experienced into another culture and many forge lifelong friendships with international pals! A lot of travellers who may have spent all their life in their home country talk about their experiences to friends and family, resulting in a better understanding of overseas cultures within their home community. Greater knowledge and acceptance of foreign communities is a major positive outcome of travel organisations such as i-to-i. If you spend time with overseas communities even for a short time, this will give you an insight into the lives and challenges that you wouldn't get from a lifetime of watching the news or other forms of media.

Benefits for the project:

Volunteer support

International volunteer projects clearly benefit from the contribution and enthusiasm of our volunteers. Although the projects abroad we work with are sustainable and local initiatives, so don't entirely depend on the support of volunteers to continue running nor do they suffer if they have a decrease in volunteers, when you volunteer you will help greatly with projects abroad and their mission to continue to develop local communities. The long-term impact of our projects ensures that your help will make a lasting difference and won't just be a drop in the ocean, as the project will continue to run after you have left.

Experience of the western culture

Local communities abroad tell us in no uncertain terms that they benefit enormously from not only the actual support of our volunteer travellers, but also from the social interaction between the volunteers and local people. This also helps to break down preconceived perceptions of western travellers and forms a deep-rooted and meaningful unison between different cultures.

Rather than setting up our own, we source worthwhile projects that have been set up in the local communities which work for the good of those communities. This means that when you volunteer through us, your contribution makes a difference to a problem identified by the communities themselves.

You may only be one person but when you volunteer with i-to-i you become part of a larger network of support. Making an isolated contribution to a voluntary project abroad can often leave you unsure as to the difference you’ve made, especially if no-one comes to continue your work once you’ve left. Because i-to-i supplies a steady flow of volunteers to projects you’ll be able to hand the baton over to another willing volunteer. So even if you’re only away for a few weeks you’ll know that your contribution is part of a valuable larger effort.

Why volunteer with i-to-i?

We work with long-term projects which directly contribute to the development of communities abroad, so you can be assured that you are really contributing to a worthwhile cause. Unlike some other volunteer projects you may stumble across, the projects we work with genuinely need volunteer support because they have been set up by locals and employ local staff, and have approached us for the help of volunteers. It is very close to our heart that we only work with projects overseas which are local initiatives, rather than sating the appetites of travellers, so you can be certain as a volunteer with us you'll contribute to an overseas project which really understands and is appreciative of your voluntary support. This means that it is the local experts who set the programs of work and it is they who know best both what the community requires and the most effective ways to achieve its development.

Your voluntary contribution will have a long-term impact

By providing a steady stream of volunteers to our projects, we maintain the impact of overseas programs on the future development of communities abroad.

Volunteer travel with i-to-i is a unique experience which will change your life and the lives of others - forever. Our volunteers get to experience another culture from the inside and make a real and lasting difference to the planet.

Want to know more about volunteering with i-to-i? Find out more about the benefits of volunteering with i-to-i including:

If money is paid directly to projects then they become dependent on the West for funding. If that country or project becomes unpopular then the money dries up and they are no longer able to continue with their good work. Supplying projects with enthusiastic volunteers creates a constant supply of helpful hands.

We don’t believe in the subordination of the developing world. The answers to questions of development should come from developing countries themselves, rather than from the pockets of the Western world. i-to-i believes it’s vital to keep our non-payment approach and ensure that volunteering remains a way to help projects achieve their goals rather than as a way of generating money.

Explore the options for overseas travel and browse through our volunteer abroad resource and get the low-down on working on projects overseas. There are trips for the adventurous, the sporty, the patient and the practical! More information on the support that you’ll receive on our placements can be found here! If you’re considering earning money while you’re away, see how easy it is to get qualified and travel the world teaching!

If you still have questions give our friendly team a call. We guarantee there’s no question they don’t know the answer to… probably!