Where Can I Volunteer?
In a word: everywhere! Volunteers are needed the world over and there are thousands of opportunities to choose from.Poverty, illiteracy and hunger exist everywhere - even in developed countries. There are orphans in every corner of the world and people are dying of curable or at least preventable diseases every day, everywhere.
If there is a country you are specifically interested in, do some research to find out what their main needs are. Or you can look up some of the specific countries that are crying out for help. The ten poorest countries in the world (by per capita GDP) are Malawi, Somalia, Comoros, Solomon Islands, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, East Timor, Tanzania, Afghanistan and Yemen.
In any given continent you can find volunteer projects that focus on education, community development or conservation. But each area has a different need for volunteers and varying specific projects.
Africa
Africa is full of worthwhile projects. It is the poorest continent in the world and thus in some ways the most in need of volunteers. It has the highest infant mortality rates, the highest death rates and the highest illiteracy rates in the world. Because of this, it benefits from many volunteers and foreign aid and holds a special place in many travellers' hearts.HIV/AIDS
One of the big problems facing Africa is the spread of HIV/AIDS. More than five million people in South Africa alone are infected and in much need of your support. If you have a background in health services, particularly, you will be very helpful in one of the many clinics all over the continent. You could also work caring for children who have been orphaned by AIDS.Education
Education is another key problem in Africa and contributes to some of the other problems as well. Many problems can be improved just with knowledge, such as informing the locals about safe drinking water and the threat of AIDS. Teaching English can help local people get jobs in the tourism industry or other markets. Volunteering your time to education is an easy thing to do and has widespread benefits.Conservation
Africa is home to many unique animals. While the threat of poaching is decreasing, these animals still need help recovering from past population declines and current threats brought about by population and tourism growth. Volunteers can educate local people about preserving the animal species and can also take part in conservation and rehabilitation programs.Asia
Asia is the largest and most populated continent on Earth. It also has the highest population density, which means that there just isn’t enough space, food or jobs for everyone. Asia home to some unique conservation opportunities, such as helping to preserve the dwindling populations of Giant Panda.Education
In a region with so many people, the divide between the rich and the poor is growing. For example, a quarter of all Indians live below the poverty line. Education is an important tool to give people skills that will help them get an edge in the job market. Teaching English is especially important because of Asia’s love of all things western. You can help in volunteer teaching positions all over the continent.Orphans
There are an enormous number orphans in Asia - almost eighty eight million in fact. About eleven million children are orphaned in India because their mothers simply cannot afford to keep them. Another fifteen million orphans live in China. China’s growing population has caused the government to create a one child per household policy. As a result, many Chinese girls are being abandoned in favour of a son. As a volunteer, you can work in an orphanage to help care for and improve the quality of life of these abandoned children.Tsunami relief
Southeast Asia and Japan are prone to deadly tsunamis. The tsunami of 2004 was the one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history, leaving more than 200,000 dead, thousands orphaned and over a million people displaced from their homes, predominantly in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. While the relief efforts at the time were tremendous, there is still much work that needs to be done to repair the damage to the area. Volunteers can assist in caring for orphans, cleaning debris or repairing homes, among many other projects.Latin America
Latin America has been seeing continued economic growth. The area appears to be doing pretty well. It doesn’t attract as much media attention as other areas of the world. But Latin America is still in need of volunteers. In countries where the GDP is high, so is the income disparity. People living in rural areas don’t see the benefits of development in the cities. There is still need for help in Latin America.Poverty and Education
Mexico has the highest per capita income of any Latin American country and half of México's population still live below the poverty line. If this is any indication of how the rest of Latin America lives it shows that their need is dire. In Ecuador, 80% of the population lives in poverty, but simply by learning English they can double their income. This is where you come in. Through education you can help Latin Americans earn more money and improve their quality of life.Conservation
Rainforests are the most diverse ecosystems on earth. In addition, many of the plants found within them have medicinal properties and many more have not yet been discovered. The rainforest could contain the cure to cancer or AIDS but if we allow them to diminish at the rate that they have been we may find out too late. South America is home to the largest rainforest in the world. More than a third of all species live in the Amazon, which is being depleted at an amazing rate. Ecuador has more endangered species than any other country in the world. Volunteers can assist in any number of tasks. You could help educate locals about why conservation is important, work in a rehabilitation clinic or collect data for research programs.Hurricane Relief
Central America is often prone to hurricane damage. In any given hurricane season, an area can be hit several times. The 2005 season, of course, brought an unprecedented number of storms and resulted in enormous damage and loss of lives. The Yucatan peninsula was struck repeatedly, causing major damages to the tourism areas and thus major damage to the economy. Other areas in Central America, such as Nicaragua and Guatemala, suffered damages to their crops and economy. Volunteers are always needed to help with rebuilding efforts and to care for people who have been displaced or lost family members.Oceania
Most volunteering projects in Australia focus on conservation. Australia is home to more than one million species, and nearly 90% are found nowhere else on earth. Conservation projects may focus on the species in the Great Barrier Reef, kangaroos, bats, koalas, wallabies or any other Australian animals. Projects may also cover general conservation programs, such as planting trees, conducting research or maintaining trails. You could assist in any number of ways or on a combination of projects to help preserve Australia's depleting natural areas.Your help is needed all over the world. No matter where you go, you will be able to find a way to contribute your time in a way that will make a real difference. Depending on where you want to go and what type of work you want to do, you can find something that suits your interests and sends you home with a real sense of accomplishment.
Click here to choose your destination!
