Volunteer Travel Programs – A Quick Guide to get the most of voluntourism

One of the most affordable ways to travel on a budget is volunteering. If you don’t mind putting in a few hours of work daily, you can get a place to sleep and food. More importantly, you will have to chance to meet locals, see how they live, really immerse yourself in a place in a way that you wouldn’t be able to by simply visiting. Volunteer travel programs can extend your possibilities. Here is a quick guide to volunteering while traveling.

Volunteer travel programs

I know about three volunteer travel programs that link hosts requiring help to volunteers:

• WorkAway-is probably the most popular travel volunteering organization. It offers the possibility to volunteer in over 180 countries. They have a 42 USD membership fee for one year. Also, you can pay a joint couple or two-friends membership for 52 USD/year. 
• WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. WWOOF is present in many countries, but each has its own management and membership fee. The fee ranges from 10 Euro to 35 Euro/year, depending on the country. Some countries have a couples membership, some don’t. Keep in mind that if you want to volunteer in several countries, you will have to pay the respective fees for each one to access their host lists which makes it more expensive than workaway.
• HelpX-free to register, 20 euro to upgrade to premier status, valid for two years.  It allows you to find and contact hosts directly, read and post reviews.

Type of work

Work can vary a lot, and you should find something that suits your skills. Or, you can also try and learn something completely new. While WWOOF is dedicated to farms and related work, WorkAway and HelpX list requests for all kinds of help.

The most common types of help needed are for:

-hostels or B&Bs with their daily activities and maintenance projects

-farms with their seasonal activities, maintenance or renovating projects

-families needing help with child care

-teaching languages or other skills

5 advantages you get by volunteering

As you volunteer and travel abroad, you will get these 5 amazing advantages:

1. Budget: you will have the possibility to extend your stay without increasing your budget.

2. Meet people: hosts and maybe other volunteers or guests from around the world.

3. Have a chance to learn a foreign language. Living with locals will teach you more than a few words in the local language.

4. Eat local food and homemade meals.

5. See places out of the usual tourists’ path.

Bonus

Experience an activity that you either could not or would otherwise have to pay for.

Volunteer travel programs – arrangements

Hosts usually want volunteers to stay at least two weeks and work for 3-6 hours/5-6 days a week.

They offer a place to sleep (ranging from a tent or a bed in a shared dorm to a private room). Some of the hosts are offering three meals a day, while others offer food and kitchen facilities to cook your own meals, but there are some that offer no food at all.

Always keep in mind that it is an exchange: you offer the agreed hours of work in exchange for a place to sleep and food.

Communication rules

When contacting a potential host, send an email explaining why you are suitable for the respective activity, your skills, the period when you are available, and your preferred length of stay.

The hosts may not reply too quickly, or some not at all, so when you focus on a region, send your application emails to a few potential hosts you are interested in.

After the host replies, ask as many questions as you need. Learn about the type of work involved and expected hours of work. Also, ask about accommodation, meal arrangements, and internet access. Inform your hosts of any dietary requirements or allergies you might have. Also, ask what you need to bring with you. If you need a sleeping bag or some working gloves, you should know before packing.

Practical issues in travel volunteer programs

Transport

You will always have to arrange transport to and from your host. Always enquire how to get there and inform the host about your arrival time when you know it.

Visa

If necessary, you will have to secure your visa for the country you are visiting. Usually, it will be a tourist visa, but some countries offer other alternatives for working holidays.

Insurance

You should always have insurance when you travel. While WWOOF has an insurance component for liability and accidents in some countries, it only covers the period when you are actually working at the hosting farm, and you should have better coverage.

Safety and comfort – volunteer travel programs

All the above organizations have application forms and try to keep things 100% safe. However, it is impossible for them to check in person with each prospective host, so ALWAYS do your homework before contacting a host. After all, you will live in an unknown person’s house for a few weeks.

Check for reviews. You will find out about any problems you might have.

Again, ask all the questions: you have to know the work hours, how many days a week, jobs to be done, any other requirements. Also, inquire about the sleeping arrangements, meals, or food provided.

If not in a city, you should find out how much you can get around in the area. Ask where the nearest bus/train station is, so you can explore the region.

Be ready to leave. Have a plan B in place, enough money to leave, and stay somewhere else if anything goes wrong.

Thinking about volunteering abroad?

Click on the link to read about my volunteering experience for an olive farm in Puglia, Italy.