Voluntary work abroad is an exciting and extremely fulfilling way to travel as a grown up gapper. Voluntary work abroad helps you become a responsible tourist and gives you the chance to make a positive contribution to countries you visit.
Career break voluntary work abroad
Travelling on a career break is a privilege that many people throughout the world will never be able to experience - and voluntary work abroad is a brilliant way to ‘give something back' to those less fortunate than yourself.
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If you are patient, enthusiastic, enjoy working with children and want to gain some valuable volunteer experience, then this worthwhile programme is waiting for you!
Travel to an amazing location in South Africa where you will not only have the opportunity to soak up the wonderful surroundings and lifestyle but also help brighten the lives of orphaned and disadvantaged children in Cape Town
There are hundreds of children in Cape Town’s inner city who live in poverty and are do not have the opportunity of an education and who have to grow up quickly to be able to survive. They do not experience a childhood that you or I take for granted. This is where your help will prove invaluable!
Join our action packed adventure tour and take in amazing scenery and incredible animal experiences. Enjoy the best South Africa's wildlife and try out thrilling abseiling, zip slides and sky high canopy tours.
Help the local children of the Masiphumelele township learn the basic skills they need in life including literacy, language and communication skills. Your interaction can greatly influence a brighter future for these disadvantaged children.
This is a great opportunity to experience the real South Africa in a small community near Cape Town, as well as making a massive difference to children’s lives by helping them to reading. Not only is this a very rewarding project but you will also be helping towards a generation of children build a brighter future.
Blighted by poverty and social immobility, the Tanzanian community of Dar es Salaam is in need of help and support. By volunteering at this project, you will help provide children, youths and adults with the educational and life skills needed to avoid falling into the poverty trap.
This project is a wonderful opportunity to see some of South Africa’s most amazing wildlife and spend time on an interesting volunteer project on a stunning Big 5 Game Reserve. Volunteers can play an active part in the conservation effort, develop useful skills and gain fascinating cultural insights assisting with a nearby community project.
Combine outdoors adventure with worthwhile volunteer work as you explore the best of Tanzania! Get up close to a range of wildlife, marvel at the incredible scenery, and make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children!
Give underprivileged children a new lease of life and better future prospects! Help to teach maths, English and science and get involved with a range of activities as you explore the incredible island of Zanzibar!
Provide the children of Stone Town with the literacy, numeracy and communication skills they desperately need to build successful futures and absorb the amazing culture of Zanzibar!
Give an impoverished family the keys to a house you’ve just built for them. You’ll be working to build safe, solid houses to replace their cardboard shelters. An extremely rewarding project - no building experience needed.
This programme is a unique opportunity to see one of the world’s most bio-diverse destinations and combine volunteering, travelling and environmental conservation in one incredible trip!
Give some valuable assistance in a day care centre or school in Himachal Pradesh. Teach English or other subjects, lead creative activities or help decorate the buildings – whatever you do will be greatly appreciated.
The children of Port Elizabeth are desperately in need of care and education. You can help to improve their standard of living and their future prospects through community work and teaching.
If you choose the 14-week placement you can catch a glimpse of the football greats as the trip will include accommodation and meals during the 2010 Football World Cup!
This distinctive programme offers the opportunity to help the cheetah by clearing the sickle bush, allowing them to exist and hunt in their natural habitat. You will also track and monitor both cheetahs and leopards as well as enjoy being in close proximity to these incredible creatures.
Care for orphaned, injured and rescued animals. You’ll play a vital role in the rehabilitation of big cats, primates, bears and other animals. Help with feeding and cleaning their cases, building new enclosures, fundraising and other tasks.
Schools in Malawi are seriously under funded with little resources and a lack of trained teachers to educate classes of sometimes up to 200 children. Volunteer help is desperately needed.
Make a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and adolescents who have grown up in some of Cusco's poorest areas, working in daycare centres, boys' homes, schools and orphanages.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live the life of a real-life cowboy? Then you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic western experience.
This is an opportunity for volunteers to help educate, play and entertain these children using your creative skills. Volunteers are needed to simply provide the love and attention that these children crave.
This India volunteer programme allows you to experience the essence of India. Our Goa volunteer project offers the opportunity to make a contribution to socially deprived areas whilst exploring the Indian mainland in a diverse range of activities.
Not only is this a hugely worthwhile programme, it also gives you the chance to experience at first hand these amazing creatures. The nearby beach also offers fantastic surfing and you will get the chance to learn the sport or hone your skills as part of the project.
Uganda has one of the highest orphan populations in the world. Volunteers are desperately needed to help improve the lives of vulnerable and orphaned children in this area.
Put something back into a country that desperately needs volunteers. Whether you help out in an orphanage, a school or a centre for disabled children, your time will be gratefully received.
Assist in a giant panda sanctuary and help to save this incredible species from extinction. You will be involved in feeding and observing the pandas, as well as the opportunity to help with important research projects.
Assist in the running of an animal rescue centre set in the Amazon. Your new furry and feathered friends could include monkeys, parrots, ocelots, pumas and lions.
This conservation project in the Namib desert is about getting out into the field and really making a difference at the forefront of elephant conservation. This is your chance to get involved in vital elephant conservation in Namibia.
Play a vital role in rehabilitating wild animals that have been maltreated. Get involved in their daily care, feed them, monitor their behaviour and make sure their enclosures are clean.
This local community in Sri Lanka is still affected by the devastating Tsunami that hit in 2004. Work with local women and children to improve their key skills and help secure them a brighter future.
Make a valuable, long lasting contribution to a village in Guatemala. Give the children some basic lessons in English, maths, computing or crafts, or help with healthcare.
Assist local members of staff in habitat restoration and community development within Malaysia. Get involved in husbandry, data collection as well as spending time in a local zoo and visiting an Orang-Utan rehabilitation centre.
A unique opportunity to interact with the only great ape outside of Africa, the orang-utan. Take part in volunteer work in Borneo to help protect this highly endangered species from extinction.
Volunteering on this programme gives you an exciting and rare opportunity to work with and care for the animals of Africa on a daily basis. You will look after numerous species, ranging from baboons and meerkats to lions and cheetahs, helping to feed, care and clean them, while also maintaining the centre’s enclosures and grounds.
Work with some unusual but very friendly creatures at a wildlife society. It’s a hands-on experience, which allows you to feed and exercise baby sloths, monitor eating habits, help with specialist care and more.
Sample the best of Fiji with a varied project on a beautiful island. Learn to scuba dive, or improve your skills, live with a Fijian family and take part in a conservation programme.
Sample Ghana’s fascinating and largely undeveloped culture. Take part in projects that provide medical care and tackle the AIDS epidemic, improve education and leisure activities in orphanages and schools and build new facilities for the community.
Give neglected, abused and abandoned wolves the love and care they’ve been deprived of. Learn all about these fascinating creatures and get involved with efforts to stop them being maltreated.
Make a difference to the lives of underprivileged communities in Nepal. This volunteer project gives you the chance to work as a volunteer in Nepal in schools, monasteries and orphanages giving children opportunities they may not have had before, or, work alongside local builders on vital construction projects.
Set off on the adventure of a lifetime through Africa’s wide and varied landscape! Get up close to big game, take a trip to Kruger National Park and help to preserve the continent’s most iconic wildlife. Zimbabwe - Namibia - South Africa.
Enjoy the best bits of Tanzania, hand-picked by Real Gap staff. Carry out rewarding project work on a community project, trek Mt Kilimanjaro and go on a camping safari in some of the best scenery in Africa!
On an epic journey across Thailand, China, Malaysia, Africa and Australia, the ultimate wildlife experience gives you the chance to see some of the world’s rarest and most incredible animals and contribute to their preservation. Zimbabwe - Thailand - China - Malaysia - Australia - USA.
Get involved with all aspects of orphanages and homes. Teach English and other lessons, run arts and sports activities and help the staff feed, bathe and take care of the children. Most importantly, make them smile.
Work as a zookeeper and experience hands-on interaction with animals. This is a rewarding programme where you will be taking care of the animals and their daily maintenance in a choice of zoo either just outside of Kuala Lumpur or Taiping.
Working in both Elephant Conservation as well as with the local community this project on the beautiful island of Sri Lanka is both interesting and varied. Help to improve education and promote improved elephant care and conservation throughout the country.
A fantastic opportunity to work on a pioneering lion breeding and rehabilitation programme supported by some of the world’s leading ecologists. Walk and work alongside lion cubs and take part in research activities, facilitating the lions’ safe release back into the wild.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
Volunteer in Moldova and you can make a positive contribution to communities within this unexplored and undeveloped country. In this rewarding programme volunteers are needed to assist teaching English or French to primary and secondary Moldovan school children.
Help to forge a link between local communities and their environment in this worthwhile and interesting project. Get involved in a range of projects throughout the region and help to improve the lives and prospects for some of the poorest communities in Buenos Aires.
Travel to a stunning part of the world and volunteer at a school that is part of an incredible floating village. From Monday to Friday give the teachers much needed help and visit the wonder that is Angkor Wat in your spare time, watching the sun rise will take your breath away.
Give orphans in Siem Reap the care and attention they deserve in this stunning part of the world. Help the children with tuition during the week and see the amazing temples of Angkor and much more in your free time.
Bring some sunshine to the lives of some of India’s poorest children by volunteering in Bangalore’s slum areas. Volunteers can help to give children a better education and standard of life as well as some much needed love and care, through teaching and various extracurricular activities.
Discover stunning Zambia on this unique programme as you assist with lion walks, gather research and teach conservation, all of which will help to achieve the ultimate aim of the project; to release wild borne offspring from captive bred lions into appropriate national parks for their survival.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
A great way for wildlife enthusiasts to see the world and make a contribution to volunteer projects, this is a fantastic opportunity to explore the world’s most incredible destinations from Thailand to Australia! Thailand - Australia - USA.
Learn about the ways of the African wilds and the culture of the Massai by volunteering on this incredible project. You can help to gather vital data about wildlife activities, immerse yourself in the nomadic culture, and explore the stunning landscapes of Kenya.
Make a significant contribution to essential conservation work in Zululand by setting up, and helping to
run, projects that will help to save some of South Africa’s most endangered species.
Every year thousands of dolphins are hunted and killed illegally along the Peruvian coastline. Volunteer help is urgently required on this pioneering programme to protect the dolphins. You will form an integral part of the research team, collecting important information on the dolphin’s distribution areas, their behaviour and interactions.
Be a role model to children who were born into poverty. Draw up lesson plans, teach English, crafts and health education and help maintain the classrooms. Your presence and encouragement will help them towards brighter futures.
Make a significant difference to lives of Argentina’s underprivileged children by volunteering in the Youth Outreach programme. You’ll not only be giving them a safe and secure environment, your assistance with education and day-to-day help will dramatically improve their standard of life.
Work as a classroom-teaching assistant, or as a sports coach in Zambia. The aim for both of these projects is to take children from the streets, improve their educational and social skills to give them more opportunities for the future.
Give the vulnerable and disadvantaged children of Bolivia, new skills, confidence and the opportunity to have fun. Help to organise creative activities from painting and drawing to dancing and sports, volunteers can also lend a hand with the running of the centre in the kitchen, serving meals and keeping things spick and span.
Channel your creative energy into community centres and make a huge difference to their users. Whether you make puppets, play Simon Says or organise a sports day, you’ll make a valuable contribution.
If you have an adventurous streak and love the outdoor lifestyle then this could be the perfect programme for you. You will have the most amazing once in a lifetime experience, as you get up close and personal with these notorious creatures!
Make a small but meaningful difference to people in Nairobi. Work in a hospital or orphanage, reaching out to people who live in poverty. You can teach and care for the children, help repair infrastructure and learn Swahili too.
You will have a unique chance on this project to work closely with the beautiful black-faced Vervet monkeys, along with other African wildlife, caring for their welfare, and rehabilitating them before allowing them to be released back into their natural habitat.
Provide much needed voluntary assistance to African communities, in exchange for a culturally enriching experience. This programme is located close to Victoria Falls, with many opportunities for travel to Zimbabwe, Zambezi National Park and many other African highlights.
Work with children from the local Pavão – Pavãozinho community in the South Zone of Rio. The education centre cares for 353 children from ages 3 months to 18 years. The centre aims to deliver education and medical care, to children and their families who are living in social risk situations.
Put your DIY experience to good use – or learn as you go. Help build and repair homes and other facilities, get involved with painting projects and generally give underprivileged children a safer, more secure environment.
Zimbabwe is a well-established country for voluntary work in conservation, especially for working with wildlife in Africa. At this project, volunteers actively participate in lion conservation practices, working closely with the lions and wildlife re-introduction programmes.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
Brighten up the lives of children who are largely left to fend for themselves. Organise activities, encourage them to keep healthy and show them someone cares. You’ll also be supporting children who attend school.
Help meet the need for teachers on a spectacular island. Teach English and music, crafts, sports or foreign languages – whatever you feel comfortable with. A great way to contribute while learning about a new culture.
Search for archaeological treasures in a land full of history. Work as part of an official team, digging, sifting soil and recording what you uncover. Professors will offer expert tuition on your finds.
Make a vital contribution to a beautiful but impoverished country. Help set up sports training sessions and competitions. A little time will make a lasting difference.
Pass on the basic skills many people take for granted, and make a difference to young lives. Give lessons to children and help local staff develop their leadership skills so they can benefit future generations.
This project in Swaziland not only gives you great hands on experience in care and social development, but you can help make sure that the children get a future that is dramatically better than their first years of life.
On this volunteer programme, you have the opportunity to work with African children and contribute to the under-privileged communities in a positive way. You can really make a difference by sharing your skills through sports or computer literacy training, it is a fulfilling programme particularly for any first time traveller or for those wishing to gain teaching experience.
Assist in the local community and help to protect and conserve these endangered turtles in Sri Lanka. Volunteers will get involved in cleaning, feeding and releasing the turtles and by doing so, increase their chances of survival.
Our Mozambique community development project offers you the opportunity to contribute to important community support and sports programmes, working with children in rural African villages. There’ll be plenty of opportunity to explore Mozambique whilst you’re here.
Live and work on a safari ranch, helping with efforts to protect black rhino, elephants, buffalo and more. Assist with anti-poaching measures, look after rhino, help with training elephants and get a feel for the real Africa.
The Whale Shark is the world’s largest living fish, and the idea of seeing them up close is either scary or exhilarating, depending on whom you talk to. Volunteers on this project will be able to learn about and observe the behaviours of the whale sharks off the coast of Mozambique, during many scuba diving sessions.
Schools in Swaziland are in desperate need of your support, where you will get out as much as you put in. Challenging teaching projects make fun, rewarding and totally worthwhile experiences. Most importantly they give a lot of disadvantaged children a much better chance of a better future.
Get up close to jaguars, parrots and other wildlife. The creatures have been held captive, but will hopefully be returned to the wild. Help nurse them back to health and educate the public about the centre’s work.
Ideal for anyone fond of wildlife and the outdoors, as you will be helping sanctuary keepers to care for animals such as koalas, kangaroo and other native Australian species.
This conservation project in New Zealand is a great way to see the sights of New Zealand whilst giving something back by protecting the stunning environments of this fantastic destination.
Dedicate your skills and energy to villages with little money but lots of spirit. Help repair and decorate schools, day centres and homes, organise children to help clear up their village and teach them about hygiene.
This unique project based in the Kruger National Park looks at the role of the game ranger in managing a game farm or wildlife reserve. It is ideal for those interested in wildlife, African conservation and people who want to learn something during their grown up gap year.
Enjoy the great outdoors in a land down under. Help preserve Australia's most precious resource - it's beautiful environment which helps attract so many visitors each year.
This family run farm dedicates its time to establishing the most suitable and secure home possible for neglected or orphaned wild animals in the African Savannah. Volunteers are trained to care for the injured or orphaned animals.
Put your medical skills to good use in the poverty-stricken and under resourced areas on the edges of Buenos Aires. The underprivileged residents of these areas have little or no access to health care facilities and your help can make all the difference.
Based on the incredible island of Florianópolis, you can help to give the local wildlife a better chance of survival and standard of life. You will be focusing your efforts on injured, neglected and orphaned wildlife including river otters, weasels and stoats, helping them to flourish and preserving their environment.
Spend time with young children who are either ill or injured at the National Paediatric Hospital and entertain them with games and reading so as to distract them from their ill health.
Put your skills to good use on a whole range of projects. Conserve the local environment and wildlife, work on therapeutic sailing or horse riding programmes, help as a classroom assistant, in an art gallery or on a project suggested by you.
Help children in Ecuador acquire the skills and knowledge they need to secure a job. Work with other volunteers to develop lesson plans, then give your own lessons in English, sports or the arts.
Experience the wonders of the African savannah and a five day Kruger safari, help to conserve it and gain an intimate understanding of the ecology. Your work will take you to a variety of areas including a nature reserve, a National Park, a Community Reserve and a Private Reserve.
Get away from the beaten Thai tourist track and do something about different with your time in Thailand. This project gives you the chance to volunteer at a wild animal rescue centre that rescues and rehabilitates exploited, neglected and uncared for animals, with the intention of re-releasing them or providing the best possible care for those that must remain in captivity for the rest of their lives.
Change the lives of the underprivileged children and adults of this South-West Zambian community by working on various volunteer projects. From building homes, assisting with medical care and lending a hand with education you can put your skills to the best possible use and explore the African wilds on a Botswana bush camp and safari!
Provide much needed care and attention to babies and children in the unique setting of a Buddhist pagoda. Play games with them, tell stories, help feed the babies, maintain the herb garden or get stuck in with some DIY!
This could be your chance to explore some of the region’s legendary national parks and enjoy some fantastic scenery, whilst helping conserve the natural environment. You’ll be working on conservation projects during the day, and camping out under the huge starry skies at night.
Feed your love of animals by looking after gibbons in South California. Help out at the only centre dedicated to their care by feeding them and cleaning their enclosures, observing their behaviour, fundraising and more.
Based in a truly stunning part of this fascinating country, volunteers choosing this project have the unique opportunity to develop their knowledge about native Australian wildlife.
If you are looking to learn more about the diversity of Africa's animals and eco-systems during a career break, this programme will provide you with a special experience. The project takes you to the forefront of numerous species re-introductions and conservation work.
This volunteer programme provides an excellent opportunity to work with Mongolian children and adults and contribute to the local communities in a positive way. Volunteering and traveling in Mongolia will provide you with a truly eye-opening journey as you experience one of the few authentic places left to travel.
Hone your journalistic skills and gain hands on experience at newspapers, radio stations and TV centres in one of Africa’s most vibrant destinations. Gain an insight into the inner workings of the media industry and work with local journalists as they assist poorly funded organisations and volunteer projects.
Join our Swaziland Community Sports Project and help to coach sports and support community projects, whilst experiencing the enriching and unique culture of this mysterious and enigmatic African kingdom.
Work with rescued gibbons, a primate native to Thailand, as they are rehabilitated to be introduced back into the wild. You’ll get to witness this work as you monitor the gibbons adapting to their new environment as well as being involved in the day-to-day activities of the centre. A really great experience!
Spend a year in South Africa and become a fully qualified field guide. Learn about field research, game capture, patrolling and more, through practical tuition and on-the-job training. You’ll then be eligible to work all over Africa.
Volunteer in a wildlife sanctaury in tropical north Queensland, Australia. You will make new feathered and furry friends as you assist with the care of the animals as well as the general upkeep and running of the park.
Work as a PE teacher in a village school. Help out with lessons and take your own, organise competitions and give advice on keeping healthy. Football, volleyball and basketball are all popular with the children.
A fantastic way to immerse yourself in Chinese culture, allowing you to be much more than just a tourist as you live and work with some of the world’s most fascinating people! Learn about local culture, traditions and history while teach conversational English in the schools of the beautiful Guangxi province.
Get involved in hands-on work with wildlife. Feed kangaroos, wallabies and birds, monitor koalas and help with tree planting and presentations to the public. A challenging but extremely rewarding project.
This programme deals with the rehabilitation and care of abused horses in the Wild Coast area of South Africa, and is a must for anyone who really loves horses. You will ride on trails through the dramatic scenery of the Wild Coast, passing through beach lagoons and lush green game reserves.
The children of Nepal are desperately in need of a safe and secure refuge. You can work on your existing building skills, develop your structural knowledge and gain valuable experience, while making a significant difference to the lives of local children.
Help with the day-to-day running of a wildlife centre. Feed and handle the animals, show them to the public, take part in guided night walks and get involved with ongoing conservation projects. Perfect for animal lovers.
Spend your time encountering and photographing a large variety of animals and birds, the project also involves you spending time amongst the local communities, communicating to them the areas conservational needs.
If you are interested in African reptiles and hands on conservation, then you should consider joining this unique voluntary project. Working directly with reptile experts, your days will be varied and full of adventure.
A unique opportunity to take part in a project where you contribute in a practical way to the conservation of the Australian environment. Time will be spent in Canberra and on Montague Island, a protected wildlife reserve that is an offshore sanctuary for seals, penguins and sea birds.
Located in the Borneo jungle, volunteers live and work alongside native communities, playing an integral part in aiding the development of the area whilst retaining traditional ways of life.
Immerse yourself in Kenyan life and become part of a project to improve life in a rural village. Live and work with the community, helping with tasks such as construction, teaching, landscaping and painting.
Improve the lives of impoverished children, learn a new language, trek the Inca trail and discover Australia’s red centre as you discover the best of the west on your round the world trip! Canada – Guatemala – Peru - New Zealand – Australia - Cambodia.
Offer vital support to young boys in Tanzania – AIDS victims, and those who have been neglected or abused. Teach them the skills and show them the affection they’ll need to lead happier lives as adults.
Play a hands-on role in the restoration and renovation of Thailand’s schools, help to give underprivileged children a better learning environment and absorb Thailand’s fascinating culture!
