Company Details
About Original Volunteers
Original Volunteers is suited for all the adventure seekers who are looking to give back to communities and help others, travelling to unique places and rustic destinations without breaking the bank.
There are numerous different ways that you can get involved, with over 100 projects across 20 countries and programme fees low, with accommodation starting from as little as £12.50 a week, there is something for everyone.
Volunteering in Africa
Volunteer in Ghana with the entire community! Choose how you want to help, teaching in a local school, play work in the nursery, sports coaching, healthcare in the local hospital, building new schools. With over 10 areas of work to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice!
Help caring for rescued and injured monkeys at a busy animal sanctuary in South Africa. There are all different sorts of animals from rescued cats and dogs to lemurs and macaques.
Africa is home to our closest volunteering programme in Morocco only 3 hours away! It is great for volunteers who dislike flying or just want to stay close to home. Taken by a group leader each day to different projects, Morocco is full of volunteering projects all organised for you.
Tanzania , Cameroon and Malawi offer mixed volunteering programmes, try out different projects during your stay, in a local school, nursery, NGO and building projects. Taking you away from the tourist trail.
Up in the hills of Uganda volunteer teaching at the school with 400 students on-site or at the clinic which was built by volunteers a couple of years ago.
For those looking for a more unique and unusual Africa experience. Try volunteering in Kenya, stay with the Masai Tribe and experience a complete cultural exchange. Back to basics in the Masai plains, helping the community find sustainable ways to maintain their traditions.
The street kids programme in Mombasa helps rehabilitate kids when they are ready to come off the streets and turn their lives around. Inspire a new love of learning with soft teaching, rather than scaring them away from education with strict lessons.
Call a projects advisor now to find out which programme in Africa is best for you!
Volunteering in Asia
Volunteer in Nepal in the tropical Chitwan region, helping at a children’s home and community learning centre. Children’s homes in Nepal are understaffed, an additional pair of hands are welcomed to help give extra attention to the children which they often miss as the local staff are busy keeping the house in shape.
From £12.50 a week including accommodation, Cambodia is a great programme for long stay volunteers. The focus is teaching English to children who are coming after school for classes. Long stay volunteers combine this with building and repair work and helping in the fields at harvest time.
After the 2004 Tsunami hit many people have gone over to Volunteer in Thailand and help the communities get back on their feet. In a local school help children improve their English skills so that they have more opportunities to peruse jobs in tourism in the future. No prior teaching experience is needed, you receive training and orientation on your first weekend on top of this you’re given everything you could need for each lesson. There is no need to sit up each night lesson planning your next day – it’s all already done for you!
Teaching in India could not be easier, the children are very enthusiastic and keen to learn. Assist classes that are already going on or take a small group of children to teach your own class. No experience is needed, you can dive straight in and begin following the national curriculum.
Volunteer in The Americas
Volunteer in Mexico, helping at children’s homes, nurseries, schools and in animal shelters. There is plenty to try in the steaming tropical city of Merida! In your free time explore the underwater caves and the Chicken Itza ruins from the Maya civilization.
Essential conservation work is needed on the islands of Honduras, to monitor and look after the iguana population and sometimes the local turtle population too. Volunteers maintain the animals in terrariums on site and release them back into the wild.
Paraguay and Ecuador offer a variety of different projects to choose from. You can choose when you are over there, there are different projects which are best suited for volunteers with varying different levels of Spanish language skills. Engaging in a cultural exchange, learning from local host families.
Cusco is the backpacker central of South America, home to Machu Picchu and amazing treks, there is no better place to stay whilst you volunteer in Peru. Helping at a children’s home you can make an individual and unique difference to the children’s lives on a one-to-one basis, as often the staff can be busy with domestic chores.
In the tango capital Buenos Aires, enjoy the best of both worlds. Volunteer in the afternoon, at a mix of different projects with arts and craft, informal games and fundraising on the streets. In the evening, experience the glamorous world of Argentina’s night life.
Experience volunteering in Florida with wild mustangs. Helping the mustangs get human contact, so they are less wary of people - making it easier for veterinary care and opening the centre to the public. One of the more unusual volunteer jobs is reading to the horses to get them used to the human voice.
Heath volunteering
Heath students and qualified health professionals can volunteer in hospitals all over the world, experiencing the difference in conditions hands on. If you can bring some everyday equipment to donate it will be most appreciated as most volunteer placements are in state-run rural hospitals which are often underfunded and in urgent need.
Medical and nursing electives are a very popular reason to volunteer in a hospital abroad. With electives starting at £50 per week in Ghana, the Atibie hospital has been a popular placement for over 10 years. The maternity and children’s wards are most popular and you can choose after arrival after having a look around. There are also opportunities in the lab and pharmacy.
You don’t need to be in the medical profession to offer your help. Outreach days are organised to drop off medical supplies, offer health education, complete health checks, dress wounds and weigh babies. Volunteers can help by shadowing the doctor or nurse leading the group or helping more proactively.
Volunteer under 18
It’s a myth that you have to be over 18 to volunteer abroad. While some programmes do only accept 18 years old or higher, well-structured programmes are available which cater for younger volunteers.
Volunteer in Europe, to stay close to home, the Bulgaria programme is great for younger volunteers not only because of the location but also because there are a variety of different jobs to do. Our Ghana, Morocco and Thailand programmes are also perfect for younger volunteers who are looking to get further away. They are very well structured providing extra attention for novice travellers.
Funding your volunteering programme
Forward planning your volunteer trip allows you to save and have time to apply for travel grants, which can help top up your funds. Grants are available for different circumstances, from under eighteens, to working professionals looking for a career break. Different grants are also available depending on where you live and your age.
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